Thailand Shuts Political-Site

Thai authorities have closed a Web site that spoke out against the monarchy, the site's operator said Sunday, in a move to punish critics.

The Information-Ministry threatened local Internet provider Netservice with closure unless it took the action against sameskybooks.com, which was closed Friday.

The Thai government routinely blocks Web sites, mostly because of political content deemed sympathetic to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Via AP

Bhutan: Monarchy to Democracy

Voters in the remote Himalayan nation of Bhutan are heading to the-polls in a key step towards the ending of almost a century of absolute monarchy.

About 300,000 Bhutanese are eligible to vote. International observers from India, the US, Australia and the United Nations will be monitoring the election.

Bhutan's transition to democracy began when former King Jigme-Singhye-Wangchuck announced he was handing over power to his Oxford educated son and transforming the monarchy.

Via AlJazeera