Stories about Breaking News from April, 2008
Argentina: high school students use online video to report their issues.
By uploading a video on YouTube, argentinean high school students managed to get mass media's attention to their plight: the need for a building where they can receive classes. Currently the Ipem 112 “César Iñíguez Montenegro”, in Sebastián Elcano, a village to the north of the Cordoba capital in Argentina are receiving lessons at an elementary school. However, because the elementary school has double shifts, the high school students are forced to receive evening classes, as if it were a night school.
Japan: Ikeda Nobuo on new Internet censorship bill
Blogger Ikeda Nobuo writes in English about a new bill submitted by LDP legislator Takaichi Sanae to censor “harmful” content on the Japanese Internet. He writes that “mainstream media are silent, probably because the bill would kill their enemy.”
Japan: New Internet regulation bill sparks reactions from bloggers
A new legislative bill aiming to regulate access to “harmful” web content by minors (under age 18), presented to a government panel on March 19th by LDP member Takaichi Sanae (高市早苗), has sparked criticism from Japanese bloggers. Apparently worded by Japan's National Police Agency, the new bill proposes to make...
Egypt: Strike Blog Updates
Egyptian bloggers have set up a new blog which will post updates throughout today's general strike in Arabic.
Egypt Gears Up for a General Strike Sunday
An online campaign calling for a general strike across Egypt on Sunday has been gaining momentum, will thousands promising to stop work for the day in protest against low salaries and increasing prices. This prompted the government to issue a stern warning against those planning to take part in the event. Arrests have been reported in Cairo, with one blogger already detained Saturday, for his alleged role in calling for the strike.
Qatar: US Military Aircrafts Crash Lands
Emgee at Qatar Living links to an Al Jazeera story which says: “A US military aircraft has crash landed at the al-Udeid military base in Qatar. The B1 bomber reportedly suffered technical difficulties and exploded as it attempted to land at the base about 35km from the capital Doha late...
Palau President stranded at Philippine airport
Blogger preMEDitated is embarrassed and ashamed over the decision of an airline to frisk the Palau President in a Philippine airport
China: Hu Jia to be sentenced today
Blogger Hu Jia goes back on 'trial' in a few hours where it is expected he will be handed down a sentence of up to five years in prison based on two interviews given and six unspecified blog posts most of which written during the more than one year he spent under house arrest.
Kathmandu: 100 million mantras for Tibet
Haroldo Castro, at ‘Viajologia‘, is a Brazilian blogger covering events in Tibet with a few posts translated into English. The blog displays some videos and dramatic photos showing the bodies of victims.
Jordan: Royal Debut on YouTube
Queen Rania of Jordan joins the ranks of YouTubers, much to to delight of Jordanian bloggers and vloggers around the Middle East. In a bid to break the stereotype, and engage in an international conversation, the video surfaced on YouTube yesterday with an open invitation from the Queen to vloggers to submit their misconceptions about the region and its people.
Egypt: Hundreds Arrested Ahead of Elections
The Angry Arab News Service links to a Human Rights Watch report which says that Egypt has arrested hundreds of opposition Islamists, including would-be candidates in local council elections due on April 8, amount to a “shameless bid” to fix the vote.
