Stories from 28 March 2008
Belarus: Emanuel Zeltser's Detention
Eternal Remont links to a new blog whose aim is to draw attention to Emanuel Zeltser's case: FREE Emanuel Zeltser and Vladlena Funk – Illegally Imprisoned in Belarus Since March 12, 2008.
Russia, U.S.: A Foreign Policy View
Valery Dzutsev offers a view on why “there is so much tension between the US and Russia.”
Macedonia, Greece: More on the Name Dispute
More on the Macedonia-Greece name dispute – at Halfway Down the Danube and Foreign Policy Blog.
China: Responses to the Dalai Lama's appeal
As Lhasa has supposedly quieted down, the anti-CNN.com crowd has gone off the deep end, that might be worth exploring more. The death threats they've been making towards Western media representatives stationed in China certainly haven't gone unnoticed. On Mutant Palm blogger Davesgonechina's list of links chosen in a move...
Chile: Presidential Candidate Set to Back Children's Computer Campaign
Marcelo Trivelli, a pre-candidate for the Chilean presidency, has promised to promote the objectives of the campaign “One Computer Per Child,” [es] writes Luis Ramirez and will appear on TV with the XO computer from the OLPC project.
Middle East and North Africa: Client Number Nine
Eliot Spitzer's fall from grace grabbed the headlines as soon as newsmen caught wind of the scandal. Bloggers followed closely on their heel, including those from the Middle East and North Africa, whose attention was turned to the humiliation his wife must have suffered from and indignation of having her to stand by him as he announced his resignation.
Morocco: Journalist Fined $857,000 for Slander
“Rachid Nini, a popular Moroccan columnist and director of the daily Arabophone newspaper Almassae, was fined by a court in Rabat about $857000 for alleged defamation and slander of 4 prosecutors in the northern town of Ksar Kbir, said Almassae newspaper. The amount of the fine is exorbitant and unprecedented...
Morocco: Growing Sense of Civic Activism
A Moro in America draws our attention to the “growing sense of civic activism in Morocco” as more people continue to videotape and expose corrupt officers and guards, who are notorious for taking bribes on Moroccan rural roads.
Peru: Puno Leader Seeking Greater Autonomy for Region
The Regional President of Puno, Hernán Fuentes, has called for increased financial, administrative and political autonomy for one of the poorest regions of Peru. Some local bloggers agree that Puno needs more help in order to combat its high rates of poverty, but wonder whether Fuentes is just following from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez' playbook, but also note that seeking autonomy is not new within Peru's history.
Libya: Wedding Blues
“Libyan weddings are BORING. They are all the same – the same food is served, the same music is played, the brides all look the same. BORING… sigh,” writes Khadija Teri, who had to attend two ceremonies.
Libya: What makes you love Libya?
Libyan A. Adam posts a photograph of a palm tree in the desert and asks: “this is Libya just like a palm tree in the desert. just one question for libyan people like me, what makes u love Libya???”
Egypt: General Strike on April 6
Activists are calling for a general strike in Egypt in April 6, to protest against the rising costs of living. This blog (Ar) posts a series of banners to announce the strike.
Yemen: Morning with Seagulls
Yemeni Omar Barsawad spends his morning with the seagulls and shares his experience in this post – with pictures!
Slide blocked in Turkey
A Turkish court banned access to Slide, the maker of social networking widgets, for “harboring pictures and articles that are considered to be insulting to Ataturk”.
Pakistan: A new accountability bureau
Changing up Pakistan analyses the newly elected Government's decision to set up a brand new Accountability Bureau.
Sri Lanka: Politicial activism and Second Life
ICT4Peace from Sri Lanka comments on the new International Justice Center on Second Life and explores if the idea of political activism on Second Life can actually work.
Pakistan: Updating the Azaan
Five Rupees from Pakistan thinks that the traditional way of calling the faithful to pray – the Azaan is a bit outdated.
Nepal: Tibet, China and India
Nepali Netbook on the ambiguity of Nepal's response to the issues of Tibet and China.
Bangladesh: On Wilders’ Fitna
a bengali in TO has a look at Geert Wilders’ Fitna and finds it unimpressive and amateurish even for a rant.
Jordan: Viagra Prescriptions
Jordanian Hareega, who is a doctor by profession, writes about the miracles of the magical blue pill -Viagra – and the changes it brought to some men's lives.
Palestine: Thumbs up for Hamas!
“Despite all what the world might think of, Palestinian under occupation (and elsewhere for sure) still believes that Hamas and Haniyeh are in better position than what the trio – Rice, Bush and Olmert – are trying to present as an alternative for Palestinian Democracy to the world, the corrupted...
