Stories from 13 May 2010
Ukraine: Criminal Case Against Tymoshenko
What's Up, Ukraine? writes about the re-launch of an old criminal case against ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko.
Russia: Coalmine Disaster
Vadim Nikitin writes about the May 9 coalmine disaster in Russia's Kemerovo region.
Russia: Re-Orientation of Foreign Policy?
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes about Russia's plans “to reorient its foreign policy in a more pragmatic and pro-Western direction.” Robert Amsterdam writes about the cooperation between Russia and Turkey.
Japan: A fashionable prime minister
Sarah Noorbakhsh at JSRC wrote a post [en] about Japanese prime minister`s fashion. Check out the pictures of Mr. Hatoyama and his playful shirts.
Russia: The Somali Pirates Controversy
Robert Amsterdam, Streetwise Professor, and Steve LeVine write about the recent controversy involving the Somali pirates, Russian oil tanker Moscow University and the Russian Navy.
Hungary: The Story of an Investigative Journalist
Investigative journalist Tamás Bodoky resigned from index.hu because of a debate on whether it was appropriate to delete a paragraph from one of his stories after it had already been published. The Hungarian media are still discussing the issue which he covered, and this case has also inspired a public conversation about investigative journalism in the country.
Iran: Head of a leading blog provider service arrested
Alireza Shirazi, a blogger and head of a leading blog provider service,blogfa, was arrested in Iran. According to blogfa, he was arrested because somebody complained against one of the blogs hosting by blogfa.
Zimbabwe: State appeals against Roy Bennet's acquittal
Zimbabwean Attorney General appeals against Senator Roy Bennett. Bennet, who had been on trial since last October on charges of insurgency, banditry, terrorism and sabotage, was acquitted on Monday after Justice Bhunu ruled that the State’s prosecution team had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Trinidad & Tobago: Rock the Vote
“Saying that the songs are catchy is one thing, but saying that they influence your red finger decisions are another”: Underground Trini Artiste blogs about “voting songs”.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: When Will It End?
Jamaican diaspora blogger Labrish is trying to reconcile the recent Gulf oil spill, but maintains: “In this latest Big-Oil-Screw-Up, we have no idea how long this hemorrhaging is going to last.”
Spain: 73 years of the Bombing of Gernika
Prof. César Arrondo writes [es] on the symbolism surrounding the 73rd anniversary of the Bombing of Gernika in April 26th and the idea of a Basque homeland in Izarro News blog [es].
South Africa: Finding Common Ground Amidst “Race War”
South Africans are definitely not colour blind. Forty-odd years of apartheid has ensured that the concept of race is entrenched in the hearts and minds of many South Africans. The dawn of democracy in 1994 gave birth to hopes of an equal society. However, sixteen years on, it is becoming increasingly evident that race is a hurdle that South Africans are struggling to overcome. Judging from the blogosphere, it seems that South Africans are weary of being labeled and truly long to find common ground.
Zimbabwe: Gender and homosexuality cloud constitution making process
On the constitution making process in Zimbabwe: “According to Arkmore Kori, a Kubatana subscriber, our Constitution making awareness programme is focusing on unimportant issues. He suggests that issues such as homosexuality and gender are clouding more major concerns relating to governance and leadership.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Hurry Curry!
“Roti. Four little letters that have the power to put any Trini into a smile-infused stupor”: TriniGourmet.com blogs about the seemingly infinite variations on this popular dish.
Zambia: Zambians tired of ruling party
Zambians are saying to the ruling party, “It's enough”: “For most of Zambians, MMD government has become unfit and clueless to govern. Majority of Zambians strongly believe that MMD government policies are wrong in formula and disastrous in practice. RB’s government can not even admit that hospitals are lacking medicines...
Jamaica: 10 Things about Calabash
Tallawah blogs about “10 random things about the Calabash [International Literary Festival] experience” that he looks forward to each year.
Haiti: Tensions & Demonstrations
“Almost four months have passed since the earthquake, but the Haitian people can’t get the rubble out of sight”: For Inside Disaster, Emmanuel Midi reports on a demonstration in Haiti demanding the return on exiled President Jean Bertrand Aristide.
China: I-Phone subcontractor's workers commit suicide
7 workers from Foxconn, I-Phone subcontractor in China, have committed suicide since January 2010. China Hush summarized an investigative report on the consecutive suicide.
Tahiti: Gauguin and The Myths of Tahiti
Paul Gauguin's paintings in Tahiti will be exposed at the Tate Modern in London in September 2010. Mercury at Philosophy of Science Portal wonders whether his paintings were a true reflection of life in Tahiti.
Korea: Let`s Bible
Steve Levenstein at Inventorspot [en] briefly reviews the Korean comics, or manhwa, Let`s Bible, a unique re-interpretation of the Old Testament.
Bhutan: The Rise Of The Silent Majority
Dr. Hari Bansha Dulal at Blog for Inclusive Democracy in Nepal comments on Nepal's political situation: “the silent majority, whom the Maoists have been taking for a free ride and whose power they have been undermining, is, finally, waking up.”
