Stories from 10 July 2009
Ghana: Chocolate for Obama
Does Obama like chocolate? The folks at Divine Chocolate are inviting Pres. Obama to visit and learn more about cocoa farmers in Ghana
Kenya: Circumcision: a question of health or politics?
HIV Kenya discusses HIV and circumcision: “If I were a Kenyan man and someone said, “hey, you could reduce your chances of contracting HIV by 60% if you get circumcised”, I don't think I'd take up the offer. Health services in Kenya have been declining since the 70s and a...
Kenya: Kenya's women volleyballers begin their campaign
Kenya's women volleyballers are set to begin their campaign to qualify for the World Volleyball championshipd today at Kasarain when they face Senegal in their first match. The match is round.
Ghana: Ghana's democracy dividends
Edward Kutsoati discusses Ghana's democracy dividends: Last year, in the midst of the “Obama fever,” another event – by no means as historic as President Barack Obama’s election victory, but remarkable nonetheless – was shaping up in Ghana.
Tanzania: Updates for 6th Pan African Reading For All Conference
Updates for the 6th Pan African Reading For All Conference, which will take place in Tanzania: “As you are making your final plans, please include bringing your National Flag for the opening ceremony and national dress for the closing banquet.”
Zimbabwe: Vendors of Zimbabwe Unite!
“Vendors of Zimbabwe Unite!,” reads the headline at Kubatana blog: “Here’s some citizen reporting just received from a Zimbabwean living in Harare: This afternoon at about 2.30pm I saw vendors scattering in all directions dropping their vegetables and running for their lives. The scene was just off 7th Avenue in...
Nigeria: Traffic update by SMS
eNowNow is a service in Nigeria where anyone with a mobile phone can sign up to receive updates on traffic conditions in different areas around Lagos.
Arab World: Stories in Pictures
Armed with their cameras, two bloggers in the region took pictures of habits and things which caught their attention and commented on them. Here are their stories from Syria and Kuwait.
Bahamas: Happy Independence
Weblog Bahamas wishes its country a happy 36th birthday!
Africa: Obama uses new media to talk to Africans
"Ever wanted to ask our Son from Nyangoma any questions? In other words, would you like the American president, Barack Obama to answer your questions?," begins a post at Hot Secrets blog about Obama's use of new media to engage in a conversation with ordinary Africans.
Trinidad & Tobago: Voting for a Delay
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch is unimpressed with an Independent Senator's vote in favour of postponing local government elections, saying: “It is most enlightening to hear her say that the role of the Independents is not to ‘thwart government policy’. Is it then the role of Independents to support government...
Trinidad & Tobago: Film on Minshall
Keith in Trinidad is excited about a soon-to-be-released film on “Peter Minshall, the greatest band leader in modern Carnival. Ever.”
Jamaica: “Secret Caribbean”
On the heels of a less-than-flattering U.K. documentary on Jamaica, Abeng News Magazine publishes one reader's view “that the Government…consider a few simple precautions before granting foreign nationals the tools needed to damage our fair land”, while including this caveat: “We do not support encumberment of media workers.”
Bahrain: Having Respect For Yourself
Rick Beeman, an American based in Bahrain, is back in the USA for a visit – and wonders about the behaviour of certain Americans: “These people didn’t seem to have any self-respect and that was the sad part. While the people I'm with over in Bahrain…the laborers, have an incredible...
Bahrain: Muslims Should Support The Uighurs
Bahraini blogger Green Oasis asks: “What's going on in China? Where are the Muslims?” [Ar]
Russia: Trenches of Russophile-Russophobe ecclecticism
Sublime Oblivion takes on the complex problem of Russophilia vs. Russophobia, with a very interesting and thoughtful discussion, attempting to schematically categorize bloggers and analysts, but in the process – possibly – raises more questions than providing answers, due to the very ecclectical character of the issue on various practical...
Azerbaijan: An Interview with Scary Azeri
Unashamedly acerbic, but alway humorous, Scary Azeri in Suburbs has fast become popular with many interested in the South Caucasus and posts have even been republished by the media in her native Azerbaijan. Today, Global Voices Online interviewed Scary Azeri about blogging, tweeting, cultural clashes, trolls and more.
Czech Republic: A story of engineerial ingenuity
The Reference Frame examines the biography of ingenious Czech inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), and discusses his role for the development of science and industry.
Bulgaria: Political problems and electoral earthquake
Huib Riethof at Blogactiv.eu discusses Bulgaria's parliamentary elections, urging Europe not to neglect the political earthquake of results, as voters once more quashed the country's political élite.
Jordan: Four Years of Blogging
Jordanian blogger Hareega marks four years of blogging with a message to his readers: “Thank You.”
Egypt: Qaradawi's Jihad Book
Marc Lynch discusses Sunni Islamic scholar Yusuf Al Qaradawi's latest book The Jurisprudence of Jihad in this post. “Qaradawi's intervention has thus far received no attention at all in the English-language media. It should, because of his vast influence and his long track record as an accurate barometer of mainstream...
