Stories from 19 April 2007
O'Reilly on Iran and Iraq
Egypt-based Blogger Issandr El Amrani pokes fun of Bill O'Rielly‘s interview with Condoleezza Rice on Iraq and Iran.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: VT Tragedy Hits Home
Writing from Jamaica, The Life and Times of Michmac is saddened by the tragedy at Virgina Tech, yet relieved that “somebody up there is looking out for me”. And TNTLime.com reprints an article from Newsday, which interviews a Trinidadian who is a student at VT: ““It is hard to take...
Iran:Reflections on Virginia Tech
Kamangir reports that Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, one of the topmost Shia clerics in Iran, gave his analysis of the Virginia Tech massacre:”The incident in Virginia Tech is a sign of deviation from faith in God, logic, and human emotions. There is a lesson in this event for everyone in...
Iran:Virginia shooting in Iranian Blogestan
Haji Washington[Fa] says if a Korean student had killed people in a European university as this stupid guy did in Virginia Tech, a wave of hatred would create serious problems for South Asian people.The blogger says it did not happen, after this shooting, in USA. He asks if the killer...
Guyana: Do The Chicken!
The Jolly Spectator reports that the enthusiastic, fun-loving attitude of Irish cricket supporters (not to mention their team's unique dance moves) have made the Irish the darlings of the Caribbean: “Said Irish Captain Trent Johnston of Guyana, Barbados, and Jamaica, ‘I think the locals have warmed to us.’ Why? Perhaps...
Dominica: Looking for Wide Sargasso Sea
Bronte Blog reprints an article by Ellen Vanstone about Dominican author Jean Rhys and her acclaimed novel, Wide Sargasso Sea.
Iraq: Sadr Ministers Out
Iraqi blogger Omar is asking: now what after all the Sadr Ministers have withdrawn from the Iraqi government? “In a sudden move, Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has pulled his ministers out of the Iraqi cabinet. Many people are asking me why. It’s a good question, and I’ve being thinking...
Iraq: Who's in Control?
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird mocks Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Malki's comments that he will be in full control of Iraq by the end of this year at the time she claims he cannot control a “single neighbourhood.”
Blogger in Morocco surmises on causes for recent bombings
Everything Morocco reports on local reactions to the Casablanca bombings last Saturday in an article entitled “Is Morocco Still Safe?” “To get right to the point, the root of the problem is poverty with all of its accompanying desperation and hopelessness. When there are high-rise apartments overlooking shanty towns and...
Kurdistance: A New Front in Northern Iraq?
Oh dear, not again. While it is unusual for me to outwardly state my opinions on a subject, I can say in this instance....I am not alone in my sentiment. Once more overtures have been made by the Turkish government to intervene in Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan. Unlike past incidents where the motives haven't been as clear, Turkish threats about crossing its southern borders have been in direct reaction to statements made by the Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani: "Iraqi Kurds would not accept any foreign interference on the Kirkuk issue as it considers it an internal affair that should be resolved internally." For this story...I'll let both the Kurdish and Turkish bloggers explain...
Egypt: The Khamseen Attacks
Egypt has been hit by the Khamseen, according to blogger Issander El Amrani. “Today, one of the nastiest Khamseen in years is blowing through Cairo. My balcony is covered in dust, and the old doors and windows of my 1940s apartment are letting the fine red sand carried by the...
China: Reactions to the Virginia Tech slayings
While most Chinese shared the horror and grief following the slayings at Virginia Tech, one prominent blogger asks why so little attention was paid to two similar tragedies which also took place this week in China.
Bahrain: Squeeky Clean Government
Bahrain has a “squeeky clean” government which is totally free from corruption, writes Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.
Bahrain: Land of Missed Opportunities
Silly Bahraini Girl laments that her country – Wonderland – is a land of missed opportunities – “unless of course you are a drug baron, a high-class prostitute or an Islamic fanatic.. or better yet – all THREE together!”
Uzbekistan: Komilov Speaks
Registan.net reports on a speech given by Uzbekistan's ambassador to the United States in Seattle last week.
Georgia & Russia: Becoming Abkhaz
Steady State reports why a Georgian would want to become an Abkhaz.
Kyrgyzstan: Opposition Rally Photos
Elena Skochilo posts photos of the ongoing opposition protests (ru) in Kyrgyzstan.
Georgia: World's Best Reformer
Chris Monasterski lists some of the policy steps taken by Georgia to become recognized as the world's best economic reformer.
China: Cultural Worker License
China Media Project brings into focus a recent announcement by China's top cultural officials announced that the country would institute a new licensing system this year for employment in the cultural sector.
China: Daughter's Day
Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist reports on the restoration of traditional festivial day in China. April 19 is the third day of the third month in Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is known as the “Daughter's Day” (女儿节). The background of the restoration trend is related to UNESCO's intangible heritage policy.
Philippines: SMS Tax
Blogging Bugs ridicules a politician's plan to tax text messages and use the money collected in education.
