Stories about East Asia from February, 2011
Philippines: Laptop registration proposal
Tonyo Cruz from the Philippines gathers online reactions to the proposal of a government agency to require the registration of laptops to prevent cybercrimes.
Singapore: Doctor charges patient with $24.8 million bill
Anonymous_X gathers news reports about a doctor in Singapore who charged her patient from Brunei with a $24.8 million bill
Singapore: Runaway maids
Flying Low reacts to the news about the increasing number of runaway maids in Singapore.
Singapore: “Flawed” immigration policy
Sgpolitics.net comments about the ‘flawed’ immigration policy of the Singapore government which favors the hiring of more foreign workers at the expense of its local workforce.
Singapore: Human rights record
Spotlight on Singapore compares the human rights record of Singapore with Hong Kong and comments that Singapore is trailing in the area of political freedom.
Malaysia: Rally against ‘racist’ book
A rally was held by Malaysian Indians in Kuala Lumpur to protest the continuing use of Interlok novel in schools. The controversial book, according to protesters, discriminates against the Indian community.
South Korea:Protest Against Foreign Finance's Encroachment
KEB(Korea Exchange Bank)'s employees and civil rights groups held a protest in Seoul today against Hana Financial Group's final decision to takeover KEB. The protesters, explaining the U.S. buyout fund Lone Star's involvement with Hana, accused it of foreign finances’ encroachment on Korean turf. South Korea's influential Tweeter @Barunsori6 posted a photo of...
Japan: Football player exodus
At World Cup Blog, Aidan reflects on whether the exodus of soccer talents from Japan to European teams is a good thing for Japanese football. Considering the big number of players who left Japan recently, the blogger examines the positive and negative aspects of such trend.
Philippines: Village Ordinance Requires Prescriptions for Condoms
Ayala Alabang briefly became a global twitter trending topic this week. It is one of the richest villages in the Philippines which recently made headline news for passing an ordinance requiring medical prescriptions for the buying of condoms.
Cambodia: Who Ordered the Blocking of Opposition Websites?
Since January, certain anti-government websites have been inaccessible in Cambodia. Service providers blame it on technical issues while the government claims it does not promote censorship. But media groups leaked a government letter asking companies to block critical websites.
China: 50 Cent Party's Fake Retweet
Several Chinese online activists have noticed that the 50 Cent Party has adopted a new tactic in creating fake retweets of prominent online opinion leaders. China Media Project has a brief account of the situation. Rebecca MacKinnon wonders if Twitter abuse team can deal with the problem of fake retweets.
China: Fake Media Photos of the Jasmine Revolution In China
EastSouthWestNorth highlights anti-CNN bbs‘ criticisms of foreign media using fake photos when reporting about the “Jasmine Revolution” in China.
Cambodia: Cambofest Film Festival
Cambofest: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia will take place on the first week of March.
Malaysia: ‘Guidelines for Celebrating Religious Festivals of Non-Muslims’
The Malaysian Department of Islamic Development has posted on its website the ‘Guidelines for Muslims Celebrating Religious Festivals of Non-Muslims,’ issued by the National Fatwa Committee for Islamic Religious Affairs.
Laos: School building project in Champasaak Province
Sao Darly gives an update on the Lao School building project in Champasaak Province.
China: Jasmine Revolution, Week Two
Following dozens of arrests since an anonymous blog post called for revolutionary gatherings in cities across China last Sunday, a second round of gatherings is scheduled for today. Has the heavy-handed government response turned what many insist was a stunt into something more powerful?
South Korea: Photos of Protest in Seoul
South Koreans held a protest in Seoul against the current administration yesterday, criticizing the government's unmet promises and its failures in several issues, such as high unemployment rate and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Prolific Twitter and Blogger @givenjoy posted about 15 photos of the protest in his blog.
South Korea: Libyan Protest in Seoul
South Korean, Arabian and Libyan activists held a protest near the Libyan Embassy in Seoul today demanding the removal of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, South Korean photographer @photo0301 posted photos of today's protest.
Myanmar: Over 3,000 Attend Mandalay Barcamp 2011
The city of Mandalay in Myanmar held its first Barcamp two weeks ago which was attended by more than 3,000 participants. GV author Tan gives an overview of what transpired in the Barcamp by quoting from blogs and websites written in the Burmese language.
Singapore: Festivals this month of March
Preetam links to several community festivals that will take place in Singapore next month: unEconomics2011, MusicCampSG, WorkCamp, SG Twestival 2011 and FilmCampSG
Philippines: Protest against railway fare hikes
The Riles Network website was set-up by commuters who are opposed to the planned railway fare hikes in the Philippines
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
