· June, 2012

Stories about Weblog from June, 2012

Singapore: Online Portal Found Posting False Information

  26 June 2012

Singapore Press Holding's citizen journalism portal STOMP has found itself in an embarrassing position after it was discovered that a content producer had posed as an anonymous member of the public to submit false news to the site. Here are netizen reactions

China: Reporter Resigns for Dirty Joke About Female Astronaut

  26 June 2012

Female astronaut Liu Yang has come to represent the recent launch of the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, a space mission for the manifestation of China's national glory. Prior to this, a decision by Southern People Weekly reporter Cao Linhua to crack dirty jokes about Liu and her fellow astronauts using China's largest social media platform, Weibo Sina, has resulted in his resignation.

Egypt: Introducing the MorsiMeter

After 32 years of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has a new president and a new application to monitor the performance of its newly elected president Mohamed Morsi and the progress in the achievement of the 64 main promises he made during his election campaign.

Kenya: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Urban Jungle

  24 June 2012

Angry residents of Kitengela, an outskirt of Nairobi, killed two lions and four cubs on 20 June who attacked a dozen of livestock. A pride of lions invaded a homestead the following day killing goats and sheep. We took a trip around Twittersphere to find out interesting reactions about the incident.

Sudan: Unshackling the Sudanese Revolution

  24 June 2012

Unlike other countries in the region, Sudan is grossly underreported, and this was ever so evident during Friday and Saturday’s street demonstrations. The Sudanese government keeps a tight grip on local media and bans journalists from reporting on issues of human rights and corruption.

Israel: Violent Protests Across Tel Aviv #J14

Thousands rushed to the streets of Tel Aviv Saturday evening, June 23rd, after violent clashes erupted between protesters and cops the previous day. On Friday, June 22nd, social justice (#J14) protesters attempted to re-occupy Tel Aviv's Rothshield boulevard with tents and were met with heavy violence from police.

Will a Unified Time Zone Work for Indonesia?

  24 June 2012

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, plans to synchronize its three time zones on October. The business sector is supporting the plan but netizens and religious leaders have many questions.

Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Communities Protest Against Oil Pollution

  23 June 2012

The announcement that hydrocarbon reserves currently used for oil drilling will be put up for auction has put the people of the indigenous communities of the Pastaza river, in the Peruvian Amazon, on alert. For years, these indigenous communities have been condemning the effects of pollution on their ancestral lands and on themselves.

Trinidad & Tobago: Bloggers Discuss Warner & Cabinet Reshuffle

  23 June 2012

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has been alluding to some major changes in government ministers' portfolios for some time now; last night, details of her Cabinet reshuffle finally came. Netizens have been sharing their thoughts on their blogs as well as on Twitter and Facebook: the most heated discussion appeared to be over the new appointment to former FIFA Vice-President Austin “Jack” Warner as Minister of National Security.

Pakistan: Puns and Pokes at New Prime Minister

  23 June 2012

Social media has been abuzz with puns and pokes at Pakistan's new Prime Minister calling him 'Raja Rental' and the new 'Crime Minister'. He was previously in charge of the widely unpopular Water and Power Ministry which started long hours of forced power outages in Pakistan in 2008 and has also been accused of graft.

Hong Kong: Leading English Newspaper Turns Red?

  23 June 2012

A series of recently leaked email exchanges between the chief editor and sub-editor of a leading English newspaper in Hong Kong, regarding the coverage of mainland Chinese political activist Li Wangyang's staged suicide, has highlighted a deteriorating state of press freedom.

Sudan: “Police Denies Use of Bullets; All Injuries are Imaginary”

  23 June 2012

Sudanese officials are repeating the all too familiar ‘lies' Arab officials have been telling us since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring in December 2010. Protests are contained, they say, in citizens attacking policemen, who retaliate in self-defense, goes the story. Netizens paint a different picture amid rumours that the Internet will be cut off as protests increase.

China: NGOs Struggle Under the ‘Big Government’

  23 June 2012

A TV host's comment on the Hunan education authority's uncooperative attitude towards a rural teacher training program has turned into a national debate on whether or not the Chinese NGOs sector should be more independent from the state.