Stories from February, 2010
Qatar: Artist MF Husain trades Indian passport for Qatari one
Reactions on the Internet ranged from shock, dismay and delight as MF Husain, one of India's most celebrated and reviled artists, is offered Qatari citizenship - and accepts.
Morocco: Maghreb Bloggers Search for Common Ground
A three-day workshop for bloggers from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco was held from 15 to 17 February 2010 in the Moroccan capital Rabat. Participating bloggers reported and live-tweeted the event. They shared their blogging experiences, engaged in lively debates openly confronting their views on contentious issues and were encouraged to reflect on ways to find grounds for mutual understanding.
Azerbaijan: Oil Academy corruption allegations
ANTV, a citizen journalism site recently awarded for its contribution to freedom of the press in Azerbaijan, posts a YouTube video [AZ/EN] interview with Elmin Badalaov, a fourth year student at Baku's Oil Academy expelled allegedly because of his investigation into corruption at the prestigious institute.
Nigeria: Has God answered our prayers?
On Yar'Adua: Has God answered our prayers? Nigerian blogger Imnakoya asks in a post about the health of the Nigerian President: “First, the prayer is not for the president to just return, but be able to function fully as the president.”
Zimbabwe: Top African songs from Power FM
Top African songs played on Power FM in Zimbabwe: “Museke brings you a list of African songs that have been getting major airplay in Zimbabwe this year.”
Ghana: Ghana Music Awards 2010
Chale writes about nominees for Ghana Music Awards 2010: “Sarkodie, Ayigbe Edem, Wutah, 4×4, Bradez, Becca, Ohemaa Mercy and Obrafour lead the number of nominations for the Ghana Music Awards slated for April 10.”
Nigeria: Is Mrs Yar'Adua running the country?
Loomnie tries to answer controversial questions surrounding Nigeria's presidency:”…is Mrs Turai Yar’Adua, the wife of the president, really the one running the country? Did she make them release that press release in order to cover up the fact that her husband is very sick?”
Nigeria: Acting President yet to have access to classified information
“Nigeria's Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is yet to have access to the cateory “A” classified Information vault located in the inner chamber of the President's office,” from Chidi Opara Reports.
Voices of the Wives of China’s Prisoners of Conscience
This month, on the occasion of the Spring Festival (the Chinese New Year), the most important time for family reunion in China, Duting (杜婷) interviewed the wives of China’s prisoners of conscience. They are Liu Xia, Ceng Jinyan, Wang Qinghua and Ceng Li, respectively the wives of Liu Xiaobo, Hu...
Hungary: Students Have Had Enough of Bomb Alerts
There have been three bomb alerts in the three weeks of the second semester at Corvinus University of Budapest. After the third one this week, students started to campaign against the unknown person blocking the university's life with calls reporting a bomb was placed somewhere on campus.
Azerbaijan: Scary Azeri turns 1
To mark its first birthday, Scary Azeri in Suburbs posts an illustration to celebrate the occasion.
Greece, Germany and the middle finger of Venus de Milo
In the continuing drama of the Greek financial crisis, a row erupted last week because of a German magazine cover that depicted ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo flipping a middle finger at the European Union.
Silence Speaks: Multimedia storytelling in Republic of Congo
Amy Hill, the director of Center for Digital Storytelling, describes the process and ideas behind a 4-day digital storytelling workshop in November 2009 with seven women affected by Congo-Brazzaville’s (also known as Republic of Congo) civil wars from 1997-2003.
Azerbaijan: ANTV receives freedom of the press award
ANTV [AZ/EN/RU], an online citizen journalism site co-founded by now imprisoned video blogging youth activist Emin Milli, has received an award from ZEIT-Stiftung for its work in promoting independent voices and alternative news and views in Azerbaijan [RU]. The Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) also carries the news...
Russia and US to Broaden Collaboration Online
Vesti.ru wrote [RUS] about the visit of the U.S. “innovation delegation” [EN] led by America's Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra [EN]. The plans of the Russian-U.S. cooperation include launching e-government Web sites and visits of Twitter, Cisco and Mozilla representatives to Russia in June 2010.
Russia: Sakhalin Island Fails to Connect to Broadband
Blogger w7062c wrote [RUS] about two unsuccessful attempts to connect Sakhalin island [EN] (island in the Pacific north closer to Japan) to the broadband network of Russia. The third attempt is scheduled for 2011. Until then, 580,000 inhabitants of the island are able to go online via satellite only.
Armenia: Beauty talk
Ashley Corinne Killough visits the hairdresser and details the experience. The blog also comments on her encounters and observations while doing so.
Sri Lanka: Cricket And English Language
Lanka Rising comments on the issue of accents and the speakers of English as a second language: “Cricket was Englishmen’s, but now we play better cricket so that now they follow us. Can not we do the same with English language? Yes we can.”
India: Indusladies Blog Contest
Blogadda informs that an International Women’s Day Blog Contest has been arranged by Indusladies, a global online community of Indian ladies. To win a cash prize or other goodies the participants will have to “write a blog entry on any one of the prescribed top 10 women development issues” and...
India, Bangladesh: Protest On Killings In Bangladesh
Musings Of A Chakma reports that “the members of Chakma ethnic community living in Delhi held a huge peaceful protest demonstration in front of Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 11 AM to 3 PM on 25 February 2010 to protest against the attacks on Chakmas and other indigenous Jummas in...
Ghanaian students contribute to virtual media library
We are interviewing Jonathan Thurston who carried out a book-making project with students in Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana using simple, portable technology to inspire creativity and social media tools to network with like-minded individuals and organisations.
