Education

Pioneering Finance in Education

http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/07/p1806133/pioneering-microfinance-in-education

Technology

Technology addicts lonely, upset and "can’t live" when deprived of their digital obsessions

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/technology-addicts-lonely-upset-and-canrsquot-live-when-deprived-of-their-digital-obsessions-2326648.html

Media

Extremists using Facebook as recruitment platform

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-30/social-media/29833051_1_social-networking-sites-social-media-extremists

The anti-Christian media strikes again

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/2011_0731the_anti-christian_media_strikes_again/

Poverty

Web site of the week: Girleffect.org

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/14/3013300/web-site-of-the-week-girleffectorg.html 

Apple and the 80-Cent iPhone Problem

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/07/apple-and-the-80-cent-iphone-problem/ 

Media

End Murdoch's Criminal Empire

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_murdoch_mafia_2/?vc 

Social Media: a double-edged sword in Syria

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/us-syria-social-media-idUSTRE76C3DB20110713 

Environment

A Human-Waste Gold Mine: Bill Gates Looks to Reinvent the Toilet

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2082509,00.html 

Environment

Singapore backs proposals for stronger global nuclear safety framework

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1137152/1/.html

Oceans on brink of catastrophe

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/oceans-on-brink-of-catastrophe-2300272.html

Poverty

Wealth of world’s richest rose nearly 10 percent in 2010

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/rich-j25.shtml

Poverty in an overpopulated world

http://www.theunion.com/article/20110625/NEWS/110629837/1024

Ghana makes strides in poverty reduction

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=211652

Singapore

Singapore to Leapfrog Switzerland as Top Wealth Center

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/singapore-to-leapfrog-switzerland-as-top-wealth-center/2011/06/21/AG4ET9dH_video.html

Technology

Internet minders OK vast expansion of domain names

http://newsok.com/internet-minders-ok-vast-expansion-of-domain-names/article/3578924

Media

FBI uses social media in search for long-time fugitive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-uses-social-media-in-search-for-long-time-fugitive/2011/06/20/AGvefNdH_story.html

Environment

Scientists See More Deadly Weather, but Dispute the Cause

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/science/earth/16climate.html?ref=science

I.E.A. Says World Will Increasingly Turn to Americas for Oil

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16oil.html?_r=1

Berlusconi's nuclear power plans crushed

http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC110615-0000037/Berlusconis-nuclear-power-plans-crushed

Media

OMG, the news is making itself new!

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110615-0000021/OMG,-the-news-is-making-itself-new!

 

Technology

Quiet China Giant Embodies Technology Aspirations

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=13843903 

Poverty

Poverty wrecks the mind, not just the wallet

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/poverty_wrecks_the_mind_not_just_the_wallet_20110612/?ln

Politics

Election rules lost on the Arab world

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/election-rules-lost-on-the-arab-world/story-e6frg6ux-1226073914775 

Media

The Future Of Media Doesn’t Need the Feds

http://blogs.forbes.com/adamthierer/2011/06/12/the-future-of-media-doesnt-need-the-feds/ 

Poverty

Ministry says Ethiopia will keep on creating conducive investment environment

http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27147&Itemid=45 

Media

Who Will Win the Facebook and Google War?

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/05/13/facebook-google-war-social-media-smackdown-ages/

It’s no fiction: Amazon Kindle eBook sales and the impact on booksellers

http://www.weberbooks.com/selling/2011/05/its-no-fiction-amazon-kindle-sales-and-the-impact-on-booksellers.html

Poverty

Zambia: World Bank Changes Strategy to Arrest Poverty

http://allafrica.com/stories/201105121204.html

UN: Food Prices Deepening Global Poverty

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/UN-Food-Prices-Deepening-Global-Poverty-121591139.html

Environment

Climate change bringing infection, hunger, illness

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/13/us-climate-change-illness-idUSTRE74C6WF20110513

Health

Is McDonald's Betraying Our Kids By Barraging Them With Junk Food Ads?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/mcdonalds-ads-kids_b_864956.html 

World Press Freedom Day 2011

PDF Report: Freedom of the Press 2011

http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fop11/FOTP2011Booklet.pdf

Press Statement by Hillary Clinton

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/05/162507.htm

Media under threat from advertisers, government

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1155814/-/c23ty9z/-/

Challenging times for media freedom

http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=28762

UN: Cyber attacks, digital censorship new barriers to free media

http://www.mspnews.com/news/2011/05/04/5485079.htm

Press Freedom 'At Lowest Ebb' In More Than A Decade

http://www.rferl.org/content/article/16799961.html

Dozens of countries curbing the press freedom: Obama

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/dozens-of-countries-curbing-the-press-freedom-obama/articleshow/8157710.cms

Press Freedom Under Fire in Europe

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanfran/press-freedom-under-fire-in-europe_b_856959.html?ir=Media

World Press Freedom Day: United Nations Reflects on Free Expression

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/03/world-press-freedom-day-united-nations-reflects-on-free-expression/ 

April Snippets 02

Media

Old (Media) Habits Die Hard

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-pollack/old-media-habits-die-hard_b_848408.html

 

Chinese editors, and a Web site, detail censors’ hidden hand

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-editors-and-a-web-site-detail-censors-hidden-hand/2011/04/01/AFpMiRSD_story.html

Poverty

World Bank: Fight Poverty With Political Reform

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135302949/world-bank-fight-poverty-with-political-reform

 

The poverty impacts of climate change : a review of the evidence

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2011/04/04/000158349_20110404100435/Rendered/PDF/WPS5622.pdf

Technology

Technology and Options: Goodbye Living. Hello Deciding.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-pell/technology-and-options-go_b_845772.html?ir=Media

International Relations

Five myths about the United Nations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-united-nations/2011/03/24/AFWSzmXB_story.html

April Snippets 01

Education

SINGAPORE: NUS-Yale tie-up to proceed despite controversy

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110401190823948

Media

Media distorts dangers of radiation in Japan

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/03/1694907/media-distorts-dangers-of-radiation.html

Happiness

Beautiful People Happier, More Successful Than Plain-Looking Counterparts
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/01/beautiful-people-happier-successful-plain-looking-counterparts/

Environment

Obama pushes for oil use reduction, clean fuel technology

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/02/us-obama-radio-idUSTRE73123J20110402

Poverty

World must plan to defeat urban poverty

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/apr/03/tdcomm03-world-must-plan-to-defeat-urban-poverty-ar-944599/
Fighting Poverty with Better Nutrition for Women
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-women-hunger-poverty-31mar11-118977039.html

Technology/Media

New Law Requires Sites To Have 'Explicit Consent' Before Tracking

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/09/do-not-track_n_833523.html 

Globalisation

A New China: Playing by the Global Rules of Engagement

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-attias/a-new-china-playing-by-th_b_833486.html 

 

How a Revolution of Hope Is Changing the Way Americans Look at Islam

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-carroll/the-disappearance-of-the-_b_833654.html 

Economy

BRIC leads billionaire boom

http://www.todayonline.com/Business/EDC110310-0000456/BRIC-leads-billionaire-boom 

 

Brighter growth prospects seen in Singapore

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Business/Story/A1Story20110310-267356.html 

Poverty

Corruption risks, perceptions and prevention in humanitarian assistance

http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/2385.pdf

The Poverty Impacts of Climate Change

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPREMNET/Resources/EP51_v4.pdf 

 

To Address Climate Change We Need to Measure Poverty Better

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/otaviano-canuto/to-address-climate-change-poverty_b_833529.html 

Wen Jiabao vows to eradicate Chinese poverty 

Wen Jiabao Addresses Global Imbalances And Vows To Eradicate Chinese Poverty By 2020

http://blogs.forbes.com/afontevecchia/2011/03/07/wen-jiabao-addresses-global-imbalances-and-vows-to-eradicate-chinese-poverty-by-2020/ 

Society

Gender discrimination must end for Singapore to flourish, says AWARE

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1115093/1/.html 

Early week Snippets!

Media & Technology
Technology Poses Big Test for Regimes

As exemplified by the successful Egyption upheaval, Social Media is now a powerful tool for political reform.

"There is a bridge quality to mainstream media from social media that leads to greater transparency on the ground, and greater connectivity globally,"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704329104576138643482318336.html

Social Activism and Social Media.
An insightful analysis of the role and influence of Social Media in social uprisings.
"People protested and brought down governments before Facebook was invented,"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-lee/why-malcolm-gladwell-shou_b_822640.html


Economics
China Officially World's Second-Biggest Economy
"It's realistic to say that within 10 years China will be roughly the same size as the US economy,"
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503983_162-20031720-503983.html

Post-holiday Snippets!

Happiness

Message to Facebook: I'm Taking back my Happiness

An interesting piece exploring the purported negatives of being steeped in the online world. A simple and logical solution is explained.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-gutman/facebook-happiness_b_819656.html

Environment

Warming world not such a warm place

Nobel Prize recipient Paul Krugman comments on the food crisis and its link to the evironment

http://www.todayonline.com/Commentary/EDC110208-0000154/Warming-world-not-such-a-warm-place-,,,         

Media

Egypt's state-run media starting to shift from pro-Mubarak coverage

Brave journalists refuse to report blatant government propaganda. This has led to more honest and accurate news coverage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906234.html?sid=ST2011020703989

U.S. mends frosty relations with Al Jazeera

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-al-jazeera-20110207,0,7680421.story

Special Snippets - Egypt

GP SOS Focus: The Egyptian upheaval – A democratic revolution?

The world watches as formerly stable and peaceful societies implode after decades of repressive dictatorial rule. Understand the dynamics of this extraordinary revolution taking place in the Arab World. This is history in the making.

A Complete Guide to the Unrest

o Easily digestible nuggets of news and information. Fluid and changing as major developments happen, so please keep checking back. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/30/egypt-revolution-2011_n_816026.html

 

Al Jazeera Blacked Out Across U.S.

The US, bulwark of free press refuses to air Al-Jazeerah. The epitome of hypocrisy?

o Media critics have begun to push for Al Jazeera's inclusion. "It is downright un-American to still refuse to carry it," wrote Jeff Jarvis on Sunday. "Vital, world-changing news is occurring in the Middle East and no one-not the xenophobic or celebrity-obsessed or cut-to-the-bone American media-can bring the perspective, insight, and on-the-scene reporting Al Jazeera English can.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/30/al-jazeera-english-us_n_816030.html 

 

Democratization in the Arad World: Extraordinary or Dangerous? 

An intriguing commentary on the potential dangers of the Arab World’s transition to a democratic system of governance. Insightful and informative.

o Successful democracy, Boix importantly reminds us, is attainable when equality is high or assets are mobile. Egypt has neither, making it vulnerable to violence and chaos which can divide a once united civil society.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mohsin-mohiud-din/democratization-in-the-ar_b_815878.html 

More Snippets (what else?)

29 Jan 2011


The protests and riots in Egypt continue to dominate the headlines. Freedom in the Egyptian media is a hot spin-off topic.

Media

Egypt's Internet shutdown draws fire in US
- US press secretary Robert Gibbs - 'We believe that the people of Egypt have a right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech, and that includes the use of the Internet.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_629603.html

Social media curbs pose hurdle for U.S
-The Obama administration has elevated Internet freedom in U.S. diplomacy, with Clinton declaring in a major speech last year that it was "critical" that Internet users "are assured certain basic freedoms."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012806854.html

More Snippets! 25/26 Jan 2011

Media
Social media change the landscape for politicians
Examples of important Canadians riding the social media tidal wave. Notice the witty and entertaining writing style.
o The benefit to politicians of using new media is obvious -they can get their message out for free, and unfiltered by the mainstream media
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Social+media+change+landscape+politicians+reporters/4167723/story.html#ixzz1C8KJnpHa

Google and Mozilla Announce New Privacy Features
o Mozilla and Google announced features that would allow users of the Firefox and Chrome browsers to opt out of being tracked online by third-party advertisers.
o It recognizes that consumers want a choice about who is tracking their movements online, and it’s a first step toward giving consumers choice about who will have access to their data.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/google-and-mozilla-announce-new-privacy-features/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Poverty
Poverty's success story
Latest Stats and Research on global property. Download and digest!
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2011/01_global_poverty_chandy/01_global_poverty_chandy.pdf

A brilliantly enlightening article. A must-read for all!
oWe know that growth lies at the heart of poverty reduction. As the growth of developing countries took off in the new millennium, epitomized by the rise of emerging markets, a massive drop in poverty was only to be expected.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012506906.html

World needs global food system overhaul
o it is unsustainable, with resources being used faster than they can be naturally replenished.. Secondly, a billion people are going hungry with another billion people suffering from 'hidden hunger,' whilst a billion people are over-consuming.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110125-316460/World-needs-global-food-system-overhaulreport

Website - UN: We can end Poverty by 2015
http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_1_EN.pdf
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_4_EN.pdf
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_8_EN.pdf

Environment
A win for environment and for energy
Useful article with some insights on Biomass energy
o States now have a legal and scientific basis for concluding that biomass for energy is the “best available control technology’’ to curb greenhouse gases.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/01/26/a_win_for_environment_and_for_energy/

Globalization
Singapore government fund to take stake in Georgia power plants
o Singapore’s GIC continues to diversify and expand its asset base internationally
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6773189

Snippets - 21 & 24 Jan

Media
iPhone 5, iPad 2 to focus on social Media
Apple knows it, the world knows it, I know it, you need to know it. Social Media is a legitimate revolution. Keep close tabs on its development.
o Apple obviously regards social networking as an important piece of the mobile device revolution and their brand name being associated with this movement is crucial.
http://www.benzinga.com/tech/11/01/798805/iphone-5-ipad-2-to-focus-on-social-networking#ixzz1BvJkCz45

Too much sex in this city for kids
Another menifestation of the perennial debate - freedom vs censorship.
o Let us look at how we can achieve a liberal society unlike any other without having to conform to the norms of a global media promulgating a certain pop culture. After all, Singapore has proven time and again to detractors that we can achieve success in different areas in our own unique ways.
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110124-0000078/Too-much-sex-in-this-city-for-kids

Blackberry blocks porn in Indonesia
Censorship again in the news, this time by the makers of Blackberry under pressure form a government. Pity the porn posse?
o RIM is the world's fourth biggest smartphone platform, with global sales of 11.9 million units, according to research firm Gartner. The company does not filter its web content in any of its other markets around the world.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/1105848/1/.html

Happiness
50 is the Happy age
o This may be because they have the peace of mind of having paid off their mortgage, got the children off their hands or are simply enjoying spending more time with loved-ones and friends.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/holistic-living/True-happiness-comes-at-the-golden-age-of-50/articleshow/7324964.cms

Technology
Logical, but this article bugs me.
'Bug Mac' the food of the future – Insects a superior source of meat?
o Bugs are high in protein, low in fat and efficient to cultivate - 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of feed yields six to eight kilograms of insect meat compared to one kilogram of beef, states the university's research.
o Insects are abundant, produce less greenhouse gas and manure, and do not transfer any diseases, when eaten, that can mutate into a dangerous human form, say the researchers.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eatndrink/view/1106494/1/.html

Environment
Australia’s Flood Crisis in Pictures
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20110104124635.htm

2010 was the wettest, hottest year on record
o The Earth has been warming in fits and starts for decades and a large majority of climatologists say that is because humans are releasing heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
http://www.todayonline.com/Science/EDC110115-0000166/Its-official--2010-was-the-wettest-year-on-record