Stories from 10 February 2009
Kazakhstan: Devaluation and Blogospghere
On February 4, the National Bank of Kazakhstan ceased maintenance of the national currency tenge (KZT). The measures on retention of the overestimated exchange rate during the last 6 months has cost nearly $6 billion, while national currencies in the neighboring countries have dropped down significantly. The new exchange rate...
Pakistan: Karafilm Festival
Yawar Herekar at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reviews Karachi's Karafilm Festival, an international film fest that showcases a range of movies from around the world.
Hong Kong: Twestival
Daisy blogs about the upcoming (Feb 12) Twestival in Hong Kong.
Paraguay: Immigrants Tell Their Stories
It is a common story across Latin America, where immigrants set off to find greener pastures in neighboring or distant countries. It is no different for Paraguayans, who leave behind friends and family for other opportunities. Some of these stories are now being told on a blog called Somos Paraguayos (We Are Paraguayans), which invites immigrants across the globe to submit their firsthand stories about their experiences.
China: CCTV Fire News Censored
Fauna from ChinaSMACK reported about the CCTV building fire and how the news got censored in major internet portal, like Sina and NetEase.
China: CCTV Fire Photos – Twitter breaks the news again
David Feng from CNreviews tells the story on how twitter breaks the news on the fire in CCTV building last night in Beijing.
Sri Lanka: Tri Shaws Are The Best
London, Lanka and Drums praises Tri Shaws, or Tuk Tuks as the best form of transport ever invented: “they're pretty damn perfect for day to day things in a country like Sri Lanka.”
Bhutan: Meat Ban
Tshering Tobgay's Blog discusses the proposal to lift the ban on selling meat products during the 1st and 4th months of Bhutanese traditional calendar.
Lebanon: Cell Phone Prices to Drop
The Lebanese blogosphere has had a lukewarm response to a Government announcement that cell prices are due to fall. Antoun Issa brings us the story.
Philippines: Five Years in College
I am Kylex disagrees with the proposals to add one more year to the four-year college curriculum in the Philippines. “We are currently facing on so-called ‘global financial crisis’. Many Filipinos outside and inside the country are now jobless because of that… Many of us cannot afford to go to...
Corruption in the Philippines
Rebelmind comments on the recent scuffle between World Bank officials and the Philippine government on the issue of corruption. “Whom to believe… is a no-brainer. It’s not that the World Bank is a bastion of integrity (usurers are not saints, right?); it’s just that the dollars used for the projects...
Chikungunya in Singapore
Dengue cases were down in Singapore last year but chikungunya infections were up. Last month more chikungunya cases were reported. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health which included chikungunya fever in its weekly infectious disease bulletin. It is feared that chikungunya will soon become endemic in Singapore: “The...
Jordan: Why I Love Gmail
And Far Away, from Jordan, writes about what she loves about emailing service – Gmail.
Saudi Arabia: Women and Jobs
From Saudi Arabia, Nzingha describes the difficulties facing Saudi women finding jobs.
Egypt: Time to lift the Gaza blockade
Rantings of a Sandmonkey, from Egypt, says its time to lift the Gaza blockade and explains his reasons here.
Morocco: It's Raining in Marrakesh
It's raining in Marrakesh, and Moroccan Maryam has the story, with pictures in this post.
Morocco: The Cinema Scene
The cinema scene in Morocco resembles that in Gaza, says Moroccan blogger Allal El Alaoui, who remarks: “Poor cinema in Morocco.It is targetted by everyone and eveywhere.First,and sadly speaking;majority of cinema-theatres are closed because of the mediocrity of films introduced..”
Egypt: Philip Rizk ‘Kidnapped
From Egypt, blogger Sarah Carr narrates the events of the To Gaza campaign march and the events leading to the disappearance of journalist/masters student/filmmaker/blogger Philip Rizk, who was grabbed by State Security and taken to an undisclosed location.
