Stories from 8 January 2011
Nepal: Tackling Sport Injuries And Death
Twenty-one-year-old boxer Raju Budhamagar died last Wednesday after being knocked down by a punch during a boxing game. The Radiant Star discusses about the lessons learnt from the boxers death.
Nepal: Energy Potential Not Harnessed
Nepali informs that: “Nepal has the capability to produce 40,000 MW (of electricity). Currently, it produces about 600 MW, roughly 1.5% of the potential. And of that 600 MW, 25% is lost due to “technical errors” like pilfering.”
Algeria: 3 killed and Hundred Injured in Protests
Three people were killed and no less than 420 people ( 320 policemen and 100 civilians were injured in riots in Algeria. According to the blog, Algérie Politique, those numbers have now been confirmed (fr) by the minister of interior Dahou Ould Kablia. In the town of Bousmail, 45 km...
Pakistan: Death Of Liberal Thought?
“Is the death of Salmaan Taseer, the death of liberal thought in Pakistan?” – questions Sepoy at Chapati Mystery.
Bhutan: Criminalizing The Use Of Tobacco Stirs Outrage
Starting this month the Bhutanese government has started implementing its draconian “Tobacco Control Act,” which was enacted last year. According to this act, any citizen in defiance can be charged with a fourth degree felony that can fetch a prison term of 5 – 9 years.
Mozambique: Death of an Iconic African Artist, Malangatana
Abena mourns the passing of the iconic Mozambican artist Malangatana: “Sadly, many Africans may be scratching their heads wondering who exactly Malangatana was. However, for those who had the humbling honour of coming up close and personal with his work, it is indeed a tragic loss.”
Ghana: Python African Tour comes to Ghana
Python African Tour is in Ghana: “Python African Tour (PAT) is an exciting African open source technology initiative aimed at promoting agile programming languages, mainly Python, among Africa's tech communities.”
Kenya: Disband Parliament before they disband everything
Moreen comments on the call to disband Kenyan Anti-Corruption Commission:”It seems that the parliament’s response when their members are called to account is short term tightened controls and disbandment of monitoring organisations. In crisis parliamentarians seem to default to practices of a bygone era in order to quell their own...
Sudan: Northern Sudan is no less “African” than Southern Sudan
Voters in Southern Sudan will vote in a referendum that is mostly likely to split Africa's largest country into two. If Southern Sudan separates, African states will therefore increase from 53 to 54. The referendum is part the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement. This is our latest roundup of blog posts related to the referendum.
Sudan: Follow Southern Sudan Referendum on Twitter
Voters in Southern Sudan will vote on January 9, 2011 in a referendum to decide whether to separate or remain part of Sudan. Follow Southern Sudan Referendum tweets here.
Malawi: MAM's Digital Recording Studio
The Musicians association of Malawi (MAM), announced that it has established its Digital Music Recording Studio, Gregory Gondwe reports: “This is a courtesy of the Royal Norwegian Embassy that is assisting Malawi’s Support Scheme through the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA).”
North Korean official twitter and website hacked
Intense cyber attacks were inflicted between South and North Korea. Sparked by one South Korean net user posting an insulting poem about the Kim family on the North Korean official website Uriminzokkiri, North Korea fired back with a DDOS attack. Today, South Korean hackers have allegedly attacked the North Korean government's official twitter account.
Japan: Firewalking Festival
A blogger at The Roving Ronin Report posted videos and pictures [en] of the Firewalking Festival (Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri) in Odawara, where “Buddhist Priests dressed as Yamabushi – mountain hermits – walked over hot coals.”
Thailand: Children's Day
Richard Barrow mentions some of the activities that children in Thailand can participate on Children's Day.
Thailand, Cambodia: Videos before border arrest
Saksith Saiyasombut links to youtube videos featuring Thai citizens in the Thailand-Cambodia border before being arrested by Cambodian troops.
North Korean Twitter Account Hacked by S.Koreans
South Korean hackers have allegedly attacked North Korean government's official twitter account @Uriminzok, filling the timeline with harsh slurs about North Korean regime, S.Korea's citizen media Wiki Tree reported[ko] with a screenshot image of @urimizok timeline Twitterer @Tkaraq007 posted. It added verification is still needed since N.Korean account is blocked...
Trinidad & Tobago: Farewell, Sir Ellis
“He was a man of tremendous intelligence and class, eloquent and well mannered in his every appearance. And today, Trinidad and Tobago mourns one of our greats”: On the day of his state funeral, Afrobella blogs about the first time she met Sir Ellis Clarke.
Cuba: Layoffs Begin
“Her seventeen year professional life has been spent working for the government boss who, today, threw her out in the street”: Generation Y says that the government layoffs have begun.
Barbados: Mara Thompson Enters Politics
There's already a lot happening in Barbados for the New Year, one of the most interesting of which is that the late Prime Minister's widow plans to contest his seat – Cheese-on-bread! weighs in.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Effects of Fireworks
“Nature is under assault from humans on all sides”: Diaspora blogger Labrish posts a requiem for the 5,000 blackbirds that literally fell out of the sky in Arkansas on New Year's Eve.
Jamaica: ‘Dudus’ Commission
As the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, moves forward, YardFlex.com says that time is running out for anyone wanting to give evidence.
