Malaysia
eweek.com, Malaysia Internet Ban on Anti-Government Web Site Draws Outcry, 29 Aug 08
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Strategy
SC Magazine, Cyberspace and the changing nature of warfare, n.d. "The internet is changing much of life as we know it, to include the nature and conduct of warfare. At times, cyber tools and tactics will favor nations robust in information technology, but the internet is a prodigious tool for a weaker party to attack a stronger conventional foe. As with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the dynamic, asymmetric, and stillevolving nature of cyber attacks makes all aspects of cyber defense – including detection, analysis, investigation, prosecution, retaliation, and more – critical questions for national security planners to answer." Overview, with some interesting examples. The writer is Kenneth Geers, U.S. Representative (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), Cooperative Cyber Defense, Center of Excellence, based in Tallinn, Estonia.
SC Magazine, Cyberspace and the changing nature of warfare, n.d. "The internet is changing much of life as we know it, to include the nature and conduct of warfare. At times, cyber tools and tactics will favor nations robust in information technology, but the internet is a prodigious tool for a weaker party to attack a stronger conventional foe. As with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the dynamic, asymmetric, and stillevolving nature of cyber attacks makes all aspects of cyber defense – including detection, analysis, investigation, prosecution, retaliation, and more – critical questions for national security planners to answer." Overview, with some interesting examples. The writer is Kenneth Geers, U.S. Representative (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), Cooperative Cyber Defense, Center of Excellence, based in Tallinn, Estonia.
Digital Divide
ameinfo.com, Microsoft, Intel and DTK Computer launch 'Netbook' in Middle East "Microsoft Gulf, Intel and DTK Computer today announced the launch of a new ultra-portable, low-cost 'Netbook' in the Middle East in an aim to bridge the digital divide and increase computer penetration in the region." - designed as an accessible and inexpensive computer (spec looks ok) - this is an advertorial.
ameinfo.com, Microsoft, Intel and DTK Computer launch 'Netbook' in Middle East "Microsoft Gulf, Intel and DTK Computer today announced the launch of a new ultra-portable, low-cost 'Netbook' in the Middle East in an aim to bridge the digital divide and increase computer penetration in the region." - designed as an accessible and inexpensive computer (spec looks ok) - this is an advertorial.
Egypt
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (Cairo)/allafrica.com, Egypt: Blogger Arrested, Faces Charges Under State of Emergency Law "On 23 August 2008, ANHRI and the Hisham Mubarak Law Center reported that the state security investigation agency had decided to keep in prison Mohamed Refaat, editor of the blog Matabbat, http://matabbat.blogspot.com . The authorities have turned a blind eye to a 17 August supreme state security prosecution order calling for the young blogger's release."
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (Cairo)/allafrica.com, Egypt: Blogger Arrested, Faces Charges Under State of Emergency Law "On 23 August 2008, ANHRI and the Hisham Mubarak Law Center reported that the state security investigation agency had decided to keep in prison Mohamed Refaat, editor of the blog Matabbat, http://matabbat.blogspot.com . The authorities have turned a blind eye to a 17 August supreme state security prosecution order calling for the young blogger's release."
Nigeria
Vanguard (Lagos)/allafrica.com, Nigeria: Country On Threshold of Broadband Revolution - Ndukwe, 27 August 2008 "The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said broadband services are within the doorsteps of the country as some operators have begun offering these services on wireless platforms ahead of a State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, SABI, designed by the Commission to take broadband infrastructure to all the 36 state capitals of the country as well as urban and semi urban centres."
Vanguard (Lagos)/allafrica.com, Nigeria: Country On Threshold of Broadband Revolution - Ndukwe, 27 August 2008 "The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said broadband services are within the doorsteps of the country as some operators have begun offering these services on wireless platforms ahead of a State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, SABI, designed by the Commission to take broadband infrastructure to all the 36 state capitals of the country as well as urban and semi urban centres."
Israel
Reuters/Yahoo, Israeli peace pioneer Abie Nathan dies at 81, 27 Aug 08 "Nathan famously piloted a private plane, dubbed Shalom (Peace) 1, to then enemy Egypt in 1966 and was twice imprisoned by Israel for meeting Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat in the late 1980s and early 1990s when such contacts were illegal." Non-tech.
Reuters/Yahoo, Israeli peace pioneer Abie Nathan dies at 81, 27 Aug 08 "Nathan famously piloted a private plane, dubbed Shalom (Peace) 1, to then enemy Egypt in 1966 and was twice imprisoned by Israel for meeting Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat in the late 1980s and early 1990s when such contacts were illegal." Non-tech.
Comedy
Interview with Ahmed Ahmed, from the Axis of Evil comedian tour.
Khaleej Times, Axis of Fun, 27 Aug 08 "With the media industry in particular booming at the moment there is a steady demand for quality acts and their wares. "I love touring the Middle East," Ahmed continued. "We tour the region and find the majority of our audience are Arab or Arab Americans which is cool because it means you have made an impact with the people that share the same heritage. Everyone in the region is pretty well clued up on pop culture and I guess we have to thank the internet and Youtube for that. Without them what we speak about and who we are wouldn't be as well known so it would be increasingly difficult to get the joke across.""
Interview with Ahmed Ahmed, from the Axis of Evil comedian tour.
Khaleej Times, Axis of Fun, 27 Aug 08 "With the media industry in particular booming at the moment there is a steady demand for quality acts and their wares. "I love touring the Middle East," Ahmed continued. "We tour the region and find the majority of our audience are Arab or Arab Americans which is cool because it means you have made an impact with the people that share the same heritage. Everyone in the region is pretty well clued up on pop culture and I guess we have to thank the internet and Youtube for that. Without them what we speak about and who we are wouldn't be as well known so it would be increasingly difficult to get the joke across.""
aQ
Strategy Page, Al Qaeda Media Massacre, 27 Aug 08 "Over the last few months, al Qaedas Internet propaganda department has been virtually destroyed. The most visible evidence of that is the sharp decline in al Qaeda press releases (often accompanied by vids of attacks on U.S. or Iraqi troops). Last year, there were as many as 200 of these items a month. Over the past few months, this fell over 90 percent."
Strategy Page, Al Qaeda Media Massacre, 27 Aug 08 "Over the last few months, al Qaedas Internet propaganda department has been virtually destroyed. The most visible evidence of that is the sharp decline in al Qaeda press releases (often accompanied by vids of attacks on U.S. or Iraqi troops). Last year, there were as many as 200 of these items a month. Over the past few months, this fell over 90 percent."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim
The Star Online, Opposition chooses Anwar as new Opposition Leader, 27 Aug 08 Relevant to this blog, in the ways in which Anwar Ibrahim's campaign team have applied the internet over the years as a critical element in their activities.
Also see Reuters, Malaysia's Islamists endorse Anwar, PM pressured, 27 Aug 08 "Malaysia's Islamist party, a key partner in Anwar Ibrahim's opposition coalition, moved quickly to endorse him on Wednesday, removing a major obstacle in his push to win power."
The Star Online, Opposition chooses Anwar as new Opposition Leader, 27 Aug 08 Relevant to this blog, in the ways in which Anwar Ibrahim's campaign team have applied the internet over the years as a critical element in their activities.
Also see Reuters, Malaysia's Islamists endorse Anwar, PM pressured, 27 Aug 08 "Malaysia's Islamist party, a key partner in Anwar Ibrahim's opposition coalition, moved quickly to endorse him on Wednesday, removing a major obstacle in his push to win power."
Academic Freedom Issues
Sally Hunt, Comment is Free, Guardian, Research on terrorism is invaluable - but we do it under fear of arrest, 26 Aug 08 "The arrest of a student and a staff member at Nottingham University under the Terrorism Act in May highlighted the levels of confusion in our universities around academic freedom, sensitive research areas and violent extremism. Hicham Yezza and Rizwaan Sabir were arrested because Sabir had emailed Yezza a declassified open-source document, called the al-Qaida Training Manual, available on a US government website." Sally Hunt is general secretary of the University and College Union in the UK, and she makes some useful comments in this opinion piece.
Also see previous posts, and Hicham Yezza, Comment is Free, Guardian, Britain's terror laws have left me and my family shattered, 18 Aug 08.
Related websites include Free Hicham which in turn links to other groups and sites.
Sally Hunt, Comment is Free, Guardian, Research on terrorism is invaluable - but we do it under fear of arrest, 26 Aug 08 "The arrest of a student and a staff member at Nottingham University under the Terrorism Act in May highlighted the levels of confusion in our universities around academic freedom, sensitive research areas and violent extremism. Hicham Yezza and Rizwaan Sabir were arrested because Sabir had emailed Yezza a declassified open-source document, called the al-Qaida Training Manual, available on a US government website." Sally Hunt is general secretary of the University and College Union in the UK, and she makes some useful comments in this opinion piece.
Also see previous posts, and Hicham Yezza, Comment is Free, Guardian, Britain's terror laws have left me and my family shattered, 18 Aug 08.
Related websites include Free Hicham which in turn links to other groups and sites.
"al-Qaeda in Britain"
Reuters, Police arrest two over Brown death threats, 27 Aug 08 "Media reports have said police investigations concern threats posted on a Jihadi website in January by a group calling itself al-Qaeda in Britain to mount suicide attacks on Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair unless Britain withdraws its troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. It also demanded the release of Muslims imprisoned in Britain.
"The posting appeared on www.alekhlaas.net, a site which hosts a catalogue of Islamist messages, musings and writings and has been visited by more than 17 million people."
Not sure where they get the stats from on that, or how reliable they are.
Also see extensive coverage elsewhere, including This is London, Fifth suspect arrested over 'Islamic internet plot to kill Gordon Brown', 27 Aug 08
Reuters, Police arrest two over Brown death threats, 27 Aug 08 "Media reports have said police investigations concern threats posted on a Jihadi website in January by a group calling itself al-Qaeda in Britain to mount suicide attacks on Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair unless Britain withdraws its troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. It also demanded the release of Muslims imprisoned in Britain.
"The posting appeared on www.alekhlaas.net, a site which hosts a catalogue of Islamist messages, musings and writings and has been visited by more than 17 million people."
Not sure where they get the stats from on that, or how reliable they are.
Also see extensive coverage elsewhere, including This is London, Fifth suspect arrested over 'Islamic internet plot to kill Gordon Brown', 27 Aug 08
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Turkey YouTube
Guardian, Turkish court lifts YouTube ban after online censorship protest, 26 Aug 08 "A court in Turkey has lifted a ban on YouTube, the video sharing website, after hundreds of sites voluntarily blocked themselves in protest at growing internet censorship."
Guardian, Turkish court lifts YouTube ban after online censorship protest, 26 Aug 08 "A court in Turkey has lifted a ban on YouTube, the video sharing website, after hundreds of sites voluntarily blocked themselves in protest at growing internet censorship."
Ramadan
Moonwatch, "For the Muslim community, the sighting of this crescent moon will signal the beginning of Ramadan. Although new moon occurs on August 30th, it is extremely unlikely that any sighting of the crescent moon will be made that day. The first naked-eye sighting of the crescent moon may be made from southern Africa or, more likely, from South America on August 31st. Most of the world south of a latitude of about 40° north should see it easily on September 1st. However, it is most unlikely that it will seen from the United Kingdom until September 1st or, more likely, September 2nd. Consequently, we would like to encourage observers to try and observe the new crescent moon from August 30th to September 2nd in particular."
Plenty of resources on Ramadan are available online. These include the portal ramadan.co.uk and Radio Ramadan (although at present, that has an 07 date on). There is another list on tijarapages.com, Muslim Radio Ramadan Broadcasters in United Kingdom. An example of a Ramadan radio station can be found at UnityFM.
Moonwatch, "For the Muslim community, the sighting of this crescent moon will signal the beginning of Ramadan. Although new moon occurs on August 30th, it is extremely unlikely that any sighting of the crescent moon will be made that day. The first naked-eye sighting of the crescent moon may be made from southern Africa or, more likely, from South America on August 31st. Most of the world south of a latitude of about 40° north should see it easily on September 1st. However, it is most unlikely that it will seen from the United Kingdom until September 1st or, more likely, September 2nd. Consequently, we would like to encourage observers to try and observe the new crescent moon from August 30th to September 2nd in particular."
Plenty of resources on Ramadan are available online. These include the portal ramadan.co.uk and Radio Ramadan (although at present, that has an 07 date on). There is another list on tijarapages.com, Muslim Radio Ramadan Broadcasters in United Kingdom. An example of a Ramadan radio station can be found at UnityFM.
Malaysia
The Star, Cyberathletes get PM’s blessings, 25 Aug 08 "Six Malaysian youths created history last week by being the first Malaysian professional gamers to meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."
The Star, Cyberathletes get PM’s blessings, 25 Aug 08 "Six Malaysian youths created history last week by being the first Malaysian professional gamers to meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."
Op-ed
tripolipost.com, Zainab Al-Arabi, Opinion: Muslim Women and the Internet, 26 Aug 08 "What I have found to be very remarkable while searching the net, is the enormous number of personal websites and blogsites created by Muslim women all over the world, namely in the United States and Canada."
tripolipost.com, Zainab Al-Arabi, Opinion: Muslim Women and the Internet, 26 Aug 08 "What I have found to be very remarkable while searching the net, is the enormous number of personal websites and blogsites created by Muslim women all over the world, namely in the United States and Canada."
Prosecutions
Independent, UK's youngest terrorist convicted of bomb plot, 19 Aug 08 "A schoolboy who possessed a guide to making napalm on his computer and had notes on martyrdom under his bed became Britain's youngest convicted terrorist yesterday."
Also see this blog posting/opinion piece by Michael Asher:
dailytech.com, British Schoolboy Convicted of Downloading Material from Internet, 20 Aug 08 "In a modern society that runs on information, illegalizing the possession of certain kinds of knowledge is a very slippery slope. As a college student in the 1980s, I myself downloaded much of the same information Munshi did -- though it came from online BBSes rather than the then-nonexistent Internet. I certainly had no plans to kill anyone. If Munshi had such plans, he should have been charged with them, rather than what he was."
Independent, UK's youngest terrorist convicted of bomb plot, 19 Aug 08 "A schoolboy who possessed a guide to making napalm on his computer and had notes on martyrdom under his bed became Britain's youngest convicted terrorist yesterday."
Also see this blog posting/opinion piece by Michael Asher:
dailytech.com, British Schoolboy Convicted of Downloading Material from Internet, 20 Aug 08 "In a modern society that runs on information, illegalizing the possession of certain kinds of knowledge is a very slippery slope. As a college student in the 1980s, I myself downloaded much of the same information Munshi did -- though it came from online BBSes rather than the then-nonexistent Internet. I certainly had no plans to kill anyone. If Munshi had such plans, he should have been charged with them, rather than what he was."
TV
foxbusiness.com, New Arabic Online Network Unveils Premier Global Television Service, 25 Aug 08 "JumpTV Inc. (TSX/AIM: JTV) and NeuLion Inc., leading providers of live and on-demand international and sports programming over the Internet, announced today the launch of a new online service -- www.talfazat.com -- that delivers the largest selection of live and on-demand Arabic television content available anywhere. Talfazat.com offers Arabs worldwide an opportunity to tune into their favorite live television channels or on-demand programs with a simple Internet connection." advertorial
foxbusiness.com, New Arabic Online Network Unveils Premier Global Television Service, 25 Aug 08 "JumpTV Inc. (TSX/AIM: JTV) and NeuLion Inc., leading providers of live and on-demand international and sports programming over the Internet, announced today the launch of a new online service -- www.talfazat.com -- that delivers the largest selection of live and on-demand Arabic television content available anywhere. Talfazat.com offers Arabs worldwide an opportunity to tune into their favorite live television channels or on-demand programs with a simple Internet connection." advertorial
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