Stories from January, 2016
The Only Hero in Russia Who Isn't Named Putin
While Ramzan Kadyrov isn’t Russia’s president, he is far more than a mere regional figure, and the past few weeks have offered only the latest evidence of his “talents.”
Get a Glimpse of Life in ‘Fair Japan’
Japanophiles, rejoice! Many amazing images of the country can be found in the New York Public Library's digital image archive, now in the public domain.
Russian LGBT Activist Fined for ‘Propaganda of Homosexuality’ Online
LGBT activist Sergey Alekseenko was accused of "gay propaganda" after posting a quote from a state regulator's report describing another LGBT community on social media.
Climate Change Continued to Rear Its Ugly Head in 2015
People around the world were affected by extreme weather events in 2015, the hottest year on record ever.
Can Our Children Be Safe? Pakistanis Ask After University Attack
"This is going to be a test.. a harsh one.. comparisons will be drawn.. you can't have winners when children have been snatched from parents"
Photos of a Misty Morning Sun Rising Over Myanmar's Last Royal Capital
Photographer Zaw Zaw captured the beauty of Mandalay during one morning above Myanmar's last royal capital.
The Air Pollution in Macedonia Is Bringing People Into the Streets, And There’s an App for That
The open data app "My Air" has helped spark massive protests, making Macedonian citizens aware of the results of air-pollution monitoring. Then came the DDoS attacks and government pressure.
The Ever-Blurring Line Between Entertainment and Politics in China and Taiwan
A teenage K-pop performer's apology for waving a Republic of China flag—interpreted as supporting Taiwanese independence—recently went viral.
‘Hands Off Our Privacy': Polish Citizens Speak Out Against Surveillance Law
Poland's parliament adopted a surveillance law that would give authorities fast access to citizens' Internet and telecommunication usage data, without prior approval from a judge.
Two Separate Acts of Kindness Demonstrate the Best of Humanity in Peru
"Thanks, Brando, because without knowing you weren't just returning a wallet... you were returning hope to the country!!"
Venezuela's Indigenous Pemón Community Waits for the Day Germany Returns Their Grandmother Kueka
Grandmother Kueka is the genesis, the first mother in the Pemon culture, but the huge jasper stone was never returned after it was taken for an art exhibit.
A New Wave of Protests Sweeps São Paulo Against Public Transportation Fare Hikes
One study found that public transport in 21 Brazilian cities are among the most costly in the world in relation to average salary, outranking London, Tokyo and New York.
Internet Censorship in Pakistan is Not Just About YouTube
If at all, Internet regulation in Pakistan has been based on ad-hoc decisions that are made in the absence of transparency and accountability.
An AIDS Epidemic is Decimating the Indigenous Warao Community in Venezuela
The figures are clear evidence that what is happening in Venezuela’s Orinoco Delta is an epidemic—an epidemic that is threatening the survival of an entire indigenous people.
Vintage Postcards Show Life in Vietnam in the Early 20th Century
The postcards are part of the digital collection of The New York Public Library, which recently released more than 180,000 digitized items into the public domain.
You Don't Know Noise, If You Don't Know Trinidad and Tobago
From unbearably loud music to illegal fireworks, one civic-minded social media user in Trinidad and Tobago is taking on the "noise polluters who yearly get away with decibel crime".
In Photos: Farmers Harvest Buckets of Glimmering Sea Salt in Myanmar
Many salt farmers in Myanmar are already migrating to other countries in search of better opportunities. This photo montage features salt farming along Myanmar's southeast coast.
Netizen Report: Egyptian Activists and Authorities Brace for January 25 Protests
Egyptian activists confront rising tensions approaching the 5th anniversary of the 2011 revolution, Morocco is blocking VoIP apps and China unveils a new assault on circumvention tools.
First Russian Pastafarian Gets Driver's License Photo Wearing A Colander
Russian Pastafarians are celebrating: for the first time, an adherent of the religion managed to get his driver's license photo taken wearing a pasta strainer—Pastafarians' obligatory headgear.
Don’t Laugh, But Dubai’s Deputy Police Chief Would Like to Tell You About Obama’s ‘Shia Roots’
Dubai's deputy chief of police reasons the Iran Deal happened because Obama is Shia. Arab and Iranian social media users can‘t contain their laughter.
China Is Blocking Circumvention Tools With Help of Cloud Service Providers
Experts estimate that between 1% and 3% of China's internet users are using circumvention tool to visit overseas websites. But this could change with new restrictions.
