Stories from 3 February 2009
East Asia: Various readings on “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea”
Japanese anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, has become a widely discussed movie in the 2009 new year. Here is the movie trailer: In Hong Kong, the movie was on show since mid Jan and because of the debate over protection of...
Iraq: Elections Have Come and Gone
Elections have come and gone in Iraq. With reports that the day passed peacefully, the whole process could have been seen as the most boring national event after the war. Salam Adil digs into the Iraqi blogosphere to bring us the story.
Macedonia: Upcoming Presidential Election
Blogging Balkanistan writes about the upcoming presidential election in Macedonia.
EU: Russia To Join Nabucco?
Nosemonkey's Eutopia writes about the EU-Russian relationship and Russia's prospects of joining in the Nabucco gas pipeline project.
Kazakhstan: End of private banks
Recently, odd things have happened to a number of Kazakh banks and the Kazakh stock market. The spread of ungrounded controversial information sent stocks of three banks plummeting, leading to nationalization of two major private banks. Today, there is little doubt that the action was intentional. There are various hypothetical...
Taiwan: Hiking in the mountains
Taiwan is little known internationally as a hiking destination but there is no lack of mountain trails. Shan Ding Lu hikes to the 3,000 metre plus peak of North Dawu Mountain. Taiwan Teacher goes rockclimbing near Taichung. Chris hikes some different trails over the holidays.
Bangkok's sky trains
Fable posts a picture of Bangkok's sky train. The blogger writes: “I love the sky trains in Bangkok. Where the underground trains are boring, the sky trains are always covered in bright advertisements.”
Myanmar: Local beer products
Today in Myanmar writes that “Before 1988, beer is a rare commodity in Myanmar.” With the opening of the economy, locally-produced beer brands are now sold in hundreds of beer stations.
Trishaws: Myanmar's sidecars
Today in Myanmar writes about Trishaws, the “easiest and most convenient mode of transportation in Myanmar.”
Myanmar thrones
Today in Myanmar provides an historical account of various thrones used by Myanmar kings in the past
Understanding the “Thai Time”
Richard Barrow notes that it is sometimes confusing to understand the time in Thailand. And so he explains the unique “Thai Time” system. For example, “If a Thai person tells you that the bus will leave at two o'clock, then don't presume that he means 2 o'clock in the afternoon....
Video: Vlogging for the Blind
A Bolivian activist explains how Open Source Software designed for the visually impaired helps him communicate online with chatting, emailing and blogging. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, an organization trains the blind and those with visual disabilities on how to use computers and communication technologies, and an employee and advocate of the ENOVIB network for the blind speaks to youth about how blindness can be an opportunity instead of a disability. In Spain, a designer comes up with videogames that visually impaired people can play, and in Nigeria and Canada, a young woman blogs and vlogs about life as a deaf person who is rapidly losing her sight.
Uruguay: Development for the Year 2030
Gabriel Budiño of D Todo 1 Poco [es] takes a look at the Uruguayan government's development plan towards the year 2030, and which includes strategies for agro-industries and tourism.
Costa Rica: Layoffs at La Nación Newspaper
Costa Rica's most important newspaper La Nación is facing economic problems and recently announced that 25 employees would be laid off writes Fusil de Chispas [es]
Colombia: Small Price Difference Between Regular and Premium Gasoline
Carlos of Liberal Colombiano [es] does not understand why there is not much price difference between the regular and premium gasoline in the country.
El Salvador: Presidential Race May Be Tightening
Tim Muth writes that the presidential race in El Salvador may be tightening with recent polls showing the ARENA candidate gaining ground on the FMLN candidate Mauricio Funes.
Russia: More on Putin-Dell Exchange
Anna's Out of Town News writes about Vladimir Putin's exchange with Michael Dell at Davos: “Russia needs her respect. And better translators, apparently.”
Lithuania: Prices and Salaries
With a Grain of Druska writes about prices and salaries in Lithuania and compares them to those in Western Europe.
Turkey: The Online Conversion of David Ignatius
Following the recent spat between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Istanbul Calling comments on the furore surrounding the ethnic origins of the panel's moderator, David Ignatius. In particular, the blog notes how a battle unfolded on Wikipedia...
Latvia: Radio Silence
Baltic writes about an hour-long silence on Latvia's radio stations.
Bulgaria: Gas Dispute, Russophobes and Russophiles
Blogging Balkanistan points out a TOL piece by Boyko Vassilev on the reactions of Bulgarian “Russophobes” and “Russophiles” to the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
