Stories from 8 June 2012
India: The Colonial Bungalows Project
Kiruba Shankar has started a photography project titled Colonial Bungalows, in which century old residential bungalows (British, French and Portuguese) in India will be photographed and documented.
India: Blogger Gets A Take Down Notice For Exposing Corruption
Kracktivist informs that blogger Vidyut Kale of aamjanata.com had received a take down notice for an article being defamatory. In the alleged post the blogger exposed financial corruption of some influential persons.
Egypt: 17 Months of Tahrir Square
On flickr, Jonathan Rashad shares images from Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution, over the past 17 months.
Egypt: March to End Sexual Harassment Attacked
A march demanding an end to sexual harassment turned ugly when women involved were attacked by a mob of angry men in Tahrir Square today (June 8, 2012). Eye witnesses share their experience on Twitter.
Iran: 1970s Pop Musician Toofan Ataee Dies in Los Angeles
Toofan, sometimes known as 2Fun, the Los Angeles-based Iranian singer of the 1970s, died on Tuesday. Iranians have expressed their sorrow on social networks.
The Evolution of African Social Welfare Systems
The implementation of national social welfare systems is still in its evolutionary phase for many African countries. The achievement of the systems currently in place are discussed by social protection experts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Photos of Colossal Churches in South Korea
South Korean churches are being widely criticized for building huge church buildings. One net users posted photos of colossal churches. The church appeared in the last photo has recently created controversy for re-routing subway exits for their convenience.
Kyrgyzstan: Politician Slams Mini-Skirts and Tracksuits
A conservative MP in Kyrgyzstan has proposed to ban mini-skirts and sportswear in the national parliament building, triggering a debate among the country's netizens. While some netizens support the MP's proposal, others believe parliamentarians should focus their time and resources on more urgent tasks.
Equatorial Guinea: Dictatorship Seeks Entry in Portuguese Language Community
In July 2012 the Maputo Summit will take place in which a decision will be taken on the possible entry of Equatorial Guinea into the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). On the one hand there are various initiatives which condemn Teodoro Obiang's 33 year regime, hostile to the orienting principles of the CPLP. However, there are also those who support the country's admission.
Gabon: Civil Society Leaders Arrested Prior to New York Forum Africa
News website Koaci.com [fr] reports that Marc Ona Essangui, of the civil society organisation ‘Ca suffit comme ça’ (Enough is enough) and other Gabonese activists were arrested this morning in the capital Libreville. They were planning to hold a ‘Forum of the indignants‘ [fr] to counter the New York Forum Africa,...
India, Bangladesh: Water Disputes and Teesta River Diplomacy
Longstanding tensions between India and Bangladesh on how best to share river waters have recently come to head in a dispute over the Teesta River that threatens bilateral relations. At stake, are the lives of countless Bangladeshi and West Bengali people who depend on the river waters for survival.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Spectre of War in the South Caucasus?
Following clashes on the Line of Contact (LoC) separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, South Caucasus Diary ponders the likelihood of war once again breaking out over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Meanwhile, Yerevan-based Armenian-American analyst Richard Giragosian tweets that Azerbaijan's new strategy appears to be reaching operational readiness for...
Zambia: Netizens Speak Out Against Police Brutality
Zambian netizens express their disbelief and anger online over the brutal manner in which Zambian police handled a peaceful demonstration in Lusaka by youths belonging to the opposition United Party for National Development.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resumes… On Twitter
In war, as the old saying goes, the first casualty is always the truth. This is particularly true in the South Caucasus where the media in Armenia and Azerbaijan more often than not spreads misinformation or subjective propaganda concerning the long-running and unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. On 7 June that was certainly the case on micro-blogging site Twitter.
China: An interview with Chinese Cartoon Satirist
Tom from Seeing Red in China interviewed Chinese Cartoon Satirist, Crazy Crab of Hexie Farm on his political cartoons.
Ukraine: “Friendly” Euro 2012 Grassroots Initiatives
These “friendly” grassroots initiatives are meant for those football fans who are traveling to Ukraine for Euro 2012, which begins today: Friendly Ukraine, an umbrella “community of friendly and hospitable people [who] offer free help to our guests: accommodation, transfers from airport to city, guidance, translation and information services” (RFE/RL...
