Stories from 23 April 2009
Kuwait: Blackberry Lunches, Arab Sex Talk and Election Responsibility Plea
From the censorship of video games to discussions about Kuwait's upcoming parliamentary elections on May 16, the Kuwaiti blogosphere offers a mixed bag this week. Also in this post, by Amer Al Hilal, a concern raised by a Kuwaiti female blogger about Arab women talking about sex in public.
India: The Fake IPL Blogger
Arnab of Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind comments on the fake IPL blogger, who has created a lot more buzz in India than the original IPL (Indian Cricket Premier League) itself.
Moldova: If Voronin Had A Twitter
If Vladimir Voronin, Moldova's president, had a Twitter account… – by Cezar Maroti: “[…] Change Moldova @Voronin I'm glad u read my tweet. Why don't you see that people don't want you? You should retire now, before you cause more damage! […]”
Lebanon: Pervert Online
Lebanese blogger +961 takes issue with a photographer's work on photography site flickr and shares his views in this post.
Bangladesh: Women Power
Pakistani blogger Marvi Sirmed visits Bangladesh and comments: “One thing that I could not miss in Dhaka was, women engaged with all aspects of life. Economic activity, intellectual discourse or arts, women are everywhere. Gender segregation practically does not exist. Music is a pet of every household.”
Kazakhstan: Cadres decide everything
“Cadres decide everything” – this expression of Josef Stalin is widely quoted by the Kazakhstanis when they discuss new appointments in the government, which usually doesn't feature much new faces, coming down to “reshuffling” of the old “deck”. Megakhuimyak notes [ru]: [Russia's president] Medvedev replaces governors and creates his own...
Maldives: The Benefits Of Not Joining ILO
Abdullah Waheed explains why Maldives did not join ILO all these years.
South Africa: ANC might lose two thirds majority
Will ANC lose its two thirds majority in South Africa? : South Africans are headings to the polls this wednesday, in elections that the ruling African National Congress is expected to win in a landslide. Polls indicate that the ANC might lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority.
South Africa: Traumatic voting experience
Read Khaya's traumatic voting experience in South Africa: I walk into the voting station and a surge of emotion overcomes me, maybe it’s adrenaline or my mind is beginning to realise what I’m about to do, I don’t know, I’m not a shrink.
India: India Bloggers Directory
Rajesh Lalwani informs that the first edition of the India Bloggers Directory, a pocket guide to Indian blogs, will be published soon. “The book will also have a select listing of Twitter users from India.”, he adds. If you are an Indian blogger, you can submit your details here.
Sri Lanka: An Appeal To The International Community
Indi.ca criticizes the international media coverage of the civil war in Sri Lanka: “the ‘International Community’ and international media are far too quick to offer solutions without looking at the situation.” The blogger opines that “the best thing the international community could do is call on the LTTE to surrender...
Indian Elections '09: Where The Shoe Pinches
When Muntadhar al-Zaidi hurled his shoes at the then US President George Bush, little did he know that his method of getting a point across would soon become viral across continents. In India too, the trend seems to have caught on. For indeed, the humble footwear has become the preferred...
Jordan: Beyond Stereotypes
How to get past stereotypes and the future of the relationship between Denmark and the Arab and Muslim worlds was the centre of discussions at an event organised by the Danish Embassy in Amman. Mohammad Azraq, who attended the programme, picks up on this story and more in this round up of Jordanian blogs.
Jamaica: Wasn't Me
Girl With a Purpose learns that as investigations are launched into the security breach at the Jamaican airport which resulted in a (now resolved) hostage situation, “the persons in charge of security at the airport (MBJ Airports Limited) are telling us – it wasn't them…”
Trinidad & Tobago: Film on Calypso Rose
de cooler : soca news blogs about a new documentary on the life of legendary Trinbagonian singer, Calypso Rose.
Trinidad & Tobago: Solo Signature
Trinidadian blogger B.C. Pires says the real reason that the signing ceremony for the recently-concluded Summit of the Americas was important “was to justify the scandalous costs of the Chinese-built Great House…a pity our Big Cheese signed alone; makes that whole firetrucking International Important Monkeys In Jackets Liming Spot seem...
Cuba, U.S.A.: What Next?
“After a week in which President Obama announced new Cuba policy measures and discussed Cuba policy at the Trinidad summit,” The Cuban Triangle asks: “Where do things stand?”
Jamaica: Read a Book
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp recognizes World Book and Copyright Day.
Kosovo, Ukraine, Russia: Social Media and Politics
Blogging Balkanistan writes that Kosovo’s PM Hashim Thaci is planning to join Facebook and that “several leading opposition party candidates already have accounts.” Petro's Jotter explores the Ukrainian political Twitter-sphere, here and here. Siberian Light explains how to connect with Twitter users interested in Russia. Window on Eurasia believes that...
Azerbaijan: Email correspondence with expelled student activist
Thoughts on the Road says it has communicated with Parviz Azimov, a youth activist recently expelled from his university, via email. The blog says his former student intends to appeal and protest the decision to international bodies.
Russia, Turkey: Circassian Diaspora
Window on Eurasia writes about the Circassian diaspora in Turkey and Russo-Turkish relations.
