Stories from 20 April 2009
Colombia: Transfer of US Military Base from Ecuador
The US military base currently located in Manta, Ecuador is being transferred to Colombia. “This is a violation of national sovereignty with the aim to maintain a certain level of...
Indian Elections 2009: Villains And Votes
If elections are to be described as a process to elect better leaders for the country, the ongoing elections in India are of a very different variety. A number of convicted felons, gang members with long criminal history and leaders accused of violent crime (murder, attempted murder, armed robbery) - villains in every sense are going to the people asking for their vote.
Pakistan: Terror Has A New Name
Faisal K. at Deadpan Thoughts realizes: “not a day goes by without some sort of threat in Pakistan to its citizens by these mysterious men we have come to know...
Bhutan: Don't Ban Nano!
Dipika, a Bhutanese journalist who blogs at On The Job, criticizes the recent debate in Bhutan on whether the $2500 car Tata Nano should be banned.
Lebanon: Activists Experiment with Social Media
The use of social media tools such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and mobile technology has become increasingly popular in activism and advocacy work worldwide in recent years. In Lebanon, a group called Social Media Exchange teaches activists how to utilise social media to promote their work and reach a wider audience. Mohammmad Azraq digs into the Lebanese social networking and online scene to find out more.
Sri Lanka: Winning Back The Tamil Diaspora
The Whackstar's Lair opines that the Sri Lankan people should stop considering the Tamil diaspora as the enemy. Because: “EELAM is right here, but it’s called Sri Lanka, and people...
India: Importance Of Mother Tongue
Manasa Pamaraju at Desicritics states that many of the 22 official languages of India are losing the race to English or other dominant languages. The blogger comments: “what pains me...
Iran: Diplomats walk out at Ahmadinejad's speech
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today made headlines once more, when he referred to Israel as a “racist state” during a address at United Nations conference on racism in Geneva, Switzerland. Delegates...
Bangladesh: The Power Of One String
Bengali folk Music has survived many centuries and Ektara, the single-stringed musical instrument had a significant role to play. More at The Mango Diaries.
India: Shoddy Election Reporting
Shivam Vij at Kafila blog blasts the Indian mainstream media for their manipulative election reporting using stereotypes and presumptions.
Americas: 5th Summit Reactions
The much-hyped Fifth Summit of the Americas is now over, culminating with the Hemispheric leaders' adoption of the Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain - albeit with one signatory - the Prime Minister of host country Trinidad and Tobago, who purportedly signed on behalf of all participating leaders. This signaled to many a clear lack of unanimity on the final declaration, hardly surprising given the differing agendas of the 34 participating nations. Bloggers were quick to post their impressions of the three-day engagement.
Afghanistan: Political Machinations
While Afghanistan's so-called “rape law” has garnered a lot of Western press, there is a lot of domestic debate over it as well. The women's marches have been covered admirably...
Malawi Politicians Campaign in Cyberspace
The presidential and parliamentary race in Malawi is seeing innovative use of the Internet that Malawi's politics has never witnessed before. Parties and individual contestants have established themselves online through websites, Facebook and blogs to get voters' attention.
Jamaica: Hostages Released
Breaking news in Jamaica this morning is that a hostage situation has developed with the crew of a Canadian jet at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Canadian mainstream media is since reporting that the situation was resolved without any loss of life when "an anti-terrorism unit of the Jamaican military stormed the plane and disarmed the gunman", but bloggers Caribbean-wide and throughout the diaspora are still in disbelief.
Bahamas: The Economics of Culture
“It is not foreign investment that economists and development agencies are suggesting is the engine of economic development in the 21st century; it’s culture”: Nicolette Bethel thinks that the Bahamian...
Syria: Independence Day Celebration in DC Draws Crowds
Imad Moustapha, Syria's envoy to the US, shares with us photographs from a celebration to mark his country's Independence Day in Washington DC. “The huge attendance was a testimony to...
Jordan: Lessons from Hannah Montana
From Jordan, Moey shares the 10 things he learned from watching Hannah Montana.
Saudi Arabia: Support for fatwa prohibiting “immoral” women's sports clubs
Writing on Arabic online forum Al Saha Abu Marmesh applauds a new fatwa (religious edict) by a Saudi scholar which bans women only health and sports club in Saudi Arabia....
Jordan: Rainy Amman in Photos
Thought Clouds, The Digital Bender shares those photographs from Amman, Jordan, in the rain.
Haiti: Election or Selection?
Repeating Islands reports that Haiti's Senate elections this past weekend were “marred today by sporadic violence, forcing authorities to cancel polling in parts of the country”. Pwoje Espwa notes: “Fanmi...
Jamaica: Perspective on Pirates
Jamaica-based blogger Annie Paul happened to be reading a manuscript about pirates at a time when “the pirates of Somalia were rousing international consternation by capturing a US ship and...
