17 January 2011

Stories from 17 January 2011

Sudan: Peaceful referendum comes to a close

  17 January 2011

Peaceful referendum in Southern Sudan comes to a close: “On the closing day of the elections the lines had all but vanished, wind whipped up dust that blew past the signs at almost empty polling stations. Rare were the southern Sudanese who had left their electoral duties for the last...

Zimbabwe: Call for Submissions: “Remembering Marechera”

  17 January 2011

A call for Submissions for a new anthology titled “Remembering Marechera”: “To celebrate Dambudzo Marechera’s posthumous 59th birthday this year I will be putting together an ebook anthology entitled “Remembering Marechera”, consisting of essays, reviews, short stories, poems, etc. that follow this theme, to be published by StoryTime Publishing. To...

Zambia: Restless Western Province Erupts Over Independence Agreement

  17 January 2011

The Western Province administrative capital, Mongu, on Friday erupted when Lozi tribal loyalists who want to secede from the rest of Zambia fought running battles with police on the day they “declared independence.” Two people were shot dead by the police, a number of people were injured and over 200 arrested and are likely to be charged with treason. Zambian netizens share their opinions on the subject online.

Japan: 16th Anniversary of Great Hanshin Earthquake

  17 January 2011

Today is the 16th anniversary of the Great Hanshin earthquake, and many prayed for lives lost. Blogger nikisuke quietly reflected on the passing of the years and quotes a Tweet by @hannarry: “That earthquake wasn't a tragedy where 6,434 lives were lost, but an earthquake where the single tragedy of...

North Korea: Drugs Rampant, Even Among Teens

  17 January 2011

North Korean insiders and defectors have testified that drugs are widespread in North Korea. Most recent reports told that drugs are popular gifts among teens and even ordinary middle-class citizens are frequently abusing them.

Taiwan: Foxconn nominated for the public eye award

  17 January 2011

A Hong Kong based NGO Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour has nominated Apple subcontractor, FoxConn for the 2011 public eye award. There are at least 18 workers committed suicide in FoxConn's factories in China in 2010.

China: No more award and prize!

  17 January 2011

It is clear that the Chinese government is not happy about the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. However, it is beyond normal people's imagination that the propaganda machine would turn its resentment into the censorship of the terms "award" and "prize".

Venezuela: Reactions to Comments by OAS Regarding Enabling Law

  17 January 2011

Venezuelan Twitter users and bloggers have reacted to the Enabling Law that concedes President Hugo Chávez the power to rule by decree on certain matters for the next 18 months; they have also given their opinion about declarations regarding the Enabling Law given by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.

Bulgaria: Bloggers Discuss the Soviet Army Monument in Sofia

  17 January 2011

The Soviet Army Monument in Sofia was built in 1954, in honor of the victory over the Nazis in World War II. Today, this monument is the subject of dispute between left- and right-wing political groups. Recently, a group of right-wing activists started a discussion in the Bulgarian society whether the Monument should be demolished or not.