· September, 2010

Stories from Quick Reads from September, 2010

Mexico: Landslide in Oaxaca Buries 300 Homes

  28 September 2010

Erwin from The Latin Americanist writes: “In a piece of breaking news hundreds of people are feared to be trapped in the Mexican state of Oaxaca as a result of a massive landslide during the overnight hours.”

Russia: Moscow Mayor's Dismissal

RuNet Echo  28 September 2010

Today, the main topic of all discussions in the RuNet is the dismissal of Yuri Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow. While some bloggers (1 [RUS], 2 [RUS]) consider it a victory of the opposition, others say, nothing had changed [RUS] – mayor's team is on it's place. Zyalt posts [RUS] pictures...

Bermuda: “Mockumentary”?

  28 September 2010

Of “the corporate-style movie…that has appeared on the Internet polishing the Premier’s image as a popular leader”, Vexed Bermoothes says it is akin to “what BP might undertake to restore its image after the debilitating Gulf oil spill.”

Bahamas: Straw Saga

  28 September 2010

Jerome Pinder at Weblog Bahamas says that the straw vendors who have been charged in the United States for the purchase and export of knock off luxury goods “have become the symbol of a lawless society.”

Trinidad & Tobago: MATT's Role

  28 September 2010

“I know in a democracy it is only right for everyone to have their say. Even in criticising you, MATT. But when the criticism becomes mere target practice, it’s time for us to grow up and look at MATT not as the enemy but as a vessel for all of...

Kenya: Winners of Kenyan Conversations Competition

  28 September 2010

StoryMoja announces the winners of Kenyan Conversations Picture Prompt Writing Competition: “In 1st Position is The Gentleman’s Club Written by Clifton Gashagua (Ksh 2000/-, 2 Storymoja books and 1 complimentary festival pass to the Storymoja Hay Festival)

Russia, Czech Republic: “The Velvet Surrender”

  28 September 2010

Robert Amsterdam's blog links to an investigative report by Gregory Feifer and Brian Whitmore, published in the New Republic (full text available to subscribers only, however), which examines “Russia's ambitious nuclear diplomacy and foreign policy with the Czech Republic.”

Azerbaijan: Obama calls for bloggers’ release

  28 September 2010

Dönməzlik blog [AZ] says that it was surprised to discover that US President Barack Obama raised the issue of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, two video blogging youth activists imprisoned on charges of hooliganism by a court in Baku, with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, at the UN General Assembly....

Tanzania: The Party That Gagged Itself

  28 September 2010

Elsie writes about election campaigns in Tanzania: “A couple of weeks ago CCM forbade its candidates from participating in political debates. This blanket ban covers presidential, parliamentary and local government candidates and includes private and public media as well as political rallies.”

Hungary: “Roma Reports”

  28 September 2010

“Roma reports” at Pestiside.hu: a video about a “Roma fashion show” recently held in Budapest; and a Romanian Roma music video that “seems to have… borrowed quite a bit” from a Hungarian Roma music video.