Stories from 16 April 2011
Iran: Fashion designer died
Several bloggers such as Neghae Man remembered Bijan Pakzad, fashion designer icon who passed away this weekend. He dressed President Obama, the Queen of England, Ronald Reagan, the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Charles and Bill Gates.
India: Social Media Powers Anti Corruption Bill Campaign
On April 5, 2011, social activist Anna Hazare started a fast-unto-death campaign to demand an effective anti-corruption law and hundreds of thousands of Indians supported him. Social media helped spread the campaign of Anna Hazare; netizens analyze why the campaign will never tip into a social movement.
Iran: Halal internet
Donyae Eghtesad writes Iranian State anounced that ” islamic halal internet will be launched soon.”
Bangladesh: Yunus And After
After the removal of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus from the post of Managing Director of Grameen Bank, the Bangladesh government faces a challenge to run the bank smoothly with the new appointees. An Ordinary Citizen opines that Grameen Bank may be a political liability for the government in future...
South Asia: Reactions On The Burqa Ban In France
The recent ban imposed by France on burqa (niqab), the Islamic face veil, has created a lot of buzz across the different blogosphere of the world. Some South Asian bloggers are discussing this issue.
Egypt: “I really sympathize with Mubarak”
Hany George, an Egyptian blogger and activist shares a true story from Tahrir Square that he dedicates to all the people who still sympathize with ousted president Hosni Mubarak as he is detained and prosecuted in Egypt.
India: Cricket On Overdrive
Proloy Bagchi has this to say about the hype on the game of cricket in India driven by billions of dollars in advertisement revenues: “it has become a year-round circus and is no longer a sport for the three or four winter months”.
France, Japan: Debating President Sarkozy's Visit to Japan
When French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Japan on March 31, 2011, less than three weeks after the earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear emergency, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is reported to have said: "When it rains, a friend who comes is a true friend". Bloggers ask if Nicolas Sarkozy really came to visit out of friendship alone.
Angola: Concern with Côte D'Ivoire
The volume of comment on this news story “Angola yet to react to the fall of Gbagbo” [Pt] reveals Angolan netizens’ significant concern with Côte D'Ivoire. Some lament rumors that Angolan mercenaries were killed needlessly in Côte D'Ivoire defending Gbagbo. Others suggest Gbagbo was victim of betrayal by other African...
India: The Pitiful State Of Indian Television
Sujoy at OneKnightStand.Net discusses about five issues that are responsible for the present pitiful state of Indian Television.
Nigeria: #PlessYaHand and #NigeriaDecides Trending
Voting in Nigeria’s presidential election has begun. The election was postponed from 9 April, 2011. The main candidates are the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and Muhamadu Buhari. #PlessYaHand and #NigeriaDecides are currently trending in Nigeria's Twittersphere.
Ukraine: UkrTelecom's “Shady” Privatisation
Foreign Notes writes – here, here, and here – on last month's sale of “a 92.79 percent stake in Ukraine's telecom monopoly, Ukrtelecom” – apparently, Ukraine's yet “another shady privatisation” deal.
Russia: Art Group “Voina” and Innovation 2010 Prize
RussiaWatchers writes in detail about Art Group Voina, whose “phallus on the Liteiny bridge opposite to St. Petersburg FSB headquarters has been awarded the Innovation 2010 prize for best visual work of art.”
Ukraine: Chernobyl Charity Walk on April 22
On April 22, a group of volunteers from the British and French embassies in Ukraine will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe and fundraise for the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund (CCRDF) and the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA) by walking 63 miles (110 km)...
