Stories from 6 October 2008
Water buffalo for farming
Due to high fuel prices, Lao and Thai farmers are going back to the basics: Water buffaloes are helping plow the lands again.
Cambodia: Film industry
Andy Brouwer links to an article which discusses the film industry of Cambodia.
Philippines: “Racist” BBC show
A Filipino lawmaker wants the BBC to apologize for a comedy show which depicted a Filipina maid “as an object of sexual ridicule.”
Indonesia: Local software industry
Hardjono Teknoblog blogs about the need for Indonesia to “develop its local software industry to the point that it can obtain a portion of the global software outsourcing market.”
Bhutan: Wake up world!
Bridge to Bhutan quotes Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley, who reminded the world of a wake up call while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly recently: “Economic well being is not human well being,” and “the main cause of the financial crisis nations faced today was the result...
Pakistan: Humanitarian Crisis in Parachinaar
Hasnain's Life reports that the Talibans had imposed an economic blockade on Shias in Parachinar, a town of Upper Kurram Agency in Pakistan which led to a humanitarian crisis.
Iran: Ministry of Intelligence banned students to study
Ahmad Shirzad, former deputy in Iranian parliament, writes [fa] that Ministry of Intelligence has banned several students to continue their studies in country's universities. He regrets that Ministry of Science has given such permission to Iranian security services.
Egypt: The Fire Series Continues
After the iconic Parliament building and the National Theatre, the fire monster is at work in Egypt's textile district in El Mahalla El Kobra, reports Nermeen Edress. Egyptian bloggers are asking: are all those fires a coincidence or are there other factors at play?
Cape Verde: On reaching the 3rd place in the Ibrahim Index
João Branco comments on Cape Verde's achievement going two points up to the respected 3rd place in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. “This is an important piece of news, given the fairly rigorous and serious way – at least so it seems – that they come up with this...
Syria: Lazy People
From Syria, Muoffaq Qabbani writes about how much he hates lazy people.
Syria: Lazy People
From Syria, Muoffaq Qabbani writes about how much he hates lazy people.
Bahrain: The Dead Canary
From Bahrain, Suhail Algosaibi writes this story about his dead canary.
Palestine: The Demise of the US Empire
Will, from American Palestinian Kabobfest, lists 10 clues of what he describes as the end of the American Empire.
Syria: Artists’ Work Showcased
Imad Moustapha, Syria's envoy to the US, posts pictures of two of his favourite paintings by Syrian artists.
Egypt: Mubarak Pardons Journalist
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak pardoned Al Dostour newspaper editor in chief Ibrahim Eissa, who was sentenced to two months in jail for publishing an article on the president's health. Zeinobia has the story.
Syria: Damascus Cultural Calendar
Yaser Sadeq, from Syria, writes about the cultural scene in Damascus.
Morocco: Fez to Host Ronaldinho and Zidane
The View from Fez reports that the city of Fez will host UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors and celebrity footballers Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane for a Match Against Poverty.
Jamaica, Haiti: School Term Delayed
Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine reports that schools in hurricane-ravaged areas of Haiti are struggling to re-open after the storms.
Belize: National I.D. System
Belizean reports that the government “is making a move to introduce a forced National I.D. system as part of new Anti Crime legislation being promoted by the U.S.A. and the British Governments.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Urban Farming
“Like most countries in the world we are victim to the growing global food crisis. As an oil-producing nation our agricultural sector has been neglected and scorned for so long, that we now find ourselves unable to provide adequately for ourselves, even though we have the land, resources and know-how”:...
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Portia & Palin
Kadene Porter at Abeng News Magazine suggests that Jamaican Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller and US Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin “have more in common than just the bangs in their signature coiffes…”
