Stories about Breaking News from May, 2010
Guatemala: State of Emergency Due to Tropical Storm Agatha
Guatemala is in a state of emergency. In addition to the active Pacaya volcano that has caused evacuations and damages, Tropical Storm Agatha has hit the country, causing many disappearances and deaths in the poorest regions.
Russia: Photos and Live Tweets of the Dispersal of the “Day of Dissent”
Bloggers nl [RUS], zyalt [RUS], Igor Podgorny [RUS] post pictures of the dispersal of today's “Day of Dissent” that is conducted on the 31st day of the month in order to celebrate 31st article of the Russian Constitution [EN] (freedom of assembly). Abstract2001 reports [RUS] at least 25 people arrested,...
MENA: Rage after Israel Attacks Gaza-bound Flotilla
Emotions are running high across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), after Israel attacked a peaceful flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza - and the Twittersphere is ablaze. Also, are tweets commenting on the situation being censored?
Russia: Journalist's Blog Hacked
Both LiveJournal (sina-ja-mina) and Facebook accounts of Andrei Maltsev [RUS], journalist and blogger, were hacked on May 31, Vladimir Pribylovski reported [RUS]. This is the fourth blog hack this year and the third during the previous week (Following hack attacks of Maxim Sviridenkov [EN] and Renata Guseletova (aka demonessa22 [RUS])).
Jamaica: Carrying on, but Counting the Cost
Jamaica is doing its level best to carry on in the face of the disorder that the signing of an extradition order for suspected drug and arms trafficker Christopher 'Dudus' Coke has caused in the island nation's capital.
Bangladesh: Facebook Temporarily Blocked
Bangladesh has become the second country in Asia after Pakistan to block the entire Facebook domain. Bangladeshi bloggers are expressing their astonishment, anger and protest against this ban.
Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano Erupts and Spreads Ash
In Ecuador, the Mama Tungurahua volcano erupted on Friday, May 28 canceling school classes, closing the international airport, forcing some residents to evacuate their towns, and spreading ash all across the region.
Guatemala: Cleaning Up the Ash from Pacaya Volcano
Gustavo Reyes posts this Twitpic of workers cleaning the ash from the Pacaya volcano eruption in Guatemala.
Pakistan: Minorities At Peril
“The thirty years of state sponsored “true” Islam is showing its colors. In Pakistan all the minorities are constantly harassed and state’s protection has often proved completely ineffective when a serious attack occurs,” comments Raza Habib Raja at Pak Tea House while discussing the attacks on the religious sites of...
Russia: Blogger and Activist Arrested for Viral Video
Leonid Nikolaev (aka LJ-user nikolaevleo) the main actor in the recent viral video against cars using emergency vehicle lighting had been arrested, lj-user halfaman reported. The blogger suggests the arrest is provoked by the video Leonid took part in.
Guatemala: Pacaya Volcano Causes State of National Calamity
Regions in Guatemala have been declared by President Colom in "state of calamity" after the Pacaya volcano increased its activity: the airport is closed, villages have been evacuated, people are missing and injured and one camera man is dead.
Israel: The Freedom Flotilla – PR Stunt or Humanitarian Act?
Nine ships sailing from various destinations, including Ireland, Turkey and Greece, are headed towards the Gaza Strip, with the goal of breaking the Israeli maritime blockade. Gilad Lotan takes a closer look at reactions from the Hebrew blogosphere.
Jamaica: Dudus, Security & Seaga
In the Tivoli Gardens area of Jamaica's capital city – home turf of alleged drug lord Michael Christopher “Dudus” Coke and epicentre of the unrest that has gripped the Caribbean nation for the past several days – the loyalties are clear, at least from those who care to be vocal about...
Jamaica: Latest Updates
Twitter has been buzzing with the latest developments regarding Jamaica's state of emergency. Things began to look "much better" late yesterday: wanted men were turning themselves in, one international mainstream television station was reportedly going to "apologise for [its] 'inaccurate report'" (although some tweeple were of the opinion that "an apology [was] not enough") and all seemed quiet in areas that had previously been fierce battlegrounds.
Jamaica: Situation Improving?
Four days into the state of emergency imposed on the Jamaican capital, the situation is becoming clearer - not simply in terms of statistics - but in understanding the chain of events that led to the current impasse. There are also reports that life in the capital city may slowly be returning to normal.
Russia: Explosion in Stavropol
Miriam Elder reports at GlobalPost on the explosion in Stavropol, which took place next to a centrally-located concert hall shortly before a Chechen folk dance troupe was to perform there. LJ user dimazelensky, whose office is inside the concert hall building, wrote (RUS) that the police had cordoned it off...
Jamaica: Bloggers Look at the Lighter Side
West Indians have a saying, "If you don't laugh, you'll cry." Certainly, the current wave of violence in Jamaica - is nothing to laugh about. But after days of sobering news, bloggers clearly needed to seek out the amusing aspects of an otherwise untenable situation.
Russia: Another Top Blogger Hacked
Site of one of the top Russian bloggers Maxim Sviridenkov [RUS] (#16 in Yandex rating [RUS]) had been hacked today, Vladimir Pribylovski reported [RUS]. The site was defaced and the content deleted. This is the second [EN] top blogger hacked this year.
Trinidad and Tobago: Election Landslide
After a snap election ends the rule of Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Trinidadian bloggers react to the new People's Partnership coalition government, led by the country's first female prime minister.
Jamaica: Women of Tivoli Gardens
“If these women pass on this attitude of craven gratitude and dependence on a don to their children, how will the cycle ever be broken?”: Islandista looks at the role of women in the Jamaica crisis.
Jamaica: Citizen Media Follows the Standoff
A study in extremes is perhaps how the last 24 hours in the Caribbean region could be adequately described: As Trinidad and Tobago peacefully went to the polls and elected its first female Prime Minister, Jamaica was facing more violent unrest.