Stories about Politics from June, 2014
Google's Eric Schmidt Makes a Surprise Visit to Cuba to Promote Internet Freedom
If the US wants change, it should empower Cubans with smartphones, encourage freedom of expression and give them information tools, Schmidt said.
Two Killed as Egypt's Government Fails to Notice Militant Group's Blatant Bombing Warning Online
Egyptian police came under fire after failing to act on a terror threat posted online, with the location of today's bomb explosions, which killed two officers.
Attacks Against Muslims Continue In Sri Lanka
It has been two weeks since the violent riots against Muslims in the Sri Lankan coastal cities of Aluthgama and Beruwala. Although the situation has died down after widespread condemnation, sporadic violence against Muslims continues in different parts of Sri Lanka. Blogger Abdul Khaleq tweets about one such recent incident in...
Why Some Taiwanese Activists Are Accusing This Hotel of Caving to Political Pressure from China
Hotel Novotel found itself a target of criticism after management disrupted a protest against the minister of China's Taiwan Affairs Office. Some Taiwanese fear closer ties with their communist neighbor.
It's Official: Puerto Rico's First Openly Lesbian Judge Has Been Appointed to the Supreme Court
While some deny that her sexual orientation is relevant, others insist that it plays a fundamental role in what she can bring to the table.
Hong Kong Lawyers Protest in Black Against Chinese Government's White Paper
The protest is in response to the Chinaese government's recent white paper on the practice of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong.
Trinidad and Tobago Parliament Asks Itself For Pay Raise, Says Yes
When two controversial bills are passed swiftly and unanimously by a country’s parliament, the alarm bells go off. The passage, on June 13, 2014, of amendments to two parliamentary acts governing pension payments for legislators and judges in Trinidad and Tobago has been called unconstitutional and a threat to the independence...
TJournal.ru Says Enough With Russian Media's Ukraine Coverage
Responding to a flood of anti-Ukraine propaganda in the Russian mass media, the website TJournal has temporarily halted a service that aggregates news stories trending on the RuNet.
Are Turkey and NetClean Partnering to Stop Child Abuse or Curtail Internet Freedoms?
Turkey's reported partnership with NetClean, a big Swedish cyber-security company, is worrying Turkish Internet users that the worst in Ankara's battles with the web is still to come.
Justice Matters for Ethiopian Bloggers
Justice matters is a blog that reports on the trial of detained Zone9 bloggers and journalists in Ethiopia for expressing their opinions: This blog contains the most current information about advocacy efforts, press coverage, and the legal status of the Zone9 bloggers in Ethiopia. It is dedicated to report on...
‘Tajikistan's Detention of Alexander Sodiqov Cuts to the Core of What Research Scholars Do’
"The detention of Alexander Sodiqov cuts to the core of what research scholars do. They rigorously collect data, analyze them, and disseminate knowledge."
Western Ukraine Police Using Facebook to Increase Police Accountability
According to a report [uk] by RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe), heads of district police departments in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv have been ordered to set up Facebook profiles. As of June 25, 2014, all of them can be found and contacted through the social network, which the Head...
Trinidad & Tobago: Secrets of the CL Financial Bailout?
The public is being told that the CL Financial bailout is being resolved, while at the same time the Minister of Finance & the Economy is withholding the fundamental information which any prudent person would need to make a decision. Afra Raymond wonders what is being hidden.
How a Protest to Reinstate a University Professor Relaunched Jamaica's Gay Rights Debate
Jamaica's moral compass is on overdrive ever since the dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain. The controversy continues to fuel the debate over gay rights in an infamously homophobic country.
This Film Is About the Remarkable Friendship Between a Buddhist and Muslim in Myanmar. So Why All the Hate?
A human rights festival in Myanmar cancelled a screening of the documentary "The Open Sky" after receiving threats on social media accusing the film of being a Muslim conspiracy.
‘A Shift From Surveillance Mode to Elimination Mode’ in China
The Chinese government under the leadership of Xi Jinping has been prosecuting citizen right lawyers, activists and dissidents in past months. Prominent Chinese human right lawyer Tien Biao pointed out that the previous “stability maintenance” model of political control has transformed into elimination of dissents.
Hong Kong Is ‘Haunted’ by China's ‘One Country, Two Systems’ White Paper
Famous blogger on mainland Chinese political news, @yanghengjun, ran into a protest against the mainland Chinese official document on the practice of “one country and two systems” in Hong Kong. As the document is called the White Paper, protesters dressed in white with white papers stuffed in their mouths, like...
The Debate on Internet Access in Cuba Intensifies
Cubans are increasingly asking for cheaper and broader access to the Internet.
Jamaica: Beauty & the Beast
The issue is that there is an idea in Jamaica of who is beautiful and who isn’t…that this idea of beauty is, to a large extent, a racially constructed one. Kei Miller recounts a heartbreaking story of the dark side of beauty pageants and contends that the Miss Jamaica franchise...
Hundreds of Thousands of Hong Kongers Are Defying China and Demanding the Right to Nominate Their Next Leader
A total of 700,000 people have already voted in an unofficial referendum on democratic electoral reform, despite condemnation from China and massive DDoS attacks against the website.
Student Faces Criminal Charges for Disrupting Philippine President's Speech on Independence Day
A student leader in the Philippines was detained and subsequently charged with two criminal cases for disrupting the Independence Day speech of the President.
