· May, 2009

Stories from Quick Reads from May, 2009

Cyclone Aila, Another Blow to Bangladesh

  31 May 2009

Although cyclone Aila, which had battered the Southern parts of Bangladesh recently, was not powerful, it had done much damage causing tidal waves in the coastal areas. “Aila swept away many areas, which were still recovering from the hurricane Sidr,” updates, Life As I Know It .

Iran: Khatami answers questions in Internet

Iranian news sites and bloggers such as Sahel Salamt reports that Mohamad Khatami, former reformist president, takes part in an internet discussion via Face Book, Twitter and Yahoo Messenger answers questions. The blogger says [fa] it is the first internet experience in Iran where a high- ranking politician answers directly...

Morocco: Sacred Fez

Collective blog, The View from Fez covers the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music [Fr] in this post. “[O]nce again the Sacred Music Festival began with the arrival of the hugely popular Princess Lalla Salma, who received a standing ovation from the...

Taiwan: Chinese tourist arrested for spying

  31 May 2009

A Chinese businessman, visiting Taiwan as a tourist, was arrested for taking photos of a military facility in Taipei. The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato discusses the security implications. The Foreigner in Formosa comments on how he was released without bail.

Afghanistan: Aid Money Used Badly

Colla reviews the first report by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, which noted that the military command overseeing $15bn in US military aid cannot be sure the money is being managed effectively.

Jordan: King Goes Undercover

Jordan's King Abdullah visited the Health Ministry's Patients’ Affairs Department in disguise to see what services were being offered to citizens seeking treatment. Naseem Tarawnah jots down his thoughts on the visit in this post.

Pakistan: Bomb Blasts In Peshawar

  29 May 2009

Chowrangi reports that four bombing incidents “hit Peshawar and rocked Pakistan on Thursday killing thirteen people and injuring more than 120 people”. Pak Tea House says that the fight against terror will only be won if Baitullah (Mullah) Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban chief is brought to justice.

Trinidad & Tobago: Police Presence

  29 May 2009

From Trinidad and Tobago, Mauvais Langue cannot believe that “in the year 2009 they [the police] still saying they have no vehicles”, while B.C. Pires takes great pride in the way his friend, through a letter to the Editor, comes “around the wicket, to send one right up into the...