Stories from July, 2015
Russia to Web Anonymizers: Shut Up and Go Away
Russian censors are now officially adding anonymizing websites to their blacklist registry, on the grounds they enable access to extremist content that is already blocked in Russia.
#HackingTeam Leaks: Lebanon’s Cybercrime Bureau Exploited Angry Birds to Surveil Citizens’ Mobile Devices
Lebanon's Cybercrime Bureau seems to be conducting surveillance outside the boundaries of local law — and using Hacking Team software to do it.
Destroying a Mountain: Mexican President Orders Expropriation of Native Lands for Freeway Project
A presidential decree was enough to expropriate almost 100 acres of land from the indigenous Otomi community for the construction of a new highway.
Conspiracy Theory Blaming China's Stock Market Plunge on Foreign Forces Finds Online Support
Lin Zuoming, chairman of a state-owned aerospace and defense company called China Aviation Industry Corp., echoed the theory of foreign manipulation "aimed at breaking people’s faith in government."
Taiwanese High School Students Arrested After Protesting New Textbook Guidelines
Thirty high-school students and three reporters were arrested for entering the Ministry of Education to protest against new textbook guidelines that tell Taiwan's history from a greater Chinese perspective.
How To Miss A Coup d'Etat
The July 27, 1990 attempted coup is Trinidad and Tobago's "Where were you when JFK was shot?" moment. But what if you weren't in the country at the time?
Saudi Woman Dies After Her Daughter Is Rejected From University
A grief-struck Saudi mother literally dropped dead at The University of Tabuk campus which refused to admit her daughter into its medical school. Netizens react to the news with alarm.
For a Glimpse of Plan Central America's Future, Look to Colombia
Replicating Plan Colombia's failed approach, a Washington aid program for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador combines neoliberal economic reforms with military aid.
Unintentionally Amusing Illustrations Found in Japanese Textbooks
"Thanks to these illustrations, I'm unable to concentrate while studying, haha."
Learn 40 Aboriginal Hand Signs Used to Communicate Across Western Australia’s Desert
A participatory video project in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert is teaching about hand signs used by Aboriginal women elders while teaching the Kukatja language.
Scroll Through Madagascar History Via Vintage Photographs
Access to the visual history of most former colonial countries in Africa is usually a challenging proposition because former colonial powers restrict access to historical archives. Helihanta RAJAONARISON and Tsiry Fy-Tia SOLOFOMIHANTA in Madagascar sought to solve this issue and make the history of Madagascar more palatable to the general...
Greece Crisis Propelling Some Ethnic Greeks Back to Their Homeland on a Turkish Island
Greeks and Turks share a love and pride for the beautiful island called Gökçeada by the former and Imbros by the latter.
Afghans Nail #GrowingUpAfghan on Twitter
"My dad just asked me to make him tea when it's 84 degrees outside #GrowingUpAfghan."
Uganda Ponders a Sustainable Future as MDGs Become SDGs
Uganda has made clear progress in meeting its development targets in some areas, and almost none in others.
Malaysia Blocks News Website and Suspends Two Local Papers for Reporting on Government Corruption
"Our report is based on evidence corroborated by documents that include bank transfers and statements. How can the work we have done be deemed as a political conspiracy?"
How to Explore Japan By Train Without Ever Leaving Home
There are thousands of YouTube videos that can let you explore almost every part of Japan by train from your own computer.
Reality TV's New Stars Are Tanzanian Farmers
"Female Food Heroes" is a Tanzanian TV show produced by Oxfam that aims to empower and educate rural women who feed most of the families in the African nation.
Taiwan Will Most Likely Have a Woman President in 2016
"It is a breakthrough that the two main political parties endorsed women candidates."
Videos of Trinidad Jailbreak Show Prisoners Made Confident Exit from Downtown Prison
As somebody quipped on Facebook, it looked like "more of a jail release than a jailbreak".
Conspiracy Theories Abound in Aftermath of Trinidad Jailbreak
In the absence of an official version of events from the country's protective services, netizens have been sharing their own theories about yesterday's jailbreak in Trinidad's capital city.
Why Do Seniors in Singapore Still Collect Cardboard Boxes?
The plight of elderly cardboard-collectors has become a popular topic in Singapore over the past two weeks, following a government minister's not-so-amusing gaff.
