Stories from 9 February 2013
Colombia: Shots Continue to Ring Out in Medellín
The city of Medellin is facing a difficult public order situation. The most mentioned area is Comuna 13, with several nocturnal clashes on the first weekend of February.
Hong Kong Activist Jailed for Burning Chinese Flag
A Hong Kong activist was sentenced to nine months in prison on Thursday for burning and defacing the Chinese flag and the Hong Kong flag during two separate demonstrations against the mainland's communist government, sparking many web users to upload their own desecration of the Chinese flag in protest of the heavy-handed sentence.
Philippines: Human Rights Watch 2012 Report
The overall human rights situation in the Philippines improved in 2012 with fewer extrajudicial killings and the passage of historic laws promoting rights. But the government has failed to address impunity for the most serious abuses. On prosecuting rights abusers, it needs to walk the walk, not just talk the...
Vietnam: Web Filtering Data
In 2012, Herdict received over twenty thousand inaccessible reports from Vietnam, making it the country with the second-highest number of inaccessible reports, behind China. Marianna Mao summarizes the 2012 Herdict report on Vietnam
Malaysians to Psy: “Don't Perform for Corrupt Ruling Party”
Global pop sensation Psy has been invited to perform at an event in Malaysia hosted by Prime Minister Najib Razak and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, but instead of being welcomed, many fans have turned to his Facebook page pleading him not to attend and perform at the Chinese New Year event.
Southern Brazil Marches in Memory of Nightclub Fire Victims
A week after more than 230 young people lost their lives in a horrific nightclub fire in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria, thousands gathered across the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul to pay homage to the victims.
The Bobs 2013: Now in Ukrainian, Too!
Deutsche Welle's 9th annual The Bobs online activism awards are now open for nominations of Ukrainian-language blogs [uk]. Ukrainian journalist Mustafa Nayyem, who is on this year's international jury panel, noted [ru, uk] on his Facebook page that in the previous years Ukrainian bloggers could only take part in The...