Global Media News

Google Overshadowing Other Manufacturers

Its' difficult for smaller companies to shine when large scale companies get all of the shine. Google has pushed its competing rivals buttons such as Yandex. Yandex is a Russian Internet company which operates the largest search engine in Russia with about 60% market share in that country. According to bbc.com, Yandex alleges that its rival, Google has an unfair advantage because it insists device-makers set Google as the default search setting if they want to pre-install its Play store. 

 

Googles restrictions are conflict with the way Yandex markets its company. The amount of shares on android phones are affected because of  Google services. "Google's rivals have claimed Android is used as a way to give Google's other services an unfair competitive advantage". (bbc.com) 

 

Although Yandex has filed an antitrust complaint against Google,  the search engine has yet to respond. Google will most likely make an account that their rival search engines can be downloaded to android phones as long as their services aren't pre-downloaded. 

 

It's agreeable that Google is one of the largest most used search engines. With such reliable and safe services, Google attracts millions of servers worldwide. Of course others countries would like their citizens to use there soft- ware hence that challenge of competing against Google. Other internet companies have complained about the unfair benefits that Google has. The "take-it-or-leave-it" rule where manufacturers can either install all of Googles complete serve including google maps, gmail, google play, or reject cellular service all together. 

"We believe that user-centric services, such as search, maps, email, etc., should be unbundled from the Android OS. It is essential to return to a level playing field where competition is over quality of products and services rather than bundling and pre-installation."

 

Android is by a long way the most popular mobile device in Russia. Googles restriction of  apps and other services are pushing away customers from local smart phone vendors in Russia. "Google has been under investigation for years in Europe regarding its approach to desktop search -- something that Yandex's CEO has publicity backed. The European Commission also recently voted to push forward with legislation that could see Google (and other search providers) forced to unbundle its search engine from its other services.Google wants there search engine to be the main search engine or nothing at all. 

 

 

An Easier Way To Text The Official Language In Cambodia

Khmer, the official language in Cambodia was mad hard to text because of its extensive characters. This language of the Khmer people has a syllabic alphabet in which each consonant has two form. Consonants are all the non-vowel sounds, or their corresponding letters: A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. 

The modern Khmer uses 33 characters. Because there are many characters used, an app was made to converse faster. The developers made this app for iPhone users and allowed access to more advanced keyboard. It allows the new users to type 40 words per minute, compared to just 28 words per minute using a regular smartphone keyboard. 

The majority of downloads come from Cambodia , America, and Canada. it has great reviews and five star rating in Cambodia. "After one week in the app store, Khmer Smart Keyboard was the most downloaded free app in Cambodia. It now sits at number nine, one place behind YouTube." (phnom penh post) 

Comedian Makes Run for British Parliament

Politics is often considered one of the taboo subjects one should not discuss, lest they wish to start an argument. People have particular convictions about political opinions, and will defend them to the death. So what are politicians to do when political satire comedian Al Murray made his bid for parliament? Popular for his on stage persona, "The Pub Landlord", Murray has decided to run as his character.

Not many are taking his bid seriously, including UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) leader Nigel Farage. Farage has sarcastically said that Murray is welcome in the race, and that there will be "serious competition". Farage has also shown no sign of being intimidated by tweeting "the more the merrier!" at Murray. Although Murray stands a slim chance of winning votes for any sort of office under his designated FUKP (Free United Kingdom Party), he does appear to have quite the historical and political knowledge one would look for in a candidate for office.

    Murray's policies do not seem to warrant serious consideration, like taking the U.K. to outer space by 2025 or lowering the price of a pint of beer. Despite his most likely not attaining a seat in
parliament, perhaps his running for office will do well to shake the apathy of younger voters who might take more of a notice in politics by seeing an entertainment figure in the political spotlight.

U.K. Entertainment Lacks Ethnic Diversity

    The internet has been buzzing ever since Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch used the term "colored" to describe Black actors during an interview. Many used social media to lash out against Cumberbatch's insensitive use of the term, missing his overall message.  Cumberbatch used the term whilst sharing his opinion on how Black actors are underutilized and underappreciated in British television and film; this opinion does not belong to him alone, and is shared by much of the entertainment community in the U.K.

 

    "Selma" star David Oyelowo came to Cumberbatch's aid by calling the backlash "disingenuous" and saying that the message of his words was immediately overlooked by those who live in an age  "--where people are looking for sound bites as opposed to substance." Cumberbatch has since apologized publicly for his lack of better judgment in this matter. The question still stands, are people of color being ignored in the U.K's entertainment industry?

 

    Oyelowo says yes, citing his own career as an example among many. Known for his role in the series "Spooks" on BBC One, Oyelowo had not gained international notoriety until moving to Los Angeles in 2007. Since his relocation he's played iconic roles in  "The Butler", and most recently in Golden Globe Best Motion Picture "Selma" in which he portrays the late Martin Luther King Jr.(left)  His role opposite 
Matthew McConaughey in "Interstellar" might prove his point a little better; he plays a character who was not written as a person of color. He and Ryan Gosling actually auditioned for his role in "Interstellar"(right). This is an occurrence that Oyelowo says "doesn't happen often." Oyelowo has commented on the roles available-- or that should be available to black actors in Britain as his reason for coming to the U.S., 

 

"We make period dramas in Britain, but there are almost never black people in them, even though we've been on these shores for hundreds of years.--I thought, 'Okay, you are stopping people having a context for the country they live in and you are marginalizing me."

    Other British-born actors of color like Idris Elba (left) have mentioned the difficulty involved with trying to  attain a role in the entertainment industry of their mother country, "every job I ever got I had to fight for. I’m an odd, tall, black man that doesn’t quite fit in." While in the U.S. Elba has also played iconic roles such as that of Nelson Mandela (right).   He's also co-starred alongside Chris Hemsworth in Marvel's "Thor" series. Since his success in the U.S. he's said, "--here I am 25 years later in what I consider to be a very well-rounded career." 

    Is the answer for U.K.'s actors of color simply to move to the states to attain careers in Hollywood? "our most talented actors are getting increasingly frustrated and having to go to America to succeed" says British comedian Larry Henry (Bottom Right). Back home, Henry's been pushing for a more ethnically diverse entertainment industry. This includes jobs not just for Black actors, but for what's known as the BAME (Black, Asian, Minority, and Ethnic) community on and off camera. The industry's BAME involvement is at a startling 5.4%, says Henry, which is "an appalling percentage because the majority of our industry is based around London where the black and Asian population is 40%."  
In addition to citing these statistics during his lecture at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA), he commented on Idris Elba's success with his show on BBC America, "Luther" saying that Elba stars as an "intellectual, troubled maverick cop who has no black friends or family.", then questioned "You never see Luther with black people. What's going on?" A good question considering Elba's success can provide faith in financial backers for a show featuring a Black protagonist but not in other Black actors.

  Director of BBC Television Danny Cohen has responded to Henry's indignation,

"BBC Television is committed to diversity both on and off screen but we're always looking at how we can improve, including the recent launch of apprenticeship schemes with both the Mama Youth project and Stephen Lawrence Trust for example"

The Mama Youth Project is a charity whose aim is to provide disadvantaged young people with experience  and skills that will help them to secure "long-term and fulfilling employment." BBC TV and Sky have sponsored courses that spend 12 weeks training the youth involved with this charity in media production. BBC has announced its collaboration with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to "launch a three-month training programme for young people from BAME backgrounds." Channel 4 has said that BAME companies have used the channel's Two-Million-Pound Alpha Fund which aims to support and develop ideas from an ethnically diverse talent base across the U.K.

    Changes are being made to include a more diverse entertainment industry, even if they are being made slowly. The U.K.'s largest film fund, the British Film Institute announced in 2014 that they're looking for anyone applying for financial backing to demonstrate diversity on and off camera, including members of the LBGT community, women, and people who have disabilities. Hopefully the U.K. will take note of the money Hollywood is making with British actors of color, and start thinking twice before they refuse roles to these same actors.

Ugandan Magazine Advocates Gay Lifestyle

A Ugandan Magazine was recently published to support gays and help tell their story. The publisher, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera is openly gay and hopes to raise awareness about gay experiences. Tabloids make it difficult to supports homosexuality because they expose LGBT people in a country where homosexuality is illegal. "Politicians have stoked anti-gay sentiment by proposing laws that appeal to conservative Christians – the latest of which seeks to criminalise the “promotion” of homosexuality". (Agence France-Presse)

Along with many of her followers, Kasha has experienced violence and hate. She decided to create the magazine entitled Bombastic after she received hundreds of Facebook messages about harassment of LGBT people. Kasha developed the idea of producing the magazine concerning the lack of media support in Uganda, towards gays. She wanted to give people the LGBT people a platform in a country that shames them. Many people that have spoke out about gay rights have been threatened and attacked. The media is a major factor to the violence and harassment against gays. Magazines, television broadcasts , and newspapers exploit the LGBT community by plastering their photos on publications. Her dear friend, David Kato had been eaten to death with a hammer, in broad daylight after his name was published by a tabloid. “They would target me a lot, they would cook up stories – how I’m getting married … I’m training people to become lesbians,” Nabagesera said.

The people of  Uganda ad many other African countries are afraid to speak out because they fear or their jobs, homes, families and life. She wanted to be the voice for those afraid to weak out. After printing 15,000 copies of Bombastic Kasha sent them everywhere. “We took lots of copies to parliament, government offices, everywhere,” she said. Kasha further sought to promote Bombastic using a website, driving major traffic. 

One hundred thirty-eight volunteers including mainstream media help distribute the magazine. Awareness was being raised about the trouble Ugandan media causes for the LGBT community, although some burnt and dismissed them. Kasha was told "“the president’s wife refused even to open it”. “It is our wish, our hope, that if people read just one story it changes their attitude,” she said. Kasha's goal is to gain more support for gay rights.

Reference:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/09/uganda-gay-magazine-homophobia

http://www.dougcooperspencer.com/black-lgbtq-people-in-history.html

Revolutionary Rap in North Africa

    

    Ever since its inception in New York, Hip Hop/Rap has become a voice for the voiceless, speaking out against social injustices. Urban youth were let down by America and created an art form with which to strike back and claim an empowerment that would help their voice span the globe.

    This is the case in North Africa as many rappers have emerged as a result of corrupt politics, conflict, and revolution. Though their lyrics are not in English, their message is clear: "We want change." Revolution has occurred in places like  Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Libya, but some artists feel there has not been any change. They've used their lyrics encouraging people to become more politically conscious as well as call out corrupt government officials and institutions. Rap has now become the unofficial soundtrack for revolution.

    Among these rappers is "El Général" who in 2010 released a song called "Rais Le Bled" which translates to "Head of State" in English. The song spoke out against former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. El Général was arrested in 2011 for this track, and released after three days of interrogation. Social media helped his cause as it does many rappers of the region. The track was released on YouTube and was able to circumnavigate the world. This is the case with the majority of North African rappers who don't need to professionally record and produce their music, lest they be censored by the powers that control media distribution. Using Hip Hop and the internet in tandem have made it an unstoppable force, helping these artists to gain international fame. With that fame, comes their message and themes of political consciousness. These rappers have actually been able to develop an American fan base, and visit New York to perform in the home of Hip Hop.

    In some ways, American Hip Hop has devolved from political activism to promoting consumerism, lavish lifestyles, violence, drug use and sexual promiscuity. It's because of this modern mainstream music that Hip Hop is  berated for having an adverse effect on those who listen to it, primarily modern youth; Parents groups will say Hip Hop has no place as an art form, or even as music. They'll say that it influences listeners to act out the lyrics they hear in songs and take after the rappers that sing them. Hopefully in this case, Hip Hop's detractors are correct. If music can influence listeners that much, then perhaps revolutionary lyrics can shake modern day youth out of apathy and into a role of self-empowerment and self-advocacy; to fight for the future they will one day be responsible for.

eBay's Security Flaw Existed for Months

    A security flaw on eBay's website has been exposing eBay's customers to malicious websites.  This has been happening on eBay's site since Feburary. It has been revealed that by clicking on some of the listings on the site will automatically redirect customers to harmful sites. eBay has failed to fix and inforem users about the security flaw, despite having known since Feburary.

    According to BBC News, an eBay user Paul Castle contacted eBay in order to report the problem in a chat log which outlined the problem in detail with eBay's staff. This is not the first time that eBay has been hit with a security breach. eBay had a massive security breach which happened in May. The breach affected 145 million customers, which was performed by unknown hackers. The information stolen was email addresses, encrypted passwords, mailing addresses, and birth dates.

    The site eBay gives permission to many of their users who sell on eBay to use Javascript and Flash to make their listings more attractive, which is related to the security flaw. The search engine of eBay only allows customers to find completed auctions that are more than 15 days old. In each case of the listings, it appears that cross-site scripting (XSS) was used to steal the customer's information using Javascript. Cross-site scripting (XSS) is not allowed on eBay and eBay uses a range of security features, which are designed to detect and remove the listing containing the harmful codes. BBC News uncovered that many of their listings have been posted for more than 15 days, which posed dangers to eBay's users.

    In an interview BBC News reporter Dave Lee, a spokeswoman for eBay, "The company assures that they have a security team for the site, but the hackers used tactics capable of by passing their security. These hackers intentionally adapt to their code and tactics to try to stay ahead of the most sophisticated security team."      

    The site eBay is being heavily criticized by security experts for failing to react quickly to the problem and allowed it to go on for so long. This is the second time eBay has had security issues this year.  

Uber Car Service Fights Against ‘Ban’ in Germany.

Uber, “Everyone’s Private Driver”.  The slogan represents the car service company all too well. Once you have a smart phone, you then have the ability to hail a Cadillac Escalade and then be escorted around a city as if you were Barrack Obama. Not only can anyone use Uber, but anyone with a license can drive for Uber as well.  Uber is combining smart phone technology and taxis to change transportation. Private car services and taxis are now losing business to the new company. Claims are being made that Uber drivers don’t have as many restrictions or have to obtain as many permits as the other companies.  Germany is now placing a ban on Uber drivers. Is Uber so successful because there aren’t as many limitations, or is the company just changing the game of the car service industry for the better?

            You can access and Uber driver in over 100 major cities and over 30 countries around the world. Paris, New York City, London, you name it and Uber most likely has base there. But in Berlin, Germany a ban is being placed on the usage of Uber. The Frankfurt court claims that uber doesn’t have the necessary legal permits to work in the city.  While the case is being resolved in court, Uber was told that if they decide to continue operating, and lose the case then they could potentially be charged 300,000$ per ride they provided during the ban.

            This isn’t the first time the American company had a ban placed on it in Germany’s court system. In April a similar case was over turned. Now that the demand for Uber is growing more popular, other car service companies are making stronger attempts to have them play by the rules.

            ‘‘Anyone who is willing to play by the rules is welcome in the market,’’ a Herman Waldner quote published in a NY Times article. He is the owner of one of Berlin’s leading taxi companies.  That is the biggest complaint from other car service companies; they just want uber to have the same regulations and to create fair competition.

            Uber claims its services are insured and that the drivers and riders wellbeing is a major concern. But it hasn’t seemed to stop the protestors yet. All precautions are taken and now it is a measure of survival of the fittest.

           

Taxi drivers protesting against Uber in Berlin.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29027803

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/uber-to-fight-ban-in-berlin/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

 

Egyptian Government detains and mistreats Al Jazeera journalists

    Journalists who work for the Al Jazeera T.V. network are being charged with conspiring with a terrorist group and broadcasting inaccurate images of “a civil war that raises alarms about the state’s collapse.” by Egyptian prosecutors according to New York Times. 

    Al Jazeera has basically been the only major Arabic-language news outlet available in Egypt that will stand against the government. For this reason the government is considering those who work for this news outlet terrorists. ThePresident Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was exposed six months ago and since then the Egyptian government has been on a rampage to shut down any media outlets that have some sort of connection to either him or the Brotherhood. Private owned news organizations have been in support of this extreme crack-down from the government. 

 

    According to CNN, four of the men who were detained are not Egyptian natives. One of the correspondents is an Australian, Peter Greste, two are  Englishmen who have yet to be identified and one is an unnamed Dutchman. Peter Greste of Australia has actually been able to reach out and have a letter released by Al Jazeera straight from his jail cell. How the network recieved this letter is unknown but he explains that he and the others

“had been doing exactly as any responsible, professional journalist would"                                               

Greste believes were just another way for the Egyptian government to limit media freedoms. He also explains that the prisons have horrible conditions. They are denied rights that are given to all prisoners  like visits from lawyers and in some cases are being locked in cells for 20-24 hours a day.

   It is a true shame that these men were working to expose the truth as journalists but being considered terrorists by those in charge because they chose to speak out against the injustices in Egypt. This shows just how much power the government has over the media. While they may not be able to right out make laws banning media from going against them they can charge members of the media with bogus charges. Once those who want to expose the truth are placed in jail it becomes tougher for the truth to be told. Hopefully, these men return home safely and are able to continue to fight for justice and the truth.

Fake Mexican Journalist gets jailed time in Nicaragua

While many journalist in Mexico are targeted for writing the truth about violence and drugs in Mexico. You have people posing as Mexican Journalist covering a story in Nicaragua. These "journalists" are really trafficking drugs between the two countries. According to bbc.co.uk, 18 Mexicans were sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Nicaraguan government. The group was charged with money laudering, organized crime, and drug trafficking. 

According to thenews.com.pk Nicaraguan government is happy with this outcome that they were able to uncover the drug gang and make the arrest. They are proud to be one step closer to uncovering drug crimes in Nicaragua.