Stories from 10 January 2010
Poland: Discussions of TOR and Internet Filtering
The end of 2009 in Poland was marked with the beginning of a public discussion of on-line privacy, the government's potential attempts to restrict access to websites and a growing awareness of TOR software supporting on-line anonymity. Sylwia Presley reports.
India: A Critically Ill Marxist Leader Trends On Twitter
In India, social media was put under spotlight recently when tipped off by some online news sites a section of netizens fueled a rumor that critically ill Marxist leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Mr. Jyoti Basu was dead. This fiasco puts the pressure on social media users to be more responsible.
Azerbaijan: Year of the child?
Emotions on Air, Mind Mute visits an orphanage in Azerbaijan and compares the officially stated aim of making 2009 the Year of Children with the reality faced by those seemingly forgotten and destined to remain in residential care.
Iran: Chinese cyberactivists support Iranians
Since the recent mass demonstration in Iran against the Islamic Regime, dozens of Chinese “netizens” have joined the #iranelection Twitter community, even going so far as to create their own web site.
Brazil: Net-citizens have fun shooting corrupt politicians
A videogame in which you can shoot a Brazilian politician recently accused of corruption becomes a hit in 2009, and it was not the first time net-citizens poke fun at their politicians. Is this a new way to protest?
Mauritania: Woman MP Calls General Aziz a Hypocrite!
Mauritanian blogger Nasser comments on MP Nomma Bint Mogaya's explosive speech in the last days of 2009 in parliament denouncing General Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz and calling him a hypocrite. He also features her speech in a video translated into English.
Egypt: Galloway is a persona non grata
Zeinobia writes about the new official news that British MP George Galloway has been declared persona non grata in Egypt – on the background of the Free Gaza March last week. He has been deported from the country and blacklisted in the official and some of the unofficial media too.
Egypt: In our house.. H1N1
Egyptian blogger, Ahmed Shokeir, writes [Ar] his experience with his younger child's infection with H1N1 (swine flu), and how the family worked on combating it.
Algeria: First day for a book on Amazon
Maamar Ameur writes [Ar] his experience with his colouring book for children “A.B.Coloring” ‘s first day on Amazon, and his blogger friends enthusiasm to help him promote the book through different social media websites.
Saudi Arabia: First “sighted” blogger
Saudi blogger, Maged, writes a blog post [Ar] about his friend Ali Al Omary, the first blind Saudi Blogger whom -Maged thinks- is not just a blogger but a real philosopher. Ali is also working on a new book about music in Arabic poetry.
Morocco: Ladies Honored
Moroccan bloggers joined the Kolena Laila (We Are All Laila) campaign, an independent online initiative inviting bloggers across the Arab region to express themselves freely and raise awareness on the concerns of women in their respective societies for the first time. Hisham brings us the story in this post.
Bolivia: Ex-Beauty Queen Named Candidate for Governor of Beni
Bolivian President Evo Morales named ex-Miss Bolivia Jessica Jordan as the MAS candidate for governor in the Department of Beni, which has traditionally been controlled by the opposition.
China: New Ticketing System For Train Riders
As “Chunyun”—the travel season before, during, and after the Chinese New Year—approaches, two of China’s largest rail lines are adopting a “real-name” ticketing system. Information Times reported Friday that passengers traveling on trains serviced by Guangzhou Railway Group or Chengdu Railway Bureau will be required to produce a valid identification card upon...
