Top 5 Threats to Transparency: 2016 in Review EFF.org Updates by Shahid Buttar As we approach the end of 2016, it’s disturbing to note the wide variety of ways in which government transparency has languished—even under an administration rhetorically committed to it. With the next administration poised to even further extend executive secrecy, it becomes ever … Read more
Social media used to prove MH17 was downed by Russian Buk missile Mashable! by Nicole Gallucci The mystery surrounding the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 may have been resolved. Three Leaders Three Narratives: Digital Diplomacy at the UN General Assembly Exploring Digital Diplomacy by Ilan Manor The yearly session of the UN General Assembly may be … Read more
Timeline of a crisis: Europe’s economic strategy from 2008 to today EurActiv.com by Aymone Lamborelle, Jorge Valero, Laura Fernández Álvarez At the outset of the economic crisis in 2008, the EU mirrored the rescue packages seen in the US and elsewhere. In total, more than €1.6 trillion was used to save the banks and €200 billion … Read more
German churches get wi-fi ‘Godspots’ BBC News | Europe | World Edition Wi-fi hotspots will be installed at 220 Protestant churches across the Berlin and Brandenburg region. Europe’s Destructive Spirals of Distrust SAPIENS by Thomas Hylland Eriksen On February 6, 2016, thousands of people protested the immigration of Muslims, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and other cities across Europe. … Read more
This week, the CASTAC community received the sad news that (founding CASTAC member) Professor David Hakken had passed away. Former Platypus Editor Patricia Lange shares reflections on his life and work in a new introduction to an interview with him on big data from 2013. Please join us in remembering and honoring him. http://blog.castac.org/2016/05/david-hakken/ … Read more
Report: Bots Are Getting More Sophisticated and Mimic Human Behavior Online All Facebook by Kimberlee Morrison Over the past few years, bot traffic has been a persistent concern for marketers and users alike online. At certain points bots have even accounted for more than half of all internet traffic. However, the tables seem to be turning, … Read more
Leak reveals tense moments during Erdoğan-Juncker meeting Today’s Zaman–52 minutes ago Leak reveals tense moments during Erdoğan-Juncker meeting … present at the meeting, showed Juncker an internal documentbelonging to the EC … In return for keeping the refugees, the EU promised Turkey 3 billion euros, . News in Greek ******* Merkel visits Turkey as fleeing Syrians … Read more
Religion has been causing conflict since 2000 years ago,anthropologists say ChristianToday This social tension caused by religion, however, is not a product of the modern world, according to a new study published on the journal “Current Anthropology.” In fact, researchers have concluded that religion has been causing conflict for over 2,000 Anthropologists overwhelmingly vote to … Read more
Detained journalists urge EU not to compromise with Turkey over human rights EurActiv.com Two Turkish journalists arrested this week for their coverage of arms trafficking to Islamist rebels in Syria urged the European Union not to compromise on human rights, as it seeks an agreement with Ankara to help stem refugee flows to Europe. US State Department … Read more
VIDEO: Romanian PM quits: Why did he go? BBC News | Europe | World Edition Romanian PM Victor Ponta says he is resigning, a day after 20,000 protesters marched over a nightclub fire that left 32 people dead. Bucharest protesters prompt Ponta’s fall BBC News | Europe | World Edition Bucharest protesters prompt prime minister’s fall Mapping five … Read more
8 funny responses to the ‘thrones’ that welcomed Merkel in Istanbul President Erdoğan hosted German Chancellor Merkel on Oct. 18 to discuss financial aid to Syrian refugees. But the gaudy throne-like armchairs in the hall have created a social media storm Is Europe’s ‘refugee deal’ giving in to blackmail by Turkey? EurActiv.com Two million Syrian refugees are … Read more
Progress report likely to be released in November A progress report on Turkey by the European Commission, which was postponed for the first time ever, is likely to be published in November, EU sources have told Hürriyet Daily News. Kurds Need More Than Arms NYT > Turkey by By CALE SALIH and MARIA FANTAPPIE Treating Syria’s Kurds … Read more
The Martian and the Cult of Science Slate Articles by Rachel E. Gross Ridley Scott’s The Martian opens with an unsolvable problem: It’s 2030, and the crew of NASA’s Mars spaceship the Hermes has just left astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) stranded on Mars. Watney’s situation is not good. Utterly alone, wounded by spaceship debris, and … Read more
Erdogan tells EU: Act in Syria, or get ready to accept more refugees EurActiv.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (5 October) urged the EU to train rebels, and to consider a no-fly zone and safe haven area in Syria, during talks to address Europe’s growing migrant crisis. US, NATO condemn Russia’s violations of Turkish airspace EurActiv.com … Read more
Twitter’s 136-Page Handbook for Politicians Social Media Today by Sarah Snow An NPR article recently reveals that Twitter “has a very special handbook just for people running for elected office. And it’s 136 pages long.” Use this link to reverse search Google images on your phone The Next Web by Abhimanyu Ghoshal Google’s reverse image search is one … Read more