Stories from 26 January 2010
Jordan: Tweeps Celebrate their Country
In an initiative that was adopted by tweeps from other Arab countries, Jordanian users of micro-blogging site Twitter created and maintained a hashtag that celebrates the top 50 things they love about their country. Ebtihal Mahadeen takes a closer look at #Top50Jo.
Russia: Newspaper Web Site Hacked
The Web site of a popular Russian newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” has been hacked today, RIA news agency reported [EN]. Allegedly, the attack has been provoked by the article [RUS] about a controversial demolition [ENG] of houses at the luxury Rechnik neighborhood in Moscow.
Sri Lanka: Presidential Election Results Online
Lanka Libertarian will start to update the district-wise results of today's Sri Lankan presidential election as soon as they are gradually published. The Sri Lankan election department website will update the official results.
India, Pakistan: Rivals Forever
Shakir Lakhani at Chowrangi blog asks “Will Pakistan and India always be rivals?”
South Korea: Mediact to be dismantled
Mediact, South Korea's first public media center, will be dismantled in 1st of February under the Lee Myung Bak's government (more from interlocals). A petition has been launched to save the center.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Again
“Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. Anyone can play”: My Chutney Garden is gearing up for the national festival.
Haiti: 2 Weeks After
Tara Livesay gives an update two weeks after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti.
Trinidad & Tobago: Crime Rate
Jumbie's Watch laments the worsening crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago.
Bermuda: Takeover Bid
“My opinion is that the PLP takeover of the City is not about reform; I believe it is about power and real estate development. Watch the money”: Bermuda's Vexed Bermoothes weighs in on what he calls the government's “power grab”.
Guyana, Haiti, U.S.A.: Redemption Song?
Signifyin’ Guyana responds to a compatriot's comments about aid to Haiti: “I'm inclined to believe the incentive to give to Haiti is more in search of some kind of redemption, rather than a calculated move to keep Haitians out of America…”
Japan: Pokemon in Japanese Style Paintings
Mari from Watashi to Tokyo links to a pageful of illustrations of Pokemon done in ancient Japanese style.
Africa Cup of Nations: David knows kung fu and he’s Googled you!
"David knows kung fu and he’s Googled you!," begins a post by Thomas Mlambo about suprises at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations where Malawi was able to destroy Fifa 2010 World Cup qualifier Algeria 3-0 on the second day of the tournament.
College Students Protest on Japanese Employment @ TOKYO
Spurred by a protest late last year by a small number of college students in Hokkaido Prefecture, a number of students in Tokyo organized for a demonstration protesting against Japan's employment system. Coming together under the name “College Graduates Protest on Japanese Employment @ TOKYO” (就活くたばれデモ＠TOKYO [ja]) , the organization...
Kenya: Cartoonists of the Year Awards
KenyaImagine attended Cartoonist of the Year Awards in Nairobi, Kenya: “We attended the first, and likely, annual Cartoonist of the year awards at the Swiss ambassador's last week. The event organised by Katuni, a local coalition of Cartoonists…”
Africa: What if 7.0 quake happened in E.Africa?
Is East Africa prepared for 7.0 earthquake?: “The 7.0 magnitude quake that has flattened the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, should give East Africans pause for thought. What if a similar quake hit here?”
Sri Lanka: Election Irregularities
Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca comments that with the presence of election monitors and somewhat independent election commission, rigging elections in Sri Lanka is tough. However: “the main method of influencing elections is intimidation, and that’s what’s going on.” Read his reports on explosions in Jaffna and irregularities in Batticaloa.
Philippines: “Renewable Marriage Bill”
A partylist group in the Philippines wants to introduce a law that would put a ten-year expiration date on marriage contracts. As expected this unique proposal generated an intense reaction in the blogosphere.
Nepal: Renewed Focus On Indo-Nepal Relations
Following two high profile visits from New Delhi-Foreign Minister S.M Krishna and Army Chief Deepak Kapoor, the India Nepal relation is being discussed with renewed vigor in both Indian and Nepali blogs.
Africa: When in trouble, say you are a British journalist
When in trouble in Africa, just say, “I am a British journalist.”
Sudan: Man throws shoe at Omar al Bashir
Ayaa writes about a man who threw his shoe at the Sudanese President: “One of the most offensive and humiliated action in the Arabs and Muslim culture is to throw a shoe at someone, let alone that some one is a head of the country.”
Ethiopia: Bloggers defend Ethiopian Airlines after crash
Ethiopia-based bloggers rushed to defend the safety record of the country's national airline on Monday after one of its planes crashed near Beirut, with all 90 people on board feared dead.
