Stories from 10 February 2010
China: Photos from outside the Tan Zuoren trial
Media, diplomats and even a monk were present at activist Tan Zuoren‘s trial yesterday where he was sentenced to five years in prison. Media activist Yang Licai today uploaded his photos from outside the courthouse.
Azerbaijan: Book review
Scary Azeri in Suburbs comments on Artush and Zaur, a homo-erotic novel telling the love story between an Armenian and Azerbaijani man. The blogger says that while the book is a brave attempt to overcome taboos, she found it more funny than touching in its depiction of various sexual encounters.
Syria: Facebook Group to Protest Sanctions on Syrian Air
On Facebook, around 1,300 members to date have joined a group calling for the suspension of US sanctions on Syrian Air saying: “there is no reason to apply any type of sanctions against [a] civil carrier.”
Morocco: Talks on Western Sahara to Resume
The dispute over the Western Sahara is a complex one--Morocco claims it as their own, while the Saharan independence movement (the Polisario), backed by Algeria, desires independence. Three years ago, talks resumed between the Polisario and Morocco. Bloggers react to a new round of talks.
Japan: Snow sculptures at Sapporo Snow Festival 2010
Pink Tentacle posts videos and photos of the snow sculptures at Sapporo Snow Festival 2010.
China: Ai Weiwei on Tan Zuoren
C. Custer from ChinaGeeks translated prominent blogger Ai Weiwei's comments on Tan Zuoren's trial and 5 year imprisonment sentence.
Taiwan: Presidential Office curbs foreign press
The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato writes that the Presidential Office has excluded foreign reporters from monthly briefings on ECFA. The post includes a letter of protest from the President of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club to the Presidential Office.
