Stories from 8 May 2007
Nepal: Nepali Congress and the Monarchy
Nepali Netbook on the politics of perspectives on the monarchy. “The district chiefs of the country’s pre-eminent – some would say only – democratic party had assembled in Kathmandu to hear their president enunciate a clear line on the monarchy ahead of the constituent assembly elections. What they got from...
Bangladesh: The Military and the Government
Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying on the precarious political situation in Bangladesh. “The situation in Bangladesh looks and feels like the period of coups and counter-coups in 1975. It has been widely reported that junior officers in the Bangladesh army, majors and colonels, had been intimidating the press...
Myanmar: Photos and Links Roundup
This week I came across a few good photos from Myanmar Bloggers so I compiled them as photo and link round up post. This image is from fifty viss blog where blogger Aung Kyaw posted his collection of billboards and poster messages seen around the country. Poster around Myanmar Image...
Egypt: open war on bloggers
“The war on bloggers started in Egypt and every morning brings a new episode” wrote Nora Younis on her blog today. Nora linked to a SMS/Twitter alert sent to her by blogger Amr Gharbeia: “I was summoned by the prosecutor general to appear on Thursday next in North Cairo interrogator...
Trinidad & Tobago: The Enigma of V.S. Naipaul
Recently, Nobel-prize-winning author Sir VS Naipaul paid a visit to Trinidad and Tobago, the country of his birth, the place from which he migrated as a young man to England, where he has lived ever since. He was in Trinidad as a guest of the University of the West Indies for a week of celebrations (April 16 to 20) in honour of the 75th year of his birth.
D.R. of Congo: Army to train at World Heritage Site
Congo Rangers report that the Congolese Army is planning on setting up a military training camp at a World Heritage Site: The Congolese military are going to set up a military training camp at Nyaleke, inside Virunga National Park. I was told today that after huge efforts by UNESCO, the...
Burkina Faso: You census people are evil!
A conversation showing mistrust of census in Burkina Faso from Voices in the Desert: It was Samba who started the argument. He downed his shot-glass of tea (traditionally ‘bitter like death’) and turned to Idi. ‘Onon yimbe resonsmon mbooda,’ he declared. ‘You census people are evil.’ Idrissa looked hurt. ‘Why...
Malawi: feel-good factor, bumper harvest, and vampire stories
Having just returned from a short visit to Malawi, it is almost impossible not to write about the general sense of optimism the country is awash in especially in the cities, among the middle class. The one thing that no one fails to mention is the strength of the economy,...
Trinidad & Tobago: Backyard Paradise
Laura Dowrich-Phillips of Caribbean Beat Blog went to Tobago for the Plymouth Jazz Festival and came away with a new appreciation of the island.
Barbados: World Obesity Ranking
“According to Forbes Barbados weighs in at #12 in the world obesity ranking and at #2 in the Caribbean,” writes What crazy looks like as she embarks on her own health and fitness regime.
Jamaica: Keeping Air Jamaica?
“There is no argument that we need airlift for the success of our economy. However, does it need to be provided by Air Jamaica?” asks Francis Wade as he questions the viability of the national airline.
Bahamas: The Electorate's Victory
“I want to congratulate my countrymen for this new government we have elected. It’s not just the change that impresses me; it’s what I suspect lies behind the change, the message it sends, and the implications for the way ahead.” Nicolette Bethel thinks the results of the recently held elections...
Jamaica: Dennis Scott
Geoffrey Philp examines Jamaican poet Dennis Scott's Epitaph, in which “the speaker examines the difficulty of writing about historical events by using the language of composition to describe the physical and emotional effects of slavery.”
Guyana: Sarwan Predicts Victory
West Indies Cricket Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan predicts that his team will emerge triumphant in the upcoming tour of England, according to this post from Voice of Guyana International.
Saudi Arabia: Don't Drive in Colorado!
Saudi blogger Serendipity warns people against driving in Colorado, US. “You know how they say that you shouldn’t speed towards the end of the month because Police try to meet their quota then? Well, in Colorado, I would suggest you don’t drive at all! Police in Colorado have issued a...
Egypt: Ahmadinejad Busted
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia posts photographs featuring Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad kissing the hand of his former school teacher. “A 70-year-something old lady wearing black from top to down except the head scarf. Najidi kissed her hand and she kissed his head. Seriously it is a very respectable civilized act from...
Morocco: Backstreet Viagara
Moroccan blogger Samir takes us to the bazaar in Fez, where you can buy a traditional composition of the impotence drug Viagara over the counter. Don't miss the exciting photographs Samir has in store for you. “Now, you probably think that Viagra is not a usual item on a tourist's...
Website for Persian Jews
Writing in Jewlicious , blogger Esther announces the launch of a website which provides religious advice to Persian Jews. ‘I can’t say I really “have a rabbi” in the sense that I consult any rabbinic authority on matters in my life. Maybe I suffer for lack of rabbinic advice. Maybe...
Iraq: Paintings on the Walls
Iraqi Konfused Kid lives up to his name and is confused about the paintings coming up on the walls in Iraq. “My gut insisted for a second that it was weird that those painting would spring up in the land of Baathies and al-Qaeda, who as I hear are killing...
Egypt: Royal Wedding Gossip
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia brings us up-to-date with the latest gossip surrounding the extravagant wedding of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal. The ‘juicy’ bits include the venue, menu, dress and ring and honeymoon destination. ‘Vanessa Williams sang in the wedding a whole hour before Amer Diab “I love her in...
Palestine: Israel Lobby Debate
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah writes about the Doha Debate held at Oxford and hosted by Tim Sebastian , which “took place amid mounting controversy over the role of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States and accusations that it has suppressed criticism of Israel – a charge that the lobby...
