Stories from 28 May 2010
Caucasus: Eurovision Semi-final roundup
Unzipped: Gay Armenia offers its opinion on last night's semi-final in this year's Eurovision Song Festival, and especially the entries from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The blog, which has become a mainstay for covering the competition in the Caucasus region, also regularly tweets on it at @unzippedblog.
Bahrain: On German Freedom
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif attended a 10-day programme organised by the German Federal Foreign Office. His conclusion: “Germany is not that free after all!”
Pakistan: Minorities At Peril
“The thirty years of state sponsored “true” Islam is showing its colors. In Pakistan all the minorities are constantly harassed and state’s protection has often proved completely ineffective when a serious attack occurs,” comments Raza Habib Raja at Pak Tea House while discussing the attacks on the religious sites of...
India: Second Class Rail Travel
Lazy Pineapple at Desicritics shares how second class rail travel in India is like.
Pakistan: Attacks in Lahore at Ahmadi Mosques
Amardeep at Sepia Mutiny writes about the “terrible pair of attacks on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore, by gunman armed with grenades and automatic weapons”.
Algeria ,France: Film “Of Gods and Men” Sparks Conversation about Spirituality, Terrorism
Cannes 2010 award-winning film "Of Gods and Men" discusses the killings of the French monks of Tibhirine monastery in 1996. The movie sparks various reactions, from praises to spiritual debates, from bloggers in Algeria, France and around the world.
Bangladesh: FIFA World Cup, Memories From The Past
The 2010 FIFA World cup is knocking at the doors. While People around the world are talking about this Word Cup, a few Bangladeshi bloggers are reminiscing about the previous ones.
Zimbabwe: Outlawed newspaper coming back
Zimbabwe’s leading newspaper that was outlawed seven years ago, The Daily News, is coming back.
Eritrea: Exiled editor reunites with family
Mohammed Keita reports that the exiled Eritrea editor, Aaron Berhane, has reunited with his family.
Caucasus: Social media, cleavage, and rare unity in Eurovision
Although last night's second semi-final for this year's Eurovision Song Contest has been and gone, Twitter was alive with commentary and updates throughout. The annual international competition, noted more for its kitsch entries than for its music, is viewed by well over 100 million people worldwide. Its presence online is nowhere near as large, but is increasingly becoming an important consideration.
Nepal: Financial Fraud
Muse Nepal discusses about Nepal's largest financial fraud, where Unity Life International is accused of swindling billions of Nepali rupees through illegal ponzi-scheme.
Russia: Blogger and Activist Arrested for Viral Video
Leonid Nikolaev (aka LJ-user nikolaevleo) the main actor in the recent viral video against cars using emergency vehicle lighting had been arrested, lj-user halfaman reported. The blogger suggests the arrest is provoked by the video Leonid took part in.
Iran: Two Bloggers and Student Leader on Hunger Strike in Prison
Two bloggers and one leading student activist - deprived of their pen and blogs in an Iranian prison - are now using a hunger strike to protest prison conditions and defend their rights.
Guatemala: Pacaya Volcano Causes State of National Calamity
Regions in Guatemala have been declared by President Colom in "state of calamity" after the Pacaya volcano increased its activity: the airport is closed, villages have been evacuated, people are missing and injured and one camera man is dead.
Israel: The Freedom Flotilla – PR Stunt or Humanitarian Act?
Nine ships sailing from various destinations, including Ireland, Turkey and Greece, are headed towards the Gaza Strip, with the goal of breaking the Israeli maritime blockade. Gilad Lotan takes a closer look at reactions from the Hebrew blogosphere.
Hungary: Facebook vs iWiW
Marietta Le reports on the competition between a popular Hungarian social networking site iWiW and Facebook in Hungary.
