Stories from 19 November 2008
Sri Lanka: Radio Manager Detained
Free Media Sri Lanka reports that one of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliates A.R. Vanna Loshan, General Manager of Vettri FM Radio was arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Colombo. IFJ and the leading media organizations in Sri Lanka condemned the detention of the Tamil journalist...
Bangladesh: Cox’s Bazar in the New7Wonders
M@q at Here I am… posts a video campaigning to vote for Cox’s Bazaar Beach of Bangladesh in the New7Wonders contest.
Rollback in New Zealand's emissions trading scheme?
A little more than a week after New Zealand’s National Party swept away nine years of Labour Party rule, new Prime Minister John Key stitched together a coalition government. At the new government's swearing in ceremony in Wellington, Key’s center-right coalition promised to boost economic growth by cutting taxes, enacting...
Pakistan: More US drone attacks
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that another suspected U.S. drone missile attack at a house in northwestern Pakistan killed at least five and injured seven people.
Colombia: Government, banking and pyramid schemes
Colombians are buzzing in outrage after the collapse last week of several investment offices which were operating as Ponzi schemes and pyramids, where people would deposit their savings and receive up to 300% in return. The last company standing was DMG, which has a massive following and is now being investigated and its owners arrested for alleged connections with drug trafficking cartels, money laundry and unlawful acquisition of funds. Surprising though, is that their followers have been unfailing in their support, defending DMG and its strategies on forums, comments and websites.
Israel: Ceasefire with Hamas Ends
The temporary cease-fire (tahdiya) agreement between Israel and Hamas has come to an end earlier this month with an escalation of violence in the region and a re-implementation of the Gaza blockade. Gilad Lotan highlights conversations on the Israeli blogosphere on the escalation of violence and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Trinidad & Tobago: Flood!
Trinidad and Tobago has been at the receiving end of some heavy rains over the past few days, resulting in severe flood waters that have immobilized commuters, compromised infrastructure and wreaked havoc on the public transportation system. But only a handful of local bloggers were on top of the story (perhaps the rest were too busy trying to find a way home).
Japan: Asia 21 Tokyo Summit
From the 14th to the 16th of November the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit was held in Tokyo, with 160 young leaders debating this year's topic of “Challenges Across Borders, Solutions Beyond Cultures”, focusing on ways to “make the culture relevant in our changing world”. The diary of the 3-day-conference,...
Egypt on Fire: The Gloves and The Invisible Hand
On Thursday November 6th when Egyptians were celebrating Obama's Victory, Al Ghad Party went up in flames. You can read about the initial blogosphere reactions here and here. Today I am sharing with you Wael Nawara's statements regarding the incident.
Egypt: No Sexual Harassment Here, says the First Lady
Sexual harassment is a real threat in Egypt. A study shows that two-thirds of men harass women, and bloggers have repeatedly written about it -- but Egypt's first lady Suzanne Mubarak says it is not a phenomenon and just a few isolated incidents. Bloggers speak out again.
Hungary: A Look at the Judiciary System
Hungarian Spectrum is wondering how it is possible that “growing marijuana plants seems to deserve as harsh a sentence as murder” in Hungary.
Bangladesh: Change is in the offing
An Ordinary Citizen comments that the people of Bangladesh wants a change in the political system needing reform and the impending election is their hope for their wishes to come true.
Trinidad & Tobago: Up on the Mount
Simply Trini Cooking makes a trip to Mount St. Benedict – “a terrific place for a retreat or just to get away from it all.”
Barbados, Cuba, U.S.A.: Obama's AG
Diaspora bloggers Keltruth Corp. (Barbados) and Babalu (Cuba) discuss Barack Obama's choice of Eric Holder for the post of Attorney General.
Jamaica: March for Peace
A recent upsurge in crime over the last few weeks has Jamaicans gravely concerned. Last week's discovery of the body of an eleven (11) year old boy was the latest in a string of attacks against the nation's children. Jamaican blogger (and mother) iriegal of A Fe Me Page Dis...
Barbados: National Interest
Barbados Underground says that the issue of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary needs to be sorted out “to hopefully reach an amicable agreement in the national interest.”
Bermuda: No Obama
As the Premier suggests “that white Bermudians would not have voted for Barack Obama”, Vexed Bermoothes and 21 Square counter that argument by saying: “The question to ask is whether whites vote along the lines of race or the lines for or against the ideals Obama stands for. Ideals the...
Guyana: On Being Authentic
“I spent the first 19 years of my life in Guyana. I have now lived away from Guyana for a longer time than I lived there. Does that make me an inauthentic Guyanese?”: Signifying Guyana responds to an argument that writers “who eventually opt to live and work abroad, cannot…lay...
India: Yankee Hindutva
Amardeep at Sepia Mutiny writes about ‘Yankee Hindutva’, the American version of Hindu nationalism.
Iran: No Country for Old Trees
About one year ago Iranian authorities ordered security forces to rid the country of ‘western influences’ and ‘immodesty’. Fortunately they soon backed off again. But this time green bloggers in Iran and an Iranian daily newspaper, Etemaad, have reported on their new victims: old trees
Afghanistan: A Slice of Life at FOB Kalagush
Not your typical embed: Andrew Klavan spent a few days with Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kalagush. It's quite well-written: despite the requisite Kipling shout outs (though they make much more sense here, this being the literal setting of a famous Kipling novel and actual biography), he explains well the challenges the U.S. faces.
