Stories from 6 December 2008
Latvia: Freedom of Speech Controversy
Prominent Latvians are outraged over the detention of a university lecturer at a seaside town of Ventspils by the security police. The economic crisis, a bank bailout, and the launched talks with the International Monetary Fund served as a backdrop for the arrest of Dmitrijs Smirnovs, who said this during a discussion at a provincial newspaper Ventas Balss: "The only thing that I can recommend is: first of all, do not save money in banks; second of all, do not save money in lats because right now it is very dangerous."
Bangladesh, India: Photos On Positive Lives
Renowned Bangladeshi photo journalist Shahidul Alam reviews the works of Dayanita Singh, an award winning Indian photographer. Her works were displayed at “Positive Lives”, an exhibition on people’s responses to HIV/AIDS.
Pakistan: Spare the Lamb for Eid-ul-Adha
Temporal at Baithak suggests some effective ways of sacrificing wealth for the poor during Eid-ul Adha instead of sacrificing animal (Qurbani) and wasting the meat: “We can think of many ways to make Him (God) happy and spare the lamb”.
Iran: Images from Iran
Pars Arts has done an interview with Tom Loughlin a Colorado-based artist whose portraits of Iranians in Iran are being shown in a groundbreaking and thought-provoking installation across the United States.
Iran:Disaster in Gaza
Edalatkhaneh, an Iranian blogger, has published[fa] a report on economic disaster in Gaza Strip. The blogger says Israel's economic sanctions have made life very difficult for people living in this area and the world is silent about it.
Iran:How does the Guardian get its information?
Bepa09, an Iranian blogger, writes that an article in the UK based Guardian says about its source of information: according to Jahan News, a website considered close to Iran’s intelligence ministry. The blogger adds “the writer does not explain who says this site is considered close to Iranian intelligence.”
Iran:”Resistance in Gaza”
Haj Rezvan, an Iran based blogger, says [fa] “resistance in Gaza Strip will become stronger if [Israel's]blockade continues”.
Latvia: Ruling party in trouble
Baltic comments on the potential for political crisis in Latvia, as news broke that Prime Minister Godmanis and his ruling LPP/LC party overstepped the legal threshold for campaign spending for the 2006 parliamentary elections.
Ethiopia: Teddy Afro gets a six-year sentence
Addis Journal reports that Teddy Afro was been given a six-year sentence on Monday, convicted on two charges of killing a homeless in hit-and-run accident and driving away without reporting the incident. His arrest last April two years after the original incident captured nationwide interest, was filled with drama and...
Malawi: 36-hour bus ride to Johannesburg
Boni Dulani describes his 36-hour bus ride from Mangochi, Malawi to Johannesburg, South Africa going through Mozambique and Zimbabwe. He concludes “despite all those challenges, there is a positive story to tell from my trip: Zimbabwe is the only country where I didn’t have to pay any bribes to get...
Philippines: Reflections on Iloilo History
ToTomel reflects on the history of Iloilo, a center of trade and commerce in the central Philippines since the 19th Century when the country was under Spanish colonial rule.
Myanmar: English translation of Constitution
Myat Thura uploads an English translation of Myanmar's constitution
Vietnam: Christmas invasion
CitizeMekong uploads a video about the “Christmas invasion” in communist Vietnam. David in Ho Chi Minh notes that Christmas in Vietnam is “strictly the commercial free-for-all” with no mention of the birth of Jesus or much of a Christian theme.
Vietnam: New regulations on blogging
Vietnam authorities want to impose new regulations on internet use and blogging in Vietnam. The ministry officials said “The law will not interfere with bloggers’ privacy, but will help in the healthy development of the Web-log environment.”
Vietnam: Activist blogger faces tax fraud charges
Vietnamese activist Nguyen Hoang Hai, better known by the blogging name of Dieu Cay, is facing tax fraud cases. But he claims these are trumped up charges. According to his supporters, the government wants him jailed for being a founding member of Free Vietnamese Journalists Club.
Wife of ousted Thai leader returns to Bangkok
Potjaman Shinawatra, the wife of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Thailand on the first day of reopening of Bangkok's airport. The Thaksin couple was earlier found guilty by a Thai court for tax evasion. Twitter user Smartbrain comments: “Pojaman landed. Escorted to home and not arrested despite the...
Thailand: Why did they choose the airport?
Thai Politico explains why anti-government protesters chose Thailand's new airport to stage their “decisive battle” against the government.
Thailand: Protesters honor their fallen comrades
Anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy have been conducting street actions for the past 193 days. PAD said 7 of its members were killed, one comatosed, six crippled, and 625 injured.
