Stories from 21 August 2011
Arab World: “Assad, You are Next After Gaddafi!”
As Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's hours are quickly running out, Twitter users are issuing their warnings to Syrian president Bashar Al Assad to take heed, and leave power. Here is a cross-section of reactions by Amira Al Hussaini.
Libya: Remembering Mohammed Nabbous
Tribute is pouring in on Twitter, in memory of Mohammed Nabbous, the founder of Libya's AlHurra TV. Nabbous was killed in a firefight while he was filming on March 19. According to his many fans, Nabbous' spirit is celebrating today's developments in Libya.
Serbia: Belgrade's New Bridge
Bill's Blog and A Yankee-in-Belgrade write about and post pictures of the Serbian capital's recently completed new bridge across the Sava River.
Ukraine: Yuri Lutsenko's Case “Falling Apart”
Foreign Notes writes that the criminal case against Yuri Lutsenko, Ukraine's former Minister of the Interior, is “falling apart.”
Russia: “Democracy Without Balls”
Oleg Klimov writes [ru] that Mikhail Gorbachev, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's collapse, said that “Putin is no dictator – he has just castrated democracy by depriving citizens of the democratic right to choose.”
Russia: State News Agency Calls PM Putin “Increasingly Autocratic”
Siberian Light notes that RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency, has called the Russian PM Vladimir Putin “increasingly autocratic” in an article on the visit of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il to Russia.
Libya: Libya State TV Broadcast Disrupted
With the fast-paced news coming out of Tripoli, social media enthusiasts are weeding information coming out of Libya to keep us abreast with what is really happening there. Stay tuned for the latest details.
Libya: Game Over Gaddafi
Libyan revolutionaries are in Tripoli, the country's capital. The thrill is evident online, with Twitter abuzz with joy and jubilation as tweeps countdown the hours in which Gaddafi will leave power. Reports are already circulating that the battalion responsible for his protection has surrendered and decided to lay down arms.
Lebanon: Smoking Banned
“The Lebanese Parliament endorsed a law that bans smoking in public or closed spaces. The law also bans any sort of tobacco advertising and promotions….” reports Moudz, who added that “Non-smokers have been overjoyed today with the news filling up the social timelines with their expressions of approval.”
Mexico: Football Match Interrupted by Gunfire
Realidadtorreon uploaded a citizen video recorded inside the stadium where a football match was cancelled after “gunmen opened fire on police outside the stadium in the northern city of Torreon”, as reported by The Associated Press. Eduardopolis [es] blogged about the incident and how it was covered by the media...
Mexico: Following Javier Sicilia's Footsteps
Mexican bloggers write about activist Javier Sicilia's activism and his Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity. His activities and the organisation he runs generate contrary opinions, for which the only common denominator is the hope that the situation in Mexico may change for the good of all.
Libya: Bloggers Between Dictatorship and War
It's been six months since the Libyan uprising began. How was the Libyan blogging scene before the February 17 revolution and how has it evolved over the last few months? Fozia Mohamed takes a closer look at the Libyan blogosphere to bring us the story.
Guinea: Slow Blogging
After a year of blogging on blog platform Mondoblog, Sow shares [fr] how difficult it is to connect from his hometown in Guinea, located 500 km from the capital Conakry: “This country is plagued with a standard access to the Internet that breaks every record of slowness. If you add...
D.R. of Congo: End Congo Rape Campaign Launched Online
End Cong Rape online campaign has been launched: “The aim of this site is to inform people on the plight of women in the east of the Congo, as well as to encourage people to get involved and donate.”
Libya: Gaddafi's Right Hand Abdessalem Jalloud Flees to Italy
Libya's former number two, Abdessalem Jalloud, has left the country to Italy on a Maltese plane via Tunisia, a Tunisian senior government official has confirmed. Many people see Jalloud's defection as an indication as to the imminent end of Gaddafi's rule.
