Stories about Breaking News from July, 2008
Serbia: African Bloggers’ Reactions to Karadžić's Arrest
After news broke on Monday night that former Bosnian Serb leader and one of the world’s most wanted men Radovan Karadžić had been arrested, astonished bloggers in the Balkans and all around the world started reacting to the story. And because of the recent request by the ICC's prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to indict Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, some bloggers have been making comparisons between the two cases.
Israel: Jerusalem Suffers Copycat Terrorist Attack
Jerusalem Terror Attack– Breaking news in the Israeli mainstream news and blogosphere reports that a man driving a bulldozer ploughed down the streets of Jerusalem in a mad rampage, mimicking the tractor attack of 20 days past. An estimated 24 people were wounded and three killed when armed civilian Yaakov...
Serbia: Radovan Karadzic was Disguised as a Doctor
Radovan Karadzic lived in Belgrade under false name of Dragan David Dabic. He was disguised as an alternative medicine doctor and even worked in one private clinic in Belgrade. He also was a contributor to the Healthy Life magazine and took part in forums and lectures, gathering up to several hundred people. At the time of the arrest, Radovan Karadzic (aka Dragan Dabic) had long hair and a white beard. Sinisa Boljanovic translates Serbian bloggers' reactions to this astonishing piece of news.
Sudan: UN peacekeeper attacked, Iran opposes ICC action
John Boonstra at The UN Dispatch reports that a security officer working with the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been assaulted by Sudanese Government military personnel. He also reports that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vocally defended his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir.
Zimbabwe: Open letter from Tsvangirai on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding
This is Zimbabwe posted an open letter from the President of the leader of the opposition Morgan Tsvangirai on yesterday's signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
China: Bus-bomb attack creates panic and indignation
The bus-bomb attack on 17 shocked not only the city but also China, that people suddenly feel how close terrorism is. The attack is characterized by that it is against innocent people rather than the authority, making it special among the recent unrests. Is it a harbinger, or just another ramdom event?
Serbia: Local Bloggers Discuss the Arrest of Radovan Karadžić
Just a few days after the 13th anniversary of the massacre in Srebrenica, in which over 7,000 people, most of them Muslim civilians, were killed, Radovan Karadzic, former president of Republika Srpska, is arrested. Many bloggers from the Serbian blogosphere were surprised by the news. Below are the first reactions from some of them.
The Balkans, Russia: Radovan Karadžić
According to reports, former Bosnian Serb leader and one of the world’s most wanted war criminals Radovan Karadžić has been arrested in Serbia on Monday night. Below are some of the initial reactions from bloggers.
China: Bloggers take stand against web activist's arrest
"We would hate to see this case become yet another dismal human rights record raising international attention in the midst of this Olympic year. We regret to suspect, however, that the Chengdu police are at present committed to doing as much."
Cambodian and Thai Bloggers on Disputed Preah Vihear Temple
Rising serious tension between Cambodia and Thailand started when UNESCO, on July 7, 2008, declared temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. The 11th century temple has long been a subject to dispute between the two nations; in 1962, Hague-based International Court of Justice ruled that the ancient Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia.
Japan: Is it all over for Mainichi?
Nobuo Ikeda writes in English and in Japanese about the latest step in the drawn-out WaiWai controversy: after a string of earlier statements, Mainichi has issued a 3-page-long official apology, in which it pledges “to rehabilitate [Mainichi Daily News] into a site that can dispatch information to the world that...
Sudan: Reactions to the ICC charges against al-Bashir
Since the ICC's prosecutor asked for an arrest warrant for President al-Bashir of Sudan a few days ago, there haven't been many big reactions in the Sudanese blogosphere (although we covered reactions of several bloggers elsewhere in Africa in this roundup). However, the Sudanese debate has been alive and full of passion on Facebook.
Israel: Why did Israel Approve the Hezbollah Deal?
A day after the controversial deal with Hezbollah, many Israelis are still puzzled and disappointed. Puzzled over why their government accepted the terms of this deal, knowing that the kidnapped soldiers were not alive. How did the government and security entities approve handing back live prisoners with blood on their hands for dead bodies?
Palestine: The Word of the Israeli Against that of an Arab
A few days after the release of Lebanese Samir Kuntar from three decades in an Israeli prison, Palestinians bloggers are reminded that when it is the word of an Israeli against that of an Arab, the Israeli's will always be the one to be considered.
Tunisia: Where are the State Funerals?
Eight Tunisians were among the 197 bodies handed over by Israel to Lebanon, in the latest prisoner swap between the two countries. Tunisian bloggers are calling for the return of their remains to their country - and honouring the dead in a state funeral.
Israel: The Israeli failure and the Lebanese Radicalization
“The prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hezbollah is a forlorn expression of the failed second Lebanon war and the lack of firm policy in the Israeli government. We follow all the norms of international law while the other side educates to kill,” writes Zvi Mazel [he].
Lebanon: Return of Prisoners – Part 2
Moussa Bashir takes a second look at the posts of Lebanese bloggers and their reactions to the latest prisoner swap with Israel. While some are celebrating - others are warning that the swap is yet another victory of Hezbollah. More reactions to follow soon.
Philippines: Moro rebellion to end soon?
The Philippine government and Moro rebels announced a breakthrough in the peace negotiations. An agreement will be announced soon. Bong Montesa speculates about the content of the agreement.
Israel: Intense Emotions Over the Hezbollah Prisoner Exchange
Wednesday, July 16th, was a day of mourning all across Israel. Hopes for the slight possibility that the approved prisoner exchange deal with Hizbollah will bring the two abducted soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, back home alive were shattered as their coffins were transported across the border. Gilad Lotan brings us reactions from the Israeli blogopshere.
France: Morrocan Woman Denied Citizenship
Blogger Sabria Jawhar writing for Arabisto comments on the recent French ruling denying citizenship to a Moroccan woman for wearing a “burqa”.
African bloggers react to ICC charges against Sudanese President al-Bashir
Bloggers from around the world are reacting to the International Criminal Court's recent recommendation that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir be charged with multiple counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many of those bloggers are criticizing the potential indictments, claiming they are difficult to enforce and that they will bring more unrest to an already unstable nation.
