Stories about Weblog from January, 2019
Netizen Report: How Venezuela’s political crisis is playing out online
As Venezuelans continue to face internet censorship, Turkmenistan is blocking Google Play, Lebanon is blocking Grindr and Brazil is chipping away at is FOI law.
DigiGlot Newsletter: Welsh-language rock music finds a place on streaming music platforms
Rising Voices' DigiGlot Newsletter provides a summary of initiatives, discussions, and breakthroughs related to the intersection of languages and technology around the world..
Surveillance is a key concern for foreign journalists working in China, survey shows
Mobile phone surveillance and physical spying were top concerns for foreign correspondents in China in 2018.
The beef between two Trinidad and Tobago soca stars is a nod to age-old musical traditions
Lyrical sparring is intricately woven into the origins of calypso music, and its modern-day hybrid, soca.
The Spiny Babbler, Nepal's only endemic bird, fascinates ornithologists and bird lovers alike
Spiny Babbler, found only in Nepal, has fascinated ornithologists and birders all-over the world. It is threatened by the clearance of scrub for agriculture and the expansion of urban areas.
Once-beloved youth magazine is accused of whitewashing legacy of Serbian Nazis
How did a magazine that enjoyed a cult status all over Yugoslavia seems to have betrayed its progressive values.
Divided they stand: Caribbean nations take sides on Venezuela
Maduro reportedly told members of the diplomatic corps that he had spoken to CARICOM leaders and was "open to mediation talks in 'Trinidad and Tobago or wherever'. . .
Amid civil unrest, internet shutdowns are making Zimbabwe's economic crisis worse
"It's not the fuel price increases, it's not the looming hunger. The most scary thing is that these guys in government are convinced that they are doing a good job."
Displaced farmers’ coalition reclaims their road to sustainable livelihoods 9 years after Haiti’s devastating earthquake
"We had nothing to fall back on, nothing to sell at the market. [...] What we suffered through the most was the loss of our dignity."
Why are Armenian displaced persons still living in a hotel, 30 years after fleeing Azerbaijan?
"Every year we are told that a house will be provided for us next year."
Uganda deports three senior telecom employees citing espionage
The police stated that at least two telecom employees used their offices to access information and tap calls which compromised national security. A third was accused of supporting the opposition.
Guinea has struggled under President Condé, but Russia backs his quest for a third term
"The question of political succession is a question of sovereignty. And sovereignty belongs to the people. It is not part of an ambassador's role to dictate Guinea's fate."
Sri Lankan tea estate workers take to the streets to demand fair wages
'Companies say they don't have profit, govt says it doesn't have money, ministers make so many promises[...] workers want only Rs. 1000 daily basic wage for the work they do'.
Biryani Stories: Is Biryani the national dish of Pakistan?
Biriyani might be considered the king of South Asian cuisine, but is it the national dish of Pakistan?
Taiwan’s referendum results may have been swayed by an ill-informed public
Many feel that an ill-informed public swayed the results of Taiwan's recent referendums.
Is Fiji's Online Safety Act a ‘trojan horse’ for online censorship?
"The Act on the surface professes online ‘Safety’, while its vagueness on responsible free speech leaves the act open to being a Trojan horse for online ‘Regulation’ and censorship."
Tobago's tourism industry faces setback as Sandals hotel chain walks away from a deal
Talks broke down on a major deal for a Sandals resort in Tobago. Environmentalists see it as a win, but tourism has to swallow its disappointment and press on.
Jordan stalls on official poverty statistics amid tax law controversy
Reports on poverty in Jordan have been absent since 2010, putting the government under fire for answers.
Mayor of Odessa could face criminal charges after his security attacked a local reporter
This is only the most recent episode in which Trukhanov or his subordinates have attacked journalists.
Correspondence between Arundhati Roy and Shahidul Alam shares resilience and hope
"...the tide will turn, and the nameless, faceless people will rise. They will rise against the entire state machinery."
India's Sabarimala row: How women fought against religious patriarchy for the right to pray
Right-wing groups are in an uproar after the Indian Supreme Court allows women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
