May, 2007

Stories from May, 2007

Nagorno Karabakh conflict: “Liberated Territories” in Focus

The Armenian blogosphere is full of speculations about the seven regions in Azerbaijan currently under the control of Armenian and Karabakh forces, which are referred to as the “Liberated Territories” by those with a more nationalistic perspective. Now that the parliamentary elections are behind us the international community is once...

Morocco: Punish YouTube Blockers

“People behind the blocking of Youtube in Morocco have to be reprimanded in proportion with the damage caused from ban. The news has made its way to BBC,New York times, Washington Post and a plethora of other news outlets in the world causing an unwanted negative advertising of a Kingdom...

Saudi: Saudi Jeans Birthday

Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans (Ahmed Al Omran) is marking his 23rd birthday without much fanfare. “As for my birthday, there will be no party: Just me and my beer coke, working on some unfinished projects and getting ready for the tough finals,” he explains.

Kuwait: Paris Hilton Lingerie

“I came across this bizarre news while surfing the net, Inspired by the great Paris debate, Mio Destino, a designer lingerie company, has specially designed “Free Paris” and “Jail Paris” silk panties. The company will contribute 50% of the profits from the ‘Paris Hilton Panties’ sales to an Ovarian Cancer...

Iraq: Diyala Update

“Diyala has arguably become the most dangerous place for both Iraqis and Americans. The recent crimes of al-Qaeda and affiliated groups in recent months in this province have cost tragic losses among Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces and American soldiers,” writes Omar in Iraq The Model.

Egyptian Blogger Monem to Be Freed

Jailed Egyptian blogger Abdulmonem Mahmood is being released on Saturday - but Egyptian bloggers are holding their breath and are full of apprehension on their future in a country which has so far conducted a witch hunt on bloggers, reports Freedom For Egyptians.

Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: Rex Nettleford & Today's Thinkers

  31 May 2007

“It was undoubtedly a pleasure to hear from one of the few great Caribbean minds–with the recent passing of Lloyd Best, their numbers are even fewer now, and needed no less than ever. Yet it occurred to me…that these minds are almost to a person of an older generation.” Attending...

Jamaica: Worst Test Cricket Loss in 50 Years

  31 May 2007

“Sometimes I wonder if we should just drop cricket like we're dropping the sugar industry. Both are vestiges of colonialism. But I dare not say this aloud…'cause, unlike the sugar industry, cricket swims in our very blood.” Jamaican Leon Robinson is disappointed in the West Indies’ performance against England.

Cuba: Today Show

  31 May 2007

“I'm sorry, but an American news outlet visiting Cuba isn't news. That they're not going to be able to score an interview with Fidel Castro is news.” Lawhawk shares his thoughts on the upcoming Today Show visit to Cuba – as do Uncommon Sense, El Cafe Cubano and Babalu Blog.

Kenya: Mobile Toolkit Workgroup

  31 May 2007

White African writes about Mobile Toolkit Workgroup meeting in Nairobi, Kenya: The first 3 days were taken up with examples and stories of how mobile technology is being used as an effective tool within NGO’s that have a focus on human rights and social advocacy. A typical question at these...

Barbados: Um-ba-rel-la?

  31 May 2007

“Where did she get that pronunciation from? I could forgive her if she was speaking bajan and pronounced it ‘am-brella'…but Um-ba-rel-la? Anybody ever look at you and say ‘buddy that rain just hit outta nowhere I could share that um-ba-rel-la with you?'” Jdid has a few issues with fellow Barbadian...

South Africa: Media Tech Africa 2007

  31 May 2007

Media Tech Africa 2007 is taking place in South Africa: “Organised by Thebe Exhibitions, mediatech africa 2007 showcases cutting edge technologies and services from industry leaders in television and broadcast, sound and audio, lighting and staging, animation, communication, and every related field. The combination of technology, demonstrations, networking opportunities and...

Bahamas: A Story on Race

  31 May 2007

“If you wanted to get ahead, your best bet was finding a way to make your children lighter than you, so maybe one day, their children or grandchildren could be fair enough to matter.” Guest authoring at Bahama Pundit, Nicolette Bethel continues the discussion on why race matters.

China: Xiamen Demonstration Against Chemical Project

  31 May 2007

Tomorrow there will be a demonstration in Xiamen against the construction of Chemical factory campus. Although the local government has already announced the deferral of the construction plan on may 30, the rally is to stop the plan all together. Details and discussions about the rally and construction plan can...

China: Lost in “preservation”

  31 May 2007

Wang Jun comments that media attention has succeed in preserving part of “old Beijing”, however, the old part might still get lost in actual preservation plan, as it allows rebuilding and radical renovation (zh).

Hong Kong: Take it to the UN!

  31 May 2007

A new blog called, take it to the UN, has been set up to file the complaint of the recent censorship cases by the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) to the Committees of Human Right Council of United Nation.

China: Pork barrel politics

  31 May 2007

Will from imagethief discusses the delicate politics in the recent rise in pork price in China, the connection between epidemic, death sentence of the former commissioner of the State Food and Drug Administration, pork reserves, etc.

China: Entropia Universe

  31 May 2007

Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist reports that Entropia. Inc will soon enter China and create a cash-based virtual world, where millions of people can work, socialize, learn and fall in love, Sweden-based Entropia Universe announced Wednesday.