Stories from 4 August 2009
Ukraine: Rest in Peace, Serhiy Kuzmynsky
uaMuzik writes about Serhiy Kuzmynsky, the lead man of Braty Hadiukyny band, who passed away earlier this week.
Russia: Stalin's Grandson vs. Novaya Gazeta
Eternal Remont comments on the lawsuit filed by Stalin's grandson against a Russian newspaper: “By the same legal resoning, someone could sue the Holocaust Museum for besmirching Hitler’s good name. But the Kremlin is despratly trying to rehabilitate Stalin's image these days.”
Russia: The Meaning of “Avos'”
Russian Blog explains the notion of “avos'”: “One of the most exciting things that are ‘really Russian’ because they work only in Russia.”
U.S.: Phelps vs. Cavic
Belgraded writes about the rivalry between “Michael Phelps, the American super-swimmer, and Milorad Cavic, the American-born Serbian talent.”
Czech Republic: NYT Piece on Václav Klaus
The Reference Frame critiques a New York Times piece on Václav Klaus and the EU politics.
Iran: “Cafe Hizbollah”
In Cafe Hizbollah blog we read about weekly meeting of the Iranian Islamist bloggers in Tehran. Here are the photos.
Sri Lanka: Politicians And Road Names
Ramith tells a story how politicians in Sri Lanka can be unjustifiably persuaded to change a road name.
Pakistan: Condemning Gojra Riots
Last Saturday riots broke out in the Gojra town of Pakistan over alleged desecration of the Holy Quran and houses of the local Christian community were set on fire leaving seven people burnt to death and eighteen others severely injured. The widespread communal violence has been condemned severely by the Pakistani blogosphere.
Bangladesh: The ‘Info Ladies’
Gone are the days when the village phone ladies used to offer mobile phone services in the rural areas of Bangladesh, a successful example of microcredit projects. LIRNE Asia informs that now “Info ladies” equipped with “Classmate PC” fitted with mobile internet cards are traveling door-to-door riding bicycles to connect...
Brazil: Fighting contemporary slavery
Modern day slave labour in the Northern and North-eastern States of Brazil is a well known problem. But is slave labour in São Paulo an anomaly? The blogosphere discusses and concludes: much remains to be uncovered.
Sri Lanka: Udappu Festival
Indi.ca posts some pictures of the Udappu Festival in Sri Lanka.
India: An Expensive Development Fails
Über Desi slams the failure of development of an engine for an indigenous fighter plane in India after two decades of expensive research and comments: “imagine the number of schools, transport lines, rail tracks, sanitation facilities and other basic stuff that could have really really mattered in sub-urban and rural...
Southeast Asia: Internet and Nationalism
The Internet is increasingly being used by many Southeast Asians for various nationalist campaigns. This trend is positive in so far as it expands and improves the political participation of ordinary citizens. However, there are also ultra-nationalist online initiatives which prevent the formation of regional solidarity in Southeast Asia.
Suriname: Messenger of Art
“He is going to get more ammo, to spread the word that a lot of good stuff is happening here in Suriname”: Paramaribo SPAN interviews visual artist Roberto Tjon A Meeuw.
Bahamas: Thinking About Democracy
Attending a recent seminar on democracy and globalization makes Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel realize that “it’s time we gave some thought to what that means for us — and by ‘us’ I mean those of us in the Caribbean, where we by and large have slaked ourselves in the democratic...
Barbados: Crop Over
Repeating Islands gives us the scoop on this year's Crop Over celebrations in Barbados.
Trinidad & Tobago: Tourist Attack
This Beach Called Life refers to a U.K. travel advisory on Trinidad and Tobago which “doesn’t even take into account the recent brutal attack on an elderly British couple in Tobago over the weekend.”
Jamaica: Athletes & JADCO
Girl With a Purpose is still tracking the story of the athletes that have tested positive for a banned substance, noting that they were scheduled to appear before the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission yesterday.
Ecuador: Two New Bus Stations Open in Quito
Bus transportation in Ecuador received a boost with the construction of 2 new terminals in Quito. Arriving at the stations may take longer than before, but it is worth the effort due to their new features.
Czech Republic: “Fairytale Land in Prague”
“A ‘real-life’ Czech hell” and other attractions, at the new “Czech-style Disneyland ” in Prague: Czechmatediary has more on it.
UK, EU: Ignorance and Voting Preferences
Wu Wei recounts a conversation about the EU that she had with a young British mover during preparations for a move to Lithuania.
