Stories from 22 April 2008
Mexico: Sales of Tobacco Products Fell After New Laws
According to a recent survey, cigarrette and other tobacco products sales fell 42% following the passage of new laws prohibiting smoking in public spaces in Mexico, writes Vivir México [es].
Mexico: New Super Tunnel in the Capital
A new super tunnel will be built in Mexico City with a distance of 18 km and for exclusive use of cars, and would supposedly help alleviate traffic. However, México Para Los Mexicanos [es] believes that it will only encourage increased car use and will increase pollution and gridlock.
Ecuador: Live Blogging the Launch of Creative Commons
At the launching of Creative Commons Ecuador, Palulo [es] live blogs the event.
Costa Rica: Insecurity or the Perception of Insecurity
Mariela of Estando Viva La Víspera [es] disagrees with the Costa Rican Minister of Security, who stated that insecurity is not the problem, but rather the problem is the perception of insecurity. Mariela then recounts a recent crime incident and other examples facing her family.
Colombia: Diverse Cultures in Public Universities
Lluvias de Locuras [es] provides thoughts on the public universities in Colombia and concludes that “many cultures come together that contribute to the development of the educational community, but there is also a very harmful counter-culture.”
Japan: Love and Hate Story of the Mascot Character, “Sento-kun”
Creepy?! Ugly?! Sacrilegious?! Not many people are happy about the mascot character for the Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijyoko Capital to be held in 2010. The character was designed by a sculptor and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Satoshi Yabuuchi, who is one of...
Russia: Two Articles
Sean's Russia Blog reviews “two must read articles on Russia.”
Slovakia: Unnerved by McCain's Logo Star
Bratislava-based Deleted by Tomorrow finds “that five-pointed star at the top [of John McCain's campaign logo] a bit unnerving.”
Bulgaria: “Options for the Disabled”
Maya Markova of Maya's Corner writes asks for help in finding a suitable institution for one disabled young woman – and describes the overall situation in Bulgaria: “After the BBC exposed the shocking conditions in Bulgarian institutions for abandoned disabled children and our European partners began to exercise much needed...
Serbia: Biljana Srbljanovic
Balkan Baby writes about Biljana Srbljanovic, Belgrade mayoral candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Greece, Macedonia: Boycotts and Bans
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a brief update on the Greek-Macedonian relationship.
Romania: Electoral Reform
Dr. Sean's Diary and Fruits and Votes – on the Romanian electoral reform.
Slovakia: Euro Membership Bid
Edward Hugh of A Fistful of Euros writes in detail on Slovakia’s euro membership bid. (An update is here.)
Albania: “Albanosphere”
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a new installment on the “Greater Albania” – an extensive overview of the myths and facts about the “Albanosphere.”
Kuwait: Just Give Me My Espresso
With Kuwait still recovering from last week's storm, one blogger updates us with pictures of the damage left behind; another tells us about the trouble one has to go through to order a simple espresso while a third talks about bribes and elections in this week's round up by Abdullatif AlOmar.
Armenia: Rock Against Genocide
Unzipped says that it is thrilled to discover that there will be a Rock Against Genocide rally in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, tomorrow. The following day will mark the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
What's Carter Doing in the Middle East?
Former US President Jimmy Carter just concluded talks with Palestinian Hamas leaders in Cairo, Egypt. First, it was the turn of the US Presidential elections to snub the visit. Now, bloggers from the region join them to rebuff it.
U.S. Papal Visit: The World Reacts
As Pope Benedict XVI makes his first papal visit to the United States, the media and blogosphere are in a frenzy - primarily due to the sexual abuse scandal that shook the foundation of the American Catholic church six years ago. The Pope addressed the issue in Washington D.C. on Thursday, speaking with victims of sexual abuses, which pleased some bloggers but for others was too little too late.
Dominican Republic test drives new metro system in Santo Domingo
People scream, yell and cheer as they see it pass: in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the newest celebrity is the Metro transportation system. The city is buzzing at the new metro system which starting last Saturday began operating tentatively for testing to bring visitors to and from the...
India: Cricket and the IPL
Clipboard Conversations on the Indian Premier League cricket matches that have just started.
India: Train to Bangladesh
My deliberations on a new train service between India and Bangladesh.
