Stories from 15 November 2009
Egypt vs. Algeria: The Twitter Match
In much of the world, nothing is more unifying - or in some instances, more polarizing - than a football match. Egyptian and Algerian fans battled it off on Twitter as their national teams faced off for a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Georgia: Reaction to lack of media attention on Azerbaijan bloggers’ trial
Following last week's sentence on two video bloggers in Azerbaijan, some blogs in neighboring Georgia have posted critical entries condemning the arrest, trial and imprisonment of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli. This also extends to the lack of coverage in the local media.
Blogger Profiles: Caribé, an incurable idealist and cyberactivist in Brazil
Global Voices Online has interviewed João Carlos Caribé, one of the most influential cyberactivist bloggers in Brazil and the man behind the Mega Não movement, that fights censorship in the Brazilian Internet.
France: Does Prestigious Literary Award Entail a “Duty of Restraint” ?
The start of this year's French literary season saw French-Senegalese novelist and playwright Marie N'Diaye awarded a much-awaited Prix Goncourt. However, N'Diaye and her family moved to Berlin two years ago, in large part because of French president Nicolas Sarkozy's politics. Will this be another opportunity to celebrate diversity in a changing French society? Or will the moment be spoiled by controversy?
Azerbaijan: More reaction to video blogger trial verdict
Days after the sentencing of two video blogging youth activists in Azerbaijan, other bloggers are starting to speak out about the imprisonment of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli. The two online activists will spend 2 and 2.5 years in jail after a trial which most consider to be politically motivated...
Thailand-Cambodia word war continues
Thailand-based bloggers react as the country’s former Prime Minister accepts a new role in neighboring Cambodia as economic adviser. Thai authorities are not amused. They accuse Cambodia of interfering on its internal affairs. A word war and a diplomatic row erupts between the two countries
Thailand: Google logos
Thai 101 uploads custom logos of Google Thailand
Thailand: “Demon” statues at airport bring bad luck
Airport officials in Bangkok will remove 12 “demon’ statues because they believe the statues cause bad luck to shopkeepers.
Laos: Finswimming part of ASEAN games
In next month's Southeast Asian Games, there will be no sporting events for basketball, gymnastics and track cycling. But finswimming is included in the competition.
Thailand: House of Museums
My Unseen Thailand is impressed with a Bangkok museum called House of Museums. The said museum displays everyday items of the 1950s and 1960s.
Geocodes for Bangkok sub-districts
New geocodes were updated for Bangkok's new sub-districts.
Bhutan: Independence Day
“Is Bhutan a free country or an Indian protectorate as claimed by an edition of the oxford dictionary?” -asks Freedom in Bhutan while discussing why Bhutan does not celebrate its Independence Day.
Nepal: The Peaceful Protests Of The Maoists
Ujjwal Acharya at The Radiant Star praises the Maoists for ending their recent protests in Nepal peacefully. The blogger comments: “I hope that both sides – ruling coalition and the Maoists should somehow agree on a few basic things including two hot issues”.
Peru: Blind Lawyer Strives to Be Judge
Peruvian lawyer Edwin Béjar Rojas' goal of becoming a judge had been interrupted by National Council of the Magistracy, who rejected his candidacy because of his visual impairment and refused to give him the test.
Bangladesh: Return Of Nepotism
Shada Kalo tells the sad tale of nepotism and indulgence of corruption in Bangladesh. Recently the son of a ruling party presidium member who was jailed for 18 years on charges of corruption was pardoned by the president.
Taiwan: Foreigners face discrimination from banks
Patrick Cowsill writes about the difficulties foreigners face in getting a credit card in Taiwan.
China's Perspective on Xinjiang
TrueXinjiang.com is a Web site that appeals instantly to the western eye. The site, designed specifically to disseminate a Han-Chinese version of life in the remote autonomous region of Xinjiang, China, is free of many of the displeasing characteristics, such as clutter and endless pop-up ads, found on Chinese Web...
Egypt: German Justice for Marwa El Sherbini
The killer of Marwa El-Sherbini, the Egyptian woman who was stabbed to death inside a German courthouse by a Russian-German immigrant, Alex Wiens, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, without a possibility for early release. Justice is finally served and the killer is being punished, say Egyptian bloggers.
Japan as a Recycling Society in the Edo Period
Ed Jacob posted an English translation of an article “about how there was pretty much no garbage in Japan’s Edo Period because almost everything got recycled“.
Russia: Videos of Ulyanovsk Arms Depot Blasts
LJ user oleg_kozyrev posts six YouTube videos of Ulyanovsk arms depot blasts, shot by Russian video bloggers.
