24 August 2012

Stories from 24 August 2012

Trinidad & Tobago: Political Euphemisms

  24 August 2012

If…you negotiating with crime lords…after your leader state categorically in a 2011 speech in Parliament that she would never negotiate with criminals, well… The Eternal Pantomime blogs about the government's “latest cock up”.

Caribbean: Escape from Tropical Storm Isaac

  24 August 2012

Caribbean netizens have their eye on Tropical Storm Isaac, the ninth such weather system for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Isaac has been steadily moving up the Leeward Islands, and storm warnings and watches have been issued for Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Bloggers share their experiences, post videos and voice their concerns.

Kyrgyzstan: China Inc. Under Attack

  24 August 2012

China’s growing economic presence in Kyrgyzstan continues to be a topic for heated discussion in Kyrgyz society. In the country’s regions, this discourse is reflected in acrimonious standoffs between Chinese companies and locals, confrontations the mainstream media often fails to report on.

Angolan Tourists Spend Big Bucks in Portugal

  24 August 2012

'Little by little we see Angolan money starting to dominate businesses and the economic sectors in Portugal.' According to a netizen this is in stark contrast to 70% of Angola's population which 'is barefoot, have empty stomachs, (and) live in a slum.'

Ecuador on Alert Over Spewing Tungurahua Volcano

  24 August 2012

The Tungurahua volcano has been spewing pyroclastic material and ash throughout this month, affecting thousands of families, crops, and animals. Scientists and citizens use Twitter and Facebook to inform about the Tungurahua's activity.

Cuba: Foul Play in Death of Oswaldo Payá?

  24 August 2012

At The Cuban Triangle, Phil Peters comments on the allegations of foul play surrounding the accidental death of Cuban activist Oswaldo Payá. [The] many efforts to accuse Havana of assassinating Payá, or in most cases to insinuate that it did so, seem hasty and very political, even as those who...

Puerto Rico: Film “Under My Nails” Wins Award

  24 August 2012

The film “Under My Nails” directed by the Puerto Rican Arí Maniel Cruz, and starred by Kishina Tikina Burgos (Puerto Rico) and Iván Camilo (Dominican Republic), received the best film award [es] at the International Latino Film Festival of New York.

Puerto Rico: Beautiful Music by “Los Cerezos”

  24 August 2012

The alternative music blog Puerto Rico Indie has a post on the band from Puerto Rico, Los Cerezos, who have just launched their first EP titled “Dejad que los hipsters vengan a mi” [Let the Hipsters Come To Me]: With a very genuine musical proposal, without pretensions or weaknesses, Los...

Chessmaster Gary Kasparov's Arrest During Pussy Riot Trial

  24 August 2012

Perhaps the most surprising thing to emerge out of the media saturated Pussy Riot trials other than the trial itself, was the attendance and subsequent arrest of the former Chessmaster of Caucasian descent, Gary Kasparov, at the reading of the verdict on August 17, which saw the three women accused of illegally performing a "punk prayer" in a church receive a two year prison term.

Russia: Government Bans Serbian Film for Underage Sex and Drugs

RuNet Echo  24 August 2012

On August 17, Sam Klebanov announced that Russia's Ministry of Culture has banned the release of a Serbian film called "Clip." Klebanov's company owns the Russian distribution rights to the movie, which was honored with a Hivos Tiger Award at the forty-first International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands earlier this year.