Stories from 7 August 2009
Afghanistan: A report someone didn't want you to read
Nick Fielding opines that the Britain's Parliamentary report on Afghanistan is strongly critical of the present government's policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tajikistan: Language is the key to national self-determination
Botur Kosimi comments on a recent bill in the Tajikistan parliament that concerns the status and role of the Tajik language in the nation.
Kazakhstan: Aktau Trip Travelogue
KZBlog presents a travelogue post (with pictures) about his trip to Aktau, a port and resort town on the Caspian Sea, west of Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan: Protests Against New Russian Base
Nathan Hamm notes that Uzbekistan is stepping up its criticism of Russia’s plan to open a second military base in Kyrgyzstan – near Uzbekistan’s border – by alleging that the new base would destabilize the region and provoke extremists.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent’s head Imam stabbed outside his home
Noah Tucker reports that Imam of Tashkent was stabbed outside his home on 31 July and remains hospitalized in serious condition. This is the second attack on a Uzbekistan's religious figure in the last 30 days.
Tanzania: Ngugi Wa Thiong'o to address conference
Kenyan novelist Ngugi Wa Thiong'o will deliver keynote address at thePan African Reading for All Conference: “The Organising Committee of the 6th Biennial Pan African Reading for All Conference, and Prof Mlinzi M Mulokozi, Chairperson of the National Committee, are very proud to announce that Ngugi Wa Thiong'o will address...
Pakistan: Karachi Tweet Up 2009
Google and CIO Pakistan have recently organized a tweet up, gathering more than 80 bloggers and Microbloggers at the Royal Rodale in Karachi. The unprecedented event intended to engage bloggers in active discussion regarding social media.
China: Reactions on Clinton Rescue Reporters From N.Korea
Fauna from ChinaSMACK blogs about Chinese netizens’ reactions on Clinton's trip to North Korea and the release of two reporters.
China: Dark days for China's liberals
Rebecca MacKinnon looks into the political implications of the repression of Gongmeng and the arrest of human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong in China.
China: Economic bubbles
David from Silk Road International is worried about China economy even though it is growing: “how can the Chinese government continue it’s stimulus if the world doesn’t recover to pre-crash levels of consumer spending? Answer? They can’t.”
China: Xu Ziyong
Last month, Gongmeng, a NGO provides Chinese citizen with legal assistance was charged by the Beijing government with evading tax. The head of the Gongmeng, Xu Ziyong is now under arrest. Susan Jakes from China Beat writes an article about Xu's activist path.
Myanmar: Actor in Monk Photo Scandal
A controversial photograph of a popular Burmese actor and his friends posing in saffron robes on the day of their ordination at a Buddhist monastery was published on a popular Burmese Website on Tuesday causing outrage and a severe backlash.
