Stories from 29 September 2008
Lebanon: Army Soldiers Targeted…Again
Forty five days after the first bombing of a bus transporting army soldiers in Lebanon, another bomb exploded in Tripoli today, killing at least four soldiers and wounding over 20 people. The initial report indicates that the bomb was planted in a car targeting a bus carrying army soldiers in...
Egypt: Kidnapped Tourists Freed
Nineteen people, including foreign tourists, kidnapped in Egypt 10 days ago have been freed. Egyptian bloggers react.
Nepal: Critique on revolution
Revolution in South Asia blog posts a translation of an article (from Farsi) titled “Nepal Revolution: Great Victory or Great Danger,” which is an explicit polemic by the Communist Party of Iran (MLM) — targeting the path taken by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Maldives: Why are expatriate labors here?
Innovative Thinker is concerned about the living conditions of the expatriate workers and criticizes Maldives dependence on these workers.
Lebanon: Terror strikes in Tripoli again
A remote control car bomb ripped through a military bus this morning killing four soldiers and a civilian in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon. Today’s bombing is the second deadly attack targeting troops in northern Lebanon in less than two months. Following are the first reactions from bloggers about the incident.
Pakistan: Media propaganda
Teeth Maestro is furious because without concrete evidence the international media suggested that the two Somali suspects arrested in Germany were intending to join terrorists in Uganda and Pakistan.
Kazakhstan: Above and Beyond
Joshua Foust wonders if the retirement of the U.S. space shuttle will make Baikonur space launch site in Kazakhstan even more important than it already is.
Afghanistan: Surge East
Joshua Foust thinks that long-term development goals are a critically missing piece of the Western agenda in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: How to Win
Joshua Foust takes issue with an essay about how to “win” in Afghanistan.
India: Recent bombings and economics
Pass The Roti On The Left Side comments on the second bombing incident in Delhi in recent times: “While you can pitch this in communal terms or identity terms of various kinds.., ultimately, this is driven in my opinion by economic factors which are understood in politics through communal and...
Afghanistan: What kind of government
Joshua Foust notes some of the problems with the American conceptions of Afghan society, and how that is influencing bad policy.
Bangladesh: Five layered tea
Claire b writes in Travel Blog about her recent trip to Srimongol in Sylhet division where the tea-estates are in Bangladesh: “My guide urged me to try the 5 colored (layered) tea apparently famous in the region..it was one of the best cups/glasses of tea I’ve had.”
Mongolia: Brain Drain Remains Harsh Problem
Asian Gypsy reports that brain drain problem Mongolia faces is more evident now than ever, as overseas Mongolian online communities sprout and more Mongolians are active online, whose locations are mostly outside of Mongolia.
Tajikistan: Real number of people in trouble
Vadim uses statistics, open source data, news articles and logic to come to the conclusion that more than 20 percent of Tajikistan’s population is going to be in trouble if no assistance comes from international donors.
Kazakhstan: New landmark of Almaty
Adam posts pictures of Esentai district, which will include Mariott hotel, residences, offices, retail etc – a projects that changed the Almaty cityscape.
Kyrgyzstan: Head of Central Election Commission resigns
Genderstan reports that Klara Kabilova, former head of the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan, made a statement about receiving threats from Maksim Bakiev, son of President Kurmanbek Bakiev. In her statements she mentions that he swore at her and threatened her safety.
Kazakhstan: Measures to Support Banks
KZBlog says that Kazakhstan’s government is considering raising $6 billion in funds to bail out domestic banks, should they be unable to pay back their loans.
Tajikistan: Another Journalist Targeted
Ian says that another journalist has become the target of the Tajik government’s ire: the state prosecutor is charging him with slandering the president and destabilizing the country.
Afghanistan: Students on Hunger Strike
Azar Balkhi reports that following the language dispute in the Balkh province of Afghanistan, in which students of the local university entered into a clash with the police, the protesters went on a hunger strike.
Lebanon: A Blogger's Debut
In his blog debut, Only Lebnane talks about his opinion regarding the Lebanese society and how its foundations are becoming more sectarian and political.
Palestine: Retaining a sense of humanity in Gaza
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates from one day to the next, many are struggling not only with the enormous difficulties of daily life, but with the change in values they see around them, in a society that has become dominated by Islamist thinking. In this post, a blogger in Gaza writes a passionate cry of despair.
