2 October 2010

Stories from 2 October 2010

Bulgaria: Internet Discussions About Nazism

The actions of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy against the Roma people in France and their deportation to Bulgaria and Romania, were met with two opposing views in the Bulgarian society. Nationalist factions organized an anti-Roma protest on Sept. 25, where they chanted Nazi slogans. This evoked a response from human rights activists, who created a website and Facebook groups against neo-Nazi groups.

2 October 2010

Nigeria: Reflections on 50 Years of Independence

The Golden Jubilee for Africa's most populous country is being celebrated throughout the nation and the global diaspora with speeches, concerts, parties and all manner of other events. But some say: is there even anything to celebrate? For many, the last fifty years seem an accelerated decent into chaos. Still, for most Nigerians, October 1st is a time for festivities.

2 October 2010

Pakistan: Army's Extra-judicial Killing Video

While the Pakistani blogosphere has remained mostly silent about the surfaced internet video showing men in Pakistani military uniforms executing six young men in civilian clothes, Asim Aquil at Pakistan...

2 October 2010

Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf’s New Political Party

The Pakistani Spectator reports that former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s unveiling of plans to launch his own political party, the All Pakistani Muslim League, “has created ripples of disbelief in...

2 October 2010

Sahel Region: On Paying Ransom for Hostages

Hostage-taking by a militant Islamist group called Al-Qaeda in The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is on the rise in the Sahel region which spans across several countries in the north of Africa. In order to free hostages, governments and companies have put political pressure on the African nations involved, or opted to pay ransoms directly. However, the strategy of paying ransom is often decried as ineffective and dangerous in the long run.

2 October 2010

Sri Lanka: E For Eelam

Michael Meyler at Groundviews explains the different meanings of the word ‘Eelam” in Sri Lanka.

2 October 2010

Pakistan: Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Case – A Veiled Mystery

A recent verdict by a Federal Court in Manhattan, sentencing Pakistani neuro-scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui an imprisonment of 86 years, has sparked reactions all over the world. Dr. Siddiqui was detained with her three children in an Afghanistan prison without trial for many years and was finally charged with attempted murder of US officers while in detention.

2 October 2010

Puerto Rico: Art, Music, and Words

Sociologist, singer-songwriter, and blogger Raquel Z. Rivera and painter Tanya Torres, both Puerto Ricans who live in New York, announce their most recent collaboration: “Song of the Magdalene”, which includes...

2 October 2010

Ecuador: Accusations and Evaluation After Police Uprising

Evaluation and mixed views have emerged after the police uprising in Ecuador, transmitted instantly through social networks. Was there a coup in the country? The blogosphere analyzes the censorship, the imposed national broadcast, the mutual accusations and the answer to the question, "What happens now?" in a shocked and moved Ecuador.

2 October 2010