Discreet coup or “Jasmine Revolution”, the departure of Tunisia’s despot Zine el Abidene Ben Ali will not end his networked citizens’ calls for reform. Rohan Jayasekera reports
Tunisians will not be easily unplugged again
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CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Tunisia: France’s faux pas
French ministers denied Tunisia was a dictatorship and offered Ben Ali’s regime police support. Myriam Francois-Cerrah explains how France found itself on the backfoot
PLUS: Jillian C York: Tunisia hits the headlines
Rohan Jayasekera: The Middle East’s first cyber war
Yemen: Online news editor arrested
State authorities have arrested Fouad Rashid, editor of the on-line news website Al- Mukalla. The former assistant editor of Al-Massila has been arrested before, on May 4 2009 he was held by police over his coverage of the protests in south Yemen....
Tunisia hits the headlines
As Tunisia’s president sacks the government and calls an early election. Jillian C York reports on revolution the Western media almost missed
Hair dyeing banned for male students
Six months ago Iran’s government outlawed decadent Western hair cuts for men --- ponytails and, at the other extreme, spiky crowns. Guidelines were issued in the form of a catalogue of acceptable styles. Now another dress code has been sent to...
Tunisian unrest plays out in cyberspace
It’s no surprise that the Western media was a little slow to catch up to the unrest in Tunisia. The tiny country sandwiched between Libya and Algeria has always been notoriously opaque to outsiders. Known as one of the world’s most quietly...
Iran: Think tank lists “usurper” publishers
According to opposition website rahesabz a think tank close to the Iranian security apparatus has published a leaflet containing a list of publishers, writers and translators deemed as "usurpers" intent on overthrowing the regime. The publishers...
Kuwait: TV Channel and newspapers shut down
The Kuwaiti satellite channel Mubasher and newspaper Al-Mustaqbal, both owned by Shaikh Fahd Salem Al Ali have been banned by the country's ministry of commerce on a request by the ministry of information. The ministry of commerce...
Iran: Coelho books banned
Brazilian author Paulo Coelho has published a message on his blog claiming his books have been banned in Iran. The Brazilian author has not been given the specific reasons for this action. However he has said that he has been using social networks...
Tunisia: Protesters killed in continuing unrest
At least 14 protesters have been killed in violent demonstrations in the cities of Tala, Kasserine and Rgeb since Saturday amidst continuing anti-government protests. In Tala the Tunisian security force allegedly started firing at protesters who...