21 January 2009

Stories from 21 January 2009

Video: Slumdog Millionaire and the Indian Slums

Our new volunteer author for video, Ruchika Muchhala, writes in the Channel 19 blog about Slumdog Millionaire, a film set and filmed in Mumbai, India, which recently won 5 out of 6 Critics Choice Awards and also won all four of the awards it was nominated for at the Golden Globe Awards. This film has sparked debates about how it shows life in India's slums, and the attraction it holds for foreigners.

21 January 2009

Palestine: “In Gaza, only the dead have seen the end of this war”

The people of Gaza are discovering the extent of the destruction inflicted during three weeks of Israeli attacks, and are slowly starting to rebuild their lives. Some bloggers are wondering about the less visible psychological and emotional damage. One asks, "What will be the reward for getting up and going on, one more time?"

21 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Day of Tragedy

Commenting on a Global Voices Online post, 27 Months in Azerbaijan offers its own opinion on the 19th anniversary of the Soviet repression of unrest in its former satellite on...

21 January 2009

Global: Morocco Closes Caracas Embassy

Morocco announced this week that it would close its embassy in Venezuela due to Venezuela's recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the territory also known as the "Western Sahara," over which Morocco asserts its sovereignty.

21 January 2009

Bahrain: Scores of Websites Blocked

Scores of websites have been blocked in Bahrain, following a new crackdown by the Ministry of Information. The latest sweep makes sites ranging from Google Translate to those of social, religious, human rights and political groups inaccessible to people in Bahrain.

21 January 2009

Brunei: Rainy days and flooding

It is the middle of the annual North-East Monsoon season and Brunei has been experiencing strong winds and rainfall. It was just ten days ago that part of the country was submerged by waters. Blogs, no doubt play an important role in informing the public on the state of the rain and the aftermath.

21 January 2009

India: The Surname Debate

Indian celebrity Sanjay Dutt sparked a debate in the country when he said: “Women should not stick to their fathers’ surname after marriage just for the sake of fashion. It...

21 January 2009

Turkey: Obama Trepidation

Istanbul Calling says that the Turkish media has greeted the inauguration of Barack Obama as U.S. President with some trepidation. In particular, the blog says there are concerns that Obama...

21 January 2009

Iran: AIDS Doctors face prison

Physicians for human rights site reports that Kamiar and Arash Alaie are sentenced to terms of three and six years respectively. This site calls this imprisonment as first test of...

21 January 2009

Russia: Images of Life

English Russia posts numerous photographs of life in Russia by ethnic Armenian photographer, Aleksey Petrosian. The images represent a side of the country that few tourists get to see.

21 January 2009

Japan: Coming of age in 2009

Every year, on the second Monday of January, in the neighbourhood of every city hall of Japan, one can see young men wearing the hakama (typical Japanese trousers) and women...

21 January 2009

Guadeloupe: Hard Times?

Guadeloupean bloggers Critiqart Guadeloupe [Fr], Gwakafika [Creole] and CaribCreoleOne [Fr] are all anticipating massive social turmoil.

21 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Black January

As much of the world celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, Azerbaijan mourned the 19th anniversary of an event which ultimately led to its independence from the former Soviet Union. At least 130 people were killed and 700 wounded in what is now known as "Black January," a day which marks a defining moment in the rebirth of the former Soviet republic.

21 January 2009

African Blogosphere On Obama's Inauguration

“It is done. I knew it would come, but, oh, what a feeling! Yes, Mr. President, it is done, indeed!” These words from Kenyan blogger Whispering Inn sum up the emotional responses of most bloggers in the African blogosphere to the historic inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

21 January 2009

Bangladesh: Drug Users And HIV

HIV infections are on the rise in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. Photo Journalist Monirul Alam posts a photo in his Photoblog showing street drug users injecting with used...

21 January 2009