Stories about Weblog from June, 2013
Indian Journalist Slammed for Reporting Atop Flood Victim's Shoulders
Indian journalist Narayan Pargaien is in the news for the wrong reasons. He was seen reporting the recent devastating floods from the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, seated upon the shoulders of a local flood victim. Netizens strongly criticized his action.
Egyptians Want to Overthrow the Regime
Egyptians marked the first anniversary of Mohamed Morsi's presidency with huge rallies across Egypt on June 30, calling for him to leave office. Anti-Morsi campaign Tamarrod, whose name translates to rebel, says it has so far gathered more than 22 million signatures from citizens, which call for early presidential elections.
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.
The Strange Case of Puerto Rico and the Death Penalty
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.
Singapore: From Haze to Hail in Less Than a Week
From #sghaze to #sghail. After the record level haze pollution, Singapore was struck by rainstorms carrying hail this week. The haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia is the worst air pollution in Singapore in years. Many people welcomed the rains which poured down on Singapore early this week because it helped in easing the haze situation but they were surprised by the hail which hit the country Tuesday afternoon.
Ninety Countries Meet for Global Conference Against Death Penalty
Representatives of 90 countries participated in the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Madrid, Spain. Some of the key topics discussed were the abolition of the death penalty, along with the related issues of adherence to human rights treaties, the procurement of a moratorium in death penalty convictions, and legal reforms.
China's People's Daily Bashes American Political System
Fresh off its “Dishonest Americans" series, which claimed to offer an “objective picture of what real Americans are like”, the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece newspaper, the People's Daily, has shocked again with another attempt to bash the American political system.
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.
PHOTOS: Budapest's Unique Brand of Urban Art
The capital city of Hungary, already famous for its history, art and architecture, seems to be breeding its own brand of urban art these days. Photos and commentary under hashtags such as #streetart related to Budapest are popping up daily on social networks like Twitter and Instagram, in particular as the summer tourism season gets rolling.
Brazil: A Nation Divided Between Protests and Football
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.
PHOTOS: Police Blanket Rio Protesters, Bystanders in Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets
A week ago, photographer Calé was covering the protest of June 20 in Rio de Janeiro when he saw police use tear gas and rubber bullets to "sweep the streets of downtown Rio, in a clear case of abuse of power". The result are these photos and a witness account.
Peru Celebrates the Festival of the Sun
As every June 24, the Festival of the Sun -the Inti Raymi- was held at Saksaywaman archaeological park, about 15 minutes from the city of Cusco.
Amnesty Report Accuses Spanish Government of Obstructing Justice
Time passes, impunity remains, the new Amnesty International report published on June 17, 2013, analyses the investigation of crimes committed during Spain's Civil War and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The organization accuses the Spanish government of protecting the impunity of the crimes committed during this period.
Trinidad & Tobago: E-mails & Integrity
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.
The Internet: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against the Death Penalty
The Internet has become a critical tool for many social movements worldwide. Activists battling capital punishment have also found a platform in digital social media for exchanging ideas and circulating information.
Caribbean: Snowden Raising Spectre of “Monster Under Bed”?
Caribbean bloggers continue to follow developments in the Edward Snowden case. Is he a whistleblower or has he overstepped security boundaries? And has the Internet "become a scary place"?
US Got Snowden's Name Wrong on Extradition Papers, Hong Kong Says
Hong Kong's secretary of justice explained othat officials permitted American whistleblower Edward Snowden to fly out of the city because the US failed to respond to their questions in time regarding their case against Snowden as well as address Snowden's allegations that the US hacked Hong Kong.
Japanese Official Suspended Over Twitter Comment
A Japanese reconstruction official in charge of helping victims of the 2011 post-tsunami meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has been taken off duty after sharp-eyed journalists unearthed tweets he wrote insulting area activists.
The Brazil Effect: Thousands Protest ‘For a Better Paraguay’
Following the trend that marked protests in Brazil in the last few weeks, some 3000 people took to the streets of Paraguay's capital to make their voices heard in protest against recent parliamentary decisions.
Southeast Asia: The Great Haze of 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.
Ugandan Army Whistleblower Vows to Oppose President ‘By Any Means Necessary’
A renegade Ugandan general, who fled to the UK last month, accused the long-time President Yoweri Museveni during an interview on BBC Focus on Africa of creating a "political monarchy" to hang on to power.
