Stories about South Asia from April, 2009
Global Health: Swine Flu Threat Spreads Worldwide
Confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu, which was detected in Mexico earlier this month, have now been found in at least seven other countries around the world. The World Health Organization says that this outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern."
India: Saying No To Parachute Journalism
Sans Serif reports: “A team of 40 BBC journalists from 12 languages began an 18-day tour of India on a special train on Saturday to cover the ongoing Indian elections.”
South Asia: Coping With The Heat And The Rolling Blackouts
Heatwaves during this time of year is not uncommon for countries in South Asia. But the recent dry weather has kept sufficient rain away from the region keeping the mercury rising. And load shedding (rolling electricity blackouts) due to power crisis in several countries have made the lives of millions of people unbearable.
Russia: Baymurat (aka Jimmy) Singing Bollywood Song
Videos of a rendition of a Bollywood song by Baymurat (aka Jimmy) – an ethnic Uzbek from Tajikistan, a gastarbeiter in a town near Moscow, and a YouTube celebrity: one of the earlier versions is here, and the performance at Asian Dub Foundation's April 4 gig in St. Petersburg, Russia...
Pakistan: An Open Letter To The President
Pakistani blog Deadpan Thoughts posts an open letter to the President of Pakistan on the recent SWAT Taliban deal: “My Dear President, Kindly review your decision – think for the stability of Pakistan in the long run and revoke this deal which is bound to fail – show some courage...
India: Why Recycle When You Can Precycle?
India Climate Solution blog presents a new idea: “They have coined a word ‘Precycle’ to promote simple lifestyle based on refusal to buy any time that you can do without. Why buy a packaged grocery and then throw away the packaging material while you could perhaps go in for unpacked...
Nepal: A Failed Coup?
The conflict started last year when the politicians in Nepal started debating the integration of the former Maoist guerrillas, popularly known as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into the country’s national army (NA). It was predicted then that the process could affect the structure and stability of the national army. Dr....
Sri Lanka: The Pros And Cons Of International Attention
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are holding on to to just a sliver of land in the north of Sri Lanka, but the United Nations is estimating that 50,000 people are still trapped in the warzone. As fighting surges in the final throes, concerns for civilians is growing and calls for international attention and understanding abound on the Internet and in the streets of cities around the world, such as London, Berlin and Paris.
India elections'09: Does it really matter whom we vote for?
Ruchi Gupta at Bourgeois Inspirations wonders, if, in the day and age of coalition politics, it really matters which party one votes for.
Indian Elections 2009: Reading The Digital Tea Leaves on ‘Who Will Win?’
Now that the 15th general elections are underway in India, the big question in every body’s mind is who is going to win? Will one party take it all or will there be no clear winner, which means a coalition government or a political patchwork quilt at the center?
India: The Fake IPL Blogger
Arnab of Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind comments on the fake IPL blogger, who has created a lot more buzz in India than the original IPL (Indian Cricket Premier League) itself.
Bangladesh: Women Power
Pakistani blogger Marvi Sirmed visits Bangladesh and comments: “One thing that I could not miss in Dhaka was, women engaged with all aspects of life. Economic activity, intellectual discourse or arts, women are everywhere. Gender segregation practically does not exist. Music is a pet of every household.”
Maldives: The Benefits Of Not Joining ILO
Abdullah Waheed explains why Maldives did not join ILO all these years.
India: India Bloggers Directory
Rajesh Lalwani informs that the first edition of the India Bloggers Directory, a pocket guide to Indian blogs, will be published soon. “The book will also have a select listing of Twitter users from India.”, he adds. If you are an Indian blogger, you can submit your details here.
Sri Lanka: An Appeal To The International Community
Indi.ca criticizes the international media coverage of the civil war in Sri Lanka: “the ‘International Community’ and international media are far too quick to offer solutions without looking at the situation.” The blogger opines that “the best thing the international community could do is call on the LTTE to surrender...
Indian Elections '09: Where The Shoe Pinches
When Muntadhar al-Zaidi hurled his shoes at the then US President George Bush, little did he know that his method of getting a point across would soon become viral across continents. In India too, the trend seems to have caught on. For indeed, the humble footwear has become the preferred...
Sri Lanka: Internet Strengthens Democracy
ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) comments: “the Internet and web can and will be used for democracy and human progress and that more, not less, information in the hands of citizens strengthens democratic governance.”
Pakistan: Why Talibans are Getting Support in Swat?
Pakistani blogger Ambreen Kazmi at Chowrangi blog answers the question “Why people of Swat support Taliban”?
India: Election Cartoons
Election Cartoons 2009 is a blog by Kerala Cartoon Academy which posts published and unpublished cartoons on the ongoing elections in India.
India: More Slumdog Millionaire Drama
Runa at Über Desi reports about the dramatic events in the life of Rubina, one of the main child stars (who originates from a Mumbai slum) from the Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.
Bangladesh: To Protect Nesting Sparrows
Bangladeshi blogger Shahnaz, who blogs at Dhaka Dweller, shares a tragic story and suggests: “if you have nesting sparrows in your home, please protect them while they are raising their brood.”
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