Stories from 23 July 2013
Saudi Arabia Jails Seven Facebook Users for Calling for Protests
Political dissent is not tolerated in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy. Seven men are now behind bars, accused of disturbing public order and calling for protests on Facebook.
Is the New Lebanese Family Violence Law Enough?
A new family law to protect women from violence was approved yesterday and amended to include all family members. Netizens argue it is not enough.
Two Spanish Aid Workers Freed After 21 Months in Captivity
Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut were building a hospital in Dadaab, Kenya, within the largest refugee camp in the world, when they were abducted.
Radio Vieques to Heal Puerto Rican Island Following Years of Bombing Exercises
The island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, suffered over 60 years of use as a United States Navy military base and an area for bombing exercises.
App Tracks Argentina's Congress Voting Records
An app called “Década votada” (A decade in votes) [es] aims to help citizens understand “Argentina’s National Congress elections and the degree of each candidate’s allegiance to their party at the moment of voting,” as Knight International fellow Mariano Blejman writes in Source. Mariano, who specializes in data-driven journalism, interviewed...
Protests for Election in Madagascar Lead to Violence, Arrest
Vola R of Ma-Laza reports that 7 were hurt [fr] following police repression of protests demanding elections in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The party leading the protest states that the current administration has no intention of organizing elections this year and is just hanging on to their position of power. The leader of...
Indian MP Crowdsources Questions for Parliament
Indian Member of Parliament (MP) Rajeev Chandrasekhar has started an initiative called ASK (Ask Seek Know) through which he welcomes questions and queries from citizens via his website, Facebook, and Twitter for discussion in the Parliament, reports Media Nama.
China Sets Up Fund to Research ‘Chinese Dream’ Campaign
The "China dream", China's propagandistic twist on the American dream which props up the Communist Party as the only way to prosper, has received academic funding for research.
Vincent Wijeysingha: Singapore’s First Gay Politician
On his Facebook he wrote: I am going to Pink Dot tomorrow. And yes, I am gay.
State of Islam in Southeast Asia
Murray Hunter of the University Malaysia Perlis discusses the situation of Muslim-majority societies in Southeast Asia as well as the issues associated with the rise of Islam in the region. Poverty, literacy, education, displacement, feudalism, unemployment, suppression, and control is dispossessing Muslims within ASEAN. Government and Ulama are trying to...
Japanese Railway to Sell Customers’ E-Ticket Data
Japan's largest railway company has decided to sell non-identifying data on its commuters to third-party companies. Though technically legal, some see the move as an invasion of privacy.
Watermelon Vendor's Death Triggers Backlash Against China's Urban Management Officers
The Linwu urban management authorities intended to cover up the death of a watermelon vendor, Deng Zhengjia, with huge compensation. Chinese netizens wanted the truth.
