26 February 2011

Stories from 26 February 2011

Oman: The People Want an End to Corruption

"The people want an end to corruption" chanted thousands of Omanis, who have been protesting since Friday in Salalah and Sohar, as well as other parts of Oman. Ministerial changes announced earlier today did little to make protesters return to their homes and demands range from an end to corruption to more social, economic and political reforms.

26 February 2011

Pakistan: Unexpected Snowfall In Lahore

Guppu.com reports that “on February 26, 2011, Lahorites witnessed an extraordinary day when all of the sudden, dark clouds came and it felt as if the winter has come back,...

26 February 2011

Bangladesh: A Much Awaited Victory

Photo blogger Monirul Alam catches the joy of Bangladeshi fans in images after winning against Ireland in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

26 February 2011

Bangladesh: Clinical Trial Of A Cholera Vaccine Raises Questions

The world's largest trial of a cheap oral cholera vaccine made by an Indian pharmaceutical company is being conducted in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Bloggers notice the information blackout in local media and raise several questions regarding the clinical trial.

26 February 2011

Latin America: On teleSUR's Coverage of Libya Uprising

Latin American news channel teleSUR managed earlier this week to send several journalists into Tripoli to cover the ongoing uprising in Libya. Nonetheless, its coverage, which seems quite different to the one provided by other international news media, has caught the attention of many Latin American netizens.

26 February 2011

China: Jasmine Revolution, Week Two

Following dozens of arrests since an anonymous blog post called for revolutionary gatherings in cities across China last Sunday, a second round of gatherings is scheduled for today. Has the heavy-handed government response turned what many insist was a stunt into something more powerful?

26 February 2011

Armenia: Social Networks for Social Revolution?

With uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world, the extra-parliamentary opposition in Armenia is now seeking to replicate events in the former Soviet republic, and not least because 1 March 2011 will mark the 3rd anniversary of post-presidential election clashes which left 10 people dead.

26 February 2011

Yemen: “I beg you to help us NOW”

While much of Yemen protested peacefully, the country's military used tear gas and fired live weapons on protesters in the sea port of Aden. President Ali Abdullah Saleh said the demonstrations had been hijacked by separatists. But those on the ground claim non-violent protesters were shot and killed.

26 February 2011

Bahrain: Minor Ministerial Changes

Ministerial changes were announced in Bahrain last night to appease protesters calling for reforms since February 14. Here are reactions to the changes, which are yet to be officially announced.

26 February 2011

South Korea: Photos of Protest in Seoul

South Koreans held a protest in Seoul against the current administration yesterday, criticizing the government's unmet promises and its failures in several issues, such as high unemployment rate and the...

26 February 2011

Tunisia: Peaceful Protests Turn into Violent Confrontations

Protests calling for immediate political reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi continue in Tunisia. Apparently, the ousting of the former President Ben Ali is not good enough for a large portion of Tunisians who seek an overthrow of the whole regime and cutting all ties with the past.

26 February 2011

Cameroon: Police Use Brute Force Against Protesters

Opposition groups in Cameroon organized protests on Wednesday Wednesday, February 23, 2011 to call for President Paul Biya to leave office. President Paul Biya, who is running for re-election later this year, has been in power for 28 years. Paul Biya's Special Intervention Brigade crushed the protest with brute force.

26 February 2011

Russia: Bloggers Deconstruct Isolationist Propaganda

RuNet Echo

As Russia is approaching another election cycle (in 2011 Russians are supposed to elect the Parliament and in 2012 – the president) the voices of state propagandists get louder. The upcoming election process, tamed and controlled by the President's office and the ruling party "United Russia," will be happening in the context of the Arabian "Spring of Nations 2.0." This fact inspires pro-Democracy activists, as well as regime advocates.

26 February 2011

Armenia: Apathy or revolution?

Footprints compares the situation in Armenia with that in Egypt, but says that despite the problems it is unlikely a similar uprising will occur. In particular, the blog blames apathy...

26 February 2011

Iraq: To the entire WORLD, #IRAQIS are coming…

Iraqi people were inspired the revolutions around the Arab world and announced their own day of rage on the 25th February. The main demonstration centred on Tahrir square in Baghdad but there were similar protests all over the country.

26 February 2011

Egypt: Revolution's Not Over, Army Attacks Protestors

One month after a revolution began to demand political reform, Cairo's Tahrir Square was again the scene for bloody violence as the Egyptian army moved to quash continued protests for civilian rule. Two weeks since the ouster of dictator Hosni Mubarak, Egypt remains grappled in a tug of war between protestor demands for immediate democratic reform and a potent military refusing to cede power.

26 February 2011

Bahrain: Day of Mourning Observed

Friday (Feb 25) was officially announced as a 'Day of Mourning' for all the martyrs who have fallen since Bahrain's Day of Wrath protests, which started on February 14th 2011. Netizens reflect on the day.

26 February 2011

Egypt: Is Feb25 the Restart Button for the Egyptian Revolution?

Yesterday marked the first month since the start of the Egyptian revolution. Former president Hosni Mubarak has been toppled yet the revolution is still far from over. Protesters at Tahrir Square, calling for the demands of the revolution to materialise, were last night cordoned and attacked by the military police. Is this the beginning of another wave of rage?

26 February 2011