Stories from 7 January 2009
Pakistan: National Security Adviser Sacked Over Mumbai Terrorist Row
Five Rupees reports that mayhem followed after Maj. Gen. (R) Mahmud A. Durrani, the Pakistan Prime Minister's National Security Advisor admitted to media today that the the lone surviving Mumbai terrorist Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani. Later on the day Durrani was sacked by the Prime Minister and The Pakistan...
India's own Enron
Today India was shocked by the confession of the outgoing CEO of the IT giant Satyam that an Enron style huge accounting fraud took place in the company. India Political Blog has details.
Ethiopia as seen by an Argentinian adoptive mother
Alicia Grinberg of Road to Ethiopia – Camino a Etiopía describes her personal experience of traveling to Ethiopia as an Argentianian adopting mother.
Africa needs God?
Rombo of What an African woman thinks criticises a recent article by Mathew Parris for The Times UK titled “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God“. And she wonders: “why does everybody assume that no African had ever climbed the mountain before the adventurous foreigner came along and...
Nigeria: Atypical motorcycle helmet
Jidesalu Photos posted a picture of an atypical motorcycle helmet seen in Lagos, where the use of helmets came in to force from New Year's day.
Ethiopia: Poor maintenance of historical buildings
A few days ago Arefe of Addis Journal posted a picture of a historical building in Addis Ababa from the 1920s, and has now posted one of another building from the same period complaining about the poor maintenance of such building. He says: “…there is a booming of buildings which...
Nigeria: No tolerance for same sex relationships
Ebekuo of Icheoku wonders if Nigeria is becoming more intolerant towards same sex relationships, after Ruth Simon and Clementina Jerome, two police-women serving with the Nigerian police force in Sokoto State were recently dismissed from the police for allegedly engaging in “lesbianism or somewhat lesbian acts of affection”.
“All whaling vessels please proceed to waters of East Timor”
The title above is a quote from Twitter user @BILL_ROMANOS celebrating a discovery made by Australian and East Timorese researchers: the biggest "meeting" ever reported of whales and dolphins, among other cetaceans, and in East Timorese waters.
Peru: Blogger Wishes for the New Year
“What are your hopes for the Peruvian blogosphere in 2009?” That question was openly posed to the community of Peruvian blogosphere on Juan Arellano's blog Globalizado. As a result, 28 bloggers from Peru and the diaspora responded with a wide variety of thoughts and opinions on their personal blogs and others in the comments section. Many were optimistic, yet some were bothered by the commercialization of the blogs.
Taiwan: Citizens against Gaza Conflict
Two pledge and joint signature movements against Gaza conflict just started at almost the same time today in Taiwan. One is initiated (zh) by Chuiyung Cheung(張翠容), a senior HK journalist and well-known blogger (zh) who has visited Gaza and most middle-east countries for many times, and Qiu Yanliang(丘延亮), a ex-political prisoner,...
Jordan: Gaza Food/Clothes Drive Ends Successfully
Jordanian bloggers at 7iber express gratitude towards volunteers and private sector companies for helping in a people-driven donations campaign conducted mainly through Facebook for Gaza.
Egypt: Bloggers on the Fence
Sitting on the fence requires objectivity, tolerance, and integrity. Mona Eltahawy chose to sit on the fence and Amr Gharbeia asks people to choose a solution. Marwa Rakha brings us the story from Egypt.
Syria: Gaza On Our Minds
Syrian bloggers are in a frenzy since the bombing in Gaza started almost two weeks ago. To many Syrians this comes from a deep long rooted identification with the cause of the Palestinian people. But for some, there's also a very personal side to it. Yazan Badran reports.
Dominica: Protecting the Children
“It is by keeping channels of communication open that we can rescue lives from being damaged before they can even bloom”: Blogging from Dominica, Caribbean Man tackles the issue of incest.
Trinidad & Tobago: Wisdom of Children
Spending New Year's with friends and their children in “Babylondon” makes Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer realise that: “I have the power to create what version of the future I want to live in.”
Jamaica: Take My Word For It
Kadene Porter at Abeng News Magazine is less than impressed with the Jamaica Gleaner‘s New Year tradition of “publishing an exhaustive list of ‘prophetic’ utterances pronounced as the ‘Word of the Lord’.”
Jamaica: Dirty Dancing
A Jamaican judge and women's rights activist condemns popular dance moves as being a bad influence children, prompting Jamaica Salt to ask: “What practically can be done? It’s only a dance after all isn’t it?”
Guyana: Dreaming
“At a time when some are calling for Caribbean countries to reject race-based politics, and for the removal of uncaring, destructive governments, it might be just the read that inspires, or helps galvanize action”: Signifyin’ Guyana is re-reading Derek Walcott's Dream on Monkey Mountain.
Azerbaijan: Bayramlıq
Sheki, Azerbaijan introduces its readers to the local custom of Bayramlıq when an engaged girl is presented with gifts during the holiday season. According to the tradition, the family of her future husband brings gifts and sweets and the blog posts photographs of some of them.
Bangla Blogs: Praying For Peace In Gaza
“What's happening in Gaza is impossible to tolerate,” writes blogger Aprio, encapsulating in those few words the Bangla blogosphere's sentiments towards what most of them see as ‘Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians’. Rakib says that the current situation in Gaza is a ‘terrible humanitarian crisis’ . Ahmed Munir writes: ফিলিস্তিন...
Comparison of military strength of Israel and the Palestinians
Baithak posts an extensive comparison of military strength of Israel and the Palestinians.
