Stories from 17 November 2010
South Korea: Korea's Presidential Office's First Facebook Account
South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae opened a Facebook account[ko]. Local media outlets defined it as a move aimed at improving relations with young internet users.
Russia-France: Antifascists Rally for Khimki Forest in Louvre
French antifascists shot a video [FR/EN] of a protest action in Louvre, France. Activists demanded cancellation of the highway that would cross Khimki forest park as well as stopping prosecution against Alexey Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, two activists who are incriminated in assaulting Khimki City administration.
Korea: Serious Concerns Over Possible Volcanic Eruption in N. Korea
As South Korean government discusses launching a task force to prepare for possible volcanic eruption of Mount Paekdu, the highest mountain in North Korea, twitterers have nervously retweeted Wikitree's article[ko] telling that the Paekdu's eruption may cause far greater damage than Iceland's volcanic eruption did in April.
Brazil: new wave of discussion of the role of “Militant Atheists”
On October 10, the famous liberation theologian Frei Betto wrote an article in a major Brazilian newspaper, Folha de São Paulo – reproduced by the Blog do Miro [Miro's Blog, pt] – in which he compared “militant atheism” with torture. Atheists reactions came quickly [pt], expressing disappointment with the “explicit...
Mozambique: Anger at multinational pollution in Maputo
An aluminum smelter near Maputo owned by multinational company BHP Billiton began today a “bypass” operation. Campaigners say this means that polluting emissions from the Mozal Plant will go unfiltered for 4-5 months, near a metropolitan area of over 2 million. Blogger JPT at Ma-schamba blog [pt] called this “corporate...
Russia: Members of the Anarchist Art Group “Voina” Arrested
2 members of the notorious anarchist art group “Voina” (“War”) have been arrested in Moscow due to accusations of organization of a hooligan group, fontanka.ru reported [RUS]. Turning over a police car during the latest art action could be the reason of the prosecution (photo and video reports from “Voina”‘s...
China: iPadgate
Since October Chinese Customs have started charging a 20% tax for carrying iPhones and iPads across the border even if the products were out of the box and in use. This has caught people by surprise because in recent years shopping tours are one of the most important parts of the cross-border economy between Hong Kong and China.
Kyrgyzstan: The Zhogorku Kenesh Holds its First Session
Ekaterina informs the readers on the start of work of the Kyrgyzstan's newly elected Jogorku Kenesh. Importantly, this Legislature celebrates the first parliamentary republic in Central Asia.
Mongolia: Global chains are rumored to enter the market
Bilguun writes about unconfirmed rumors of Starbucks opening a branch or five in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, along with that of McDonalds’ – the blogger notes these are often deemed as the modern barometers of globalization and international recognition of a country.
Afghanistan: Believed to go in the right direction
Nick Fielding reviews the Asia Foundation's survey of 6,000 Afghans, noting that 47 per cent of them believed that the country was moving in the right direction – up from 38 per cent in 2008 and 42 per cent in 2009.
Kazakhstan: An MP wants to ban Halloween
KZBlog reports that a member of Parliament is asking the prime minister for a ban on “a Satanic holiday” Halloween, and notes that this is not the first proposal to ban Western holidays or TV shows on the post-Soviet space.
China: Sanyo workers in Shenzhen stage strike
China Labour Bulletin reports that more than a thousand workers at Sanyo Huaqiang Laser Electronics in Shenzhen’s Longhua district staged a one day strike last week over working conditions and a planned merger with a factory in another district in downtown Shenzhen.
Ecuador: Preparing for the 2010 Census
Ecuadorians are getting ready to participate in the 2010 Census that will take place on November 28.
