Stories about Feature from July, 2012
Saudi Arabia: Kingdom's First Female Olympic Athletes Called ‘Prostitutes’
For the first time, two women from conservative Saudi Arabia will be competing in the Olympics. Their involvement in London 2012 triggered the Twitter hashtag, "Prostitutes of the Olympics."
Syria: Weapons and Combat Tutorials Online
Syrian rebels turn to a YouTube channel called 'Free Syrian Army Help' for training. The channel has 80 videos explaining tactics like hand-to-hand combat, how-to-make flame-throwers, and ambushing an enemy.
India: Ethnic Clashes in Assam
Fighting between indigenous Bodo tribes and Muslim settlers in the Indian State of Assam killed at least 32 people and wounded many more. Approx. 70,000 villagers have fled their homes since the violence started and taken shelter in relief camps. More than 60 villages belonging to both Bodos and Muslims in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts were ransacked or burned.
Bangladesh: Despite Obstacles, Girls Outshine Boys in National Exams
According to the recently published results of the Higher Secondary examinations in Bangladesh girls have done better than the boys. In the past few years there has been a rise in the success rate of female students in public examinations due to several steps taken by the government.
Cuba: Pro-Democracy Leader Oswaldo Payá Dies in Car Crash
"Money from the United States is not going to drive change in Cuba. […] The problem is in Cuba, and the solution is in Cuba, between Cubans" - Oswaldo Payá in an interview before his death.
Gender Verification Policy Introduced at London 2012 Olympics
"There is no tidy definition of gender. We tend to think of it in binary terms – male or female – but gender exists on a spectrum." - A blogger critiques the new policy which relies on testing testosterone levels of female athletes.
Mexico: Tijuana's Unexpected Cinema Movement
Mexican border city Tijuana has an international reputation as both a dangerous town and a temptingly thrilling spring break destination. However, it is now in the international spotlight for a whole different reason: its local cinema movement.
Mauritania: Outrage Over the Murder of a Worker
In the early hours of Sunday [July, 15], Guard Forces (police) in Mauritania attacked a group of workers on strike, at the headquarters of the Mauritanian Copper Company [MCM], where they work. The attack led to the death of a worker for the first time since the sixties of the last century. The case sparked the interest of Mauritanian activists. Mohamed Abdou summarizes their online reactions.
South Sudanese Marathoner to Compete Under Olympic Flag
South Sudanese marathoner Guor Marial will not carry his country's flag during the London Olympics. South Sudan, which gained independence last year, is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Russia: Hacker Hell, Scourge of the RuNet
When noted Russian anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny's email and Twitter accounts were hacked, it came as no surprise that the hacker "Hell" took responsibility. A legendary figure in the RuNet, the hacker can either be characterized as a Kremlin shill or a professional troll.
Bahrain: Elderly Men Arrested for “Protecting Women” from Police
The elderly are not immune to arrest for taking part in "unlicensed" protests in Bahrain, where demonstrations should be sanctioned by the state. According to netizens, two elderly men were arrested for "protecting women from the police" in the village of Karzakan.
Palestine: Remembering Political Cartoonist Naji Al Ali
On the 25th anniversary of his assassination, we take a look back at the Palestinian political cartoonist Naji Al Ali, who was famous for criticising Arab autocratic regimes and Israel in his work.
Hungary: Community News Site Takes On Neglected Fire Hydrants
Faulty and out-of-order fire hydrants made it difficult to control a fire that broke out in the Kutya mountain, close to the town of Nagykovácsi in Hungary. This inspired the founder of a community news site Nagykovácsi.net Dávid Fáber to launch a community-driven data gathering initiative to document all of the town's fire hydrants through his website's registered users.
Is Tunisia a Banana Republic?
Tunisian netizens react to a Tunisian MP's use of the term "President of the Banana Republic" to refer to interim President Moncef Marzouki, during a heated parliamentary debate.
Russia, Belarus: Medvedev and the “Belarusian Circus”
A picture says more than a thousand words, the saying goes. An Instagram snapshot that the Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev tweeted as a tacit comment to his visit to Minsk sure does: the "Belarusian Circus."
Wales: The State of Welsh Language Blogging
In the 1990s, William Owen Roberts, a Welsh author and playwright, remarked that writing in Welsh is akin to "writing on the edge of catastrophe". If that is the case, a Welsh language blogger might be half way off the edge already.
Bangladesh: Dhaka Becomes Capital of Islamic Culture
The Bangladesh capital Dhaka has been declared as the capital of Islamic culture along with two other cities by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO). Dhaka is termed as the city of mosques, but many of the centuries old mosques are in dilapidated state.
South Africa: #HowMandelaSoldUsOut
An open letter to Nelson Mandela published on South Africa's premier news site News24, argues that the iconic leader 'sold out' black South Africans in negotiations that ended the Apartheid system. #HowMandelaSoldUsOut started trending on Twitter soon after its publication.
Pakistan: Polio Vaccination Ban Affects 240,000 Children
The lives of 240,000 innocent children are at stake due to the recent ban on Polio inoculation by the Taliban in the region of FATA. The militants also consider this anti-polio campaign as an act of espionage, and the tribal leaders are backing them.
Syria: Videos Document a Sharply Escalating Conflict
News from Syria set social media ablaze. Videos uploaded by activists on YouTube allowed viewers to follow key stages of a sharply escalating conflict.
Myanmar's Unique Naming System
Most Myanmar citizens do not have a family name. Ever wonder how they fill out forms which ask for both first name and last name or wonder what is the meaning of 'Daw' in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? Here's a look into Myanmar's unique naming practices.
