Stories from 16 July 2013
@InsakaChat: Twitter-Based Platform For Zambians to Speak on Social Issues
@InsakaChat's US-based Zambian founder says she is giving Zambians "a safe place to speak their truths".
Thousands of Congolese Refugees Flood Uganda
More than 30,000 refugees from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fleeing a rebel attack on the town of Kamango arrived in neighbouring Uganda on Saturday, July 13, 2013.
PHOTO: Muslim Brotherhood Surrounds National Security in Cairo
Netizens and journalists are reporting that thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters are heading towards the National Security building in Nasr City now. Amr Salama El-qazaz shares this photograph. آلاف المتظاهرين يحاصرون مقر مباحث أمن الدولة الآن بمدينة نصر #رابعة_العدوية pic.twitter.com/oxBFRmzYrN @amrsalama: Thousands of protesters are surrounding the National...
Artists Capture a Bloody Ramadan in Syria
Mubarak (Blessed), Kareem (Generous), Peaceful, Happy … are the usual adjectives accompanying any greeting during the Muslim month of fasting – Ramadan. Not so for Syrians.
Taking ‘Long Walk of Hope’ Across Sri Lanka for Cancer Patients
A retired army major trekked more than 750 km to raise funds for cancer patients.
Revolution or Coup: The Ousting of Morsi
Many are continuing to debate whether the ousting of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi was the result of revolution or a military coup. Mohamed El Gohary shares his two cents in this post.
Bassem Yousif vs Sandmonkey on Egypt
On Twitter, satirist Bassem Youssef and activist and blogger Mahmood Salem (Sandmonkey) had a discussion on the Egyptian political scene today. Noon Arabia collects their exchange in this post [ar] on Storify.
VIDEO: Historic Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque Bombed in Syria
Protect Syrian Archaeology posted photographs on its Facebook page [en, ar] and videos on YouTube, recording the moment the historic Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque (7th century) was bombed in Homs, Syria. Homs – Results of the bombing of Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque#حمص – أثار القصف الذي تعرض له مسجد الصحابي خالد بن الوليد” This 5-minute video takes you inside...
Benin's President Opens Door to Third Term
President Yayi Boni has proposed an amendment that would twist the law that bans presidents from third terms. Boni won two presidential elections in 2006 and 2011.
Honduran Indigenous Leader Killed
This is a story of exploitation of Honduras’ natural resources, and of popular opposition to their destructive effects, largely ignored outside activist media outlets. RAJ in Honduras Culture and Politics blogs about the murder of Tomás García, an indigenous Lenca COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras)...
PHOTO: Bloody Protests Outside Brazilian Bus Baron Wedding
While the wedding of Beatriz Barata (the granddaughter of the owner of the largest bus company in Rio de Janeiro) with Francisco Feitosa Filho (heir of the same industry conglomerate in the state of Ceará) was being celebrated inside the luxurious Copacabana Palace, outside the hotel, a humorous protest ended up with...
São Tomé Pulls ‘Rotten Rice’ After Protests
The rice was part of a 900-ton order worth about two million US dollars imported from Cameroon using public money.
Cave Temple in Sri Lanka
Uditha Wijesena informs that Dambulla cave temple is the best preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka.
The Beautiful “Country” of Africa
In this week's edition of the Kenyan online magazine Brainstorm, Brenda Wambui rails against the ongoing narratives about Africa: “Africa is a country”, “Africa rising”, ‘”African fashion”. She looks at ways Kenyans can reclaim their story and define themselves on their own terms: As Kenya, or any other country, we...
Female Blogger Jailed in Iran
Jonbeshe Sabz reports that Fariba Pajooh,a reformist journalist and blogger, was jailed last week. Her father hopes “she gets released soon”.
Ireland to Cancer Patients: Not Dying? No Financial Aid.
The anonymous Irish blogger behind the blog “Pieces of me” sends an open letter to the Irish minister of Health after the ministry decided to cut off medical reimbursements for cancer treatments, “unless their diagnosis is terminal.” As a cancer survivor, the blogger writes a poignant pamphlet: My “not such a bad diagnosis at all”, brought me...
The Perils of Putting a Label on Edward Snowden
Is the man who revealed US surveillance programs run by the NSA - a traitor, a hero, a fugitive, or a spy?
South Korea's Ex-President Accused of Lying Over Four Major Rivers Project
Civic groups say the project will cause irreversible harm to the environment by blocking water flow and meddling with the ecosystem.
Protests Crush Nuclear Complex Plans in Southern China
But is this victory temporary? Some worry the project may pop-up in another densely populated area.
Reporters Break Their Silence on Trinidad & Tobago Press Freedom Confusion
Reporters that left their jobs at the Trinidad Guardian say “there was a significant threat to press freedom [and] that [the] threat wore the garments of political interference."
A Public Feud Between Nigeria’s First Lady and a Nobel Laureate
Was Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka sexist in describing Nigeria's First Lady as "a mere domestic appendage"?