The prices of internet packages for businesses are going down, thanks to competition in Bahrain's telecoms market, writes a happ(ier) Mahmood Al Yousif.
As the situation in Syria worsens, and more terrifying reports arrive from the Homs district of Houla, Foreign Policy-hosted blog Turtle Bay summarizes a report [PDF] from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the UN observer mission. This “gloomy” account clearly shows that measures recommended by Kofi Annan have not been implemented, and a viable peace plan is not yet in place despite diplomatic pressure. Ban Ki-moon notes that “while many fear the implications of a further militarization of the conflict, some have doubts that peaceful change is possible.”
Local open governance activists in Tunisia have launched the first open data website showing the municipal budget [ar, fr] of the city of Sayada for the current fiscal year. The Tunisian open governance community [ar, fr] has had some success in increasing the government's transparency; they have already convinced the Tunisian presidency to reveal its budget.
Saudi Arabia, one of Reporters Without Borders' Internet Enemies, has blocked access to many articles on the free encyclopedia Wikipedia. The Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission has censored over 130 articles in Arabic and English, including articles relating to sex and sexuality, the human body, and the theory of evolution. You can find the full list of censored articles here.
Farsnews reported “Cyber Hezbollah' will hold its eighth meeting in Tehran on Wendesday.One of main points of discussion is Shahin Najafi's “insults regarding one Shi'ite Saint.”
Salam,
I am just moving in to bahrain. And it really shocked me that I can’t have broad band unlimited access at reasonable rate.
Sorry to hear that Ammar.