· December, 2011

Stories about Breaking News from December, 2011

Yemen: Should the US Grant Saleh a Visa?

A recent buzz among tweeps following Yemen news has been the issue of Honorary President Ali Abdullah Saleh's plans to travel to the US. Netizens warn against granting a visit visa to Saleh in this round up of reactions from Twitter.

30 December 2011

Puerto Rico: Investigating Monsanto

The Center of Investigative Journalism published a three-part series on the little known operation in Puerto Rico of the multinational biotechnology corporation Monsanto, the principle producer of genetically engineered seeds.

28 December 2011

Egypt: Reaping Legal Victories as the Revolution Continues

Egyptians are reaping victories in the halls of courtrooms. First, blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah has been released by a judge pending investigations, after spending 56 days behind bars yesterday. Then, a court ruled today that conducting virginity tests on women in the custody of the military is illegal.

27 December 2011

Syria: Regime Affiliates Try to Frame Muslim Brotherhood for Damascus Car Bombs

Syrian official media outlets yesterday published a statement allegedly issued by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood taking responsibility for the twin car-bomb attacks that caused heavy casualties in Damascus on Friday. Several irregularities and inconsistencies in the regime's story prompted a few Syrian netizens to investigate the matter further.

24 December 2011

Yemen: The Amazing Life March Arrives in Sanaa

Thousands of Yemenis just arrived in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, after marching from the city of Taiz in the south, to call for the trial of Yemeni president Ali Abdulla Saleh. The aim of the 264km march, which protesters undertook on foot, is to demand the that Saleh, who was granted immunity from prosecution for his involvement in an 11-month crackdown on protesters demanding democracy, gets punished for his crimes.

24 December 2011

Russia: Opposition Faces Online Communication Problems

RuNet Echo

The ability to broadcast the events of December 2011 in Russia live online, has made people around the world and in the country the spectators of a truly historical event – the December 22 gathering of some 100-150 opposition activists, who represented thousands of the netizens and millions of not-connected Russians.

23 December 2011

Syria: A Christmas Massacre

More than 250 Syrians have been killed over the past two days, sending shock waves around the world. Reports of “horrific massacres” come from the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC), which has urged the Arab League to condemn the killings and the United Nations to take measures to protect civilians. Netizens react to the crimes being committed against Syrian civilians under the Twitter hash tag #ChristmasMassacre

21 December 2011

Russia: Alexey Navalny Released From Jail

RuNet Echo

“Everyone's waiting for Navalny ) 5 more minutes! pic.twitter.com/3BRHiuGa,” tweeted [ru] @varlamov a short while ago, posting a picture of the crowd waiting outside a Moscow prison for activist Alexey...

20 December 2011

Barbados: prime minister's quandary

Barbados Underground offers an analysis of the “headache” created for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart by a now notorious leaked letter allegedly demonstrating his party's doubts about the PM's leadership. “Whatever...

20 December 2011

Barbados: debating “the letter”

Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press comment on a controversial letter allegedly written to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart by members of his party, expressing a lack of confidence in his...

19 December 2011

South Korea: North Korean Dictator, Kim Jong Il Is Dead

Kim Jong Il, the North Korean dictator has died. Although the death of the world's one of the notorious dictator is something what people should welcome, most South Koreans have expressed worries on the instability his sudden death might bring to the Korean peninsula.

19 December 2011

Syria: Blogger Razan Ghazzawi is FREE!

Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was released tonight, after spending 15 days in a Syrian prison. Ghazzawi, who blogs under her real name from Syria, was arrested at the Syrian-Jordanian border, while on her way to attend a press freedom workshop in Amman. Her arrest was criticised by netizens around the world.

18 December 2011

Philippines: Storm Leaves Hundreds Dead and Missing

Hundreds died in many parts of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines after tropical storm Sendong hit the country last Friday. The casualties could be worse and may even reach more than 600. It’s the worst flooding to hit the north part of Mindanao in many years. Netizens immediately used the web to report about the disaster and to call for support

17 December 2011