Stories from June, 2013
Senegalese to France: Dignity Before Visa
I decided to decline using my entry visa to France [..] I am waiving it off on behalf of the thousands of Senegalese citizens who deserve respect, a respect that...
China: Keywords Unblocked in Weibo
Jason Ng from Tea Leaf Nation reviewed the recent unblocking of several politically sensitive words in Weibo, Chinese biggest social media platform and pointed out that the unblocking is not...
Hundreds Banned from Hong Kong Website
HKGolden, a forum of great cultural and political influence in Hong Kong recently has banned more than 300 user accounts. While the website administrator explained that the move was in...
Video Exposes Lavish Lifestyle of Thai Monks
This viral video shows Thai monks reportedly from the Si Sa Ket’s Kanthararom district riding in a private plane and carrying luxury brand bags and sunglasses.
Spanish Taxman Confuses Princess’ ID for Another's in Corruption Investigation
A supposed administrative error by the Spanish tax agency falsely attributing the sale of 13 estates to the Princess Cristina as part of the ongoing corruption case against her husband has Internet users taunting the agency for its clumsy mistake.
Salafists Attack Shia Homes in Egypt, Killing Four
Four Egyptian adherents of the Shia faith were killed in Egypt today when the house they were meeting in was attacked by Salafists, following two weeks of instigation against the Shia. According to various reports, the house the Shia were meeting in, in Giza, Cairo, was attacked and burned. Al Badil News quotes a witness from the mortuary [ar] who says that one of those killed was slaughtered and the remaining three had injuries to their heads. The horrific incident unleashed anger online.
Peru: Anti-mining Protests Against Conga Resume
Starting in the early hours of Monday, June 17, the residents of several villages in Cajamarca headed to Lake Perol, on the grounds of the Conga mining project, to demonstrate in its defense.
Outrage in the European Union over United States Espionage Program
After Edward Snowden revealed the existence of PRISM, a North American secret service program, a few days ago, European Union authorities have demanded explanations from the North American government.
UFO Sighting in Kerala, India reported
Sans Serif reports that two south Indian newspapers carried out a story that an unidentified flying object (UFO) was sighted in Kannur district in Kerala, India. A commenter on the...
The Beauty Of Mount Everest At Night
Elia Saikaly's short movie catches the majestic beauty of Mount Everest at night in time-lapse. He shares in his blog the experience of climbing to the summit of Mount Everest...
Floods, Landslides Devastate Northern India
Devastating floods and landslides in northern India have killed more than 500 people and left about 70,000 with little food and shelter because of damaged or blocked roads.
Brazil: Protest Posters Turned into Song
“I turned Facebook off / to show how to be tough / There is so much stuff / that one poster is not enough”. This is the translation of the chorus of...
Zimbabwean MP Killed in ‘Suspicious’ Car Crash
Outspoken Zimbabwean member of parliament Edward Chindori-Chininga, who was investigating the ties between the ruling party and the country's diamond industry, has died in an automobile accident under what some are calling suspicious circumstances.
Iran: “We're Going to the World Cup!” (VIDEOS)
Iranians are relieved to be celebrating for a change. On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 they stormed the streets with joy after Iran's national football team qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Censorship and Police Brutality Mark Three Weeks of Turkish Protests
It's been three weeks since massive protests started across Turkey. Since their start on May 31, the country has witnessed media censorship, police brutality, protests by the thousands and the deaths and injury of protestors. Here is the summary of past three weeks.
Counseling Service for Mental Health In India
Ugich Konitari introduces iCALL (initiating Concern for All), a counseling service for Indians via email and telephone. At this social venture of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, qualified psychologists are...
South Koreans Protest Electioneering
College students and civic groups took action against the National Intelligence Service (NIS)'s illegal interference with the lastest presidential election. Major universities in South Korea have released statements condemning the secret agency,...
Haiti: Model Camp Morphed into Slum
Three years after its star-studded launch, the model camp for Haiti’s 2010 earthquake victims has helped give birth to what might become the country’s most expansive – and most expensive...
Weather, Umpire or Poor Strategy to Blame in West Indies Cricket Elimination?
Caribbean cricket fans are still disappointed over the West Indies Cricket team's elimination from the 2013 Champions Trophy after they drew with South Africa (via the Duckworth-Lewis method) in their final, rain-shortened, group match.
One Dead as Massive Wave of Protests Sweeps Across Brazil
A young man was killed after he was hit by a car in Ribeirao Preto and dozens were hurt in confrontations with the police in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador as more than a million people took to the streets of large and small cities throughout Brazil in the biggest protests seen in the country in two decades.
