Stories from 2 September 2014
Iran's President Says Internet Is Vital
Iranian President Hassan Rohani said in a speech on September 1 that the Internet is vital and Iran “cannot close the gates of the world for the younger generation.” The next day, two Grand Ayatollahs defended high-speed Internet a few days after another Grand Ayatollah warned about it. IMPORTANT #Iran president Rouhani made a...
ISIS Releases Another Gruesome Beheading Video, Allegedly of US Journalist Steven Sotloff
The three-minute video allegedly shows the beheading of Steven Sotloff, whose work in hotspots across the Middle East has taken him to Bahrain, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Turkey.
Palestinians Cheer as an Israeli ‘Skunk Truck’ Falls into a Ravine, But What Is It Exactly?
Imagine taking a chunk of rotting corpse from a stagnant sewer, placing it in a blender and spraying the filthy liquid in your face. [...] This is 'skunk.'
How Bloggers Ended Up in Prison for Writing About Human Rights in Ethiopia
Melody Sundberg analyses freedom of expression in Ethiopia after detained Ethiopian bloggers spent 100 days in prison: Ethiopia is with its almost 94 million population the second most populated country in Africa. Nevertheless, it does not according to an interview with Endalkhachew Chala by Global Voices, have an independent daily...
Online Photos Show an Ex-Militia Leader Wanted for Crimes Against Humanity Quietly Returned to Timor-Leste
Jorge Tavares was a senior pro-Indonesian politician cum militia leader and is wanted for crimes against humanity, including the systematic murder of people who supported independence.
Proactive Mexican Twitter Users Are Saying #NotoCensorship of the Satirical Film ‘The Perfect Dictatorship’
In a budding democratic country like Mexico, any expression that is critical of the ruling class is met with a certain amount of resistance and at times censorship.
Despite Violent Pushback, Anti-Government Protesters in Pakistan Refuse to Budge Until Prime Minister Sharif Steps Down
Pakistan capital Islamabad turned into a battle-zone after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to fight back massive crowds of anti-government protesters trying to storm the Prime Minister's secretariat.
New Spider Species in Borneo Named After Missing Activist
A new spider species in Borneo discovered by Swiss scientists was named after Bruno Manser, an environmentalist who went missing in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia in 2000. Bruno Manser has been campaigning for the protection of the nomadic Penan people and against the destruction of Sarawak rainforest when...
