Stories from August, 2018
‘Fake news’ is in the eye of the beholder: China is centralizing efforts to stop online ‘rumors’
In July 2018, Chinese state internet regulators received 6.7 million reports of illegal and false information.
Is Russian social media giant VKontakte sidestepping the GDPR? One user is trying to find out.
Russia's largest social network VKontakte is in hot water again for playing fast and loose with their users' privacy — this time allegedly violating the GDPR regulations.
Can a controversial in-vitro fertilization process save the northern white rhino?
"A practical concern for any future Northern white rhinos successfully bred through IVF is...where they would live. Much of the sub-species’ former range has lost rhinos in its entirety..."
The ‘Khan Meter’ will assess the new Pakistani prime minister's performance
"It’s time to start monitoring our government, discuss where they went wrong as well as appreciate what they did right. It helps us think logically about the new government’s performance..."
Remembering Kofi Annan's forgotten efforts in Timor-Leste
"Dozens of Timorese conducted a candle-light vigil in remembrance of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his contribution to the Independence process of East Timor."
Another Australian prime minister deposed by internal party coup
"Funny how they call young people snowflakes and entitled when they are the most emotional, inconsistent and self-serving lot in this whole country."
Nicaragua's diaspora activists bear a ‘double burden’
The political and emotional challenges of diaspora activism are complex: "Receiving news firsthand also means feeling it firsthand."
Will France’s new street harassment law really benefit women?
"We refuse to let feminism be used to reinforce the French government’s tendencies toward racism and over-policing."
Russian social media giant evades hard questions about privacy failures
One user challenged Vkontakte: "How many times have you challenged the security services in court over their demands to hand over user information? You have that right."
Artists rise up as Ugandan MP ‘Bobi Wine’ faces fresh charges of treason
"The extent to which violence is escalating in this country is worrying and we should all be concerned. We need to reflect on these matters and find a way forward."
Blooms of fire: How Japan celebrates summer with ‘hanabi’
The summer months of July and August in Japan are famed for their fireworks, known as 'hanabi' (花火) in Japanese. Here are some photos.
Tajikistan releases whistleblower but leaves conviction in place
The #FreeKhayrullo campaign did its job and the government backed down. Now fearless Mirsaidov says he will appeal the conviction.
The artist ‘Headache Stencil’ uses graffiti to criticize military rule in Thailand
"If people see my work and start noticing that things aren’t fair, I’ve achieved my aim."
Anatomy of a Trinidad earthquake
"I was silenced, diminished and at the same time in total awe. This was nature and I understood myself to be at the very heart of it."
A new law threatens artistic expression in Cuba
"Your censorship is in the closure of concerts...It was always there, you only legalized it. Then you accuse us of politicizing art...Stop already with the repression...."
Water shortages weigh heavy on Afghanistan
The capital Kabul is already thirsty, and its population is set to grow by over a third in the next three decades.
#FreeBobiWine: Protests mount over torture and arrest of a young political force in Uganda
"In our new Africa, there is no room for brutality, we cherish each other. Let us debate disagreements, not crush opponents."
Facebook admits it has been slow in addressing hate speech in Myanmar
"The ethnic violence in Myanmar is horrific and we have been too slow to prevent misinformation and hate on Facebook."
Netizens flood the internet with support for monsoon victims in Kerala, India
"Kerala is striving together...to overcome the catastrophic flood. However...some are trying to malign this great effort with misinformation in the form of fake messages on social media."
Venezuelan education and the specter of ideology
"I imagine Venezuela's [next] generation. . . A generation for whom dissent goes against the idea of the nation. A country of indoctrination, without arguments or debate. A silent country."
Fans around the world celebrate as Akira turns 30
On July 16, 2018 netizens around the world marked the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Akira, a groundbreaking film that revolutionized animated movies forever.
