Stories from Quick Reads from June, 2013
Peruvian Rock Band Wins Festival in Russia
The website TimonRock announced [es] that Peruvian rock band Contracorriente was awarded first place in the St. Petersburg White Nights Festival in Russia. The website also posted videos and images of the band: Music band Contracorriente, won today [June 15, 2013] one of the most important festivals in Europe, St....
Man Disappears in Uzbekistan Police Custody
On Registan.net Noah Tucker reports that the 71-year-old father of an Uzbek opposition politician has disappeared in police custody in Uzbekistan. The authorities intimidate the elderly man (as well as scores of his relatives) apparently because his son founded an opposition party that had been quite successful in mobilizing supporters...
ABRE LATAM: Open Data Unconference
Fernando Briano from Picando Código informs [es] about the upcoming unconference ABRE LATAM [es], organized by D.A.T.A. [es] and Ciudadano Inteligente [es], on June 24 and 25 in Montevideo, Uruguay. The event hopes to “bring together representatives of different sectors of Latin American civil society who work with Open Data...
Czech PM Resigns Amid Sex Scandal
Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas steps down after his Chief of Staff and mistress, Jana Nagyova, is arrested on charges of bribery and corruption.
Tajikistan Leader's Visits Force Road Repairs
Khujand [Sughd's capital] prepares to welcome the president again. Banners, posters, and fixed roads [are there] again. I can only be happy about the latter! I would love to see the president come to Khujand as often as possible - this would force the authorities to fix the roads. It is a pity, however, that only part of the city's roads are fixed - that part along which the president's cortege will travel. The rest of the roads have been neglected for years.
Disabled Persons ‘Disrespected’ in Kyrgyzstan
Blogger Dmitry Efremov writes [ru] about the negative attitudes that people with disabilities confront in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan: It is terrible to realize that some people among us disrespect persons with disabilities.
Elections 2013: Challenges Ahead for Nepal
The Nepalese government has announced dates for the 2013 Constituent Assembly polls which will be in November this year. Siromani Dhungana at ‘United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal’ discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead for Nepal.
Brazil: “Gay Cure” Approved by Chamber of Deputies
The proposed law allowing psychologists to undertake treatment to reverse homosexuality was approved yesterday, June 18, by the Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. The commission president, anti-gay preacher Mr Marco Feliciano, took the opportunity of promoting this issue while everyone was protesting against the issue of reducing...
Song, Video Shed Light on Congo War
‘In the Congo’ is a song and video that shed light 20 year conflict over minerals used in mobile phones and electronics: The video is produced and directed by Zavara Mponjika, the respected hip hop pioneer and filmmaker from Tanzania and features New York based female hip hop group Rhyme...
Bermuda: A Milestone for Human Rights
‘It’s kind of absurd to me that we’re even having this discussion. The God I serve says we are to love one another.’ Breezeblog comments on Bermuda's “pass[ing] [of] the amendment to the Human Rights Act making it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation.”
Open Letter to Germany's Cultural Foundation
Safia Dickersbach (@ArtsSafia) challenges a new programme dedicated to foster “German-African cultural relations”: 3. The Kulturstiftung claims to support the new African initiatives in the area of contemporary and innovative art. But on the other hand: a. Africans are not allowed to apply for the funds directly. b. The African...
Analysis on North Korea's Nuclear Talk
North Korea has recently tried to open discussion with South Korea and the United States on the denuclearization issue. 38 North project site posted a detailed analysis on current inter-Korean dynamics and future prospects.
Miguel Bosé on Peruvian Cuisine
Spanish singer and artist Miguel Bosé, currently visiting Peru, became a trending topic on Twitter with the hashtag #PreguntasParaMiguelBose [questions for Miguel Bosé] when he refused to answer if he had tried pisco sour and cebiche during a press conference.
Belize: Conservation Limits?
Belize is facing a difficult balancing act when it comes to determining the limits of environmental and cultural conservation. Kevin Edmonds at nacla blog explains.
Iran Qualifies for 2014 World Cup
Iran won against South Korea and booked a place in next year's FIFA World Cup. Iranians took to the streets across their country to celebrate.
PHOTOS: 26 Reasons to Love Bangladesh
Jenny Gustafsson, a Swedish political scientist and independent journalist based in Beirut, thinks that Bangladesh is a great & a special place. She lists reasons why and what to love about Bangladesh.
Trinidad & Tobago: New Media & Tourism
We are destined to fail at our tourism efforts because the stakeholders, decision makers and governmental associations have no understanding of the new media landscape. Travel blogger Rishi Sankar takes the Trinidad and Tobago tourism body to task for its “lack of recognition of social media’s impact on tourism.”
Defeat Has China's Soccer Fans Up in Arms
Chinese national football has long been mocked by fans in China for its poor performance and corruption allegations. Offbeat weighed in on a recent defeat from the national football team that has galvanized many avid soccer fans.
Support Snowden Rally in Hong Kong
HongWrong has collected a large number of media reports on the rally to support Edward Snowden in Hong Kong on 15 of June, 2013. Hundreds rallied in the rain demanding the U.S government to stop its spying activities and Hong Kong government to protect Snowden.
Chinese Football Team Defeated Again
Barry van Wyk from DANWEI blogs about Chinese media and football fans’ reactions to the recent humiliating defeat of 5-1 at home for China’s football team against an under-strength team of youngsters from tiny Thailand.
