Stories from 9 October 2008
Turkey: Time for Questions
From Turkey, Erkan's Field Dairy notes: “After the attack on the Aktütün military outpost on Oct. 3, killing 17 soldiers, something new has happened; for the first time people are...
Lebanon: ‘Kidnapped’ Amercian Journalists Found in Syria Jail
Tony Bey, from Lebanon, reports that two missing American journalists have been found – detained in Syria.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Big Stick Policies?
The Haitian Blogger is curious about John Mc Cain's debate reference to “his hero, Teddy Roosevelt, who said, ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick'”, adding: “When you look at...
Barbados, U.S.A.: Being Presidential
Barbadian diaspora blogger Jdid weighs in on the “town hall-style” US Presidential debate: “Obama has shown himself to be presidential material just by his cool manner…I'm speaking about his grace...
Cuba, U.S.A.: Thoughts on the Embargo
Cuban diaspora blogger Child of the Revolution disagrees with the suggestion of an “independent scholar” that “lifting the embargo is no longer ‘just a noble but hopeless idea’ but smart...
Barbados: Draft Freedom of Information Bill
The government distributes the draft Freedom of Information Bill for feedback, prompting Barbados Underground to encourage citizens to read it and make suggestions: “This is what democracy is about, PEOPLE...
Jamaica: Olympians Call for End to Violence
As the Jamaican Olympic medalists implore their compatriots to “stop the violence”, A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah says: “I hope someone listens to them.”
Azerbaijan: Election Web Cams
Herron Family News reports on a return visit to Azerbaijan to review preparations for next week's presidential election. The blog notes that the country's Central Electoral Commission has authorized the...
Bahamas, Jamaica: Money & Culture
Bahamian Nicolette Bethel and Jamaican Geoffrey Philp have a conversation about art, culture and money that leaves the latter to conclude: “Culture is too important to be left in the...
Azerbaijan: The Forgotten War
In an extended post accompanied by photographs, Michael J. Totten introduces his readers to the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The blog...
Guyana: Working It
Guyana-Gyal gives an example of the “true, true story that some watch while you labour in the heat, then they sneak in cool, cool and reap.”
Liberia: Rebuilding National Media
David blogs from Monrovia about rebuilding Liberia's national media: “Developing Liberia’s national media is key to 1.) promoting democracy, 2.) promoting national identity, and 3.) fighting corruption. We have been...
India, Pakistan: Death by religion
Diganta Sarkar at The New Horizon comments: “the religion first eats non-religious, then the other religions, then starts eating the self. Pakistan has already arrived at the last stage. India...
Madagascar: Reporting from the edge of the world
Ethan writes about reporting from remote parts of Africa :”How do we get stories from places like Ilakaka, remote locations in Africa with no permanent press presence? Historically, we’d have...
Maldives: First free election underway
Maldives Live covers the first free election in Maldives that started yesterday. The latest results indicate that the long serving (since 1978) president Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom is leading.
Japan: Verbal gaffs and Japanese politics
Blogger Ken writes about verbal gaffs in Japanese politics [ja]. Ken uses the example of a recent statement by Minister Nariaki Nakayama, which the blogger says became a gaff because...
Bangladesh: Celebrating Durga Puja
Shahnaz at Dhaka Dweller posts pictures of Durga Puja, an annual Bengali festival that celebrates worship of Hindu goddess Durga. She also describes the festivities covering ten days.
Indonesia: Views on the U.S. Financial Crisis
Americans are afraid of another Great Depression as the Wall Street crisis continues to worsen. Meanwhile, many Indonesians are afraid that the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis will happen again if the U.S. economy continues to deteriorate.
Afghanistan: Hitch on heroin
Joshua Foust examines some of the issues surrounding opium eradication in Afghanistan, and argues that focusing on opium itself misses the point.
Kazakhstan: Language, Economics and Foreign Policy
The Kazakhstani authorities have again brought up the issue of state language. Kazakh language has been heavily depreciated in the Soviet times against the background of inculcation of Russian language....
Egypt: Gaza Solidarity Activists Kidnapped, Abused and then Released
While celebrating the 6th of October victory and in alliance with the International Solidarity Movement to break Gaza Siege, activists from different Egyptian civil entities, syndicates, and political parties decided to head to Gaza in an attempt to break the siege. The attempt was cut short by the Egyptian Security, and around 36 activists were ‘kidnapped' and detained.
