Stories from 27 January 2014
Malaysia: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World
The winner of the ‘most beautiful sound in the world’ competition is ‘Dusk by the Frog Pond’ by ‘Wild Ambience’ recorded in a Sarawak swamp in Borneo, Malaysia.
Teaching Art During Vietnam War
The British Library blog features several art works made during the Vietnam War era. It also quotes Nguyễn Toan Thi, a guerilla artist during the war: Art classes were held...
Best Dresses of Kazakhstan Selected
On January 23, 2014, an international jury named the winners of the ‘Best Dress of Kazakhstan’ contest, a competition for young fashion designers in the country. Ten designers competed in...
“There Are No Other Problems” in Tajikistan Besides Name Games
More than a week after Tajikistan's Prosecutor General made a controversial statement about “unpatriotic” surnames, Internet users in the country continue debating whether the ending of one's surname is a...
Prominent Kenyan Writer Binyavanga Wainaina Comes Out as Gay
Wainaina said that the recent passage of an anti-gay law in Nigeria was one of the things that made him decide to come out.
Iran: A Facebook Administrator Arrested
Iran's cyberpolice say they have arrested administrator of a Facebook page called “Sherarat” (meaning villainy”). Iranian police added this Facebook page used to publish stories and photos about thugs and...
Ukrainian #DigitalMaidan Activism Takes Twitter's Trending Topics by Storm
As Euromaidan protests enter their third month, Ukrainian social media users and activists are finding new ways of using Internet tools to explain their plight and seek international support.
Russian Conspiracy Theories about Maidan's First Blood
Given the lack of eyewitnesses, the murder of Serhiy Nigoyan, Maidan’s first shooting fatality, has naturally attracted lots of speculation about who was responsible.
Nine Questions for Arien Chang Castán, a Photographer from Havana
"This damned Havana is a double-edged sword, which I thank for who I am and what I do," says Arien Chang Castán.
What Does Climate Change Mean to You? Documentary Competition
Young filmmakers from all over the world are invited to produce and submit a 1-12 minute video documentary telling a story about climate change. What the #Action4Climate video challenge wants to know...
Egypt: Is Sissi's Promotion a Step Closer to the Presidency?
Abdel Fattah El Sissi's promotion to field marshall has created a buzz online, with many wondering whether it paves the way for him to run for presidency.
Congrats Tunisia on the New Constitution!
Bloggers from across the region paid tribute to Tunisia for adopting a new constitution, three years after the ousting of dictator Zeine el Abidin Ben Ali.
Tunisia's Constituent Assembly Adopts New Constitution
It was a historic day for Tunisia, which voted in favour of a new constitution, three years after the ousting of its dictator, at the beginning of the Arab revolutions.
Egypt: What's Next for Field Marshal El Sissi?
Egypt's army head General Abdel Fattah El Sissi is now a Field Marshal. It is not clear whether this is a prelude to him running for president.
Nicaraguan Micro-Fiction by Alberto Sánchez Arguello
Blogger Mildred Largaespada of 1001 Trópicos [es] writes about Alberto Sánchez Arguello, a Nicaraguan writer who shares his micro-stories through his Twitter account @7tojil [es]. “He is definitely an outstanding...
Journalism, Cuban Style
Iván's File Cabinet shares some of the must-haves if you want to be a journalist in Cuba.
Alarm Bells Ringing (Again) Over China's Housing Bubble
Continuously jumping home prices has raised concerns again about real estate bubble in China as the government refrains from introducing more property curbs that would hinder economic growth.
Jamaicans Deserve Details About Proposed Logistics Hub
You are being manipulated. Jamaicans are effectively begging and paying their government for vital information about their country. How can we accept this? Talk of developing an environmentally protected area...
