Stories from 1 May 2009
Brazil: Remembering Ayrton Senna, the unbeatable F1 champion
The country pays tribute to the three-time Formula One world champion whose tragic death, aged just 34-years-old at the beginning of a successful career, shocked the world on May 1st 1994. 15 years on, Brazilian bloggers share photos, videos, memories and tears.
India: Absentee Voters
The Acorn discusses about the absent Indian voter syndrome (AIVS): “It is clear that simple explanations of why eligible voters don’t vote are insufficient to explain AIVS phenomenon. Better analysis...
Pakistan: Things That People Do During Rolling Blackout
Shirazi at Light Within discusses what Pakistanis can do during Electric Load Shedding.
India: Blog Of The Congress Party, Atlast
BlogBharti reports that “similar to the Friends of BJP, the (Indian National) Congress has also launched its own blog.”
Armenia: May Day opposition rally
The Caucasian Knot, the blog of Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor, posts an account as well as videos and photographs shot on mobile and originally uploaded or streamed live to...
World Videos: “Swine Flu” Perspectives, Humor and a Grain of Salt.
Videos tend to reflect people's states of mind at a set moment in time. People react different ways in the face of crisis, and for all those who have been reading, viewing and absorbing information on the "Swine Flu" (properly known as Influenza A virus subtype H1N1), it might get complicated not only to sort out factual information from rumors, but also to deal with the new restrictions and recommendations. Some find a way to share their state of mind through videos, and this is what I bring to you today: thought provoking, skeptical, musically inclined, creative and humorous videos.
Barbados: Questions about Maloney inquest verdict
The Rastafari community in Barbados responds to the verdict in the inquest into the suspicious death of 23-year-old I'Akobi Maloney, alleged by Barbados police to have jumped from a cliff during an encounter with two officers.
Iran:Delara Darabi Executed
Mohammad Mosatfai, an Iranian lawyer, informs [fa] us that Iran has executed a 23-year-old woman, Delara Darabi,for a crime committed when she was a 17 years old. Watch a video...
Saudi Arabia: Dan Brown Vs Arab Authors
Saudi blogger Ndhm [ar] is looking forward to the Arabic translation of Dan Brown's latest book The Lost Symbol. The blogger notes: “It took him five years to write the...
Palestine/Canada: On Arabs Abroad
“Why Arabs abroad feel obligated that they MUST know everyone in their city? Even Arabs in nearby cities? Who they are/were friends with? Where they buy their shoes from?” rants...
Saudi Arabia: Journalist Al Rabea Arrested
Saudi Arabian blogger Tamem [ar] reports on the arrest of journalist Adel Al Rabea and notes: “It is no surprise that Saudi Arabia heads the list of countries considered as...
Jordan: Wasting Time on Shallow TV Shows
Jordanian Batir Wardam at Jordan Watch [ar] asks: “What is the percentage of Arabs who waste most of their time following shallow television shows, devoid of any content, on Arab...
Syria: Drugs Vs Alcohol
From Syria, An@s Online [Ar] argues why are drugs banned when alcohol is allowed.
Qatar: Royal spending $10m a year on a drag racing team
At Qatar Living, OfMyHeartShape links to an article which says that 22-year-old Qatari Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani will be spending $10 million a year on a drag racing...
Syria: “I am not a sexist”
Syrian blogger Yaser defends himself after being accused of being a sexist in this post at Tajreed.
Kyrgyzstan: Government Acts to Prevent Swine Flu
The import of all types of meat products from the United States and Mexico is banned in Kyrgyzstan now. Deputy Director of the Department of Veterinary Kubanychbek Musakeev explained [ru],...
Jordan: Interview with Arab Internet Entrepreneur
On StartUp Arabia, Mohamed Marwen Meddah interviews Arab Internet entrepreneur Mohamad Haj Hasan, co-founder of Jordan-based Boundless, the company behind online cards game destination Jawaker, and online job portal Akhtaboot.
Morocco: Exercise Blues
American Liz, who lives in Morocco, writes about the difficulties of exercising there.
Libya: Qaddafi's Fashion
In a “little sartorial digression” Lalla Lydia picks on Libyan president Colonel Muammer Al Qaddafi and Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed's fashion.
Israel: Why does Earth Hour have to be at 8pm?
At Twitter, Mia_the_Ima from Israel writes: “Why does earth hour have to be at 8PM that's so inconvenient. How about if I black-out at 10PM. Does that count?”
Iran:Iranian cartoonist talks about Obama
Nikahang Kowsar, an Iranian blogger,journalist and cartoonist, says: “It's not really easy to make fun of Obama as a person because although he has a sense of humour he is...
