Stories from 17 November 2008
Bangladesh: Intrusion by Indian Border Security Force (BSF)
Onnesha reports that some members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) sneaked into Bangladesh soil and started firing when they were intercepted by the villagers. Three Bangladeshi villagers including an infant and the mother were killed.
Armenia: Investigative Journalist Assaulted
Although the precise circumstance are still unclear, Unzipped comments on news that Edik Baghdasarian, an investigative journalist and editor of an online publication, was attacked today. The blog posts a video of Baghdasarian receiving medical treatment in a local hospital and writes that the attack was most likely connected to...
Peru: Art Exhibit Depicting Saints Causes Controversy and Possible Censorship
A controversial art exhibit in Lima, Peru portrayed an alternative view of popular Catholic saints. Some were dressed in undergarments and others in modern-day situations. The artist wanted to show a more human side of the religious figures. However, days before the exhibit's conclusion the gallery was closed by the municipal causing cries of censorship.
Egypt: Internet Freedom in Egypt
Tunisian blogger, Sami Ben Gharbia, published a video explaining the role of the Egyptian blogsphere in exposing human rights abuses and the role of the social-networking website Facebook and the micro-blogging platform.
Egypt for Sale
Word is out that every Egyptian citizen who is over 21 years old will own a part of Egypt's public sector companies and factories. The announcement has been the core topic of talk shows and has made its way to the blogosphere.
Bangladesh: Bargaining in Dhaka Bazaars
Life as a Tai Tai, an expat wife's blog gives some tips about buying quality cloths at low prices in various Bazaars of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
Pakistan: Mother of Dolls
Light Within portrays Dr. Senta Siller, who mobilized the women in a remote Pakistani village and led them from the front to make hand crafted dolls in traditional Pakistani attires for collectors’ delight and for the gift market.
Pakistan: GEO TV News Blocked?
Teeth Maestro is reporting that the transmission of Geo News, a Dubai based Pakistani news channel and other channels of the GEO TV network have been blocked in most parts of Karachi.
India: Islam is not a nationhood
M. J. Akbar opines: “As Maulana Azad repeatedly emphasized…Islam is a brotherhood, not a ‘nationhood’. If Islam were sufficient to create a modern nation state, the Arabs would not be divided into 22 countries. They even have a language in common.”
India: Terror stalks Kolkata
Recently, Kolkata (or Calcutta, as it is still referred to by some) woke up one morning and its heart skipped a beat as it read the headlines of the day – Terror alert in Kolkata. Apparently, terror attacks can be carried out in the city, anytime between November 15-30th. Oh...
Caucasus: Public Media Potential
The American University’s School of Communication Center for Social Media posts an entry on the potential to counter a constrained and often politicized or controlled media in the South Caucasus and especially to promote peace-building in the war torn region. Blogs are included as one of five key areas that...
Syria: Art of Dialogue
“An argument in olden Arab times was like a dance. People wooed each other, rejected or accepted, negotiated, insulted and convinced each other using subtle messages & connotations, all applied courteously,” notes 50% Syrian.
Syria: Misquoted
Syrian blogger Rime Allaf says she was misquoted in a Press interview. “I have been misquoted in the past, about more “serious” issues resulting in strange statements, but I think this one takes the lead as the most ridiculous misquote,” she notes.
Saudi Arabia: Marriage Restrictions
Saudi Jeans is annoyed his country's 150-member Shura (consultative) Council rejected a law to simplify the regulations of Saudi marriages to foreigners. “I do not understand the harsh restrictions enforced on citizens who want to marry foreigners. Why should the government bother with who one chooses to marry?” he asks.
Morocco: Rustic Picnic
Moroccan blog My Marrakesh takes us on a rustic picnic and here are the photographs.
China: Blogger Conference
David Feng from China Review reports on various presentations at Chinese Blogger Conference, including: Michael Anti's presentation on his old / media experience, Ping Ke's presentation on ir/rational online debate, Hecaitou's presentation on the challenge for digging true information online.
China: Checking IDs
Mutant Palm blogs about the Identity card verification system recently launched in China. The blogger points out that the Chinese system of local registration and documentation has been far less comprehensive, or effective, than Western societies.
Syria: No More Bab el Hara
Ayman Haykal [Ar] links to a report published on Haaretz that says the Israeli cellular provider, Cellcom, made a profit of approximately 400.000 shekels per month this year from the Syrian soap opera, Bab El Hara (Neighborhood Gateway).
Bahamas: Censorship
Simon at Bahama Pundit blogs about “the sensitive issue of censorship.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Accountability
“More than three years have passed already since the Saturday morning in October 2005 when thousands of Trinidadians marched through the streets of Port of Spain to protest the Manning government's failure to deal with spiralling murder and kidnapping rates, widespread public anxiety, and the profound social inequalities behind these”:...
Cuba: Havana Film Festival
Havana Times is pleased to announce that “the 30th Havana Film Festival (Dec. 2-12) is right around the corner.”
