Stories from 2 November 2009
Bermuda: To Tax Or Not
Bermuda's 21 Square is not keen on the UK government's recommendation “that territories and crown dependencies should raise taxes to wean themselves out of the recession” – instead, he says “what we should be doing is cutting expenditure.”
Jamaica: Island Beauty
Stunner's Afflictions makes a road trip to the center of Jamaica and posts beautiful photos to prove it!
St. Lucia: Mobile Ecomomy?
St. Lucia's Caribbean Book Blog thinks that mobile banking might just be “that glimmer of hope” that helps bridge the economic gap in the region.
Malawi: Another School Drop-Out Engineering Genius
On October 14th the Malawi Police Service arrested a school drop-out and engineering genius, a 21 year-old Gabriel Kondesi for owning and operating a radio station in Soza Village in the southern district of Mulanje, without a licence from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
Nigeria: Bloggers debate Nigeria's negative image
It's well known that Nigeria has an image problem – 419 Internet scams, corruption, oil piracy in the Delta region – for many people, these are the associations that come to mind when Africa's most populous country is mentioned.
GV French Translator Boukary Konate featured in “Le Monde” Blog
GVO in French translator and Mali-based Bambara blogger Boukary Konate, who blogs at Fasokan, is featured [Fr] in Africascopie, a blog of the French daily Le Monde. They call him “the unrepentant blogger”, and you can listen to a podcast of a “smashing” interview. In an earlier entry of the...
Pakistan: Operation In South Waziristan
Operation Rah e Nijat is the latest attempt of Pakistan army to inflict a final blow upon the Tehrik i Taliban in Pakistan, the group which has terrorized Pakistan. Bloggers discuss how its success is vital for Pakistan and the world.
Jordan: Videos for Social Change!
Over the last few years, and due to the high level of freedom on the internet in Jordan, a number of online social initiatives have been born. Mohammad Azraq takes a closer look at Aramram in this post.
Bolivia: Water Shortages Due to Melting Glaciers
The disappearance of glaciers in the Bolivian Andes Mountains is causing a concern because the future water shortages will affect the availability of suitable drinking water for a vulnerable migrant population.
Lebanon: “Ain't No Smoking Tonight” A Failure
"Ain't No Smoking 2nite" was an event organized by Rotaract which took place in 28th of October in an attempt to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking and to encourage decision makers to promote non-smoking policies in Lebanon. Lebanese bloggers covered the event saying it was a failure.
China: Electoral Reform
China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, has started discussion on a draft amendment to the Electoral Law, which will ensure voters in the countryside have as much influence as voters in the cities. The draft amendment tabled for first reading at the bimonthly legislative session of the 11th NPC...
Russia: Maksharip Aushev's Murder
Robert Amsterdam's Blog – here, here, and here – and Window on Eurasia write about the murder of Ingush opposition activist Maksharip Aushev; Sean's Russia Blog writes about the murder of a businessman and United Russia deputy Grigory Nosikov in a town outside Moscow.
Ukraine: Army Draft
LJ user drugoi re-posts a photo story (RUS) by REUTERS/Gleb Garanich on the fall 2009 draft into Ukrainian army, which has now been suspended due to flu outbreak.
Russia: Opposition Rally
LJ user drugoi writes about (RUS) and posts photos from an opposition rally that took place in Moscow on Saturday. Some 50 people were detained by the police during the rally, and, according to LJ user nl (RUS), among them was a U.S. embassy employee whose last name, when transliterated...
