Stories about Weblog from April, 2010
Singapore: Retraction of invitation to hearing-impaired educator
Singapore's Ministry of Education retracted a conference invitation to a top U.S.-based educator after learning that she is hearing-impaired. The Ministry has already apologized for this mistake. Bloggers react.
Kyrgyzstan: Keeping the Calm
The role played by online independent media organizations such as Kloop.kg is crucial to separating fact from disinformation in Kyrgyzstan.
Brunei Foodies Go Pink 2010
Brunei Foodies Go Pink 2010 is a charity recipe book project of Brunei bloggers for 2010. Bloggers and foodies alike have agreed to raise funds and create awareness about breast cancer by inviting bloggers to contribute their favorite dessert recipe which will be compiled in a book.
China: New real estate policy hits market
A new housing policy in China issued on April 17 is being called “the strictest in history.” The State Council has requested a steep increase in down payments on loans for second homes.
ICT for Development in Francophone Africa
Although there is undoubtedly a strong push to grow information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives for development in francophone Africa, the region is still somewhat lagging behind their English-speaking neighbors.
“Boobquake” to challenge claims of Iranian cleric
A Purdue University student in the United States is asking women around the world to show a little cleavage or a little leg on Monday as a humorous test to disprove an Iranian cleric’s theory that immodest dress has the power to make the earth shake.
Philippines: Internet cafe hard disks registration
The Philippine Optical Media Board recently proposed to require internet cafe operators to register the hard disks in their computers. Bloggers and internet cafe operators react.
Sudan: What do we make out of Sudan's elections?
The Sudanese voting period ended on April 15, but while the actual voting process has come to an end, a debate about election transparency and credibility has started. The debate involves political parties, international observers and citizens in and outside Sudan.
India: Twittering Minister Forced To Resign
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor was forced to resign from his post over allegations of corruption and misuse of office. He gained popularity and at the same time was often subject to controversy because of his open views on state affairs in his Twitter account (followed by over 738000 people).
Egypt: Economic Vegetarians
Red meat prices have risen dramatically in Egypt in recent weeks. Amidst calls for meat boycotts, many Egyptians are being pushed to vegetarianism due to high prices.
Sudan: Election fraud caught on video?
A video showing election fraud during Sudan's election is being circulated online. Sudan's National Elections Commission has dismissed it as fake. The video shows election officials stuffing ballot boxes. Opposition groups claim that the video proves their claims of election rigging by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
China: Tribute to the leader of 50 cent party
This afternoon (April 22) Wu Hao (伍皓), the deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Party Committee of Yunnan Province had a talk in People's University. Before Wu started his talk, a 25-year-old netizen approached him and greeted him with a pile of 50-cent notes. According to online news...
Uruguay: International Court Rules in Paper Mill Conflict with Argentina
The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled on the conflict between Argentina and Uruguay about the latter's construction of a paper mill on the Uruguay River shared by both countries. Bloggers in Uruguay react to the court's ruling.
Argentina: International Court Rules in Paper Mill Conflict with Uruguay
The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled on the conflict between Argentina and Uruguay about the latter's construction of a paper mill on the Uruguay River shared by both countries. Bloggers and Twitter users in Argentina react to the court's ruling.
Colombia: Video remixing and Presidential Elections
Remixes: From Hitler, to Chris Crocker and Pinky and the Brain, Colombian fans show their Presidential candidates support by remixing videos to help their campaigns and mock the oposition's candidates.
Malawi: Wedding of Year, Flag Changes and Media Suppression
In what some describe as the wedding of the year, Malawi’s President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika wed his former cabinet minister Callista Chapola Chimombo Saturday April 17, 2010. The officiation took place at Civo Stadium, an open place contrary to Roman Catholic procedure. Over 20 heads of states and governments were among the 4,500 delegates to the ceremony.
Paraguay: Spreading the Guaraní Language Through Blogging
In Paraguay, where 88% of the population speaks the indigenous language of Guaraní, there were no blogs in this native tongue, until blogger and journalist Mirta Martínez decided to begin writing in Guaraní as a way to promote the use of the language.
Taiwan: Smart phone supplier's exploitative practice
Young Fast Optoelectronics (YFO), one of the biggest manufacturers of smart phone touch panel in the world, was recently accused by its trade union (YFOTU) of its exploitative working conditions and violation of labour law. According to the trade union blog, being a major supplier of the world's famous cell...
Japan: Blogosphere Reactions to the Nikkei Ban on Links
Growing up in a salaryman household in Japan, one assumes that in the future, one will start wearing a tie, drink coffee, and read the Nikkei. And that would mean that you're all grown up! Admittedly, this is a gross exaggeration but hopefully it conveys the tone of the Nikkei's...
Bangladesh: Let Language Be Free
The Bangla blogosphere and Bangladeshi Facebook users are angry with protests as 'Avro', a freeware and one of the popular and widely used Bangla input systems, was accused as a pirated version of another proprietary Bangla input system 'Bijoy' and the Avro team was mentioned as hackers.
Costa Rica: Clashes Over Autonomy on UCR Campus
On April 12, 2010, Costa Rican police officers arrived to the University of Costa Rica to detain a campus transit officer, accused of corruption. However, members of the university community said that this attempted arrest goes against the university's status of autonomy, which led to clashes.
