CYPAUSTIRC - News and Network Updates (http://www.austirc.net/)

Global Voice Online

Global Voices Online

Japan: “What are you up to now?” has become a taboo question - 01/09/2009 08:52 AM

The world recession has hit Japan just as it has hit other parts of the world, and many are worried about their future. In an entry that attracted a great deal of sympathy from readers, blogger koheko reflects on the impact of the slowdown on human relationships with friends and colleagues, to the point where the simple question, "What are you up to?" has become taboo.

Costa Rica: 6.2 Earthquake leaves nationals and tourists stranded - 01/09/2009 06:27 AM

A 6.2 Earthquake that was felt throughout Costa Rica, with the epicenter in Vara Blanca only 35 Km. away from the capital city of San José. In the Central Valley, damages consist of cracks and damaged goods fallen from shelves, however, the situation near the epicenter is devastating, as mountainsides collapsed and landslides caused flooding. It has yet to be estimated how many possible victims, although 3 deaths have been confirmed.

Bolivia: Reduction of Gas Sales to Brazil - 01/09/2009 06:25 AM

The Brazilian government has reduced the volume of gas purchased from Bolivia Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] thinks that this may cause the government to dip into the international reserves.

Tajikistan: Emotional Return For Haj Pilgrims - 01/09/2009 06:23 AM

Daniel writes about the return of Haj pilgrims to the airport of Dushanbe, capital city of Tajikistan, noting that hundreds of police officers lined the airport's arrival terminal perimeter, taming an anxious crowd.

Kazakhstan: Tourism Industry Problems - 01/09/2009 06:16 AM

KZBlog writes about his experience visiting a skiing resort near Almaty, the former capital city of Kazakhstan, and concludes that there is a lot of great tourism potential, but no investment and the people with the energy and desire to improve things.

Honduras: Higher Minimum Wage - 01/09/2009 06:05 AM

The minimum monthly wage in Honduras was raised on January 1 by President Manuel Zelaya. Thelma Mejía of Honduras Daily News writes that many businesses are unable to keep up with the higher wage.

Costa Rica: Map Indicating Damaged Areas by Recent Earthquake - 01/09/2009 05:37 AM

A 6.2 Richter scale earthquake has hit Costa Rica. Jaguar del Platanar [es] posts a Google mashup map indicating sites that have suffered damage.

Madagascar: Series of “Prison Breaks” as Life Imitates Television - 01/09/2009 04:34 AM

In Madagascar, 40 inmates are still at large after successful escape attempts from three prisons around the country, all within in 48 hours.

Egypt: Call to Help Gaza Patients Keep in Touch with Loved Ones - 01/09/2009 03:02 AM

Egyptian Mostafa Hussein urges his readers to help Palestinian patients injured in the Gaza War and being treated in Egyptian hospitals by transferring mobile credit to their phones - to help them keep in touch with family back home.

Egypt: A Bloody Day in Gaza - 01/09/2009 03:00 AM

Egyptian Zeinobia comments on the war on Gaza in this post describing January 6 as the bloodiest day in the conflict, with 150 dead and 400 injuries.

Israel: Tales from Gaza - 01/09/2009 02:59 AM

From Israel, Lisa Goldman shares her views on the war in Gaza in this post.

India: L. K. Advani, The Blogger - 01/09/2009 02:34 AM

Soumyadip at Cutting the Chai reports that a veteran & powerful Indian politician has started to blog: “BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani is attempting to reach out to the electorate via his newly set up blog on his website.”

Brazil: “We counted 4,525 homicides in 2008″ - 01/09/2009 01:14 AM

PEBodyCount [pt] blog has counted 4,525 homicides in 2008 in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. In 2007 there were 4,592 and in 2006, 4,638. “We still have more than 4,500 murders (a year). It is a baseline that puts our state among the most violent places in the world.” 59 homicides have been registered already [...]

A Dark Past in East Timor for Obama's National Intelligence Nominee - 01/08/2009 10:29 PM

Citizen journalists from East Timor have been busily tweeting about the nomination of Admiral Denis C. Blair for the post of US director of National Intelligence. The nominee faces serious accusations of backing the Indonesian occupation of East Timor in the 1990's, an invasion which led to the killing of approximately 1,400 Timorese and the displacement of 300,000 people.

Cuba: Interview with Blogger Miriam Celaya - 01/08/2009 09:22 PM

Miriam Celaya is a Cuban blogger, whose blog Sin Evasión [es] is celebrating its one year anniversary. She started writing under the pseudonym "Eva González," but six months later she decided to use her real name. In this interview with Claudia Cadelo, she talks about how she started blogging, the decision to leave her pseudonym behind, and about her participation in the recent blogger gatherings on the island.