· June, 2013

Stories about Governance from June, 2013

Thailand Cuts Rice Subsidy Price

  30 June 2013

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.

The Strange Case of Puerto Rico and the Death Penalty

  29 June 2013

During the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, recently held in Madrid, Spain, participants assembled to discuss the status of Puerto Rico, where the death penalty, though abolished in 1929, could still be imposed thanks to its relationship with the United States. Periodismo Ciudadano's Elisa Moreno Gil interviews Puerto Rican attorneys and activists to learn about the island's special situation.

Myanmar's Internet Freedom Forum

  28 June 2013

Faine Greenwood writes about the first Internet freedom forum in Myanmar and the challenges facing the IT community: The event revealed optimism about opportunities for a newly connected society, even as bloggers and observers expressed uncertainty about growing tension between a desire for openness and a need for stability in...

Soldiers Go Online to ‘Fight’ for Monarchy

  28 June 2013

Thai online journal Prachatai features the military unit Rangers Task Force 45 whose members were instructed to go online and promote or defend the monarchy. Soldiers of the unit reportedly left 1.69 million comments on online forums and other social media portals in a period of four months last year....

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

  28 June 2013

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.

Brazil: A Nation Divided Between Protests and Football

  27 June 2013

Brazil won Uruguay in the Mineirão Stadium, on Wednesday 26 June, in the city of Belo Horizonte, securing a place in the Confederation Cup finall. At the same time, 40,000 people gathered outside the Stadium to protest against the social cost of hosting the World Cup 2014 and to demand politial changes in Brazil. Conflicts took place between protesters and police and one died having fallen from a viaduct.

Trinidad & Tobago: E-mails & Integrity

  26 June 2013

In more fallout over what has come to be known as “e-mailgate”, Trinidad and Tobago bloggers are tracking how the political fracas has affected public perception of the country's Integrity Commission.

Southeast Asia: The Great Haze of 2013

  26 June 2013

Since last week, a thick haze has enveloped Singapore and some parts of Malaysia caused by forest fires mainly in Indonesia. The haze brought air pollution levels to a record high in the region. Malaysia placed two districts under state of emergency while Singaporeans were advised to remain indoors.

Haze Chokes Singapore and Malaysia

  24 June 2013

Air quality in Singapore and West Malaysia hit hazardous levels after forest fires swept neighboring Indonesia. It's the worst haze in recent years in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has suspended school in affected states while Singapore advised its citizens to prepare for a prolonged haze. Indonesia has already formally apologized for the haze.

China: Keywords Unblocked in Weibo

  24 June 2013

Jason Ng from Tea Leaf Nation reviewed the recent unblocking of several politically sensitive words in Weibo, Chinese biggest social media platform and pointed out that the unblocking is not a victory against censorship because there are yet many ways to screen out politically sensitive messages.

One Dead as Massive Wave of Protests Sweeps Across Brazil

  21 June 2013

A young man was killed after he was hit by a car in Ribeirao Preto and dozens were hurt in confrontations with the police in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador as more than a million people took to the streets of large and small cities throughout Brazil in the biggest protests seen in the country in two decades.

New Law in Slovakia Would Require Citizens to Report Long Stays Abroad

  21 June 2013

Slovakia's president has vetoed a controversial new law that would require citizens who plan on leaving the country for more than 90 days to inform the nearest Ministry of Interior office of their intended whereabouts during that time. The legislation has prompted highly visible anger from Slovaks on blogs and social media.