Stories from 13 February 2010
Russia: Copy-Paste Online To Become Illegal
The Russian Telecommunications Agency is about to propose a new anti-plagiarism law that will require all Web sites to provide hyperlinks to the original source of the information that they use, newspaper Vedomosti reported [RUS]. Experts argue that the law will be hard to enforce.
Russia: More Prominent Reporters Go Online
Another two popular Russian journalists started to blog recently, a contemporary artist Dmitri Vrubel reports [RUS]. The prominent reporters for the major Russian newspaper “Kommersant” Andrei Kolesnikov [RUS] and Valery Panyushkin [RUS] joined the community of bloggers.
Darfur: Youth Keep Crisis in the Spotlight
Though the major conflict has ceased in Darfur, in western Sudan, the continuing instability and ongoing attacks have been particularly harmful for the region's young people. But youth both within and outside of Sudan have been vital in raising awareness and funds and trying to bring change to Darfur.
China: Red snippet campaign
The Chinese government encourages people to send positive message through SMS after banning dirty joke. DANWEI translated Southern Weekly's story on “Red snippets”.
Kazakhstan: About children and president's speech
The bloggers of Kazakhstan were talking about children and the President Nazarbayev's annual address to the nation. The kids topic, probably, aroused from the news about the death of Casey Johnson, heiress of the multi-national pharmaceuticals empire Johnson&Johnson, whose daughter Ava Monroe was adopted from Kazakhstan in 2007. Thousand-pa says...
Uzbekistan: President Karimov's thoughts about media
Recently President Karimov again mentioned about leading role of mass-media in Uzbekistan. Considering sensitivity of this issue and increasing cases of pressure on independent journalists (i.e. thos who don’t work in the official media), Uzbek leader called local media toothless, reports Vesti.uz [RU]. According to Islam Karimov, today’s conditions have...
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan: A row on the border
Alpharabius reports on a border incident between Uzbek border guards and Tajik servicemen, which almost led to a gunfire, and wonders could an alleged attempt to steal a cow provoke an armed conflict.
Turkmenistan: Aside of crisis
“Turkmenistan’s leadership has been insisting that the country was not affected by the global financial’, Annasoltan says and comments on how could this be.
Uzbekistan: Entry restricted for Kyrgyz citizens
Kyrgyz blogger writes about Uzbekistan's resitriction to Kyrgyz citizen to visit Uzbekistan more than once in three months.
Afghanistan: Prospects for exporting Baghlani Gouda
Peter Marton reports on a cheese factory in Afghanistan. It was started 30 years ago, destroyed in the 1980s and re-launched again in 2006.
Macedonia: NGO's Statement on Internet Regulations by the State
Macedonia-based Metamorphosis: Foundation for Sustainable ICT Solutions has issued a statement “on the role of the state in the process of protecting children from the risks of using new technologies, by applying internet content filtering systems and systems for categorization of computer games.”
Thailand: Ten helpful rules for politicians
Prophessor Stephen B. Young suggests ten “helpful rules” for young Thai politicians.
Japan: Department Stores-ology
Roy Berman at Mutantfrog illustrates “The history of department stores in Kyoto, and Kyoto in the history of the department store”.
Thailand: Comprehensive water policy
Worried about the looming water shortage in many parts of Thailand, writer Veera Prateepchaikul calls for the drafting and implementation of a comprehensive water policy in the country
Thailand: Love Care Station
The Love Care Station blog teaches young Thais about their sexual health. There are about 600,000-700,000 people in Thailand who are infected with HIV/AIDS.
Two Vietnam websites blocked
The Vietnam government is accused of blocking two popular websites. The authors of the two websites, bauxitevietnam.info and blogosin.org, are opposed to several government policies.
Pakistan: The Ban On Kyte-flying
Hamza Ahmad Qureshi and Momekh at Lahore Metblogs writes on the 2005 kite-flying ban in Pakistan and discusses the silly reasons cited to justify the ban. In many parts of Pakistan, especially in Lahore, traditionally people used to celebrate the Basant (spring) festival by flying kites.
Pakistan: Website Blocked AT IP Level
Teeth Maestro reports that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked the website http://makepakistanbetter.com on an IP level, apparently for posting criticisms against the government.
Bangladesh: Jhum Cultivation In The Hill Tracts
Expat blogger Bernie Allen writes about an ingenious style of farming in Bangladesh: “Jhum cultivation is practiced by the Indigenous people on the hills and slopes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts because of the lack of flat land for cultivation.”
India: From ‘The Bangle Man’ To ‘The Bangle Shop’
Sujatha at Blogpourri describes the Indian tradition of the street glass bangle vendors and how the modern bangle shops have replaced them.
India: When Patriotism Equates Vandalism
Dilip D'Souza at Death Ends Fun criticizes right-wing Shiv Shena's protests against the Bollywood film “My Name Is Khan”.