· May, 2009

Stories from Quick Reads from May, 2009

Iran:'Photoland’ and election

Mohammad Ali Abtahi,former vice president, informs[fa] us that Mehdi Karroubi‘s supportes have launched a site named ‘Photoland’ where people can publish the photos. The site has proposed Iranians to send their photos on potatoes. It seems government's free potatoes distribution is still a hot topic in country.

Japan: Nova under G-Education

  28 May 2009

Koichi gives us a rare glimpse of life after the collapse of giant English school Nova at ‘Post-Nova Bust: How is G-Education for teaching English in Japan?‘. [en] His blog post is an interview with a teacher who worked for both Nova and G-Education, the company that bought them out.

China: 2009 Chinese Internet Research Conference

  28 May 2009

The 2009 Chinese Internet Research Conference started yesterday (May 27) at the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Ethan and Lokman have written their first day notes on the presentations in the conference in their blogs at My heart's in Accra and Global voices, one world. You...

China: Chinese study abroad students not welcomed back

  28 May 2009

Some local netizens are criticizing students returning from abroad for bringing swine flu back home. Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a conversation between students studying abroad and local netizens on the antagonistic sentiment brought by the swine flu.

Singapore: First swine flu case

  28 May 2009

The dreaded and deadly Influenza A (H1N1) virus has arrived in Singapore already. The city state confirms it is treating a patient who tested positive for swine flu.

Japan and Korea: Nuclear test and missiles

  27 May 2009

Are you surprised that North Korea conducted another nuclear test? And fired more short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan? Ampontan made a list of surprises to comment on the new round of North Korea nuclear and missile test.

India: The Kuri System

  27 May 2009

Mady writes about the “kuri” system of Kerala, which is sort of a chit fund system: “evolving from a noble social purpose, it grew to become a lucrative and unregulated business.”

Pakistan: Another Suicide Attack In Lahore

  27 May 2009

Lahore Metblogs reports that 10 people have been killed and close to 100 people were injured as yet another suicide attack was launched in Lahore targeting a police building. Five Rupees predicts that this is the work of the Talibans in response to the Army offensive in North West Frontier...

Bangladesh: Cyclone Aila Relief Efforts

  27 May 2009

The death toll from the destruction of cyclone Aila, which wreaked havoc in India and Bangladesh, is rising and more than 150 people had died in Bangladesh alone. The tidal waves caused by the storm has made hundreds of thousands homeless. BRAC blog writes about the cyclone Aila relief efforts.

Cuba: Gay Expression

  27 May 2009

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense says of the arrest of the President of the Cuban Lesbian, Gay, Transexual and Bisexual Foundation: “After 50 years, the Castro dictatorship has yet to get over its hang-ups over Cubans – gay or straight – expressing themselves.”

Barbados: Inquest Begins

  27 May 2009

“Some three years after Bajan fisherfolk made the grim discovery of a boat full of bodies off our coast, Barbados is holding an inquest into the deaths of the African migrants who perished trying to journey to Europe”: Barbados Free Press hopes that the local media will closely follow developments.

Bermuda: Gang Violence

  27 May 2009

“I find the gang violence and drive-by shootings this weekend too depressing to write about. WTF Bermuda?”: Still, Vexed Bermoothes manages to throw out some constructive ideas.