Stories from 13 April 2006
China: Television exported
In ‘Entertaining or subverting?: Chinese television tries to go global,’ the Angry Chinese Blogger looks at the possibility of nine mainland television stations being offered in Canada. “In a move that is sure to please Canada's sizable Overseas-Chinese community, the country's largest basic cable provider, Rogers Cable, has announced that...
Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere
It had been a relatively quiet week in the Saudi blogosphere this week. However, several good posts can be found by bloggers from inside the country, and also by those who live abroad. So, let's get it started… A new community website for Saudi bloggers has been causing much controversy,...
Brazil: Bossa Nova Star Normando
Blog.bossanova.fm introduces Normando Santos, one of the many giants of Brazilian bossa nova.
Cameroon: Privatization Under Way
Fojrega provides (FR) an update on plans to privatize certain state-owned enterprises, some of which should be completed as early as June of this year.
Guinea: political crisis
Black Star Journal has a post on the political situation in Guinea where the reformist Prime Minister was recently sacked and trade unions have been on strike over low wages.
Kenya: It Implementation
AfroMusing continues with explanations on the Solo project (design of a solar powered computer). Part III “What next, what now – which style of IT implementation is more appropriate to users in – A major city like Nairobi and Kisumu or – Rural town/village? “
Nigeria: Coming out gay
Reflections of a gay Nigerian wonders whether anyone is reading his blog? and is contemplating coming “out” in his own name.
Nigeria: New Books
Musings of a Naijaman publishes a list of new Nigerian must reads – Chris Abani “Becomming Abigail” Segun Afolab “A Life Elsewhere” and Chimamanda Adichie ” Half of a Yellow Sun“.
Nigeria: Star Factor
Adefunke on Adefunke posts on a new Nigerian talent show called Star Factor – auditions are now being held in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Enugu, Jos, Makurdi and for some reason London.
Ghana: Tagging in Twi
Neither Here nor There publishes a list of commonly used tags which he then translates into Twi – one of Ghana's main languages.
Ghana: Highway of confusion
The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana – posts on the “Spintex Road” which is the “fastest growing traffic inducing road” complexes in Accra. “From that road, you reach the famous (or should that be infamous?) Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange, where you either get confused by the structure or follow...
Kenya: Kaybees Award
Mshairi: All the nominations are now out for the Kaybee Awards (Kenyan blog awards) the winners will be announced on April 19th
Ethiopia: changes in US foreign policy?
weichegud! ET Politics comments that there may just be some “palpable change in the US’ talking points about Ethiopia” and on the progress of HR4423 - the bill being presented to the US House of Representatives that condems Zenawi's government and calls on the US President to change US foreign...
DRC: Legal Void after June 30
Transitional institutions stop being constitutional after June 30, 2006, writes (FR) blogger Mafelly-Makombo at Prince du Fleuve du Congo. He suggests that if elections should take place past that date, all of Congolese civil society including political parties and religious groups aided by the international community should be called on...
Slovenia: Adriatic Gas Terminal Construction
Michael of The Glory of Carniola writes that although Slovenia, Croatia and Italy have agreed to cooperate in making the Adriatic Sea cleaner, their efforts are unlikely to produce any results because of plans to build two gas terminals in the area of the Gulf of Trieste. Nearly 22,500 have...
Russia: Cell-Phone Protest in Chechnya
David McDuff A Step At A Time posts his translation of an article by Umalt Chadayev on a rally that took place in Grozny to protest against poor quality of local mobile network.
Russia: British Explorer Detained
Tim Newman of White Sun of the Desert writes about an obstacle on the route of Karl Bushby, a British explorer in his eighth year of walking around the world: he has been detained in Russia for entering the country without an entry visa.
Estonia: Russian Coverage of Desecration of Holocaust Memorial in Estonia
As a Russian news agency reports desecration of a Holocaust memorial in Kalevi Liyva, Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa bemoans the fact that “such a small country” as Estonia “should find itself a graveyard of monuments for lost causes.”
Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko
Aussiegirl of Ultima Thule writes about her maternal great-grandfather's extraordinary reverence for Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian national poet, the man who “was born a serf” and whose “freedom was purchased by the sale of an auctioned portrait by some noblemen and artists who recognized his talent.”
Latvia: Aivars Lembergs
Bob Granico of Publius Pundit highlights the persona of Aivars Lembergs and his political background and aspirations: mayor of a Latvian port city Ventspils for 18 (!) years, he is sometimes likened to Aleksandr Lukashenko, but is actually very popular with the residents of the city he's managed to keep...
Flying over the Iraqi Blogodrome
I am still on holiday and the blogs are still running. So here is a summary of what I liked up to the point my kids wake up… First a special mention to new Iraqi blogger Zappy. According to his profile he is a “34 year old Male living in...
