Stories from 23 April 2010
Pakistan: First E-Village Starts Operation
Babar Bhatti informs that the first “E-Village” has been launched in Pakistan: “the village of Mira Bagwal has been wired with 2 MB Broad Band internet connection and provided access to medical professionals.”
Sudan: What do we make out of Sudan's elections?
The Sudanese voting period ended on April 15, but while the actual voting process has come to an end, a debate about election transparency and credibility has started. The debate involves political parties, international observers and citizens in and outside Sudan.
India: Twittering Minister Forced To Resign
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor was forced to resign from his post over allegations of corruption and misuse of office. He gained popularity and at the same time was often subject to controversy because of his open views on state affairs in his Twitter account (followed by over 738000 people).
India: A Minority In The World Of Believers
“Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them. I doubt the dogmas that's why today, I am too minority in the world of believers,” comments Indian blogger Himanshu Rai at Sparsh.
Guyana: Jagdeo Wins Environmental Award
Repeating Islands notes that Guyana's President “was one of the six recipients of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEDP) 2010 Champions of the Earth award—the UN’s highest awards for environmental leadership.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Magistrates called to Measure
Jumbie's Watch is “aghast at the audacity of the judiciary in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Cuba: Journalist Reportedly Detained
Human Rights Cuba says that “Dania Virgen García, independent journalist and member of the group who march in support of the Ladies in White, was detained and taken to the Police Station in Guanabacoa, accused of an arbitrary offense without probable cause.”
Barbados: Cyberbullying
Barbados’ Keltruth Corp. is “deeply saddened by the personal attacks made on Johan Bjerkhamn after the most tragic death of his son” and advocates for a cessation of the cyberbullying.
Guyana: Calling for a Vote
Guyana's Imran Khan suggests that there “be a vote in the community” when it comes to the amplification of the Muslim call to prayer: “I am convinced that there will be a landslide victory to cease the amplified adhan…[and] have it continue by a natural human voice only.”
China: Attack by angry youth
China Hush blogs about the online culture of Chinese angry youth (fenqing) by referring to the most recent attack of Michael Wong (a Malaysian Chinese singer and composer) in Renren net.
China: 10 ways to become famous on discussion forums
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a forum post from MOP teaching Internet users how to become famous on Chinese discussion forum.
Video: Discovering the Origins of a World Cup Song
You've probably heard the song, and Chief Boima of WFMU's Beware of the Blog in New Jersey decided to track down the origins of the “Waka Waka” song, which is the 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem to be sung by Shakira in South Africa. Check out his post to see...
India: The Rickshaw Challenge Race
Rohit Bhargava at Influential Marketing Blog writes about The Rickshaw Challenge, which is “a series of road races where participants can choose their own rickshaws and race across parts of India”. You can read live updates from the teams on the race blog.
Russia, Ukraine: Gas/Black Sea Fleet Deal
Leopolis comments – here and here – on the gas/Black Sea Fleet lease extension deal signed by the Russian and Ukrainian presidents on April 21.
Russia, Poland: The Truth About Katyn
Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about Andrzej Wajda’s 2007 film Katyń, which has been shown twice in Russia in the past few weeks (reactions from the Russian blogosphere are here) – and comments that the truth about the massacre is “only coming out now in the former Soviet Union...
Russia: “The Sirens of Russia”
A Good Treaty posts a YouTube video of a Moscow driver's encounter with a high-ranking official's BMW and explains why “the special road status of the elite is a sore point with the Russian public.” (A few more related links in Russian are here.)
US, Russia: Views on START
A Good Treaty reviews shortcomings and advantages of the newly-signed US-Russia Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), as perceived by various political groups in the United States and Russia.