Latest in the Francophone Caribbean Blogosphere

Venezuela: Luis Velásquez Scandal

Francisco of Caracas Chronicles calls the Luis Velásquez Alvaray affair the “mother of all scandals.” Two days later, however, he wonders where all the coverage went.

Venezuela: Former Yaracuy Governor detained

Commenting on the detention of Former Yaracuy Governor Eduardo Lapi who was Miguel Octavio opines: “Reportedly he will be charged with misuse of funds. Thus, as the robolution robs, steals and charges commisions, opposition figures are detained for subtle charges of misuse of funds. If the same criterai were applied...

Mexico: AMLO Back in the Lead?

Goleech cites the May 29 poll by María de las Heras, which has leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrado back in the lead with half a percentage point over Felipe Calderón and three points ahead of Roberto Madrazo.

Latin America: Technorati, Edelman, But No Spanish?

Commenting on the announcement by Technorati and Edelman that the two companies will join forces to include blog posts on traditional media websites, Julio Alonso wonders how it is that the project will launch in English, German, Korean, Italian, French, and Chinese, but not Spanish [ES]. “Could it be that...

Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, US: Border Frustrations

In a summary of Latin American news, Western Hemisphere Policy Watch describes tension over the militarized border … the Costa Rica-Nicaragual border. Isopixel is upset [ES] by an offensive song posted on the website of the US anti-immigration group, the Minutemen, which calls President Vicente Fox – among other things...

How to Help Indonesia Earthquake Victims

Members of International community who are very concerned with the Indonesia earthquake where the death toll exceeds 5,000 and many more thousands injured now can visit Merlyna Lim's blog where she is vigorously compiling various international and Indonesia aid relief agencies addresses. While Indonesia Help blog, a newly setup blog...

St. Lucia: privatisation of utilities

Should the St. Lucian water company be privatised? Should the mass transit system remain in private hands? Matthew Hunte weighs in. “We end up in a funny situation where (quite a few of) the same people who oppose private water are quite content to leave our transport system in the...

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Condoms in schools?

Twenty per cent of live births in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are to teenage mothers. So why, asks Abeni, is the minister of education “vehemently opposing the idea of condoms being distributed in schools. At least it deserves some thought rather than a blanket refusal.”

Mongolia: Construction Season

Luke Distelhorst says that, because of the country's climate, construction is restricted to a few months of the year. Though floods and snow can strike even in late May, construction season is upon Mongolia, though Luke notes that at one site, none of the workers speak Mongolian.

Kyrgyzstan: Endangered Languages

neweurasia reports on a political party in Kyrgyzstan seeking to protect the status of the Russian language in the republic.

Kyrgyzstan: Opposition Rally

Yulia of neweurasia reports on Saturday's opposition protest in Bishkek during which Kyrgyz opposition members demanded significant reform by September.

Bermuda: Auditor general “under attack”?

Is Bermuda's government “engaging in a direct attack” on the independent auditor general? “Any doubts … should be put to rest,” says Christian S. Dunleavy. “This move ranks the tops in total stupidity. So high in fact that it wreaks of scandal,” says IMHO.bm.

Barbados: Senegalese “death boat”

“What circumstances did these men come from that drove them to make a desperate trip to a strange new land in search of a better life? How must the people who loved them be suffering now, in the agony of loss and not knowing?” Titilayo muses on the fate of...

Armenia: Fire in Kond

A fire broke out in Yerevan's historic Kond neighborhood, destroying five homes. Blogrel notes some strange inaccuracies in the local media's coverage of the fire. Onnik Krikorian discusses the issue further and has pictures of the aftermath.

Kazakhstan: Caspian Saber-Rattling

Ben Paarmann explains why Kazakhstan is expanding its naval power in the Caspian Sea.

Caribbean: What blogging is for

“Blogging … challenges the elitism that pervades the Caribbean and is a great experiment in the democratization of data,” says Geoffrey Philp in a thoughtful essay on the potential role of blogging in the region. “Blogging provides the kind of freedom that is anathema to many gatekeepers who want to...

Latvia: Aleksiy II's Visit

All About Latvia writes about the visit of Aleksiy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, to Latvia last weekend. Latvia is home to some 350,000 Orthodox Christians.

Latvia: Second Gay Pride Parade

All About Latvia writes about the politics of this year's gay pride parade (to be held in Riga on July 22): “For political parties who objected the march last year, this will be a chance to win over the hearts of the skeptical public for the fall parliamentary elections by...

Russia: “Moscow Has Lost Its Pride”

Vilhelm Konnander and Ufa Blog discuss the failure to hold the first gay pride parade in Moscow.

Russia: Moscow Photos

Moscow-Blog has Konstantin Leibovitch's most recent Moscow photos and commentary.