Stories from 17 April 2011
Sri Lanka: Sinhala And Tamil New Year In Jaffna
Marisa De Silva at GroundViews reports that the people of Jaffna had a quiet new year celebrations because of the heavy presence of security forces and their regular questioning.
Bangladesh: Communal Attacks On Indigenous People
Unheard Voice blog is reporting that tension is running high in the Chittagong Hill tracts of Bangladesh as Bengali settlers attacked Jumma People with the direct support of security forces.
Bangladesh: Approval Of A Coal Mine Threatens Displacement And Destruction
ShahidulNews reports that “a massively destructive coal mine could be approved in northwest Bangladesh that would displace tens of thousands of families, destroy vital farmland, and devastate mangrove forests that...
China: Sunday Night Political Chat
Chinese academic and Internet celebrity Yu Jianrong found time during a recent visit to the United States to talk about China's current political climate amid the long string of recent arrests, and the country's future direction, bringing the discussion onto his microblog account late Sunday night.
Kuwait: The Prime Minister Wins Again
Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah has broken a new record with his appointment as prime minister of Kuwait for the seventh time in five years. Some bloggers and Twitter users have been campaigning, alongside political groups, demanding his departure. Kuwaiti bloggers speak up, discussing why they need a new prime minister to steer their country forward.
Tunisia: Bloggers Debate Secularism
Tunisia is a country of a large Muslim majority and the Tunisian Constitution states that Islam is the state's religion. However, the Tunisian society is one of the most secular ones in the Muslim world. After the Tunisian revolution, secularism has been the centre of heated debates on blogs. Here is a review of the debate.
Morocco: Controversy Over International Music Festival
Each year the capital Rabat is the epicenter of a major music festival, Mawazine. Since its modest launch in 2001, Mawazine has grown, and in the last decade has become the top national entertainment gathering. With the backdrop of political protests and calls for change though, controversy is rising in the Moroccan blogosphere around the use of public money for sponsoring the festival.
Taiwan: Experience of foreign graduate students
Fili writes about his experience studying in a Ph.D. program in Taiwan. While Range also writes about his experience as a graduate student in Taiwan.
Côte D‘Ivoire: The Regional Economic Impact of Post-Election Conflict
Aconerly looks at the regional economic impact of post election conflict in Côte D‘Ivoire: “Seasonal migrant laborers from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali face a prospect of unemployment as a...
Nigeria: Photos the Presidential Vote
I’m posting a few photos I took from Saturday’s presidential vote from Kaduna, Nigeria. Stay tuned for more photos from yesterday along with my longer post on the view from...
Germany: A blog of rare German records from flea markets
Berlin Beatet Bestes is a blog by Andreas Michalke of rare out of print German 45 rpm records found at flea markets. For instance, this 1959 tune of Trinidadian singer...
Nigeria: Jega set to announce presidential election results
The stage is set for the announcement of final presidential election results by the Chief Returning Officer, Prof Attahiru Jega, as accredited stakeholders arrive the National Collation Centre in Abuja.
Armenia: Internet Penetration
Despite government claims of 47.1 percent, Social Science in the Caucasus analyzes its 2010 household survey to assess the real level of Internet penetration in Armenia and especially as it...
Nigeria Votes 2011: Opinions From the Polls
Nigerians voted yesterday in the third presidential election since the nation transitioned to civilian rule in 1999. Thus far, the election has widely been declared a success, with only sporadic reports of violence and voting irregularities. News sources reported a large turnout, orderly queues, and voters waiting until polls closed to make sure their votes were counted. Bloggers discuss the experience.
Philippines: Solar lighting project
Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light), is a “sustainable lighting project in the Philippines which aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to underprivileged communities nationwide”
Laos: Controversial Xayaburi Dam
Amraapali writes about the planned Xayaburi Dam along the Lower Mekong in Laos. The controversial dam project is opposed by some groups which warned of “reduced fisheries, inundation of riverbank...
Vietnam's native fruits
Mach-Speed Whippets samples some of Vietnam's native and popular fruits.
Vietnam: Facebook partners with local telecom giant
James Bao cites a report from PC World Vietnam about the partnership of Facebook and FPT, a telecom giant in Vietnam. Facebook is regularly blocked in Vietnam and FPT is...
Popularizing Vietnamese films
Jennie Le, writing for Vietnam Talking Points, explains why Vietnamese films are not getting much attention in the Western world.
Iran: Top Fashion designer and Green Movement
Tahriyeh Khamosh has published a video where Bijan Pakzad, top fashion designer who passed away this weekend, talks about his participation in a demonstration. The blogger says the film is...
China: Recent Scandals Show Ongoing Battle for Food Safety
A slew of food scandals have occurred in China in recent weeks, highlighting the country's ongoing challenge with maintaining levels of food safety.
