Stories from 23 June 2009
Ukraine: Iranian Students Protest in Kyiv
Greetings from Kyiv links to Kyiv Post's photos of a protest by Iranian students in Kyiv.
Russia: Views on Events in Iran
“As hundreds of thousands protesters fill the streets of Tehran and other provincial centers, one can’t help think that we’ve seen this all before,” writes Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog, comparing the events in Iran to “the ‘colored revolutions’ in Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, (the failed attempts in) Moldova and...
Russia: “Summer in Saratov”
OpenDemocracy.net posts Olga Bakutkina's text on the economic problems in Saratov.
Indonesia: Disappointing Election Debate
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim populated country, conducted its first ever presidential election debate. The country's three presidential hopefuls attended the debate. But many viewers and bloggers were disappointed with the debate.
Albania: Female Solo Singers
A post on “some of the most important Albanian female solo singer artists of the last century” – at The Balkan Crew.
Ukraine: Blogging Priest Scandal
Profy writes about a scandal involving a Ukraine-based Russian Orthodox priest – LJ user abbatus-mozdok – whose blogging manners were deemed inappropriate by the church officials.
Bahrain: Newspaper Suspended For A Day
On Monday, 22 June, Bahrain's oldest newspaper in circulation Akhbar Al Khaleej was suspended for the day after printing an article critical of certain Iranian leaders and making reference to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's alleged Jewish origins. The move would seem to have been made to avoid provoking unrest amongst the Shi'a majority in Bahrain.
Russia: Viktor Tsoi's Birthday in St. Pete
Eagle and the Bear writes about Viktor Tsoi, “the Soviet Kurt Cobain, who wrote some iconic tunes, changed the Russian music world with his group Kino, and then died young enough to become a martyr.”
India Bans Maoist Organisation
Aaman Lamba at Desicritics reports that “India brought the CPI-Maoist, an extremist left wing group into the list of terrorist outfits banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act”.
Nepal: The Future Of The Madhesi Movement
Democracy For Nepal discusses the future of the Madhesi movement in Nepal.
Bahrain: Should “Native Speakers” Be Given Preference?
Bahraini blogger Cradle of Humanity was angry about a recruitment advertisement at a college which stated that native speakers of English would be given preference, so she wrote to complain: “I don’t know if my email would mean anything, but I hope they get the message that, despite English being...
Bahrain: A Plea For Less Drama
Bahraini blogger Hala is tired with the commenters on her blog When it Beeps: “I’m beginning to feel that I encounter more Drama in the blogosphere than in my real life, and since I’m doing a great job of blocking the drama out of my real life, maybe I should...
Pakistan: Cricket On Twitter Trending
Teeth Maestro reports that some Pakistani bloggers launched an e-rally using Twitter in support of their national Team in the Twenty20 World Cup Final. The result was evident as #PakCricket appeared at no. 8 on Twitter trending as Pakistanis followed the game and celebrated their victory over Sri Lanka.
Bahrain: Train And Hire Bahrainis, Please
Bassam Noor is pleased that a Bahraini has been hired in a senior position in major investment firm Investcorp for the first time, but says: “It’s unfair that Investcorp benefits from Bahrain’s tax-free environment, and geographical proximity to cash-rich regions, but it yet refuses arrogantly to provide further training to...
Egypt: Play and put an end to Torture
Against Torture in Egypt posted this game - designed by IRCT (The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims) – on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26).
Palestine: Ten Reasons Settlers Should Go
Joy in Palestine continues her list of why the illegal settlers of the Havot Ma’on outpost and Ma’on settlement in the West Bank south of Hebron must leave; in this post she gives reason number three.
Egyptian Rap Song in support of Iran
Urging Egyptian youth to fight against corruption, Wa7da Masreya posted an Egyptian rap song [EN & AR] in support of Iran.
Jordan: MPs Drafting a Law which requires Website Passwords
A new electronic sites law is being reviewed and drafted by the Jordanian Parliament which requires website administrators to provide their site's passwords to the government's Printing and Publication Directorate. In case the admins refuse, says the draft, the sites will be closed down by the concerned authorities. Blogger Osama Romoh reacts to the news.
China: More corpses found in Shishou hotel; disputes continue.
The death of a chef triggered a mass protest that finally brought over ten thousand armed police into the town for crackdown. The dead’s families along with thousands of people resisted the police and protected the corpse, because they know once the body was taken away, the death would be identified as a suicide and the truth will be lost forever.
Trinidad & Tobago: Turtle Watching
Rantings and Ramblings goes turtle watching in Trinidad.
Trinidad and Tobago: Fighting Words
From Trinidad and Tobago, Mauvais Langue calls the Prime Minister's choice of words “improper, inappropriate, and tasteless for the political arena.”
