Stories from 24 May 2010
Caucasus: Eurovision girl power
Ianyan comments on this week's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Oslo, Norway. Noting the often cheesy nature of the international music competition, the blog takes a look at the two female acts from Armenia and Azerbaijan, currently among the main entrants considered to have a chance to win.
Caucasus: Eurovision Social Media
With the first semi-final in this year's Eurovision Song Contest due to take place tomorrow, activity on blogs, social media networks and micro-blogging sites in support of entrants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the three countries making up the South Caucasus, is naturally increasing. However, their use also sometimes reflects the geopolitical and technical realities of the region.
Russia: Moscow Government Abandons Social Media
Moscow mayor's office prepared a draft bill on access to the information with no mention of blogs or any kind of social media, gzt.ru reported [RUS]. Gzt.ru suggests the reason of the absence of Web 2.0 is the inability of the city's telecommunications committee to provide an effective information policy.
Bhutan: Why Is It Important For A Politician To Blog?
Indian blogger Jabberwock quotes Tshering Tobgay, blogger and the leader of the opposition Party in the Bhutanese parliament answering the question ‘why is it important for a politician to blog': “because that forces you to pause and introspect and think about things, which is something politicians don’t always feel the...
Trinidad & Tobago: Election Graffiti
Copy Book Page posts photos of Trinidad and Tobago's election graffiti, adding: “Apparently Graffiti is only legal and accepted around election time.”
Bangladesh: The First Bangladeshi Conquers Everest
Gurumia.com reports that Musa Ibrahim has become the first Bangladeshi to conquer the Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth.
Jamaica: Don't Worry
Jamaica's Annie Paul tweets breaking news about the country's state of emergency.
Trinidad & Tobago: People's Party Position
Afra Raymond thinks that in the context of today's national elections, “with the distinct probability of a victory by the united PP…it is timely to consider the way in which that group might handle the bailout [of the CL Financial group].”
Nepal: Why Not To Fear The Maoists?
“Nepal is scheduled to have coalition governments for a long, long time to come, just like India. That might be a good reason to not fear the Maoists,” comments Democracy For Nepal.
Trinidad & Tobago: Ways of Voting
“YOU COULD vote based on race…You can vote about party and not people…You can vote people…You could vote issues…”, all of which, says Tattoo, “leads us to another method of voting. You can vote to make a point.” Coffeewallah, meanwhile, doesn't care how you vote; she simply wants you to...
India: River Bath Festivals
Ram Banshal at India in Peril writes about the Indian tradition of river bath festivals and the high risk of exposing to viral infections via polluted river water.
Bermuda: Happy Bermuda Day!
Vexed Bermoothes wishes everyone a Happy Bermuda Day.
Jamaica: State of Emergency
Things are starting to unravel in Jamaica, as the drug money link between dons and politicians, starts to get the media attention it deserves. The United States want Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke – the notorious don man of Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston for trafficking drugs and guns. But will the ruling...
Peru: Schoolgirl Questions US First Lady About Immigration Reform
During a recent visit to a Maryland school, US First Lady Michelle Obama received a question from a schoolgirl of Peruvian descent, who asked why people without immigration papers were being taken away and who disclosed information about the status of her parents.
Guinea-Bissau: Political Situation still Unstable
With the imminent approval of a law which will determine major reforms in the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau, Blog Pessôa [pt] reflects on the political instability in the country eight weeks after the military unrest of April.
Eto'o's Success Lifting Cameroon ‘s Hope
After the success of his Italian club Inter Milan in the UEFA European Champions League, Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto'o is the toast of the town and his country. Cameroonian bloggers are proud of the accomplishment of their star player and hope that the momentum of his success can carry on for Cameroon at the World Cup.
Iran: “We are unemployed”
Several Iranian protesters at an outdoor speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday shouted their concerns about unemployment in Khoramshahr. Here is a video film where we can hear ” we are unemployed, we are unemployed” shouts.
Bahrain: The Nazi is Coming
The Nazi is coming … to Bahrain. Check out Mahmood's Den to see what the furor is all about.
Japan: 1300 years in the making, celebration in Nara
While both culturally and physically a long ways from the modern capital of Tokyo, tracing back well over a thousand years into Japanese history one comes across Nara, a quiet, highly rural area which was established as the capital in 710. In doing so, a more centralized national administration was...
Egypt: Fat7enha Forga Launched
Mahmoud Saber announced the launch of Fat7enha Forga, which is a new idea to share movies and independent video projects on the Internet. The debut is a video named “ Let’s Hope”.
Lebanon: Nationality problem
Farfahinne Kob expressed [Ar] her anger from a contradicting piece of news – where a Lebanese man married to an Israeli woman was able to transfer his nationality to his children, while Lebanese women can not do the same – no matter what the nationality of their husband.