Stories from 25 July 2008
China: Can a cop-killer be a hero?
Actually, the majority opinion in the story of Beijing resident Yang Jia who recently rushed into a police building in Shanghai and stabbed and killed six police officers, wounding several others, seems to be on Yang's side. Since then, Yang's mother has mysteriously disappeared, Beijing police have been sent to...
Nigeria: Erin-Ijesha waterfalls
Fadekemi of the blog ConnectAfrica describes the Erin-Ijesha waterfalls in the Nigerian Osun state, “definitely a site to behold”.
Sierra Leone: Fashion designer Adama Kargbo
Naijagal comments on the work of Sierra Leonan designer Adama Kargbo, who returned to her country after studying in the US to create a fashion line called Aschobi (photos included in the post). She says: “Sierra Leone isn't the first place you'd think of finding couture, but the country is...
Ethiopia: Violence or non-violence?
Ephrem Madebo of the blog Enset revisits the old debate of peaceful versus non-peaceful struggle for democracy in Ethiopia, after listening to a talk by Professor Mesfin.
Nigeria: Corruption overview
Imnakoya of the blog Grandiose Parlor gives an overview of the recent corruption scandals and teachers’ strikes that have recently happened in Nigeria.
Africa: Failed States Index
Codrin Arsene of the African Politics blog comments on the recently released Failed States Index for 2008, noting that “seven out of the ten most failed states in the world are from Africa, namely Somalia (1st), Sudan (2nd), Zimbabwe (3rd), Chad (4th), the Democratic Republic of Congo (6th), Cote D’Ivoire...
Cameroon: Why tourists and investors avoid it
Dibussi Tande of the blog Scribbles from the den quotes an article from the newspaper Eden in which the U.S Ambassador to Cameroon explains why tourists and investors are not coming more to that country.
Zimbabwe: On the soaring inflation
Zimbabwe, that was once one of the richest countries in Africa, at present finds itself falling into economic chaos with inflation reaching record levels, and with zeroes being regularly added to the currency. Bloggers comment on the grim situation, its causes and consequences.
Jordan: Batman Review
“I can say I was completely blown away! Not just the best Batman movie ever made, this is one of the best movies this year,” writes Jordanian blogger Moey, about Batman.
USA: Longest Walk 2 for Native Americans rights
An 8,000-Mile Walk for Native American Rights, Environmental Protection, and to Stop Global Warming reached its destination in Washington, DC. A successful example of community-building and citizen media usage - including first-hand reports and poignant comments.
El Salvador: Photographer Nominated for Journalism Prize
Photographer Álvaro López was recently nominated for the prestigious Ibero-American New Journalism prize for his series called Terrorism in El Salvador. His photos showed a violent confrontation between a protestor and police, placing the photographer in danger while capturing the images writes Solavá of Hora Cero [es].
Morocco's Smoking Ban
The View from Fez reports that Morocco has banned smoking in public places. It remains unseen how the law will be enforced.
Western Sahara: Introducing the Sahrawi Blogosphere
On July 5, Global Voices started its coverage of the Sahrawi blogosphere. Jillian York looks at Sahrawi blogs in English this week.
Barbados, Anguilla: Integrity Legislation
“One of the major complaints against the new David Thompson administration in Barbados has been that, although it won power mainly by promising to do something about the entrenched corruption in the previous Owen Arthur administration, it had appeared to have forgotten the issue”: Corruption-free Anguilla reports that new integrity...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Lawyer Executed
As a young lawyer is shot and killed on the way to his office in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Abeni says: “I am…worried that freedom as we know it is coming to an end. I fear that increasingly we will live behind bars in our homes and be forced...
Trinidad & Tobago: Question Time
“So as to avoid heartache, stress, stalking or late night non-returning of flaky text messages,” Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer has compiled a must-read questionnaire for potential dates.
Cuba: July 26
Raul Castro is scheduled to address his fellow Cubans this weekend and speculation is rife about what he might say. Child of the Revolution: “I hope Castro II announces for instance, that free and fair multi-party elections will be held in Cuba within the next 12 months.” Generation Y: “The...
Jamaica: Fountain Head
Less traffic or preserving an historic fountain? Montego Bay Day By Day can't decide.
India: Bomb Blasts in Bangalore
Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka, was hit by bomb blasts a few hours ago. Reports suggest that seven bombs went off in various parts of the city, within a twelve minute timeframe. The blasts were of low intensity and used gelatin sticks. However, a woman was killed,...
Afghanistan: Kabulians protest against government's inaction
Safrang says that residents of Kabul protest against the Afghan government’s inaction on Behsud, a district is not very far from the presidential palace, where civilians are being terrorized by the armed Pashtun Kochi force since the beginning of summer.
Afghanistan: Yesterday’s friend Today’s enemy
The Rumi reports that the Afghanistan Attorney General dismissed on July 16, by President Karzai after he announced intending to run for presidency election of next year.
