Stories from 15 June 2010
Brazil: Stefhany, Authentic Pop Star Rises from the Web
Stefhany is known as “Beyonce from Piauí”. Her first video “Eu sou Stefhany” [I am Stefhany], uploaded to Youtube by a friend and fan, has had almost 2 million views so far. She is a great example of Web 2.0's power to create new pop stars.
Guatemala: Beauty Pageant Includes “Foot Bool” Float
San Pedro de Las Huertas, Guatemala is recovering from storm Agatha; they recently celebrated their annual beauty pageant with a float dedicated to football. AntiaguaDailyPhoto includes photos of the event and writes: “Foot Bool with the African spelling is how the people of San Pedro Las Huertas want to let everyone know that...
Mexico: 10,000 Orphans
10,000 children have become orphans in Mexico as a result of organized crime in the last year. The blog Vivir México [es] reports on an initiative called “Programa Oportunidades” (Program Opportunities), which seeks to, “provide education and health as well as ‘protection from violence, exploitation, trade, unlawful jobs, and provide...
Bhutan: Breast Envy
Bhutanese blogger Passu feels that if he only could breastfeed his newborn daughter, he would feel like a complete father.
Russia: New Websites to Promote Modernist Islam
Paul Goble writes [EN] about the launch of two websites islam-portal.ru and soyuzmusulmanok.ru, that promote modernist Islam. Two websites, Goble suggests, illustrate both attempts to seek connections with younger Muslim population, while competing with fundamentalist Islamists, and to prove Tatars as “intellectual leaders of the Muslim umma of Russia”.
India: Desipundit Is No More
Über Desi informs that the favorite Desi blog aggregator Desipundit has shut down today. “This is a sad day in the desi blogosphere and for blogs in general”, reacts the blog.
Russia: Online Media Exempt From Comments Responsibility
Russian Supreme Court finally approved the decision concerning responsibility of online news media for the comments published on their forums, lenta.ru reported [RUS]. The court exempt the news websites from any responsibility for comments left by the users. However, Roskomnadzor [RUS], Internet regulatory body, has the authority to oblige site...
The Idea Of Pakistan And The Sects
Pakistan Historian discusses about Pakistan as an idea, which appealed to all sections of Muslim society in India in the 1940s.
Kazakhstan: “Leader of the Nation” Mission Complete
As was reported, on May 13, the parliament of Kazakhstan adopted a set of amendments labeled as The Law on Leader of the Nation, as they were meant to attach such title to the incumbent president. Nursultan Nazarbayev, 69, rules the country for more than 20 years, since Kazakhstan was...
Bangladesh: The Nimtoli Inferno
In a photo essay Back To Bangladesh does a post mortem of the Nimtoli fire disaster in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh where a fire inside a building took 142 lives.
India: Bhopal Gas Tragedy Tweets
Offstumped lists some important 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy related tweets.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Viva the Vuvuzela
Abeni remembers when the ICC Cricket World Cup came to the Caribbean: “The conch shells, bugles, horns, drums etc which were integral to the Caribbean cricketing experience [were no longer] allowed” – which is why she declares, “Viva the vuvuzela!”
Cuba: Ferrer's Trial Date
Uncommon Sense highlights the case of Cuban prisoner of conscience Darsi Ferrer, who is set to stand trial later this month.
Trinidad & Tobago: R.I.P. “Bookmann”
Artzpub acknowledges the passing of artist, bookbinder and blogger Richard Bolai, who “had written on and photographed…aspects of Trinidad and Tobago's art culture.”
Jamaica: Waiting for ‘Dudus’
As ‘Dudus’ remains at large, bloggers comment on the upset the search for him has caused…Chez Hsia: “Someone needs to step in and provide the social services that Dudus was providing, or else the cycle will just begin anew…”; Active Voice: “The problem is that even in times of uneasy...
Jamaica: Art & Ammo
Art has a place in the search for ‘Dudus”; Annie Paul explains.
Kenya: Bloggers react to Uhuru Park bomb blast
Six people were killed and 75 injured in an explosion at a political rally in Nairobi on Sunday. The rally was organized by the "No" team, which opposes the passing of the new constitution. Here are reactions from Kenyan bloggers.
Trinidad & Tobago: In Through the Out Door
Outlish is a new online magazine targeted at young adult Trinbagonians. It showcases people who are going after their dreams and features fresh perspectives on issues that readers obviously relate to, because its popularity is soaring. We find out what makes Outlish the newest "in" thing by talking with its founder and Editor-in-Chief, Karel Mc Intosh...
Fiji: Tackling the land tenure issue
Because of its ties to ethnicity, culture and a growing import food bill, land tenure is one of Fiji’s most pressing problems. The government will soon attempt to reform the country’s land tenure system, which has largely remained untouched since the mid-1970s.
Afghanistan: Death of al-Qaeda's leader
Nick Fielding reports on the death of Sheikh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid in a US drone strike in North Waziristan, noting that it came as a huge blow for al-Qaeda, as soon as the man was the head of the organisation in Afghanistan since May 2007.
Afghanistan: Reintegrating Taliban fighters
Nick Fielding reviews a new report by the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia, devoted to the issue if the Afghan Government's reintegration and reconciliation efforts bring peace to Afghanistan.
