22 July 2009

Stories from 22 July 2009

Azerbaijan: An interview with Arzu Geybullayeva

Despite the accent formed from education in the United States and the United Kingdom, Arzu Geybullayeva, now a regional analyst, has become one of Azerbaijan's most well-known bloggers on the country with her Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines blog.

22 July 2009

Israel: A Belief In Coexistence – Interview With Activist Ibn Ezra

While Israel as a whole has moved to the right in recent years, there are nevertheless Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians. Global Voices Online has interviewed activist Joseph Dana, who blogs at Ibn Ezra, about his involvement with the group Ta'ayush ("coexistence"), the state of activism in Israel, and using social media to get the message out.

22 July 2009

Syria: Erdogan's Visit and Iran

Syrian blogger Maysaloon comments on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Syria. “In light of everything that has been happening recently one wonders about the timing of the...

22 July 2009

UAE: Dubai Bashing Continues

Seabee, from Dubai Thoughts, says there is yet another article following the fad for Dubai bashing. This one is in the UK Sunday Times. “Once again it's an article concentrating...

22 July 2009

Turkey: The Turkish of Dr. Oz

Talk Turkey commends Dr. Oz (of Oprah fame) for his ability to speak perfect Turkish while lecturing to Turkish medical students. “Sure he has an accent. Sure he sounds like...

22 July 2009

Uganda: Government Quiet as Famine Takes Toll

As drought spreads throughout East Africa, more than three million Ugandans are at risk of starvation. Hunger has claimed the lives of more than 40 people, and bloggers fear more will die before the government takes notice.

22 July 2009

Japan: No Twitter for Election Campaigns

In response to the government's decision that the usage of Twitter in election campaign activities violates the Public Offices Election Law, Kengo Preston wonders why disruptive methods such as direct...

22 July 2009

Cambodia, Thailand: ilovethailand website sparks controversy

The recently launched website ilovethailand.org is causing a stir online. Thailand's Prime Minister announced that the website is intended to restore the country's image and unify the nation in light of recent unrest. The controversy stems from the website's claims about Thailand's “lost territory” — territory that is present day Cambodia.

22 July 2009

Cuba, Jamaica: Film & Music

AfriClassical notes that famed Afro-Cuban composer Leo Brouwer has received his country's 2009 National Film Award, while Repeating Islands discovers that the musical based on Jamaican Perry Henzell’s 1972 film...

22 July 2009

Maldives: Law To Tackle Anti-Social Behavior

Abdullah Waheed reports that a legal bill has been introduced to the Majlis, Maldivian parliament for discussion and enactment to tackle the growing cases of gang violence and anti-social behavior...

22 July 2009

Pakistan: A Fatwa To Stop Electricity Theft

Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan informs that “the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft...

22 July 2009