Stories from 17 January 2013
Slovak Antimonopoly Office Defends Obligatory Microsoft Use
European Information Society Institute, a Slovak NGO, reports [sk] that the Slovak Antimonopoly Office (AMO) does not see it as a problem that the country's Financial Directorate is forcing taxpayers to use Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer, arguing that there is just about 10 percent of 44,000 subjects who have...
More than 80 Killed at Aleppo University in Syria
War in Syria reached the heart of Aleppo University when two blasts killed over 80 people and injured over 160 on January 15, 2013.
Scholars Call for an End to China's One-Child Policy
China's one-child policy is unshakeable, top family planning official announced on January 14.The announcement, which dismissed speculation that the one-child policy would be scrapped, has triggered another heated debate on Chinese social media.
Georgia's Gay Rights Activists Protest Broadcast of Secret Sex Tapes
On January 14, 2013, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced that the previous chief of the Military Police Megis Kardava, secretly filmed videos of public figures having sex with homosexual partners. The office alleges these videotapes were used to blackmail the public figures into cooperation with President Mikheil Saakashvili's government.
Sant'Egidio Community Helps Free Senegalese Hostages
Last December, eight Senegalese prisoners were freed following long negotiations led by the Sant'Egidio community. The hostages were taken by guerrillas who have been fighting for independence in Casamance, Senegal's most southern region, since 1982.
Tehran's Deadly Air Pollution Illustrated
Air pollution has been a public enemy to millions of Iranians for years. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health declared that last year more than 4,400 people lost their lives because of air pollution in Tehran, Iran's capital.
Twitter Suspends Cuban Encyclopedia Ecured's Account
Twitter has suspended the account of the Cuban Collaborative Encyclopedia Cubana EcuRed according to an announcement posted on the official blog of the their website.
NGO Penalized for Requesting Information on Corruption in Spain
After a five-year legal battle, the NGO Access Info Europe has been sentenced to pay 3,000 euros after the Supreme Court ruled that it did not have the right to know what Spain does to fight against corruption.
Saving Filipino Street Kids Through Twitter
Filipino netizens are urged by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to report sightings of street children by informing the agency through its twitter account, @savestreetkids. Updates will be posted within eight hours on whether the street children have been rescued.
Singapore: Testimony of Deported Bus Workers
After my work pass was cancelled, I felt like another person. I was no longer a respectable bus driver but a prisoner. Maybe the way the police treated us as we moved from room to room made me feel that way. This was the testimony of He Zhi Yi, one...
Nigeria 2012: Great Challenges and Even Greater Victories
Nigeria is as large as her talents, people, hope and challenges. These are some of stories from Nigeria in 2012, a year that was a curious mix of tensions, anguish and hope for Nigeria.
Indonesia Flood: Jakarta Placed Under State of Emergency
Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, is paralyzed by massive flooding. Governor Joko Widodo placed the capital under emergency status until January 27. It is reported that 27 out of 44 subdistricts in Jakarta are flooded.
2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 2
This second part of our 2012 review in the Francophone world features civil rebellion and governance problems in Togo, Chad and Madagascar, citizen initiatives in Senegal, fight for more transparency in public affairs in Cameroon and ongoing debates on social issues in France.
Fighting “Blatant Criminal Dictatorship” in Ukraine's Coal Mining Region
Blogger Stanislav Kmet documents activities in Severnyi, a decaying coal-mining village in eastern Ukraine, after local residents emailed him asking for help in drawing attention to the illegal mining that threatens to ruin their homes.
Outspoken Critic Attacked at Book Promotion in China
On January 13, 2013 at a promotion event in Beijing for his book the Whole World Knows, 45-year-old Li Pengcheng, an outspoken critic and former soccer columnist, was slapped on the face by a man who said he was disgusted by the content of Li’s book. Later another man tried to attack him with a knife.
