Stories from 29 January 2014
Samsung Withdraws Controversial University Quota Policy in South Korea
South Korea isn't notoriously nicknamed "The Republic of Samsung" for nothing.
Ukraine Rolls Back Short-Lived Anti-Protest ‘Dictatorship Laws’
The Ukrainian Parliament voted to revoke the controversial so-called "dictatorship laws" at the same time that the Ukrainian Prime Minister resigned, but protests still continue.
3 Out of The Top 10 Most Inspirational Bangladeshis are Tech-Centric
While commenting on the a list of 10 most inspirational Bangladeshis around the world published by the London-based organization ‘British-Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration’, blogger Aminul Islam Sajib points out that 3 of them had significant contribution in technology field.
Blogger Unveils Sochi Corruption Website
Alexei Navalny joined the Sochi anti-corruption campaign this week, launching an interactive website outlining what he calls the true costs of the Olympic preparations in Sochi.
Trinidad & Tobago: Smoke in the City
With multiple fires at Trinidad's main landfill, citizens who work and live in and around the capital have been trying to deal with the effects of the thick smog.
‘Good Girls’ Don't Use Social Media Sites in Tajikistan
Sexist bullying and harassment of girls and women is widespread on social media sites in Tajikistan, according to Radio Ozodi [tj] (Tajik service of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty). The problem has to do with a strongly-held stereotype that female social media users are sexually promiscuous. On Odnoklassniki, the most popular...
Cable Providers Begin Dropping Russia's Only Independent TV Station
The prospect that Russian cable television providers might drop TV Rain became a reality today, when two major cable companies reported their decisions to end access to the station.
A Business Model Competition to Ignite Start Ups in Madagascar
Harinjaka, founder of the co-working space Habaka and Madagascar-based blogger, created the 2014 Antananarivo Start Up Cup [fr] whose objective is to select and support the best business ideas in Madagascar. He thinks that there is a bright future for entrepreneurship and innovation [fr] in Madagascar. Here is a poster for the event [fr] :...
Sports as a Vector of Peace in Burkina Faso
The National Department of Sports and Entertainment in Burkina Faso published a report on the role of sports as a vector of peace and development in Burkina Faso [PDF in fr]: Les programmes sportifs bien conçus renforcent les capacités humaines de base, créent des relations interpersonnelles et inculquent des valeurs...
Ecuador's Indigenous People: “We believe in development that respects Mother Earth”
“The Government is appropriating our spiritual values of the Amazon region, it’s seeking to deconceptualize our cultural concepts”, says [Carlos Pérez, President of ECUARUNARI (Confederation of Kichwa Peoples of Ecuador)]. “It doesn’t know what Pachamama is. It doesn’t understand the rights of nature. It doesn’t understand Sumak Kawsay (good living),...
Putting Faces on the Mysterious Disease Killing Nicaraguan Sugar Cane Workers
A fatal disease is killing sugar cane workers in Nicaragua. Photojournalist Ed Kashi wants to raise awareness about this mysterious epidemic through a documentary project that is looking for funding.
Coursera Online Courses Blocked in Syria, Iran and Cuba by US Sanctions [UPDATE]
Hit by US sanctions, Coursera students from Syria, Iran and Cuba, can no longer complete their studies on the online learning platform. Netizens react.
Lebanon: New Stamp to Commemorate Armenian Genocide
Lebanon will have a new national stamp released to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The announcement was made by Minister of Telecommunications Nicolas Sehnaoui on Twitter.
Double Standards Toward Women in Corporate Japan Are a Joke
"If a boss asks him for lunch..."A tumblr post illustrates double-standards in attitudes towards women in corporate Japan.
Why the Caribbean Should Pay Attention to the Net Neutrality Decision
ICT Pulse takes a look at the recent decision about net neutrality in the United States and the potential consequences for the Caribbean.
PHOTOS: Drone Captures the Beauty of Thailand
Using a drone, Thailand-based blogger Richard Barrow shares several amazing landscape photos of Thailand. Drones were also used to monitor protests in Bangkok
Kazakhstan's Largest City Hides Its “Beautiful” Side from Cameras
Top rated Russian photo-blogger Ilya Varlamov presents [ru] a photo report about his recent trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan's capital before 1997. What the blogger found most surprising about the city is that police officers do not allow anyone “photographing anything good, beautiful, and new” in Almaty. Curious travelers are, therefore, restricted to...
