Stories from 10 March 2012
Poland: Szczekociny Train Crash, Yet Another Tragedy
Polandian writes about the reactions to the March 3 deadly train crash in Szczekociny, Poland: “When the comments were gathered from the prominent politicians, one that stood out was [PM] Donald Tusk saying something like ‘…This is the worst disaster since… the last such tragedy’.”
Ukraine: Eurovision, Gaitana, and Racism
Odessablog writes about the Ukrainian far right's reaction to this year's Eurovision nomination – Gaitana, a Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent: “It doesn’t matter that she was born in Kyiv, has lived there all her life, is a Ukrainian citizen, or that her mother is a...
Russia: First Woman in Space Turns 75 Years Old
Just days before the world celebrated International Women's Day last week, Valentina Tereshkova - the first woman to enter space - celebrated her 75th birthday.
Palestine: Gaza Under Attack – Again
Throughout the night of March 9 and into the morning of March 10, Israeli warplanes attacked targets across the Gaza Strip, with a death toll of at least 12, and 20 injured.
Togo: Human Rights Organizations Pressure President Gnassingbé
For the second consecutive time in 2012, the Organisations de défense des droits de l’homme (Organizations for the Defense of Human Rights - ODDH) expressed their discontent with the prevailing socio-political situation in Togo.
Should Indonesia Ban Hard-Line Islamic Groups?
A hard-line Islamic group in Indonesia is under fire for often resorting to violence and intimidation in carrying out the group's objectives. Indonesian netizens who reject the group's methods are campaigning online to ban the group in the country.
Angola: Activists Beaten Just Days Before Protest
Two activists tell on video how they were captured by cars without license and beaten up on a remote area of the capital Luanda. Blogger Gil Gonçalves had reported [pt] on the missing men, both involved in a protest of March 10 against the nomination of Suzana Inglês to head...
Angola: Gunshots and Clashes Against Demonstration
Blogger Gil Gonçalves reported about police violence [pt] during demonstration today in Luanda, based on updates of activists on Facebook. Freelancer journalist Louise Redvers tweeted, according to sources on site, that police attempted to disperse crowd with gunshots and clashes. Protesters claim the 2012 election process is strongly biased.
Swaziland: New Union Wants Democracy
Tthe newly launched trade union in Swaziland hopes to press for democracy: “The new group is expected to discuss how to step up its campaign for democracy in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.Major protests are expected in April and May this year.”
Malawi: The Road to Abolishing the Death Penalty
Nlex describes the road to abolishing the death penalty in Malawi: “Malawi’s Legal Aid volunteers sift through a pile of files of those on death row. They are doing everything they can to abolish the death penalty in the country and lessen existing prisoners’ sentences. At least 29 men currently...
Africa: How Many African Women are Online?
Gamelmag would like to know how many African women are online: “Firstly, we need to be able to place a figure on the actual number of active female Internet users. Next, we should figure out the factors that inhibit women's use of the web and finally put in measures to...
Ghana/London: The Taste of Ghana in London
Davida reviews restaurants offering Ghanaian food in London: “Eating soul food in London is a unique connection with the motherland that cannot be broken. Indigenous food – or ‘home chow’ – is a big deal. Thankfully, nestling among the various boroughs of London is a proliferation of African markets from...
Palestine: Rare Photographs of Nazareth
Blogger Iqbal Tamimi posts rare photographs of Nazareth city in Palestine, which go back to 1840-1940.
Afghanistan: US army missing well-equipped SUVs
Nick Fielding digged out an amazing story about the US Army offering a $10,000 reward for any information as to the whereabouts of two SUVs equipped with classified technology used to jam roadside bombs that had been stolen from a military base in Kabul.
Uzbekistan: Government's Media Friend in Seoul
Nathan Hamm says the Seoul-based publication Korea Times has had a long history of praiseful coverage of Uzbekistan, and wonders why.
