Stories about Breaking News from November, 2006
Arabisc: Arrested Blogger Released and the Civilisation of Terrorism
Egyptian blogger Ramy Siyam – aka Ayoub – is out of jail, after spending an eventful 108 hours being moved from one detention centre to the other. According to fellow blogger Alaa Abdelfattah: “He was arrested in a sweep in downtown while securing the area for the President's visit to...
Morocco: Tourist stabbings
The famous Nejjarine Square visited by thousands of visitors every year today was the scene of a brutal stabbing attack at against three tourists. Samir and El Glaoui post some updates.
Flooding in Haiti
JoJo at Collectif Haiti de Provence links to a Sunday AlterPresse story on the current flooding in Jean-Rabel, Haiti. The story states (Fr): “The Jean-Rabel community, a town in the northwest of Haiti, is currently facing serious difficulties after 3 days of incessant rains (November 23, 2006). Already at least...
Syria: 8 Syrian Students Face Trial for Starting Discussion Group
On Novermber 28th, 2006 the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) of Syria held the first trial for eight youth arrested for founding a public discussion group on cultural issues, including current cultural and political issues in Syria. No one has heard any news from them for over nine months as...
Arabisc: Bahraini Elections, Dying Children and Confusing Freedom!
Bahrain held its second Parliamentary elections in its modern history this week, with about 300,000 voters going to the polls. Amongst them was Bahraini blogger Haythoo, who hoped his ‘party’ would emerge victorious. أنا الأن متوجه لتغطية العملية الأنتخابية.. أتمنى أن يحالفنا الحظ و نفوز بأكثرية نيابية.. يجب أن نعمل...
The Week That Was in Bahrain
More than 300,000 Bahrainis went to the polls on Saturday to elect 40 Municipal Councillors and another 40 Members of Parliament. This is the second time Bahrainis vote in their modern history, after sweeping reforms initiated in 2002. According to official records, seventy-two per cent of the eligible voters took...
Iraq: Bloodbath in Baghdad
At least 160 people were killed and 260 wounded in a series of coordinated car bombings and mortar attacks in the Shi’ite district of Sadr City, northeast of Baghdad, writes blogger Zeyad in Healing Iraq. He says the death toll is likely to increase as hospitals in Baghdad struggle to...
Bahrain: Three Children Die in Fire
Three children have died when a fire engulfed their Manama home, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif. The fire was caused when the children, aged two to five, tried to light a candle because their parents could not afford to pay their electricity bill.
Palestine: Woman Suicide Bomber
Lucy Widaad from Palestine reports on a woman suicide bomber who killed herself and six others in Gaza. Widaad admits that a 50-year-old woman doesn't fit the profile of a suicide bomber.
Egyptian blogger released
Rantings of a Sandmonkey reports the release of Egyptian blogger Rami Siam, who was in jail for four days “for no crime and without justifiable cause.” Meanwhile, blogger Abdul Karim Nabeel is still in jail for articles he posted on his blog.
Arabisc: One Blogger Arrested..1000s More to Go!
There doesn't seem to be a week passing by without Egyptians and its bloggers rocking the boat and taking the virtual limelight in our part of the world. This week the huge ripples in the Nile are being caused by no other than Egyptian Culture Minister Farooq Hosni, who has...
Madagascar: coup attemp
Coup attempt in Madascar.
The Week That Was in Bahrain
For a small constitutional monarchy, with a population of about 700,000, Bahrain's blogosphere is sure never short of new topics for discussion and debate. This week's new topics include the arrest of two activists, a rally to push authorities to probe what is now commonly referred to in Bahrain as...
Arabisc: Culprits, Democracy and the Rule of Law
Choosing links from 22 different Arab countries for translation is no easy feat..for however much you try and be selective, you cannot be doing the region and its bloggers any justice. Today I have selected the following links, each highlighting a different woe Arab bloggers have to deal with. Our...
Tongan Capital Burns
Riots broke out this afternoon in Tongan capital city Nuku'alofa. Image from Tonga Now Portal Samiuela LV Taufa on Nomoa.com, a community site in Tonga posted this email Today we finally hit the bottom of the bucket. It started with the stoning of the Prime Ministers office at 3:30pm and...
Tonga: Riots in Tongan Capital
Ms. Vakaivosavosa in Fiji has a post on rioting that took place in Nukualofa, the Tongan capital city earlier today. The rioteers were angry at the lack of democratic reforms and they targetted the prime minister's family business. The blogger writes that the riots must be seen as a warning...
Kurdistance: Picking up the pieces
After a month's hiatus, Kurdistance is back up and running…and attempting to pick up the pieces of Kurdish opinion floating out there in the blogosphere. The big issues this month have been the Saddam Hussein verdict, the US in Iraq, and the flooding in Northern Kurdistan/Southeast Turkey. The Saddam Verdict:...
Arabisc: Best Blog Awards Winners and Recurring Nightmares
Arabic blogs are making their mark on the international blogging scene, with more writers and commentators taking to their keyboards and enjoying the thrill of the instant publication of their ideas away from government censorship, newspaper censorship and self-censorship! The BOBS – Best of the Blogs Awards 2006 highlighted a...