Stories from 4 June 2009
Russia: The Programmer's Day
Profy writes about the initiative to add yet another official state holiday to the Russian calendar: the Programmer’s Day.
Russia: Google Squared Declares Medvedev Dead
Profy reports that “[a]ccording to Google Squared, [president] Medvedev presumably died on the 20th of May when a famous Russian actor actually died so the search engine grabbed the mistake from all the publication that covered the actor’s death along with the fact that Medvedev commiserated on his death […].”
Ukraine: Eyewitness Accounts of Crimean Tatar Deportation
J. Otto Pohl links to the witness accounts of the Crimean Tatar deportations posted on the The International Committee for Crimea site.
Russia: Tornado Near Moscow
Photos and video of yesterday's tornado near Moscow – at LJ user bukvalno‘s blog (RUS).
Pakistan: The Realities Of The War With Taliban
Sana Saleem at Mystified Justice comments on Pakistan's ongoing war with Taliban: “the war must go on till we rid ourselves from the insurgency that has cost us much more than human lives. Regardless of what must be done I find myself dumbfounded at the things at stake.”
Sri Lanka: A Virtual Eelam For Tamils
Indi.ca informs that “TamilNet is calling for a virtual reality Eelam for the Tamils, independent of any land” and comments whether this is logical in any way.
Liberia: Miss Grand Bass County wins Miss Liberia 2009
Nat blogs about Miss Liberia 200: “The long-delayed and much awaited Miss Liberia 2009 Pageant was finally staged Saturday night, May 9, 2009 at the historic Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia (at an unusual venue) with Miss Grand Bassa County (Shu-rina Wiah) being named the Queen that will ably represent...
Liberia: Connecting Liberian at home and abroad
Shelby writes about a news website called Ceasefire Liberia where Liberians at home and in the diaspora can connect with each other.
Kenya: Kenyan photographer banned on Facebook for “controversial” statements
Kenyan photographer is banned from Facebook because of statements calling for political change: “Commenting on the issue he said, “I was removed from Facebook due to controversial updates calling for political change and the youth to stop hero worshiping tribal leaders who have messed up our country.” One of his...
Africa: Interested in African Wildlife? Ask Erin
Ask Erin is a blog by Erin Keyes of African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) where she gives AWF supporters a forum for asking questions about African wildlife and AWF’s work in Africa.
Bangladesh: Unicode Font In Bangla Newspapers
m@q at Here I am is frustrated reading the Bangla online newspapers, because most of them do not publish in the universal unicode compliant font and you have to install their fonts first to read them.
D.R. of Congo: First field visit after the war
Makambo shares his thoughts on his first field visit after the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The eastern DRC near Virunga National Park went through some rough times due to the recent war. Consequently, field visits have been very limited. I am happy that I can now travel...
India: Reaction To The Obama Speech To The Muslim World
Sujatha at Blogpourri comments on US president Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim World in Cairo University today: “the speech is most definitely worth a read and worth sharing with our children.”
Vietnam: Saigon Digital Marketing Conference
David provides a good overview of the recently held Saigon Digital Marketing conference in Vietnam. Check in particular the highly informative paper of Ralf Matthaes on Internet and Media Shifts in Vietnam.
Sri Lanka: A Suppressed Nation
Access to many Sri Lankan IDP camps are still limited to the international journalists and aid workers and the information are suppressed. So it is hard to hear the voices from these IDP camps. Regini David, a human rights, women and workers' rights activist, has been working with vulnerable people for the past 23 years. In her blog, ‘Unheard Voices‘, she has started writing about the very unheard voices from Sri Lanka, voices of the people she worked with.
Myanmar: Collapse of an Ancient Pagoda
An ancient pagoda in Myanmar collapsed while it was going under renovation, killing at least 5 people. The 180-foot Danoke Pagoda in Yangon Division was originally damaged during Cyclone Nargis so it had been going under renovation. GV author Tan translates a Burmese blogpost about the tragedy.
Cuba, USA: OAS Says “Yes”
After 47 years, the Organization of American States has lifted its ban on Cuba's admission from the group, with most member states restoring ties with the island nation. The United States, which still maintains a trade embargo against Cuba, was the notable exception. But the opinions of other hemispheric leaders won out. Cuba is free to be part of the OAS - despite its leadership's statements suggesting that it has no interest in returning. A few bloggers are making their feelings known...
Israel: Obama focused on things with unite, not divide
Writing at Jewlicious, Dahlia reacts to Obama's speech in Cairo saying: “In his speech, he focused on the things which unite, rather than divide.”
Jordan: Reactions to Obama's Speech
Jordanian Ali Dahmash posts reactions of friends and colleagues from around the Middle East to US President Barack Obama's policy address in Cairo.
Jordan: Angry at Commercial Shoot
The Black Iris, from Jordan, is angry that permission was given to film a commercial on a busy road, during rush hour. “Who in their right mind allowed an advertising company to shoot a commercial for at least two hours on one of the busiest traffic circles in the entire...
Jordan: Air France Tragedy and the Bermuda Triangle
Jordanian Hareega is outraged with the conspiracy theories being discussed in Arabic Press over the Air France plane crash. “I don't know much about flying routes, but I'm sure a plane flying from Rio de Janero directly to Paris can never pass through Bermuda triangle!! Also, some Arabs need to...
