Stories from 29 June 2009
The Balkans: Agim Ceku
A Fistful of Euros writes about Agim Ceku and his arrest and release in Bulgaria last week.
India, Pakistan: Diplomacy Lesson From A Tennis Duo
Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan highlights the bond between the India-Pakistan Tennis duo Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi and Prakash Armitraj who are playing together in the Wimbledon. They are one of the finest examples of citizen diplomacy in promoting goodwill and improving perceptions between the two nations.
Bangladesh: Sacking Of Army Officers
Unheard Voice blog discusses the sacking of seven army officers in Bangladesh and comments: “If army is not kept above political partisanship or at the least not perceived to be above partisanship, we will have a high price to pay in future — just like we have a paid a...
Ecuador: State Contracts With President's Brother Raise Concerns
Contracts between the state petroleum company and several private companies raised some eyebrows when it was discovered that the brother of current president Rafael Correa was a member of some of the private enterprises. Even though Fabricio Correa has been emphatic that the contracts were won legally, it is still causing the government to look bad.
Russia: Stalin visits Voronezh
LJ user Vaziani tells about [RUS] how the local Voronezh communists have wallpapered the city with huge pictures of Joseph Stalin in commemoration of the 22 June 1941 attack on the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany.
Taiwan: Meet Taiwan's “Twitter Queen”
Andrew from Feast Meets West interviewed Rose Huang, the most-followed twitterer in Taiwan, in his radio show on RTI.
Russia: Crackdown on casinos and gambling
Eternal Remont discusses the Russian government's current crackdown on the country's casinos and gambling industry.
Czech Republic: End of EU-presidency
Czechmatediary recounts the end of the Czech presidency of the European Union, finalising it with a big street party.
Albania: Electoral improvements and lingering problems
Albanian Blogger comments on the 2009 general elections in Albania.
Ghana: New Media in the Hands of Young Ghanaians
Operated by young people, for young people, YPWC exploits new media to create links with like-minded individuals and organisations around the world to enhance opportunities for young people here in Ghana.
Israel: would Israeli grassroots support harm the Iranian uprising?
In the past two weeks Israelis were following the tweets coming out of Iran with excitement, but divided on the issue of participation in the twitter revolution. Carmel Vaisman brings us the debate..
China's Stimulus Package and its Effect
China elections and governance has a series of article on the China's economic stimulus package and its effect. Part one is An introduction to China's stimulus package. Part two is The green dragon soars on the wind: Chinese stimulus and the environment. Part three is Migrant workers and social unrest....
India: Celebrating Rain
Gargi at POV celebrates the rains which have come late this monsoon season. She reminds us that: “the link that India has to rains, is much like the colder nations of the North have towards Spring. A lot of our mental and physical well being is linked to it raining...
Trinidad & Tobago: Taking Issue
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch takes issue with a government anti-crime advertisement.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Connecting the Dots
Call it coincidence, but diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense thinks that in light of news that Cuban human rights activists Jorge Luis García Pérez “Antúnez” and his wife were once again arrested, “it might be best to connect the dots”, particularly “in the wake of the NED ceremony, at which Antúnez...
Cuba: Fear of Change?
“Like the seemingly never ending US blockade that attacks Cuba’s economy from without, from the inside a corrosion process is gradually eating away at the relatively young 50-year revolution”: From Havana, Circles Robinson says that “there is a conservative political class of managers at most workplaces and government offices who...
Jamaica: Bloggers on Jackson
Michael Jackson's death has Jamaican diaspora blogger Geoffrey Philp ruminating on the meaning of life, while Annie Paul says: “the mainstream media has limited credibility for me now [post Jackson's death] particularly in the wake of the Iraq War which they triumphantly and confidently led us into.”
French Caribbean: Farewell Mickael
The news of the death of the King of Pop was like an earthquake felt around the world. The shock wave reached the French Caribbean, where bloggers from Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, all pay homage to the late artist.
Bangladesh: Grameen – Workable Idea Worldwide
Naveen Bachwani at Grey Matter is fascinated by the works of Grameen Bank and Dr. Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh. His idea of Microcredit and Social business has been replicated in many countries and can work in any country of the world.
Japan: Shiso-flavored Pepsi
Pepsi Shiso (Japanese for perilla or beefsteak plant) went on sale a couple of days ago – Curzon loved it while Darg thought it was nasty.
China: Being blocked
Uln from Chinayouren shares his frustrated feelings on being blocked by the Great Fire Wall of China.
