Stories from 11 July 2009
Malawi: Malawi Who Is Who
Nyirenda writes about a plan by the Malawi Government to come up with a list of professionally qualified Malawians who are based abroad to comprise a Malawi Government Publication to be known as Malawi WHO IS WHO.
Africa: Interesting questions for Obama
Rafiki Kenya writes about questions from Africans for Barack Obama: “In the meantime, the White House has shared an interactive map which samples 43 of the more than 5,000 questions received. There are pertinent questions about the ever-present vice of corruption”
Ghana: Obama Speech in Ghana
The Benin Epilogue posts full transcript of speech delivered by Barack Obama in Ghana.
Peru: Crazy Combi Facebook Game
Carlos del Carpio of Gran Combo Club [es] writes about a popular Peruvian game called Crazy Combi on Facebook. Its popularity has apparently lowered productivity in the workplace due to the hundreds of thousands of users who play it on the job.
Colombia: Where to Find the Best Buñuelo
The buñuelo is a typical Colombian snack that can elicit hunger pangs with the mere mention of the word. That is what recently happened with a group of Colombian twitterers, who chose to discuss their favorite places to buy the buñuelo, as well as some of their favorite anecdotes. It even led some to rush out to buy the food.
Taiwan: Call for Reduced Sentence of a Chinese Worker
TIWA starts a petition for reduced sentence of an injured Chinese worker Liu Hanghuang who stabbed to of his Taiwanese employers after he failed to commit suicide.
Communicating via missed calls
Uber Desi on the recent ICT research conducted by Lirneasia.net across 6 Asian countries. The findings indicate that communicating via ‘missed call’ signals is a common way for people to save on calling costs.
Estonia: Comparing 1989 with 2009
Gedanken über Estland presents [GER] a number of statistical figures comparing Estonia in 1989 and 2009, against the background of financial crisis, showing a decline in almost every sector of society.
Georgia: An Interview with DvOrsky
Giga Paitchadze, better known online as DvOrsky, is no stranger to the Caucasus section of Global Voices Online. In the second of a series of audio interviews with bloggers in or dealing with the South Caucasus, Paitchadze updates Global Voices Online on the development of new media in Georgia.
Brazil: Digital mob demands the Senate President's resignation
Thousand of protests have taken place 'virtually' on social media networks, such as Twitter, demanding the resignation of the Senate President, José Sarney. But, when the mobilization goes offline, only some dozen protesters have so far taken to Brazil's streets. Bloggers analyze the current Brazilian political scenery, the background of this situation and speculate on a hidden agenda.
Afghanistan: Deals on the eve of elections
Nick Fielding comments on the development around presidential election campaign in Afghanistan talking about the deals that President Karzai is cutting to try to keep his position.
Uzbekistan: Failed state or private enterprise?
Pravdin reviews the Uzbekistan's performance on the “The Failed States Index 2009”, released recently by the Fund for Peace.
Tajikistan: Protests in Iran are a lesson for Tajiks
Botur says that Tajiks were carefully following events in Iran, a country with strong linguistic and cultural ties with Tajikistan, and reflects on how these developments may influence Tajik society.
Kazakhstan: A Kazakh from China wins hearts of London
Adam writes about Mamer, a musician and ethnic Kazakh from Xinjiang, who has already become a celebrity in China and Europe, but remains totally unknown in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Kaznet under fire
Publicist wonders how would Kazakhstani Internet market develop after the restrictive legislative amendments are adopted, and reviews the research into possible economic consequences of the amendments.
Kazakhstan: Rock wave from Kazakhstan hits Russia
Juldyz writes about the Kazakhstani rock band that has managed to get through selection process and perform on the prestigious international rock-fest.
Kyrgyzstan: Games around Manas Air Base
Katya Fisher Yoffe reflects on the Kyrgyzstan’s decision to permit US troops to use Manas Air Base in an apparent game to balance interests of Washington and Moscow.
Azerbaijan: Youth activist, prominent blogger imprisoned after trial behind closed doors
In what might be the first case of a blogger being assaulted and detained in the South Caucasus, two youth activists were yesterday imprisoned for two months pre-trial investigative detention in what many consider to be a travesty of justice.
Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial
Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is charged with sodomising a 23-year old male aide. Anwar believes the charge is politically-motivated. The sodomy trial, which has been postponed several times, is scheduled to resume next week. Malaysian bloggers react to the Anwar sodomy trial.
Bolivia: The Implementation of a Biometric Voter Registration
The race is on to implement a biometric voter registration for the December 6 general elections in Bolivia writes Miguel Buitrago of MABB.
Bolivia: The Return of Luis Arce Gómez
Former Bolivian military officer Luis Arce Gómez, who was part of the dictatorship of Luis García Meza in the early 1980s, returned to the country after finishing his sentence in the United States. Alberto Medrano of Letras Alteñas [es] writes that he was sent directly to the maximum security prison...
