21 January 2014

Stories from 21 January 2014

Young Romanian Builds First Car Entirely Made of LEGO Blocks

  21 January 2014

20-year-old Raul Oaida from Romania has built what many dreamed of as children – the world’s first life-size LEGO car. The car, including the engine which actually runs, was built using 500,000 LEGO pieces. The vehicle can only achieve a speed of some 20 to 30 kilometers per hour, but...

Rare Roma Holocaust Documentation Center to Open in Hungary

  21 January 2014

A Roma Holocaust center is planned to be opened in the southern Hungarian city of Pecs by the end of 2014. The documentation center is the joint effort of the local municipality of Pecs and the Hungarian Roma minority, and will also collaborate with the Pecs University in teaching students...

Iran:Tehran Welcomes China's Help to Launch the National Internet

  21 January 2014

Iranian authorities in the Ministry of Information recently met with their Chinese counterparts and said they welcome China's experience to launch Iran's national internet.” Amin Sabeti tweeted: #China will help #Iran to launch the National Information Network or the National Internet http://t.co/nhLSmQRMnv @Liberationtech @lorenzoFB — Amin Sabeti (@AminSabeti) January 20,...

Gender-Based Violence Epidemic Hits Sex Workers in Honduras

  21 January 2014

Despite the fact that sex work is legal in Honduras, many groups and individuals view their actions as immoral. Those who murder sex workers believe they can literally treat these human beings as garbage to be disposed of. Such violence takes place against the broader backdrop of widespread gender- and sexuality-based violence...

Lunar New Year Ad From A Desperate Chinese Mom

  21 January 2014

The letter said: To my son Peng, I’ve made many calls to you, but you never picked up. This ad is probably the only thing that can reach you. Mom and dad won’t force you to get married any more. Please go back home for Spring Festival this year! Loving...

Chinese Civil Servants Demand Higher Salaries

  21 January 2014

People's Congress representative from Guangdong province suggested the government to increase civil servants’ salaries. Indeed their basic salaries are low, but they enjoy huge benefits and subsidies. The proposal immediately stirred up hot reactions from netizens. ChinaSMACK curates the story in English.

Bermuda: Gambling with Democracy?

  21 January 2014

catch a fire explains why he got involved in a petition for a referendum on casino gambling in Bermuda, then publishes a follow-up post asking: What does that say for our democracy when people are afraid to sign a petition that they support because they fear consequences from the Government...

Trinidad & Tobago: The Faces of Heroes

  21 January 2014

Samuel ‘Boy’ Walrond is the most remarkable artist in Trinidad and Tobago that you probably do not know exists. That he has never been nationally recognised for his ability, or…the epic span of his life’s work, is an example of society’s failure to identify and honour its heroes. Repeating Islands...