18 May 2006

Stories from 18 May 2006

Mauritius: A Lesson on Sirandanes

  18 May 2006

[Mes] Idees Noires explains that Sirandanes are (Fr) “riddles about everyday life in Mauritius … a relatively traditional aspect of Mauritius that harkens back to the time when Malagasy slaves arrived who brought their riddles with them … and adapted them to the Creole language later on … and as...

Haiti: What Will Preval Bring?

  18 May 2006

AyitiCherieConnexion summarizes Preval's inauguration and wonders (Fr): “Ever since the election, things have settled a bit in Haiti. Kidnappings have almost disappeared. Will Preval stabilize the situation, eliminate government corruption, crime, unemployment and feelings of resentment …? Will certain countries of the international community stop dividing and conquering so that...

Mexico: Violence and Backlash in San Salvador Atenco

  18 May 2006

This much we know for sure. On May third and fourth, in the Mexican town of San Salvador Atenco, riots broke out which resulted in 200 arrests and 50 injured officers according to an official statement. We also know that a 14-year-old youth named Javier Cortés Santiago was killed in...

India: Revolution and Music

  18 May 2006

Amardeep profiles the revolutionary who sings. “Gaddar has become the police's biggest nightmare as they attempt to squelch the seemingly bottomless (or at least very deep) well of sympathy for the Maoists in India's impoverished rural areas.”

Sri Lanka: Failed States Index

  18 May 2006

Questioning if Sri Lanka has failed as a state on FocuSLanka. “Sri Lanka has been ranked 25, between Rwanda and Ethiopia, on the list of Failed States Index (FSI) as computed by the US based Foreign Policy & Fund For Peace.”

Pakistan: Potohar Plateau

  18 May 2006

A fascinating look at Potohar Plateau which yields an archaeologicaly rich past at Light Within -“Bounded on the east by the River Jhelum, on the west by the Indus, on the north by the Kala Chitta Range and the Margalla Hills, and on the south by the Salt Range, Potohar...

Nigeria's Failed Constitutional Amendment

  18 May 2006

In the fourth quarter of 2005, reports began appearing in the Nigerian mainstream print media about a bid to have the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, attempt a third term in office. Mr. Obasanjo, who has been president since 1999, is constitutionally permitted to serve a maximum of two four-year terms....

Zimbabwe: Destruction of homes

  18 May 2006

Today is the one year anniversary of the Murambatsvina in which the government of Zimbabwe destroyed the homes and livlihoods of thousands of people. This is Zimbabwe asks that we remember devastation. They have published some photos and information on various actions taking place in Zimbabwe and London to remember...

India: BSE Sensex falls

  18 May 2006

The Bombay Stock Exchange SENSEX (Sensitive Index) fell by a whopping 826 points in a single day. K has some reactions to the fall.

Bermuda: “Hate speech” complaint rejected

  18 May 2006

Bermuda's Human Rights Commission has rejected a complaint against Senator David Burch, who used an offensive racial term in a radio broadcast last year. The HRC had no choice, says the Limey; “Burch's comment was disgusting. But unfortunately not illegal.” But Sean at IMHO.bm is “enraged”, especially because the HRC...

Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique: Trade and Investment Convention

  18 May 2006

Taran Rampersad visits the annual Trade and Investment Convention in Trinidad and is pleasantly surprised. He meets a representative of a company in Martinique that develops innovative GPS/GIS software, and has a constructive, candid talk with the business development manager of a new ISP.

Barbados: Time-share development

  18 May 2006

Why is the government of Barbados getting involved in a time-share development, asks Barbados Free Press; is it “a scheme to pour yet more public funds” into a private hotel chain?

Iran: Fashion Talk in TV!

Cafe Naseri says that there was a talk about dress fashion in Iranian TV. Blogger has taken a photo from her own TV to show who discussed dress fashion. She adds you can realise people who were involved in this discussion were a cleric and two veiled women.

China: Billions in bad loans

  18 May 2006

Will China's non-performing loans amount to $900 billion this year? Here's what Hong Kong-based blogger Milton J. Madison has to say: “Knowing what I do of the Chinese banking industry, it does not surprise me that the auditor of 2 of the largest 4 banks in China estimates that NPLs...