Stories from June, 2013
Japan's Most Evil Corporations
A committee of labor activists and journalists have announced the nominees for Japan's most evil corporation in 2013 [ja]. Eight corporations and organizations that lost their employees to overwork and suicide...
Indian Journalist Slammed for Reporting Atop Flood Victim's Shoulders
Indian journalist Narayan Pargaien is in the news for the wrong reasons. He was seen reporting the recent devastating floods from the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, seated upon the shoulders of a local flood victim. Netizens strongly criticized his action.
‘Code For Japan’ in the Works
Among others, Haruyuki Seki, a software developer at Georepublic Japan[ja] and social media consultant Hiroyasu Ichikawa are currently working toward the launch of Code For Japan [ja], an organization that aims to...
Thailand Cuts Rice Subsidy Price
The Thailand government has announced the reduction of rice subsidy price that it gives to four million farmers. The program was meant to improve the savings of farmers. Critics blame the rice pledging program for the huge financial losses in the rice sector.
Brazilian Tribe Opens Indigenous Education Center
An education center created by the Paiter-Surui tribe in the Brazilian Amazon that will offer professional courses to the area's indigenous has finally opened. They hope a cluster of buildings will grow to serve as the site of the future Paiter-Surui Indigenous University of Brazil, the first of its kind in the country.
Russians Celebrate Number One Political Prisoner's Birthday
Nearly 10 years after his arrest and conviction, Russian society remains largely apathetic about Khodorkovsky. Those who do care are divided about both his guilt and its consequences.
The Strange Case of Puerto Rico and the Death Penalty
During the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, recently held in Madrid, Spain, participants assembled to discuss the status of Puerto Rico, where the death penalty, though abolished in 1929, could still be imposed thanks to its relationship with the United States. Periodismo Ciudadano's Elisa Moreno Gil interviews Puerto Rican attorneys and activists to learn about the island's special situation.
Singapore: From Haze to Hail in Less Than a Week
From #sghaze to #sghail. After the record level haze pollution, Singapore was struck by rainstorms carrying hail this week. The haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia is the worst air pollution in Singapore in years. Many people welcomed the rains which poured down on Singapore early this week because it helped in easing the haze situation but they were surprised by the hail which hit the country Tuesday afternoon.
Dozens of Azeri Activists Arrested in Iran
Thirty-six Azeri activists including one blogger, Kiaksar, were arrested on Thursday, 27 June in Urmia. Security forces released 300 of these activists after a few hours of interrogation.
Myanmar's Internet Freedom Forum
Faine Greenwood writes about the first Internet freedom forum in Myanmar and the challenges facing the IT community: The event revealed optimism about opportunities for a newly connected society, even...
Soldiers Go Online to ‘Fight’ for Monarchy
Thai online journal Prachatai features the military unit Rangers Task Force 45 whose members were instructed to go online and promote or defend the monarchy. Soldiers of the unit reportedly...
Bankruptcy in Malaysia
iMoney.my creates an infographic about bankruptcies in Malaysia. Almost 20,000 bankruptcy cases were recorded in 2012 or about 53 Malaysians who went bankrupt everyday.
Ninety Countries Meet for Global Conference Against Death Penalty
Representatives of 90 countries participated in the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Madrid, Spain. Some of the key topics discussed were the abolition of the death penalty, along with the related issues of adherence to human rights treaties, the procurement of a moratorium in death penalty convictions, and legal reforms.
Composer's Ode to Turkish Protesters
German musician Davide Martello performed live during the protests in Istanbul's Taksim Square. This track is dedicated to the Soldiers of Light, the victims of this insane violence by the...
China's People's Daily Bashes American Political System
Fresh off its “Dishonest Americans" series, which claimed to offer an “objective picture of what real Americans are like”, the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece newspaper, the People's Daily, has shocked again with another attempt to bash the American political system.
Father of China's Great Firewall to Quit His Job as University President
Fang Binxing, an information security expert nicknamed the “father of China’s Great Fire Wall”, has resigned as president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. His abrupt decision to step down--made during a university commencement speech --has ignited uproar online and touched a nerve with China’s Internet-savvy community.
Pre-Hispanic Unlooted Tomb Found in Peru
@mitrataj: archeologists in peru outsmart tomb robbers by keeping incredible find secret http://on.natgeo.com/17kshEo via @NatGeo #wari #huari
Brazil: A Nation Divided Between Protests and Football
Brazil won Uruguay in the Mineirão Stadium, on Wednesday 26 June, in the city of Belo Horizonte, securing a place in the Confederation Cup finall. At the same time, 40,000 people gathered outside the Stadium to protest against the social cost of hosting the World Cup 2014 and to demand politial changes in Brazil. Conflicts took place between protesters and police and one died having fallen from a viaduct.
Snowden Asylum, the US and Latin America
[…] as Snowden seeks a safe haven in Latin America, attention is drawn to the history of United States policy towards the region and to the growing independence and pro-democracy...
The End of Dual Citizenship in Turkmenistan?
Being a Turkmen citizen is big on drawbacks and small on benefits, which is why many Turkmen citizens took advantage of a 1993 agreement between Turkmenistan and Russia that enabled them to hold passports belonging to both countries. But with the government releasing a new version of the country's main travel document, dual passport holders may be forced to choose their side.
