Stories about Weblog from June, 2013
India Stops 160-year-old Telegram Service
India's state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has announced that it is discontinuing its telegram service beginning 15 July 2013 due to declining use of service and huge losses. Many social media users have reminisced over the rich history of the 160-year-old service.
Iran: “Happy My Vote Was Counted This Time” (Videos)
Many Iranians say they feel confident that their votes were counted since Hassan Rouhani has won the Iranian presidential election.
A Puerto Rican Musician Follows His Muse to Instagram
Fernando Samalot is, among other things, a gifted musician from Puerto Rico's independent music scene, known for his participation in the experimental group tachdé. Through his Instagram profile, Fernando began exploring his passion for photography while sharing the results -a collection of genuinely inspiring photos, filled with adventure, spirituality, and plenty of heart- with the rest of the world.
Iran Elections: Celebration Now, A Long and Unpredictable Path Ahead
After pundits predicted a win for the man they assumed was the Supreme Leader's favorite or a run-off between the conservative mayor of Tehran and the most moderate candidate, no one was more surprised than Iranians themselves at the results of the today's election.
Anonymous ‘Baba Jukwa’ Facebook Dishes Dirt on Zimbabwe Politics
New Facebook phenomenon Baba Jukwa has become a major talking point as Zimbabweans hungry for political intrigue visit “his” Facebook wall to get the latest on what is happening in President Robert Mugabe’s political party.
European Award for Helping Victims of the Spanish Mortgage Crisis
The European Parliament has awarded its European Citizen's prize to the Mortgage Victims Platform, a Spanish grassroots organization that helps those affected by the housing crisis and champions legal reforms of mortgage lending practices. The ruling party had harsh words for the award, while netizens were strongly in favour.
Orphaned in US, SOPA Finds Home in Russia
America’s controversial Stop Online Piracy Act is back—and it’s poised to become law in a matter of weeks. SOPA, however, isn’t coming to the US, where a wide coalition defeated the legislation in January 2012. A law that creates similarly harsh penalties for online copyright violations is on the cusp of finding a home in Russia.
Kazakh Minister Fired as Netizens Criticize Pension Plans
A Facebook-driven reaction to the government's attempt to ram through a pension reform without public discussion has given people approaching retirement age in Kazakhstan a rare voice. The republic's Social Affairs Minister was toppled after a gaffe at a public appearance made him an object of ridicule, while Kazakhstan's strongman president...
Anger Over Attacks Against Myanmar Migrants in Malaysia
The ethnic violence in Myanmar seems to be spreading in nearby countries. Some Myanmar Buddhist migrants in Malaysia have been attacked in recent weeks which many people believe are related to the ongoing ethnic and religious tension in Myanmar. The initial response of the Myanmar government to deny the issue angered many netizens
Peru: Four Years Since the Indigenous Protests in Bagua
June 5, 2013, marked the passage of four years since the events in Bagua, the protests of indigenous communities in the Amazon against legislative rulings detrimental to their interests. In this post we summarize the current situation and some opinions about it, along with the ways in which these four years were commemorated.
Iran's Presidential Candidates Armed With Social Media
Iranian presidential candidates are competing with each other in use of social media like Facebook and Twitter even though these sites are filtered and generally inaccessible to internet users.
President Mugabe Unilaterally Declares Zimbabwe Poll Date
Ignoring protests from his coalition partners and Zimbabwean citizens, President Robert Mugabe has unilaterally declared 31 July, 2013 as the date the country will hold elections.
Iranians in Canada Cast Symbolic Votes Days Before Election
Iranians in Canada cannot vote in Iran's presidential election this week, but thanks to an initiative by a group of Iranian expatriates they were at least able to cast a symbolic ballot.
Dengue Outbreak in Singapore
Singapore recorded 4,632 dengue cases in 2012. This year it went up to 9,847 already. This is a record high for Singapore which last experienced a dengue outbreak in 2005. The National Environment Agency has launched the ‘Do the Mozzie Wipeout’ campaign to promote awareness about dengue prevention
Syria: Old Homs Under Siege for a Year
This month marks the first anniversary of the siege of the old city of Homs, often described as the capital of the Syrian Revolution. Homs, one of the first revolutionary Syrian cities to revolt against the tyranny of Bashar Al Assad, has been subjected to bombardment by the Syrian regime, shelling and raids for more than two years, making the daily survival even harder as food and medical supplies dwindle. Netizens describe what it is like to live under siege.
Brazilian Court Gags Activist from Protesting Construction Project Online
A Brazilian court has forbidden an agricultural engineer from speaking out on the streets and on the Internet against the construction of a high-rise apartment complex. Freedom of expression advocates have warned that the decision breaks with international legal standards.
Simultaneous “Sit-ins for Freedom” Held Across Saudi Cities
Small groups of Saudi women held simultaneous “Sit-ins for Freedom” across Saudi cities on June 10th, 2013, which were called for by anonymous advocacy group @almonaseron [The Supporters] to call for release of their imprisoned relatives. As a result, over 140 protesters, men and women, were arrested by Saudi forces during the previous two days.
No Witnesses? No Rape, Says Pakistan's Islamic Council
A ruling by Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) dismissing DNA as primary evidence in rape cases has received much flak from activists in the country. The ruling has its fair share of supporters though, with some happy that there is a legitimate institution pondering religious issues in Pakistan.
Cuba Increases Internet Access From Designated Public Centers
Cuba opened 118 public centers with Internet access on the island. Called Nauta, the service can be requested in any Cuban State Telecommunications (ETESCA) commercial unit that has partnered with the program.
Chile's First Transgender Congressional Candidate Steps Down
Valentina Verbal campaigned to make history as Chile’s first transgendered congresswoman. Had she won, Chile’s LGBT community would have representation in the national Congress before most other countries around the world.
Snowden Hides in Hong Kong, US-China Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
As Edward Snowden, a US whistleblower hides out in Hong Kong, a wave of nationalism has hit China's blogosphere. Many netizens see the US government's vast snooping as a chance for Beijing to score political points and strike back at the accusations of cyber-espionage that China often faces.
