24 January 2010

Stories from 24 January 2010

Guatemala: United for Haiti After Earthquake

  24 January 2010

In 1976, an earthquake killed nearly 23,000 people in Guatemala. Now, 34 years later, Guatemalans are united to help Haitians with their own earthquake tragedy, through a wide variety of fundraising efforts and other signs of solidarity.

China: How does the young generation view Confucius

  24 January 2010

A rumor circulated on the web that all the 2D versions of Avatar have been pulled out of the Chinese cinemas to make way for the domestic movie Confucius. Despite reports like this, government officials quickly denied it. Yet like all rumors, even if wrong, they may contain a kernel...

Afghanistan: Drowning in corruption

  24 January 2010

The Afghans had to pay out $2.5 billion in bribes over the past 12 months – equivalent to 23 per cent of Afghanistan’s GDP, writes Nick Fielding citing “Corruption in Afghanistan” report, published by the UN.

Greece: Fiscal Deficit

  24 January 2010

This month's updates on the 2009 Greek fiscal deficit – by Edward Hugh at A Fistful of Euros: here, here, here, here, and here. And a warning to Hungary – here: “So, Hungarian politicians be warned – You are not Greece right now, but you could so very easily end...

No IPL Transmission In Pakistan

  24 January 2010

Spring Of Autumn reports that the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan will not show any match of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket because they felt that Pakistani players were deliberately excluded from the tournament.

Sudan's First LGBT Rights Organization?

  24 January 2010

Throughout 2009, the Sudanese blogosphere has been in slumber mode. However, many previously inactive bloggers are blogging again along with new ones that have arrived on the scene recently, writes Sudanese Drima, who brings us the latest online discussions.

Morocco: Meet the Cartoonists

  24 January 2010

Casey Scieszka and Steven Weinberg are two American cartoonists, creators of “a book/art/zine/stuff” operation called Telephone and Soup. They have settled recently in Morocco and are announcing the organization of a meet up in a café downtown Rabat on January 26, around the Shitty Kitty comics concept, inviting people to...

Tunisia: And They Censored Arabicca!

  24 January 2010

Tunisian blogger Fatma Arabicca, who was arrested two months ago, decided to resume blogging last week. With only one post on her new blog, authorities swooped in to block it. Tunisian bloggers react to the ban and to the censorship of other blogs as well.

Saudi Arabia: A Barcamp

  24 January 2010

Qusay announced that a new Barcamp, in Saudi Arabia, will be held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on January. The barcamp will focus on entrepreneurship.

Egypt: Portraits of Egyptians

  24 January 2010

Tabsir.net published (here and here) few portraits of ordinary Egyptians, by the English artist Frederick Goodall (1822-1904), in the mid to late 19th century. Goodall's work is famous for providing a meticulous “ethnographic” view of Egypt at the time.