Stories from 6 June 2009
Air Bus AF 447: Sorrow, lack of information and sensationalism
Blogs around the world have been sending their condolences to the families suffering the wait for any sign of the vanished Air France Airbus AF 447. Much criticism and discussion is also taking place about the disrespectful way in which the media have been covering the loss of the lives of the 228 on board, and the lack of information regarding the disaster.
Japan: Wrongfully convicted man released with new DNA tests
Having serving 17 and a half years of a life sentence for the alleged abduction and murder of a four year old girl, Toshikazu Sugaya was released from prison after...
Malawi: Blogger wins BlogHer International Activist Award
We first wrote about her in a post that profiled four Malawian female bloggers, on November 4th, 2007. This time we write about her exclusively, and her recent achievement solely...
Africa: 50 books every African should read
Afripop has a list of 50 books that every African should read.
Nigeria: The New Afrika Shrine closed by police
The New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria built and operated by Femi and Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, the eldest son and daughter of cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was forcibly closed...
Japan: The curtain rises on the lay judge system
May 21st marked the first day in the introduction of the lay judge system in Japan, saiban'in seido (裁判員制度) in Japanese. The first trials in which the new system is...
Afghanistan: Amnesty International's Report
Colla reviews the annual report by Amnesty International on Afghanistan, calling it “shocking and shameful”, as it says that people are being terrorized both by the Taleban insurgents and by...
Afghanistan: Taliban's cartoons
A new YouTube character, the cartoon guy, reads out the usual list of highly imaginative battle reports in Afghanistan, literally quoting official press-releases of the Taliban, Colla says.
Kazkahstan: The forbidden book
Zhanna says that two weeks ago Rakhat Aliev, former ambassador and son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan, published his book revealing discrediting materials about the Kazakh governmental officials.
Turkmenistan: Same old cult
Schwartz notes that despite vows of sweeping changes, Turkmenistan remains as totalitarian as under the previous government.
Kazkahstan: Football Saturday
Adam reports on the preparation to the football World Cup qualifier match between Kazakhstan and England.
Afghanistan: Change of Command
Joshua Foust reflects on the fact of change of command in Afghanistan between General McKiernan and General McChrystal, and what it may mean for the further strategies.
Afghanistan: Travelling around Balkh province
Onne Parl shares his travelogue notes and pictures about his trip from Kabul to the Balkh province of Afghanistan.
Iran: Bloggers react to fiery presidential debate
Two Iranian presidential candidates, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi, clashed during a fiery debate broadcast to a national television audience on Wednesday evening. Ahmadinejad charged that Mousavi is being supported by “corrupt” political personalities such as former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mousavi countered that Ahmadinejad's ways have hurt Iran's image across the globe and could be a prelude to a dictatorship.
Egypt: Will there be any action after Obama's Talk?
As expected, US President Barack Obama's speech was received with different and contradicting reactions in the Egyptian blogsphere. While many praised his eloquence, charisma, intelligence and awareness of Arab and Islamic history, more believed it was just the same talk they had heard from other presidents but in a better wrapping. Also, they almost all agreed they are waiting for "action" to prove the supposed "good intentions."
Morocco: The Poor Cats!
Author Suzanna Clarke, writing for The View From Fez writes of her experience of rescuing a street cat, and the resulting kindness of strangers.
