13 October 2006

Stories from 13 October 2006

YouTube. Whose Tube? Google's acquisition triggers Lusosphere debate

  13 October 2006

It could be seen as just another dot-com mega-deal that would not get much discussion beyond in-depth reports in specialized magazines. But gleaning the discussions of Lusophone bloggers is revealing that the YouTube acquisition by Google is capturing a lot of attention and generating many interesting perspectives. It also displays...

Georgia: Making Their Case

  13 October 2006

Registan.net discusses the savviness of Georgia's president in making the country's case and gaining sympathy in the West that enhances its power in its ongoing conflicts with Russia.

Armenia: Genocide Bill Fallout

  13 October 2006

Blogrel outlines some of the impacts and consequences of the passage of France's law against denying the Armenian genocide. While the author is happy the bill passed, he hopes that it ultimately fails in the interests of free speech.

Azerbaijan: Media Crackdown

  13 October 2006

Denise reports at neweurasia on a media crackdown in Azerbaijan that has resulted in the closure of a popular newspaper and an order to cease broadcasting news prepared outside of the country.

Zimbabwe: Smuggled DVD brings union protest beatings to light

  13 October 2006

This video reached me late last night via Ethan Zuckerman. At nearly ten minutes, it's longer than the other videos we've put up, but I strongly recommend you watch this. It includes footage of the Zimbabwean police and security intelligence services breaking up a peaceful demonstration by members of the...

Lebanon: Politics and the Finer Arts

  13 October 2006

The political turmoil in Lebanon seems to be taking its toll on the Lebanese blogosphere. Many posts reflect on the internal squabble going on. But we can still find some art, poetry and environmental concerns. Starting with the fine art of caricature: Amal started a series of cartoons in which...

Dispatch from Uganda

  13 October 2006

Peace talks continue in Juba, Sudan, between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Ngomrom faults the Government of Uganda and Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) of lacking seriousness in the talks with the LRA: Why would anybody even consider that the peace talks proceed with ICC...

Ecuador Chooses

  13 October 2006

This coming Sunday Ecuadoreans will head to the polls for the first round of presidential elections. As Bloggings by Boz notes, only three presidents have finished their full term in the last 27 years. Given the indecision that has stood out in each of the campaign polls, it seems that...

Malaysia: Festive Wishes “Unislamic”

  13 October 2006

Malaysian politician Lim Kit Siang blogs about a letter that prohibited Muslim employees of a Malaysian insurace company from wishing their Hindu friends for the Hindu festival of Deepawali. The letter claimed that uttering the words “Happy Deepavali” is unIslamic. The blogger asks “This is the latest episode raising concerns...

Malaysia:Bus Ride in Kuala Lumpur

  13 October 2006

Bunnywunny and her cameraphone ride the public bus service in Kuala Lumpur. The blogger urges readers to take the bus to discover the soul of the city.

Fiji: Excessive Kawa Drinking

  13 October 2006

Peceli at the Babasiga blog is asking the readers of his blog what they thing about excessive Kawa consumption. Kawa is a natural relaxant that is used in traditional ceremonies in Fiji and other South Pacific Islands.