Stories from 26 September 2013
“Fetishization of Somoni” Continues in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan's president unveils yet another statue of national icon Ismoil Somoni, blogger Tomiris criticizes [ru] monument monoculture in the country: Don't we have other historical figures to erect statues to? Was Somoni really the only one of its kind? I understand that this fetishization of Somoni is a political...
Busting Myths about Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is not part of the Middle East; Kazakhs do not have Chinese blood in their veins; and not everything about Kazakhstan is bad. Blogger busts (part 1, part 2) [ru] common myths about the oil-rich Central Asian nation.
When There's No Emergency Phone Number, Kenya Tweets For Help
When al-Shabab gunmen attacked Nairobi's Westgate Mall, Philip Ogola of Kenya Red Cross jumped to action – with a tweet.
Protests in Sudan: Dozens Feared Dead
Sudan's answer against protests was cutting off the Internet and killing dozens of protestors. Activists say Sudan pulled the Internet plug to stop activists from sharing its crackdown on protestors.
Podcast: China's Big Internet Crackdown
Sinica podcast discusses China's recent crackdown on Big-Vs on Sina Weibo and poses questions about whether Sino Weibo will continue to be popular and if online discussions are already moving away from Sina Weibo towards mobile services like WeChat.
Peru: 7 Magnitude Quake Hits Acari, Arequipa
Some media and citizens report small-scale damage, like rock slides that have blocked part of the southern Panamericana highway. No fatal victims have been reported.
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Kills Hundreds in Southeastern Pakistan
More than 327 people have been killed following a powerful earthquake that struck Balochistan Province on Tuesday.
Europe Warns French Minister over Statement Regarding Roma Community
Les derniers propos du Ministre français de l'Intérieur, Manuel Valls ont relancé la polémique au niveau des rapports houleux entre la France et les Roms, en France et en Europe.
Why Laos Has High Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates
Dee Harlow cites several factors that explain why Laos has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia: Many factors contribute to the inaccessibility of the care expectant mothers need including, geographic remoteness, lack of infrastructure and seasonal limitations for travel on rough roads, lack of transport or...
Vietnamese Blogger Speaks Out Against Government Repression
Nguyen Bac Truyen gave a testimony in a human rights event in Geneva about the repression suffered by bloggers and activists in Vietnam: Since Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang came back from a visit to President Obama in the United States at the end of July, government repression has entered...
