Stories from 7 July 2014
77 Years Ago, a War That Killed Millions Began Between China and Japan
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the anniversary, as relations between Beijing and Tokyo have chilled over issues ranging from island disputes to the growing nationalism in both countries.
International Authors Condemn Israel's Continued Settlement Construction
Sixteen international authors who participated at the Palestine Festival of Literature, held from in several Palestinian cities from May 31 to June 5, released a statement condemning Israel's continued settlement construction and applauding the efforts of the Boycott Divest and Sanction (BDS) campaign. The statement, shared on Facebook, reads: “Having...
Regional Terrorism Reaching Bahrain?
News that hardline Saudi cleric Mohamad Al Arefe will be visiting Bahrain tomorrow has caused controversy in the country, already simmering under sectarian strain.
Mobile Phones Drive Social And Economic Changes In Pakistan
From a slow start in the late Nineteen Nineties mobile phone penetration in Pakistan has jumped up in recent years to 77% nationally and amongst urban class people to almost 100%. Dr. Tahir Rauf at Pak Tea House reports that the ubiquitous mobile phone use in Pakistan has brought a...
“No Less than a Miracle”: Afghanistan's Next President is… Ashraf Ghani?
Whether they were "ghost votes" or "clean votes" Ashraf Ghani appears to have more of them than his bitter rival for the Afghan presidency, Abdullah Abdullah. So, what happens next?
Want to Reach Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy? Try Calling His Mobile Phone Alias, Paul Bismuth
Paul Bismuth is a real estate developer in Israel who happened to go to high school with Sarkozy's lawyer. When prosecutors investigating corruption wiretapped Sarkozy's phone, Sarkozy adopted the alias.
Government Jobs Remain a Sweet Retirement Deal in China Despite Clamor to Reform Pensions
"Iron rice bowl" jobs promise free pensions, a liability for the Chinese government in recent years as it struggles with a looming pension deficit amid changing demographics.
A Theater Company Is Crowdfunding to Produce This ‘Powerful’ Play in Cuba About Homosexuality
"Bent" tells the story of the abuse and internment of homosexuals in Nazi Germany leading up to World War II.
Tributes to Alexander Sodiqov from Toronto, Canada
This post is part of our campaign #FreeAlexSodiqov: GV Author Detained in Tajikistan. Three weeks to the day since Global Voices author Alexander Sodiqov was arrested in Khorog, Tajikistan, his wife, Musharraf, has seen him only once. Although it has been presumed that Alex — conducting academic research at the...
Joined by Love, Separated by Egypt's Prison Walls
Mona Seif blogs about love, pain and hope in this must-read post about about her sister Sanaa, jailed for protesting in Egypt.
