Stories from 18 October 2007
Japan: Employers to start reporting non-Japanese employees
Debito reports that Japanese employers have been forced to start reporting all their non-Japanese workers to the government, in an attempt by the government to crack down on illegals.
Macedonia: Toše Proeski
Illyrian Gazette reports that Macedonia is mourning Toše Proeski, one of the most popular singers throughout the ex-Yugoslav states, who was killed in a car accident in Croatia.
Russia: Internet Users
“Growth in the number of Russians going online has slowed overall this year and may even have been reversed in some places,” Window on Eurasia reports.
Russia: Bukovski
Robert Amsterdam writes about Vladimir Bukovski's return to Russia.
Russia, England: Football
Russia beats England, in football. More at Sean's Russia Blog and Siberian Light.
Russia, Iran: Putin in Tehran
Details of Putin's visit to Tehran – at Window on Eurasia, Sean's Russia Blog, Robert Amsterdam's blog, and Informed Comment: Global Affairs.
Ukraine: Tragedy in Dnipropetrovsk
On Oct. 13, a gas explosion destroyed much of a 10-story apartment building in Dnipropetrovsk, killing at least 23 people (including seven children). LJ user didaio (Denis Davydov) has been at the site of the tragedy, blogging about it ever since it occurred.
India: The nuclear deal and the PM
Vantage Point writes a tongue-in-cheek post on the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Bangladesh: Questions for the Army Chief
Bangladesh Army Chief, General Moeen Ahmed, is visiting the US and Voice of Bangladeshi Bloggers poses a set of questions.
Pakistan: Bomb Blasts in Karachi
Metroblogging Lahore and Metroblogging Karachi on the bomb blasts in Karachi attacking Benazir Bhutto.
Pakistan: Return of Benazir
Metroblogging Karachi has an open thread discussing the return of Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan.
Contrivance and Controversy as Brazilian Media Cover Urban Violence
In Brazil last week, it was difficult to find blogs that did not post about the debate over the causes of urban violence. It all began on the web when people “pre-released” the leaked copy of the film ‘Elite Squad’. By now the polemic has reverberated and evolved into a...
Egypt: New Age of Phone Greetings
With Eid finally wrapped up and out of the way, Egyptian blogger Tarek Amr (Ar) takes time off to study the history of greetings - from the age of problematic phone calls to the new age of Third Generation multi-media wireless phones.
Arabeyes: After Facebook, Comes Hatebook
After Facebook, come the Hatebook. Following is what two bloggers, from Tunisia and Oman, have to say about the new sites - Hatebook.com and Hatebook.org.
Taiwan: “Lust, Cautioin” and Debate on Patriotic traitor
As Ethan Hunt said in her blog (zh), Ang Lee's Lust, Caution aroused a debate on re-appraisal of the “patriotic traitors” during the anti-Japanese war (1937-1945) in Taiwan. The blogger has scanned a debate between two Taiwan scholars Lung Ying Tai and Wang Yongzu in her blog. Lung rereads the...
Al Ain: No for Touristy Junk
“Why in the world would you want to take one of the few relatively undeveloped and beautiful places in Al Ain and put touristy junk up there?” complains Al Ain-based blogger BRN.
Dubai: Clean Streets?
Seabee from Dubai complains about the cleanliness of streets in this post.
Jordan: Australian Blogger Turns 108
Ola Eliwat, from Jordan, draws our attention to the world's oldest blogger – Olive Riley from Australia, who is blogging away at the age of 108!
Qatar: Al Jazeera and the Washington Post
Friends of Al Jazeera discusses a the relative performances of al-Jazeera and the Washington Post during the Iraq war.
Jordan: New Blog for Amman
“Amman the capital of Jordan has it's own blog! (being managed by the Greater Amman Municipality) and being hosted by Jeeran (Ar),” writes blogger Qwaider.
Lebanon: No News
“You would think that, five days from the Parliamentary session which will supposedly elect Lebanon's next President, Beirut would be abuzz with news. You would be wrong,” writes blogger David Kenner.