Stories from 15 May 2008
Bahrain: Ministers Always Right
Mahmood Al Yousif, from Bahrain, is not surprised that Parliament cleared ministers of any wrongdoing in this post.
Bahrain: Leaving Home
Life in Bahrain is not impressed with a new increase in housing lending – as real estate prices in Bahrain hit the ceiling – and announces that he has found a job abroad and is leaving the country soon.
Macedonia: Bloggers Emphasize Need for Open Communication with Greece
Amid the internal turmoil caused by Greek actions to block Macedonia's accession to NATO and the EU, and due to an increasing number of reports of attacks over Macedonian truck drivers by nationalist mobs in Greece, many Macedonian bloggers are attempting to bridge the gap of ignorance existing between the two nations.
Haiti: Pierre-Antoine Still Missing
Blog de Port-au-Prince draws attention to the fact that Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, a prominent human rights worker and Famni Lavalas activist who has been missing since August 12, 2007, still has not been located.
Malawi: Illusions of a coup plot
Is the coup plot in Malawi an illusion?: “Call me naïve, but some things do not add up to this alleged new “coup plot” against the Mutharika presidency. Instead, it gives me a sense of déjà-vu: taking us back to the dark days of the Banda presidency.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Press Conference Gone Awry
“Anyone who saw today's Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago press conference…must now be clear of one thing…this country is in serious trouble”: Trinidad and Tobago girls, politics, sports, technology, carnival, and lifestyle is unimpressed with the behaviour of a Senator, while Jumbie's Watch adds: “Here is a man...
Armenia: Sardarapat Anniversary Extravagance
Unzipped comments on local press reports that celebrations planned to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Sardarapat will cost $1.1 million. The blog says that while such an event should be marked, it considers the amount of money being spent by such a cash-strapped nation currently experiencing a...
Cuba, USA: Texas Trade Visit?
As the Texas state agriculture commissioner prepares to visit Cuba (the first state-elected official to do so since the 1962 trade embargo), Uncommon Sense says: “American policy toward Cuba must be measured by only two standards: Is it good for the United States, and is it good for the Cuban...
Bermuda: Due Process
Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes says that the fact “that changes to the Parliamentary Election Act could be proposed without structured involvement of all political parties, and then be provided solely to the political incumbent…risks attracting accusations of favoritism”, while Politics.bm adds: “When the public and other political organisations are...
Saudi Arabia: Just Hit, Don't Bite!
From Saudi Arabia, Nzingha comments on a news report which says that a Saudi woman attacked and bit a man who was sexually harassing her on a street and says: “Fighting back I'm all for, but biting? Who knows where that pervert has been. A good beat down yes. But...
Jamaica, Barbados: Human Rights
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp is joining in Bloggers Unite‘s awareness campaign for human rights, “especially in Jamaica where the rights of our gay men and women are denied almost daily”…while Barbados Underground chooses to “highlight the plight of many women in our own backyard.”
Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Appeals
Two human rights bodies are appealing to Saudi Arabia to drop charges against two Saudis – one for setting up a website and another for sitting with a woman in a coffee shop, reports Saudi Jeans.
Morocco: Iraq's Palestine Hotel was on Hit List
“This revelation should only come as a surprise to those who slept through the early days of the American invasion of Iraq: An army whistleblower has revealed that the Palestine Hotel, where journalists were stationed in the spring of April 2003, was on an Army target list,” writes Moroccan Laila...
Guyana, USA: Speaking With Soul
Signifyin’ Guyana is enjoying reading a book about Ebonics, but says: “If I ketch any one of my students writing that way, he or she gon get a straight up F.”
Lebanon: Iran Smart, US Dumb?
“Two veteran American commentators who have spent time in Beirut and who are sometimes referred to as the “Liberal Neocons”, have seen what happened in Lebanon and reached similar conclusions” – that Iran is smart and the US is dumb – writes Beirut Spring from Lebanon.
Morocco: Living with AIDS
Moroccan blogger M S Hjiouij [Ar] writes about Aids, stereotypes and facts in this article entitled Living with AIDS.
Iran: 2 minutes for reading
Razeno says [Fa] that according to statistics each Iranian reads 2 minutes per day. The blogger adds unfortunately our culture is an oral culture, in other words we just chant slogans.
Israel: Iranian Grad Missiles Hit Ashkelon Mall
Hours after President George W Bush arrived in Israel, Iranian Grad missiles penetrated the roof of an Ashkelon mall. Four people, including a mother and her toddler, were seriously wounded. In addition, 87 others were transferred to a hospital. Gilad Lotan brings us the reactions of the Hebrew blogosphere.
Iran:Remember Ferdowsi,the great poet
Several bloggers wrote about Ferdowsi and reminded us his importance for Persian speaking people and Iranian history.Mohmmad Ali Abtahi says [Fa] Ferdowsi by writing his poems created a link between us and ancient Iran.
Malawi: Army officers arrested for “coup plot”
More arrests following Malawi “coup plot”: “Malawi has arrested two senior army officers for plotting to overthrow the government, police said on Wednesday, a day after the arrest of two opposition leaders on the same charges.”
Iran: Australia vs. Iranian President
Anthony Lowenstein says that Attorney-General Robert McClelland,in Australia, is “currently taking advice” on the possibility of pursuing Iranian president,Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for his comments about “destruction” of Israel. Anthony shares his opinion on this story.
