· June, 2013

Stories about Development from June, 2013

Thailand Cuts Rice Subsidy Price

The Thailand government has announced the reduction of rice subsidy price that it gives to four million farmers. The program was meant to improve the savings of farmers. Critics blame the rice pledging program for the huge financial losses in the rice sector.

30 June 2013

Brazilian Tribe Opens Indigenous Education Center

An education center created by the Paiter-Surui tribe in the Brazilian Amazon that will offer professional courses to the area's indigenous has finally opened. They hope a cluster of buildings will grow to serve as the site of the future Paiter-Surui Indigenous University of Brazil, the first of its kind in the country.

30 June 2013

Father of China's Great Firewall to Quit His Job as University President

Fang Binxing, an information security expert nicknamed the “father of China’s Great Fire Wall”, has resigned as president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. His abrupt decision to step down--made during a university commencement speech --has ignited uproar online and touched a nerve with China’s Internet-savvy community.

28 June 2013

Mozambique's First Civic Hackathons

Mozambique's Ministry of Science and Technology is sponsoring the country's first civic hackathons, with the support of Sweden and Finland. The second, slated for the end of June, will focus...

25 June 2013

Counseling Service for Mental Health In India

Ugich Konitari introduces iCALL (initiating Concern for All), a counseling service for Indians via email and telephone. At this social venture of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, qualified psychologists are...

21 June 2013

India Stops 160-year-old Telegram Service

India's state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has announced that it is discontinuing its telegram service beginning 15 July 2013 due to declining use of service and huge losses. Many social media users have reminisced over the rich history of the 160-year-old service.

16 June 2013

Delays, Political Turmoil Plague Madagascar As Elections Near

Political stalemate, financing issues, and logistical hurdles threaten to derail Madagascar's overdue upcoming presidential elections, the country's first since a coup in 2009 plunged the island into political crisis. The government has postponed elections again, moving the date a month later than scheduled to 23 August, 2013.

10 June 2013

Chinese Messaging App Eyes India

Lighthouse Insights reports that WeChat, the mobile messaging service from the Chinese Internet giant Tencent has targeted Indian market highlighting its Voice Chat feature and by launching a massive ad...

8 June 2013

Jail for NGO Workers in Egypt

The sentencing of 43 Egyptian and foreign employees in non-governmental organisations [NGOs] to jail terms of up to five years, has sparked anger on social media networks – and on the ground. The move is seen as a warning for human rights organisations, and those promoting democracy.

7 June 2013

Chinese Allegedly Mine Gold Illegally in Ghana

Xinhua News reported that 124 Chinese allegedly involved in illegal gold mining were arrested and detained in Ghana. Nationalists demanded the Chinese government to protect and avenge its citizens. On...

7 June 2013