Stories from 24 May 2013
Russian Non-Profit “Mercy Island” Helps Stray Animals
In an April 2013 interview with Evgeny Voropai of Social Technologies Greenhouse, Tatiana Nikitina, president of the charity group Mercy Island, discussed why public organizations are interested in social media and what challenges they face in their everyday work.
Outrage over Arrest of Two Photojournalists in Spain
The news of the arrest of photojournalist Raúl Capín, in Madrid, was widely shared under the tag #RaúlLibertad on Twitter. Photojournalist Adolfo Luján was also arrested. Many online messages of indignation and against the repression of journalists who report on social protests are circulating.
A President for the Internet?
According to [es]a recent poll [es] by Taringa! in Latin America, around 10 % of Internet users say it is not necessary to have a president for the internet, 8% nominated themselves for the job and Megaupload creator Kim Dotcom got third place. Meanwhile 82% say that learning to do...
Peruvian Mathematician Claims Proof of 300-Year-Old Conjecture
A Peruvian mathematician demonstrated the solution to a mathematical problem that had been unsolved since 1742.
Saudi Arabia Executes Five Yemeni Men, Publicly Displays Bodies
Five Yemenis convicted of murder and robbery were executed in Saudi Arabia and their bodies displayed in public in the southwestern town of Jizan. Photos of the bodies suspended from a rope high in the air circulated on Twitter and Facebook to the outrage of many Yemenis.
Yemen Marks Unification Anniversary as South Marches for Independence
A day before Yemen marked the 23rd anniversary of the unification of north and south to form today's Republic of Yemen, thousands gathered in South Yemen in support of independence for the region once more.
South Korea's Child Porn Law Blasted for Restricting Freedom of Expression
A new youth protection law in South Korea, meant to protect children by clamping down on child pornography, is being assailed for its broad language that labels net users who unknowingly downloaded suspicious content and artists who depict children in their work as criminals.
As Croatia Marches Towards the EU, Skepticism Meets Excitement in the Balkans
As Croatia prepares to enter the European Union officially on July 1 of this year, and Serbia awaits to finally receive a date to begin talks about EU entry, citizens of both countries express mixed feelings about EU integration. Danica Radisic reports.
Students Defend Cambodia's Human Rights Record
Some students of Mekong University in Cambodia held a protest after U.N. human rights envoy Surya Subedi delivered a lecture on law of foreign investment. The protesters accused the UN envoy of distorting the human rights situation in Cambodia which they claim is better compared to other countries. But aside...
Brazil's Indigenous Fight Back Against State Development
As Brazil's economy steamrolls forward on the momentum of mega-construction projects, many of the country's indigenous have found their homelands snatched away for the sake of development. The construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Pará and the Olympic Museum in Rio de Janeiro have been marked by clashes between police and activists.
For Two Weeks, Liberia's Media Refused to Report on the President
Liberian independent journalists have ended a nearly two-week long refusal to report on the country's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a blackout they placed on the leader for failing to condemn her security director's comments calling journalists "terrorists".
Iran's Regime Bars Two Top Candidates from Election Race
Once again the Islamic regime's desire for absolute control of political life in Iran surprised many when it announced their selection of only eight shortlisted presidential candidates out of more than 600 hopefuls.