Stories from 18 July 2014
Improper Land Allocation Harms Trinidad & Tobago's Public Interest
Property ownership is a critical ingredient of the society we are trying to build. No one can deny that. The wealthiest people and companies in this society have made a great part of their wealth through property dealings – buying, leasing, sub-dividing, selling, renovating and so on….property is critical to...
Only Months After MH370 Disappears, Plane Crash in Ukraine Sends Malaysians Reeling
A Malaysia Airlines flight attendant highlighted on Instagram and Twitter the loss of lives on both flights: "Within 4 months I lost almost 30 friends."
Lucky 13: Tips for Protecting your Data on Public Computers
If you are about to go on holiday and you are thinking of taking your computer and get connected to Wi-Fi or using computers that are available in hotels and other public places, you must read this post with 13 tips to protect data, as published by Andrea on her...
Zone 9 Bloggers Charged With Terrorism in Ethiopia
The nine bloggers and journalists, four of them Global Voices members, have rejected the charges and are preparing a defense for their August 8 trial.
Archaic Laws Continue Jamaica's History of Injustice
The anti-sodomy law is not the only archaic statute up for repeal in Jamaica. Author Kei Miller is astounded that a proposal to rescind the country's “blatantly racist Obeah Laws” has met with resistance: We seem to like throwing fits whenever it is suggested that we review and correct our...
Malaysia Airlines Crash in Ukraine Brings on Heart-Wrenching Déjà Vu for Chinese Families Still Waiting on MH370 Answers
Memories are still fresh for Chinese families who don't know what happened to their loved ones after airliner MH370 vanished from radar screen in March.
“Muito Obrigado, Brazil”
Colombian student Juan Pablo Ramírez blogs his opinions, mainly about football and politics. He shared his farewell to 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and called it “the best 21st century World Cup”, because of the many records broken and the many surprises this tournament brought. Like Colombia qualifying to quarter...
Palestinians are Friends with Journalists
Marcelino Torrecilla N. has started a series in Spanish called Stories from Gaza. The first installment by this United Arabe Emirates based Colombian was published on El Tiempo of Bogotá and tells a story of two Gulf News journalists in Abu Dhabi. Taking pictures in the Gulf is challenging and...
This Video Parodies What a Government-Approved Sex Education Class in India Would Look Like
Stand-up comedian Sourav Pant‘s comedy company East Indian Comedy has uploaded a YouTube video lampooning what a government-approved sex education class in India would look like. The video has gone viral, with more than 1 million hits in three days. The video mocks a suggestion made by Health Minister Harsh...
Bangladesh Has Formaldehyde to Thank for Its Short Supply of Mangoes This Season
Police are confiscating and destroying truckloads of mangoes because they are contaminated with dangerous levels of formalin, a strong solution of formaldehyde sprayed on fruit to extend their shelf life.
Jews and Arabs in Chile, Home to One of the Largest Palestinian Communities, Call for Peace in Israel and Gaza
Palestinian and Jewish communities have called on each other to speak out against human rights abuses, while politicians are urging the government to take its condemnation of Israeli shelling further.
Russian State TV Edits Wikipedia to Blame Ukraine for MH17 Crash
Someone at VGTRK, a state-run Russian broadcasting company, has edited a Wikipedia entry about the Malaysian Flight MH17 crash to blame the government in Kyiv.
Was Singapore Airlines’ Facebook and Twitter Message After the MH17 Crash Insensitive?
After news broke out about the Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine, Singapore Airlines posted this message on Facebook and Twitter: Customers may wish to note that Singapore Airlines flights are not using Ukraine airspace. — Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) July 17, 2014 Many netizens accused the airline of being...
Vietnamese Government ‘Opinion Shapers’ Target Activist Facebook Pages
The Facebook accounts of prominent Vietnamese activists have been suspended after being reported for abuse by suspected government supporters known as 'opinion shapers'.
The 5 Most Insensitive Reactions to the MH17 Crash in Ukraine
With emotions running high following the plane crash in Ukraine, a handful of particularly calloused statements by figures in Moscow and Donetsk have attracted the RuNet's attention.
Malaysians on MH17 Crash: “Regardless of Nationality, We Are All United in Grief”
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed in eastern Ukraine Thursday evening. The plane was carrying 298 passengers and crew members.
The Arrest of CCTV News Anchor and Refection on China's Public Relation Business
The arrest of CCTV news anchor Rui Chenggang was related to his ties to PR firm Edelman subsidiary in China. Silicon Hutong took the opportunity to reflect upon public relation businesses in China: Two issues prevent widespread improvement in PR industry ethics in China. First is a persistent exclusivist belief...
China's National Mahjong Team Loses To Japan
Mahjong, originated from China is considered a national game. The fact that China's national mahjony team lost the the fifth Open Mahjong Championship in France and finished in 37th place out of 51 teams came as a shock to the country. Worse, the individual title was claimed by a Japanese...