10 November 2007

Stories from 10 November 2007

Armenia: Presidential Candidate

  10 November 2007

The Armenia Election Monitor 2008 reports that as expected, the ruling Republican party has nominated the prime minister as their candidate for the presidential election to be held on 19 February 2008 in Armenia.

Africa: Searching for Africa at the New York Times

  10 November 2007

Do people have fun in Africa?: “Using a simple search method at the New York Times, the terms “AIDS” + “Africa” brought back 250 stories published in the past year. What I didn’t say was that searching the terms “Africa” + “fun” returned 91 hits.”

Georgia: Accusations

  10 November 2007

Resistance Georgia points the finger at the Deputy Chair of Parliamentary Defence Committee for masterminding last week's suppression and violent dispersal of an opposition protest in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Incidentally, the anti-Saakashvili blog by human rights lawyer Anna Dolidze has also been quoted by the New York Times.

The Mobile Web and Compulsory HIV Test for Malawi

  10 November 2007

Malawi's Internet users have this year been experiencing new trends as now they can access and browse from their mobile phones and homes. This is an initiative by the fixed line service provider (Malawi Telecommunications Limited) and two mobile phone service operators, Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) and Celtel Malawi. Malawian blogger, Mile, has welcomed this initiative with a post titled ICT Development in Malawi.

Brazil: 70th anniversary of the military coup

  10 November 2007

Lúcia Hipólito [pt] amasses dozens of comments in a post to remember the anniversary the Brazilian coup d'etat: “In November 10, 1937, exactly 70 years ago, the President Getúlio Vargas, came to power via a coup d'etat, supported by the Army, and established in Brazil one of the saddest chapters...

Japan: Pulling the Strings

  10 November 2007

While the world focused this week on the aftermath of negotiations between the leaders of Japan's two largest political parties, the behind-the-scenes mediator, Watanabe Tsuneo, celebrated winning this year's Media Person of the Year Award. Some bloggers, however, wondered what Japan's largest media baron was doing brokering backroom political deals. Was it just a coincidence that coverage differed so much between major newspapers?

China:The return of PetroChina

  10 November 2007

PetroChina, the lord of the companies returns to its hometown. Its IPO on Chinese stock market is an eye-catching performance. When the flourishing market hit the most profitable company in Asia, they sparkled out the greatest market value in the world.

Georgia: Ambassador Resigns

  10 November 2007

Resistance Georgia and TOL Georgia report that Levan Mikeladze has resigned as Georgian Ambassador to Switzerland in protest at last week's police crackdown in Tbilisi. TOL Georgia applauds the diplomat for his courage while Resistance Georgia reproduces his letter explaining why.

Georgia: Non-violent Resistance

  10 November 2007

Via TOL Georgia and Unzipped, the former President of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, Anna Dolidze, has set up a blog dedicated to “non-violent resistance to Saakashvili's dictatorial regime in Georgia.”

Georgia: Democracy in Crisis

  10 November 2007

TOL Georgia reports that democracy is in crisis in Georgia and says that it is obvious that Saakashvili will do anything in order to avoid the fate of his predecessor who he was responsible for removing from power in 2003.

Armenia: Fugitive Minister

  10 November 2007

Blogian reminds its readers of the former Minister of Interior, Vano Siradeghian. Wanted by Interpol for masterminding numerous assassinations in Armenia under the former president, the fugitive still remains at large and Blogian wonders if he would be pardoned if Levon Ter Petrosian returned to power.

Korea: Conflicts over Subway Seats

  10 November 2007

Young people respect old people. Old people take care of young people. That is one of the major traditional philosophies in East Asia. Regarding this perspective, excessive behavior is now bringing up questions about what the extent of the mannger between the elderly and young should be. Especially if you...

China: The Controversial Low Poverty Rate

  10 November 2007

According to the poverty line of China Development Report 2007, the poverty rate of China, a home to 1.3 billion people, is only about 8% which is even much lower than U.S. whose poverty rate is 12.3% in 2006. Facing with the amazingly poverty rate, Chinese people own their own different opinions on the poverty issues.