Stories from 4 November 2013
Saudis Banned from Travelling .. to Mars
Saudi religious scholar Shaikh Ali Al Hekmi told Al Hayat newspaper that travelling to the red planet is off limits for human beings. Netizens laugh on Twitter.
Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales Praises Catalan Viquipèdia
During the Open Science conference at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium on October 24, 2013, Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales highlighted Viquipèdia, the Catalan Wikipedia, as a success story. A video on YouTube features the moment when Wales talks about Viquipèdia (transcript by Viquipèdia editor Arnau Duran): “…in some of our small...
PHOTOS: From Outer Space to Cyberspace, Nigeria’s Partial Solar Eclipse
Nigeria witnessed a partial eclipse of the sun on Sunday, 3 November, 2013, an event that naturally prompted varied reactions from Nigerian netizens.
South Korean Net Users’ Donation to Villagers Fighting Against Power Line
Clashes continue to intensify in small South Korean village Miryang as senior villagers resist the government's decision to impose electrical power lines across their land, saying they will fight to the death for their land and living rights. An environmental group started a grassroot campaign in Daum Agora site [ko] of gathering...
Latin American Women Face Harsh Penalties for Minor Drug Offenses
Between 2006 and 2011, the female prison population almost doubled in Latin America from 40,000 to more than 74,000 inmates. Most incarcerated women are accused of minor drug offenses, –75% -80% in Ecuador, 30 to 60% in Mexico, 64% in Costa Rica, 60% in Brazil and 70% in Argentina– linked...
Abuse of Workers and Our Daughter From Nepal
Indian blogger Kiran Kumar Karlapu tells a real life story of the plights of a Nepali girl, who was pushed back by her employer from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She was left stranded in Mumbai airport with not enough money to buy ticket to go back to home and some fellow...
PHOTOS: Shia Mourners Tear-Gassed in Bahrain
Shia mourners, commemorating the beginning of Muharram, have been tear-gassed in Bahrain today, say activists, who accuse the Bahraini regime of attacking religious freedom in the restive Arab state.
Halloween's Three Black Maids Stir Racism Debate in Lebanon
Lebanese blogger is angry three women dressed up as black housemaids for Halloween. Find out why in this post.
On Abortion and Controlling Sex in Egypt
A blogger shares her experience of supporting her friend going through abortion in Egypt, the hurdles faced, and the larger implications.
Goodbye “CUC”, Unification of Dual Monetary System Begins in Cuba
The phasing out of the convertible peso (CUC) has received significant attention from the international press, blogs, and economic analysts.
Italians Called to Film Their ‘Life in a Day’
Renowned Italian director Gabriele Salvatores is inviting Italians (and people living in Italy) to produce short videos about their daily life that will be edited together into a feature length film called “Italy in a Day” [it] to be released at the end of 2014. Videos can be submitted until...
87 Migrants Die of Thirst in Northern Niger
On 0ctober 30, 87 people trying to reach the Mediterranean sea died after being abandoned in the Sahara Desert when their drivers left them stranded to seek for help. The harrowing story of one the survivors, 14-year-old Shafa, highlights the plight of many migrants trying to reach Europe and the obstacles they face. In...
VIDEO: Chinese Respond to American Child's “Kill Everyone in China” Comment on Jimmy Kimmel Live
The best way to address antagonistic sentiment is a sense of humor and good knowledge of the subject of hatred.
