Stories from 3 June 2009
Cuba: The Music of de Salas
Repeating Islands profiles Claudio Brindis de Salas, “the famous Cuban violinist who was also known as the ‘King of the Octaves’ or the ‘Black Paganini’.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Post It
“The Postmistress seems destined to be no longer a person in our neighbourhood,” laments Abeni, blogging from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Guyana: Blog Ranking
When it comes to rating blogs, Signifyin’ Guyana maintains that “stats shouldn't count. Content should”, adding: “Those of us who remain entrenched in old notions of hierarchy are being defeated by this and other new media every day. Hooray!”
China: Twitter blocked, Fanfou sick leave
While Twitter and a number of social network and peer to peer communication websites have been blocked since yesterday (June 2), the local version of twitter, Fanfou, has put up a system maintanence notice a few hours ago. It said hopefully its service would be resumed in June 6. (via...
Guatemala: The Murder of Father Rosebaugh in the Ixcán
One week after the murder of Rodrigo Rosemberg and the infamous video, another violent murder took place in the Ixcán region of Guatemala. Armed men intercepted the car carrying 5 missionaries. Shots rang out and a Roman Catholic priest from the United States, the Rev. Lawrence Rosebaugh was killed. The incident brought an end to the life of a man best remembered as a champion of non-violence and peace during his years serving in Latin America, and brought focus on the historical and present state of the region where he last served.
Azerbaijan: Youth
In Mutatione Fortitudo ponders the state of youth in Azerbaijan and says there have been changes amidst a backdrop of falling oil prices and the global economic crisis. However, the blog by Global Voices author Ali S. Novruz concludes, liberal-thinking youth are in short supply.
Taiwan: Hiking to Jialuo Lake
Jialuo Lake is at 2,300 metres altitude in the mountains of Northern Taiwan. Stu Dawson and Neil Wade blogged about hiking to the lake with many photos revealing the beauty of the area.
Chinese people's reaction to North Korea missile test
While the international society is working hard to maintain the security and peace on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has conducted the second nuclear test on 25 May and launched several missile tests the following days. As the Chinese government has been in good relation with North Korea, it would...
Fiji: ‘A Christian state'?
Fiji’s government has canceled this year’s conference of the Methodist church, claiming the week-long meeting would foster instability. The move was announced from a statement from government police and military forces, arguing that “inciteful issues are going to be discussed at the conference.” Fiji’s Methodists gather each August at a...
Niger: Widespread opposition to president's bid to extend rule
Tensions are on the rise in Niger as President Mamadou Tandja moves forward with a referendum that, if passed, would allow the 71 year-old leader to modify the constitution and extend his 10-year rule.
Egypt: Is Obama not Welcome?
Forty-eight hours before US president Barack Obama delivers his much awaited speech to the Arab and Muslim worlds from Cairo University, the Egyptian blogosphere is almost unified by the same feeling. Bloggers are outraged by the massive and exaggerated preparations and precautions being taken by the Egyptian government to secure the visit, and most of them are doubting if the anticipated speech would usher any real change.
Russia: Gastarbeiters’ Incomes Down
“Gastarbeiters in the Russian Federation are sending approximately 50 percent less money back to their homelands in the CIS than they did six months ago,” Window on Eurasia reports.
Russia: Erzya+Moksha=Mordvin Language?
Window on Eurasia writes about possible consequences of the attempts to create “on the foundation of two separate languages, Erzya and Moksha, a single Mordvin literary language.”
