Stories from 22 October 2008
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Bad Publicity
As news surfaces of another tourist attack in Tobago, Bajan Global Report says: “Whether minor or major, we just can’t afford the publicity on tourist attacks. As guests in our region, the onus is on us to safeguard their stay…and make their desired destination a safe haven to be in.”
Sri Lanka: Upholding the law
The Under Dog writes in the Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Groundviews: It was the failure to uphold the law (in Sri Lanka) back in the late eighties that caused that period of terror, and has also caused the ethnic conflict that rages today.”
Barbados: Retail Prices
Barbados Underground thinks that consumers are being taken for a ride by retailers: “The time for bold strategies to tackle the issue of providing reasonably priced food to our PEOPLE has come.”
Bermuda: Local Sport
Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes says that when it comes to developing sport and upgrading athletic facilities, the key is to “think local”.
Jamaica: “Old Boy”
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp is brimming with pride over his alma mater.
Japan: Outlawing Illegal Downloads
id:seshiapple picks up [ja] comments from a thread on Japanese bulletin board 2-Channel in which IT journalist Daisuke Tsuda asks 2-channelers: “The outlawing of [illegal] downloads is almost finalized, do you have any questions?” As reported in an IT media article [ja] from Oct. 20th, Tsuda was the only member...
Japan: Insiders foretell Yamato Life's bankruptcy on 2-Channel
The effects of the American subprime loan crisis have arrived in Japan, and the first company fall victim to the outfall is Yamato Life Insurance Co. The Japanese mid-size insurer filed for bankruptcy on the 10th of October and applied to the Tokyo District Court for bankruptcy protection. Many bloggers, however, have been writing about a different angle to the story: at a thread on 2-Channel, Japan's largest bulletin board, insiders apparently reported the bankruptcy before it actually happened.
Hong Kong: Banana Politics
The Chief Executive Donald Tsang's policy speech last week didn't give people any surprise. The hottest subject is about Legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man, Chair of the League of Social Democrats, throwing a banana at Tsang in the Legislative Council during the Q & A session. It marks the beginning of...
Afghanistan: Sayed Pervez Kambakhsh's Sentence Commuted to 20 Years
At least it's not death: An Afghan appeals court overturned a death sentence Tuesday for a journalism student accused of blasphemy for asking questions in class about women's rights under Islam. But the judges still sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The case against 24-year-old Parwez Kambakhsh, whose brother...
Taiwan: Protests against ARATS Vice-Chairman
Zhang Mingqing, vice chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), encountered protests as he visited Tainan for an academic conference. Michael Turton analyses media coverage of the protests. Fili also looks at what happened.
Ukraine: Politics, Economic, Sports
The 8th Circle writes about Ukraine's three current problems: politics, economics and sports.
Ukraine: Nostalgia for the Soviet Union
The 8th Circle writes about nostalgia for the Soviet Union.
Central & Eastern Europe, U.S.: Visa-Free Travel
The 8th Circle reports that citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia will now be able to visit the United States for up to 90 days without an entry visa; Polish citizens, however, are not included in this list: “It’s ironic, because of the immense role...
