Stories about South Asia from October, 2008
India: World Champion in Chess
Baithak reports that the Indian master chess player Viswanathan Anand retained his FIDE World Chess Championship title in 2008.
Pakistan: Baluchistan Quake
On Wednesday morning an earthquake shook the eastern section of Pakistan tipping the Richter Scale at a massive 6.5. The most devastated region was Ziarat, a remote location in Baluchistan. It resulted in more than 300 deaths, hundreds were injured and thousands were left homeless out in the open in...
Sri Lanka: Tea industry in crisis
Serendipity reports that the Sri Lankan tea industry is in crisis because the international buyers of tea have stayed away from the auctions due to credit crunch.
Bangladesh: Rickshawpuller as pop idol
Mark Dummett reports that Omar Ali, a rickshaw puller from an impoverished village became Bangladesh’s new music star.
Nepal: The troubled republic
Maila Baje at Nepali Notebook discusses on the internal rifts between the purists and the pragmatists within the Maoist government.
India: Assam blasts
India's troubled north-eastern Assam state was rocked by a series of coordinated blasts today. Praful reports that 60 people were killed and more than 200 injured. “Although ULFA’s involvement in the serial blasts in Assam is suspected, the intelligence sources believe that Bangladesh-based HuJI could be behind the blasts,” opines...
Bangladesh: Banks dominate in DSE listings
Bangladesh Corporate Blog analyzes the capital market of Bangladesh and finds that banks dominate 11 of the top 20 spots of listed companies in the Dhaka Stock exchange (DSE). The blog opines that: “(the) domination of banks goes to show that the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) has failed miserably.”
Pakistan: Help the earthquake victims
Five Rupees posts some links to charities that are involved in delivering aid and humanitarian relief to the victims of the earthquake in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Please help the victims of this disaster.
India: Wikipedia Academy in Chennai
Kiruba Shankar reports that a Wikipedia Academy has been set up in Chennai, India. “It's an effort to educate people about wiki editing and to give the confidence that anyone can edit and add information to the site,” the blogger says.
Maldives: A new president after 30 years
Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed has won the run-off poll against the incumbent president of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has served the country since 1978. Mujey’s Blog has called to embrace this example of democracy where president Gayoom accepted defeat and congratulated Nasheed before the official results were announced.
Pakistan: A 6.4 magnitude quake hits Balochistan
Let Us Build Pakistan reports that a 6.4 magnitude earthquake rattled the Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan today. More than 100 people have been killed and scores of people are still trapped under the rubbles. The government was quick to declare compensation for the families of the quake victims.
Bangladesh: Radio regains its popularity
Ronnie Siraji writes in E-Bangladesh that in recent years Radio regained its popularity in Bangladesh thanks to the three private FM radio channels and built in FM radio technology in the ubiquitous cell phones.
India: Mangalore violence
“It has been over a month since the riots in Mangalore but the anger has not gone away,” writes Apurva Mathad at Kafila after visiting a Monastery which was attacked in retaliation to the allegation of forced conversions. Madhat posts some pictures in his blog.
Bangladesh: Community blogs and unique blogger identities
Arild Klokkerhaug of the largest Bangla blog community ‘Somewhere in..blog” describes the unique characteristics of the Bangladeshi blogosphere: “I guess there is no other country in the world that has a higher % of the bloggers connected through community blogs.” He calls for synchronizing unique blogger identities among the growing...
Obama Presidency is better for Pakistan
Yasser Latif Hamdani at Pak Tea House argues that Obama Presidency is better for Pakistan.
India: Solar-Powered Rickshaw
The Better India reports that a solar-powered electric cycle rickshaw had its debut in the Indian capital. “Called the Soleckshaw, it is in test run in Delhi and will be mass produced in a month if all goes well.”
India: Moon mission not a waste
Thunga at Desicritics argues that India's recent mission to moon (Chandrayaan -1) is not a waste of money and resources.
Bangladesh: Liberal Voices on the rise
Bangladeshis usually have strong political views and tend to lean towards a party of their choice. Many of them ‘religiously’ follow the dictations and deliberations of their leaders. However, An ordinary citizen reports that the voices of the liberal citizens’ groups are growing in Bangladesh.
Frail Economy Sours Festivities in Nepal
October 26th marked the beginning of five day “Tihar” or “Deepawali” festival in Nepal. Deepwali is when Hindus pray to the goddess of wealth and prosperity-Laxmi and ask for her blessings. The festival is also celebrated in the neighboring India. Tihar, festival of lights in Nepal. Image by Flickr user...
Brazil: Grandma Aggie, Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers and the Pope
Lou Gold, a North-American blogger and nature-person turned “brasileiro’, blogs about [En] Grandma Aggie and the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, re-telling some of the adventures of these courageous indigenous ladies and their recent efforts to get the Pope to rescind the Papal Bulls that created the “right” to...
Pakistan: Dealing with unwanted calls and sms
Take Back Pakistan tells: “There is a great trend in Pakistan where little kids, and I do include immature men in that category, like to call people at odd hours and ask them to ‘make friendship with them’.” The blog suggests how to deal with them.
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