Reporter: Maryam Ghamgusar

Translation from Dari to English: AJ&V Team

I was waiting in Balkh province Women Department affairs directorate to interview with the director while a pallid woman who seems very alone, tired, wretched, desperate and violated by the name of Bigum came. She was in very bad mode with old cloths, around 40 years’ old age and still not married. Bigum is one of the bad traditions victims.

The sad and sorrowful face of Bigum…

A feature by Albert Oppong-Ansah

Every facet of our environment has changed drastically over a short period.

Last year the Northern Regional capital, Tamale recorded a temperature as high as 44 degree Celsius which was described by Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) as quiet strange.

Trees are being fell indiscriminately without replacement, people are scrambling for land to put up residential accommodation due to increase in population while others are indulging…

With 100 days remaining before it hosts a global nuclear summit, South Korea is putting the final touches on preparations for the 50-nation Nuclear Security Summit, key organizers said Friday, promising to make the event a success.

   The Seoul nuclear summit take place on March 26 and 27, attended by top leaders from about 50 countries, including the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Britain and France. The summit, which will be the second such meeting following one in the…

The people of the two newly formed city corporations including Narayanganj and Comilla have shown that a fair and peaceful election under the Awami League Government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.

The Narayanganj and Comilla City Corporation polls were held peacefully even without army deployment, the CEC told journalists at the Election Commission Secretariat in the capital.

He was giving his reaction after holding the two polls.

Many…

rom: Francis Npong

“The green frogs, no, toads that use to hop from one corner of our garden just around our backyard there…

By: Francis Npong, 

The chiefs of the Tatale Traditional Councilhave cautioned politicians’ of various …

By: Francis Npong

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister, if you like president of Ghana formerly Gold Coast and the architect of Africa struggle for independence and Pan Africanism would be honored by the African Union (AU) with the unveiling of his statue in Ethiopia during the extraordinary session of the union in the coming days.…

Francis Npong, Malishiegu, N/R, As election that could be described as “fierce” and a “test” of Ghana’s democratic faith draws nearer, Ghanaians have been reprimanded to resist bribery from politicians who for want of power would attempt bribing them.

December 7, this year, Ghanaians would head to the polls to elect both the president and parliamentarians for yet another four year term but the issues of bribery and…

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan 26: Bangladesh Bank has revised growth target downward and inflation upward for the ongoing fiscal.



It also put forward contractionary monetary policy by projecting 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent growth and 9 per cent inflation, and private sector credit growth target at 16 per cent.



The economic growth is expected to be 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent, while average inflation would be 9 per cent for 2011-12 fiscal, said senior consultant to governor Allah…

RAJSHAHI, Bangladesh Jan 26: A baby born every hour on an average at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) last year.

According to the hospital sources, a total of 8812 babies took birth in the year. Of them, 5256 by normal delivery while 3556 others in cesarean operation. Besides, 264 infant deaths were recorded during the same period.

Sources said all the expectant mothers come to the hospital for safe motherhood. But the infant death rate was three…

The Online journalism e-learning course, @ RNTC in the Netherlands, provides knowledge and skills while promoting best practices in online journalism. It strengthens capabilities in both multimedia and online storytelling, as well as raising awareness of the changing environment (e.g. with regard to technology, the economy and public expectations) in which journalists have to operate.

Further information:http://rntc.nl/elearning

For all of you food scientists out there, the MAITRE project has just announced that it has four new media training seminars coming up in Italy, Hungary, Turkey and Poland. Registration is now open, so be sure to visit the website for more information and to sign up. 

MAITRE is an EU funded project that will run 50…

DHAKA, Jan 23:  Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam today blamed the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for trying to divide the nation on the Army issue, while the ruling party wanted to have a national unity on it.

   "We want to forge a national unity about the recent incident in the Bangladesh Army foiling the democratic process in the country," he told a press briefing at party's Dhanmondi office here.

   The LGRD and Cooperatives Minister said…

Hong Kong, Jan. 23 - An unverified alteration on Wikipedia that Zambian President Michael Sata had died in an assassination Sunday morning prompted the presidency to strongly criticize online media and suspects facing corruption charges.

Wikipedia - a free online encyclopedia that…

There was once a time when great leaders were produced by student politics in this country. The glorious history of student politics is still remembered with reverence and affection. Sadly, the present condition of student politics in Bangladesh has earned the same amount of loathing and distrust. Students have seemingly become mere tools of politics in the educational institutions, rather than great-leaders-in-the-making. This situation raises a burning question: will the glorified part of…

A weak-long fair 'Madhu Mela' marking the 188th birth anniversary of great sonnet poet Michael

Madhusudan Dutt will be started from tomorrow at his birthplace Sagardari under Keshabpur upazila of Jessore district in Bangladesh.



   Jessore district administration has chalked out an elaborate programme marking the occasion.



  State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promod Mankin will inaugurate the fair as the chief guest. Local lawmakers, Muktijodha Central…

A daylong ‘Nature Festival’ will be held in Narayanganj in Bangladesh on Saturday with a view to creating awareness among people about environment and nature.



Bangladesh Paribesh Bachao Andolan (Bapa), Eastern University and Subarnagram Foundation will jointly organised the festival at Bangladesh Folk Art and Craft Museum in Sonargaon.



Artist Mustofa Monwar, columnist Kamal Lohani and cartoonist Rafiqunnabi (Ranabi) and director of Bangladesh Folk Art and Craft Foundation…

DHAKA, Jan 19: A massive employment generation campaign appeared to have largely reduced poverty in parts of

northwestern region with residents there now declining to be dubbed 'monga-stricken' people.



   For decades, a large part of greater Rangpur and neighbouring areas were exposed to extreme poverty with people

sitting idle for want of income generating works, a scenario that had earned the region the status of being the monga-prone area.



   The scenario began…

Get ready for some exciting news everyone!

*Drumroll please*

The Data Journalism Awards (DJA) are now accepting submissions! With over EUR 40,000 in prizes, you do not want to miss this opportunity. 

The DJA's are organized by the Global Editors Network, implemented in…