Stories from 30 December 2009
China: Akmal's death sentence, a resolute No to memory of humiliation?
Akmal Shaikh, a British citizen convicted of smuggling heroine into China, was executed on Tuesday although his families along with the British government had pleaded for reprieve, claiming that he is mentally ill. The supreme court of China however dismissed the request of a mental assessment because the documents provided...
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Pakistan: Arson Attack After Bombing
Faisal Kapadia at Deadpan Thoughts comments on the widespread rioting and arson attack immediately after the suicide bombing on Shiite procession in Karachi last Monday.
India: Andaman Islands
Mumbai based blogger Ugich Konitari visits the Andaman islands and writes a two part series (1, 2) noting her experiences.
India: Ten Lessons From Three Idiots
Amreekan Desi was not only impressed with Aaamir Khan's latest Bollywood blockbuster ‘3 idiots’ but also learnt a lot from the movie. The blogger takes a satirical look at ten lessons from the movie.
Indonesia: Email mom ‘not guilty’ says the High Court
Prita Mulyasari, a housewife who was charged with defamation by a hospital for an email complaint against a bad health service, was found not guilty by the Indonesian High Court. Bloggers and twitterers are happy with the ruling.
Overcoming negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus
An online project using new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus entered a second stage last week when two blogging Azerbaijani journalism students and a Georgian blogger joined in the initiative.
Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago: Fave Islands
Lifespan of a Chennette gives a comprehensive virtual tour of the Spice Isle, Grenada.
Bahamas: Inefficient Judiciary
As a suspected murderer out on bail allegedly kills again, Weblog Bahamas‘ Sidney Sweeting asks: “How long should the Bahamian people have to put up with this nonsense and get the Judiciary to give some consideration to the law abiding, God-fearing citizens of the country?”
China: Three prominent bloggers GFWed in the same week
Following the blocking of veteran Internet essayist He Caitou's (@hecaitou) two longstanding blogs hecaitou.net and caobian.info on December 25, renowned columnist Lian Yue (@lianyue) had yet another one of his blogs, lianyue.net, blocked on the 29th; late on the evening of December 30, Peking University new media associate professor Hu...
Puerto Rico: On the Trail
When it comes to corruption, Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius follows the “more subtle ‘influence trail'” rather than the money trail.
Peru: Damage to Inca Walls Due to Construction of Hotel
Concerned about the damage being caused to ancient Inca walls by the construction of a new hotel in Cusco, Peru, Carlos Quiroz of Peruanista writes a detailed post with steps to take action.
Trinidad & Tobago: Partly Solved?
Jumbie's Watch is not impressed with the solve rate for murders in Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica: Over Hills and Valleys
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Afrobella blogs about reggae superstar Buju Banton at his best and worst, prompting Jamaican Annie Paul to respond: “Just as you…have pointed out the good and bad sides of Buju…it's necessary also to nuance what homosexuality represents in cultures such as Jamaica, that homosexuality too has its...
Tunisia: The White Note Campaign Against Cyber Censorship
Tunisian bloggers organised a White Note Campaign to protest against online censorship on their blogs. One blogger decides to swim against the tide with a Black Note in protest.
Russia: Livejournal Shuts Down Putin's Critic
Russian popular blogging platform Livejournal has suspended an account of a historian Yuri Felshtinsky [ENG] after he had published a link to a Russian translation of his book “The Age of Assassins: The Rise and Rise of Vladimir Putin” [ENG].
Ukraine: Election and Freedom of Speech
Foreign Notes writes about the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine and the impact that its outcome may have on the freedom of speech: “It must be dispiriting for journalists to know how little impact is made by their revelations of Ukraine's leaders’ systematic abuse of power, and a worry to...
Russia: Kaliningrad's “Contraband Industry”
St Petersblurb writes about Kaliningrad authorities’ failure to deal with the region's flourishing “contraband industry.”
Poland, China: Lack of Response to Akmal Shaikh's Case
Polandian writes about Poland's lack of response to the execution of Akmal Shaikh in China: “[…] Akmal spent quite some time in Poland, was married to a Pole and is survived by two Polish children. The question was therefore raised as to why Poland did not join in the call...
Belarus: New Internet Censorship Regulations Planned
Belarus Digest writes about the alleged plans of the government to introduce “additional measures to regulate Internet in Belarus.”
Russia: Yeltsin's Daughter Blogs About Oligarch
Tatyana Yumasheva (LJ user t_yumasheva), daughter of the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin , recollects [Google Translation in EN] on her blog the early years of Roman Abramovich, Russian oligarch and the 51st richest person in the world.
