17 April 2011

Stories from 17 April 2011

China: Sunday Night Political Chat

  17 April 2011

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.

Armenia: Internet Penetration

  17 April 2011

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 relates to mobile access.

Nigeria Votes 2011: Opinions From the Polls

  17 April 2011

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

  17 April 2011

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

  17 April 2011

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 gardens, and loss of nutrients for floodplain agriculture” if the dam becomes operational.

Vietnam: Facebook partners with local telecom giant

  17 April 2011

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 often blamed for making the popular social network site inaccessible in the country.