Around The Blogosphere 18 August 08

Kizzie Shawkat is the pen name of the author responsible for the I Have No Tribe, I'm Sudanese blog (a teeny-tiny graphic representation of her blog is to the right). Kizzie is a Sudanese woman and student of communications and sociology in Cairo. Born in Sudan, Kizzie grew up in Libya, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and defines herself as an "African pro-choice creative muslim pro-female-education poetic developing tri-linguist anti-racism mad-about-books theatre-lover female." Interviewed by the Arab Press Network, Kizzie explains why she blogs and how she hopes it will make the world a better place.

China: Great pity for Liu's Achilles tendon

Fans "can't believe he's out"...

Cries of stunned Chinese fans rang through the "Bird's Nest" as the dream of seeing their hero defend his Olympic title on home soil was unexpectedly shattered.

In front of large screens set up in restaurants and public plazas, surprised crowds heatedly argued about his shock withdrawal from the Beijing Olympic Games on Monday.

The cameras of CCTV, the country's national television broadcaster, followed Liu Xiang as soon as the 25-year-old star appeared on the track in his first-round heat for the 110-meter hurdles. The tension and anticipation was high in the sold-out stadium as a helicopter hovered above, poised to capture "Air Liu" defending his crown.

But the Shanghai native winced in pain after leaping over only a few hurdles in warm-up. A right foot injury was obviously hindering his movement as he staggered back to the starting point.

After a false start by one of his competitors, Liu tore the starting number from his leg and left the track. It was then that the shocked spectators learned of his withdrawal.

Jin Hye-ji from Ohmynews interviewed several Chinese students from different communities on sensitive issues concerning the Olympics.

Olympians in Lenovo Blogger Program Open a Channel to Fans ... Some of the leading bloggers among the more than 100 athletes in the program agree that blogs are a way to provide insight into the minds of athletes.

A Filipino doctor-blogger reports that two municipalities in a southern Philippine province were invaded by rebels: “School has been torched, houses are burning. People there are racing to the coasts for protection. A steady stream of refugees is being observed from the checkpoint. This is war.”

Speaking of war, Global Voices' Amira Al Hussaini writes "Bloggers in the Middle East are closely following the developments in Georgia, with some saying it could usher in World War Three." She offers a quick review of what bloggers in Yemen and Jordan are writing in a post titled "Third World War in the Making."

Georgian television reporter Tamara Urushadze was shot in the arm today while reporting on live TV. Unbelievably she tries to continue her report as colleagues bandage her up. In the dramatic footage she says that her arm had been grazed by a sniper bullet.