11 August 2011

Stories from 11 August 2011

Australia: Malaysia No Solution to ‘Boat People’ Politics

The Australian government’s attempt to take a hard line on people smugglers and asylum seekers arriving by boat has hit a major snag. In December 2010, approximately 50 asylum seekers were drowned at Christmas Island. A legal challenge has postponed a swap of the surviving refugees with Malaysia.

11 August 2011

Russia: A Psycho-Neurological Patient's Photo Stories

RuNet Echo

Pasha Kyshtymov, a lifelong psycho-neurological patient in Siberia, cannot communicate through speech, but had no problems learning to express himself through photography. On his blog, the Russian photographer Oleg Klimov has documented the poignant impromptu experience of teaching Pasha to share his worldview with others.

11 August 2011

Syria: World Cities Rally Against and For Bashar

Events in Syria are being echoed around the world. Syrians in the diaspora rallied in the majority of the cities in the world, either asking to overthrow Bashar Al Assad and his regime or chanting their love to their leader. Check out this video round up for footage from demonstrations worldwide.

11 August 2011

Tunisia: “The People Want an Independent Judiciary”

“People want independent judiciary" is a slogan that has been recently raised in the streets of Tunisia. Afef Abrougui takes a look at the reactions of bloggers following the release of two former ministers as well as a close ally of the former Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, whose freedom has sparked calls for more protests.

11 August 2011

Mauritania: Discrimination Plagues Census

adrar-info.net publishes an article on Mauritanian demonstrations in Paris and Mauritania, related to the current population census in Mauritania. Black Mauritanians apparently have a difficult time getting their name registered...

11 August 2011

Iran: Remember Omid Reza MirSayafi

Iran's Freedom of Expression site has conducted [fa] an interview with Omid Reza Mirsayafi's close friend about his death. Omid Reza Mirsayafi, a blogger, died in a prison in Iran...

11 August 2011

China: Tweets Didn't Start the Fire

China's main state television station has launched a second offensive against microbloggers and users of other social media, this time on the back of the recent British riots. The attack has left netizens guessing at the true motivation at play.

11 August 2011

Guinea-Bissau: Films From Guinea-Bissau

Kris introduces his readers to films from Guinea-Bissau: “As African cinemas go, Guinea-Bissau is not well researched and there’s not that much about written about its history in film. I...

11 August 2011