2009

NPR: Weekend Edition Sunday, March 1, 2009: Reporter Roxana Saberi, who has reported from Tehran for NPR News and other news organizations, was detained by Iranian authorities Jan. 31. The last time her family spoke with her was Feb. 10, 2009. NYT: TEHRAN — Iran has arrested an Iranian-American reporter who worked for National Public Radio and other news organizations out of Iran, her father told N.P.R. on Sunday. The father, Reza Saberi, said that his daughter, Roxana Saberi, 31,…

So I’m at Lift today in Geneva, covering it for CBC’s Spark. I’ve met and had great conversations with Mark A.M. Kramer, Vittorio Mischi, and Lee Bryant. All truly, truly fascinating people. This is the best conference, bar none, that I’ve been to in a long time. If you’ve just started following me on Twitter, or saw/met me here at the conference, come say hi!

Estonian Declaration of Independence, 24 February 1918 MANIFESTO To All The Peoples of Estonia Never in the course of centuries have the Estonian people lost their ardent desire for Independence. From generation to generation Estonians have kept alive the secret hope that in spite of enslavement and oppression by other nations the time will come in Estonia “when all splinters, at both end, will burst forth into flames” and when “Kalev will come home to bring his children happiness.” Now…

Our first round of photos from our Germany trip are up.

PC World, February 20 2009: by Cyrus Farivar In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, recently enacted by Congress, many details regarding the allocation of funds for high-tech projects remain blurry. Nevertheless, the nation’s tech community appears to be encouraged by the $7.2 billion provision for broadband in the near $789 billion economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama earlier this week. Many observers believe that the allocation is a clear first step toward establishing…

The Wall Street Journal, February 10 2009: But last spring, some of the temple’s neighbors decided they’d had their fill. They asked the city’s zoning board to shut down what they call a “commercial enterprise” operating in a residential zone. At a public hearing, a dozen neighborhood opponents sounded off: Some said they couldn’t stand the “offensive odors” of Thai food being prepared; others objected to litter, traffic and clanging pots early in the morning. One compared the temple to…

So former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) has just announced that he’s running for president in the upcoming June 12 2009. That’s flippin’ interesting, man. Let’s see if he’s allowed to stand for election. Don’t forget that this is the guy who told the BBC in 2006 that wearing a hejab was a “personal choice.” Here’s what my cousin, Karim Sadjadpour, told the Los Angeles Times in an interview: “If it’s a totally free and fair election, Khatami stands a…

I had the honor of being interviewed (again!) by Marco Werman on “The World” today to talk about the relationship of the Estonian economy to technology. It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams): New York – 3 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org Washington, DC – 8 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org Los Angeles – 12 pm Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg Boston –…

Financial Mail (South Africa), February 6 2009: Trading looks set to become more difficult in Iran for SA-based emerging markets cellular network operator MTN. The telecommunications group is about to face a spirited new competitor in the Islamic republic in the form of Etisalat. United Arab Emirates-based Etisalat, which claims it has 74m customers, mainly in the Middle East, plans to invest billions of dollars in the next few years building a network to rival Irancell. MTN holds a 49%…

AFP, February 1 2009: But Estonia slid into recession in 2008 as rampant inflation dented domestic consumption. The global economic crisis compounded the bleak picture by hitting exports — as well as the tourist trade, as many would-be foreign visitors stay at home. The economy contracted by an estimated 2.8 percent in 2008. Authorities expect it to shrink by 4.5 percent this year, although analysts say it may plunge by as much as 7.0 percent. Dozens of hotels built in…