Stories from 17 July 2014
It's Raining Fire in Gaza: Israel Starts Ground Invasion
Palestinians say it is raining fire in Gaza, after Israel started ground operations into the besieged enclave tonight.
Israel Begins Ground Operations in Gaza
Israeli forces have begun to enter Gaza, after 10 days of shelling that has killed more than 200 Palestinians. The escalation comes after Hamas rejected a truce brokered by Egypt.
Some Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa Have No Online Presence. ‘Kumusha Takes Wiki’ Wants to Help Change That
Kumusha Takes Wiki is a pilot project working with local communities in Africa to reduce the information gap and correct the various misconceptions foreigners have about the continent.
First Russian Reactions to the Downed Plane in Eastern Ukraine
An airplane has crashed in Ukraine. With nothing but a few pixelated YouTube videos and a fast-growing mountain of accusations, RuNet users are in the midst of a full-blown hysteria.
The World Shouts #FreeAlexSodiqov During Global Vigil
Global Voices' community member Alexander Sodiqov is not a British spy. And #FreeAlexSodiqov is an international movement. This vigil - a month after his arrest - proves it.
Authorities Have Confiscated $9.9M Hidden in Bean Cans, Shoes and Even Stomachs at This Guatemalan Airport
Money launderers try to smuggle the undeclared cash to destinations like Panama or Colombia, often to pay for drugs.
Distribution of SMS Printers in Cameroon to Reduce Delays in HIV Testing for Newborns
Afrique IT news reports that [fr] a new type of device (SMS printer) is being installed in several HIV testing facilities in Cameroon thanks to the Clinton Foundation and the telecommunication company MTN : La Fondation Clinton et l’opérateur de télécommunication MTN ont établi un partenariat pour lutter contre le diagnostic tardif de l’infection...
China Is Demolishing Churches and Stripping Others of Their Crosses, but It Swears It Isn't Targeting Christianity
China maintains it is going after all illegal buildings, but Christians are calling the campaign religious persecution.
The World Cup in Brazil Ended Just Like It Began — With Tear Gas, Stun Grenades and Police Aggression
Activists captured some police officers on film lashing out seemingly with provocation at protesters and journalists.
App Created by Global Voices Contributor Selected to be Developed Online
Lawyer, blogger, digital activist, dreamer and Global Voices Paraguayan Global Voices contributor Gabriela Galilea, was selected by Techpeaks program from European organization Trento Rise, a startup promoter, to develope her online game platform Mr. Patch: [un] videojuego para tabletas, smartphones, televisores inteligentes y web (PC), que ejercita los músculos de...
Chinese Activist Hu Jia Attacked
Prominent Chinese activists Hu Jia was attacked last night on July 16 in Beijing. He reported the incident in his Twitter: 今天7月16日，刚才20:12，我在北京市朝阳区草房地铁站东侧100米路北被若干便衣人员袭击受伤。他们随后驾车离去，我眼镜被打飞未能看清车号。此刻感到身体不适，靠在路边，准备报警。胡佳 #傅政华 #国保档案 pic.twitter.com/ztb1x0IzJk — Hu Jia 胡佳 (@hu_jia) July 16, 2014 Today (July 16), just now at 20:12, I was attacked by a number of plain clothes cops...
Are Black Americans More Aware of Race Than Black Caribbeans?
Blogger Aidan Neal argues that black Americans are "so grossly affected by racism that they almost lay-wait offensive behavior," while race isn't a common topic of discussion in the Caribbean.
The Maya Nut, a Nature Giant
In the Guatemalan department of Petén, a group of local women market natural products prepared with Maya nut, well known as natural medicine. The president of the producer association, Benedicta Galicia Ramírez, notes they “pick up the seed and then dry it, toast and grind it to make fluor”, and...
