Stories about Weblog from December, 2017
Petition to Free the Eritrean Man Unjustly Arrested in Italy for Mistaken Identity
The Italian authorities appear to have gotten the wrong man; will they acknowledge it? The hunt for the mastermind of Mediterranean human trafficking takes a strange turn.
‘We Are One': Same Sex Marriage Becomes Legal Down Under
"Australia legalizing same-sex marriage today should remind us that humanity can only survive when it learns to love one and other."
A ‘Detainee of All Eras': The Prominent Case of Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdelfattah
"His trial is an attempt to silence criticism of a judiciary that has itself become a source of human rights violations."
Meet the People Blocking a New Gas Mega-pipeline in Southern Italy
Local citizens in southern Italy find ways to a proposed gas pipeline, despite the creation of a prohibited zone around the construction site.
Muslim Man Set on Fire and Murdered Amid Rising Islamophobia-Fueled Killings in India
"Mohammed Afrazul's brutal killing in Rajasthan should shame us all; if the sickening hate behind it does not disturb our conscience, nothing will."
The Ahwazis of Iran Face Death Sentences after False Accusations of Opposing the Government
An Iranian court sentenced two Ahwazi Arab men to death and gave six others three to 25 years for the crimes of alleged membership in non-existent opposition groups.
‘Recalcitrant’ Activist Charged by Singapore Police for Organizing ‘Illegal Assemblies’
"We do not understand why the State is pursuing the seven charges against Jolovan Wham for events which were all peaceful and non-violent."
The Cat in the… Pot? Cuddly Felines Nap in Japanese Cookware
Cats sleeping in clay cooking pots are all the rage in Japan right now. Apparently, they are so popular that stores have started selling pots made exclusively for cats.
Indonesian President Jokowi Leads Citizens in Condemning Donald Trump's Jerusalem Declaration
"Trump is dragging the USA and the world to the frontline of religious extremism."
Audrey Azoulay, the Second Woman at the Head of the UNESCO
She won the title after five voting rounds, with 30 votes in her favor against 28 votes for her opponent Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, from Qatar
A Local Newspaper's Full-Page Feature on Nuclear Radiation Survival Stirs Panic in China
"The whole page feature on nuclear radiation precaution is believed to be a reaction to the risk of warfare in the Korean peninsula."
The Fall of Chinese Internet Czar Lu Wei
If Lu Wei's censorship measures were viewed as selective, Chinese netizens will now find themselves facing a more "comprehensive" online content control system.
Transgender Woman's Murder in Trinidad & Tobago Highlights Ostracism Faced by LGBTQ Community
"This wonderful human being, who cared so much for others, died for no reason .. other than perhaps, being different."
Victoria Becomes the First Australian State to Pass Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation
As Victoria becomes the first Australian state to legalise euthanasia, the country remains divided over what is being called a new, progressive trend in Australian politics.
Painting a New Story: Sohrai Art in Jharkhand
"What is special about the art form is that it is only made by women and passed on by women."
The Conviction of Another Dancehall Star Fails to Shock Crime-Weary Jamaicans
Following the incarceration of Vybz Kartel, Ninja Man is the second major dancehall artist in recent times to be convicted of murder in crime-weary Jamaica.
Harsh Prison Terms for Video Journalist and Blogger as Vietnam Cracks Down on Free Expression
“Repressing citizen journalists is not only a violation of human rights but also a major impediment to Vietnam’s aspirations to become a tech and innovation hub.”
What Future for the ‘Wikipedia Seagull’ on Kazakhstan's Brand New Banknotes?
A seagull appearing on the 500 tenge note was claimed by a Swiss photographer, but officials have not acknowledged copyright infringement.
Jailed Bahraini Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Faces Additional Fifteen Years in Prison
Rajab is in prison for his human rights-related activities and for freely expressing his opinions.
The Health of Thousands of Filipino Children Could Be at Risk, Thanks to Sanofi’s Dengue Vaccine
"Why just now...How about the thousands of children who were already given the vaccine?"
Kyrgyz Children's Author Remakes Old Fables, Drives New Narratives
“There are no fairytale weddings in my stories and no handsome prince. None of my characters are especially waiting for him, either.”