Stories from 22 February 2006
Iraq: Samarra Shrine Destroyed
Men dressed as Iraqi police commandos slipped into Samarra‘s shrine of Imam Hasan al-Askari last night, set explosive and blew it up this morning, causing the golden dome to collapse and with it, hopes for a national unity.
Nigeria: culture and the modern world
Nigeria, what's new? publishes extracts from his forthcoming book – here he discusses where does culture meet the modern world? “Mention female anatomy or clitoral circumcision and our people cringe but the shocking practice of female genital mutilation FGM/C is still being carried out.” hm
Nigeria: Vagina Monologues
Naijablog sets the Nigerian blogosphere alight with a commentary on the coming of the Vagina Monologues to the country.
Cartoons & the history of race relations in the West
Gukira takes a new approach towards Western cartoons and puts the whole thing in an historical context.…”To trace a history of cartoons in Euro-America is to trace a history of race relations.” The conversation develops from there to a journey into ““black critical memory” – a place we all need...
Zimbabwe: bridges to London
Zimbabwean Pundit writes on the Zimbabwean media frenzy over reports that Mugabe has extended a gracious welcome to the new British High Commissioner, asking him to please “build bridges to London. Zimpundit concludes…”There's no need for this hullabaloo, it's just glimpses of old glory from a defunct former statesman, not...
Caribbean: Cricket shrink
Ri imagines a conversation between the West Indies cricket team's captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and the team's new Irish shrink.
Caribbean: Music and copyright
Attorney and writer/blogger Nyashazasha publishes a well-researched article on copyright issues affecting the Caribbean music industry.
Barbados: Hospitality on the bus
Linda Thompkins at My Barbados Blog receives an e-mail from a visitor who was alarmed at an offer from a young Barbadian woman riding with her on a crowded bus to hold her packages. “Let me say it is quite natural for bus riders that are seated to hold packages,”...
Trinidad & Tobago: Earth's magnetic field
Taran Rampersad speculates on the possible links between the earth's magnetic field and global warming.
Barbados: Environmentalist remembered & tuk band
Barbados Free Press pays tribute to the late environmental advocate Dr. Colin Hudson. And Titilayo posts photos of a traditional tuk band.
Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand: Globalization Mini-Stories
Cafe Salemba has two mini-stories of globalization, both in-flight: one involving an encounter on an American on a plane who works for a Japanese company and another about Japan Airlines practice of hiring Thai stewardesses.
Malaysia: Fairness of Freedom
Ktemoc Konsiders notes the irony of the imprisonment of a British holocaust denier against the background of the Danish cartoon controversy: “The Europeans must now shut their mouths up, and cease their hypocritical pontifications of the ‘freedom of expression’, and accord to Muslims the considerations of sensitivity that they have...
Philippines: Talking About Poverty
caffeine sparks responds to a post written by Idiot Savant some weeks back on the roots and reasons behind the game show stampede in Manila that cost over 70 poor Filipinos their lives. “Idiot Savant and I should thank our lucky stars our lot in life means we are able...
Singapore: Cheerleader Sex Tape
All over the Singapore blogosphere are commentaries on an unfortunate high school cheerleader, nicknamed “Tammy NYP,” whose cellphone was allegedly stolen by a jealous classmate and whose sex video recorded on that phone is now spreading across the Internet. A post by Book of Aletheia on the topic now has...
Singapore: Short Film Fest
Huichieh Loy shares his impressions of the offerings at the First Toronto-Singapore Short Film Festival.
Southeast Asia: Ten Integration Suggestions
the news at 10 lists ten things he thinks the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can do in order to create closer cooperation. No. 2 is “less bickering: for gods sake, stop bickering about islands that have no benefits whatsoever. and no, no country is going to invade any country,...
Ethiopia: drought
Meskel Square reports more on the drought faced by Ethiopians in the Southern region of Moyale. …”an estimated 737,000 Ethiopians struggling to survive without access to clean water. Beyond Ethiopia, the drought has spread out to affect more than 8.3 million people, including 1.2 million children aged under five, across...
Nigeria: 3rd term for Obasanjo?
Grandiose Parlor believes President Obasanjo of Nigeria is “hell bent on going for a third term” as the “Constitutional Committee” commenced hearing this week.
Hungary: Spoof Campaign Posters
Posters have appeared in Hungary imitating one of the opposition party's campaign posters and mocking politicians who are too eager to get back to power, writes Pestiside.hu.
Somalia: Street battles in Mogadishu
Fighting continues in the Somalia capital, Mogadishu. Coalition for Darfur reports that the death toll has now reached 33 as gunmen loyal to local warloads battle with security personnel.
Uganda: Child Soldiers
Uganda-CAN reports from the Northern region on the plight of child soldiers. Even after being rescued and returned home, the children still suffer from being stigmatised by their own families and friends.