Stories about Breaking News from February, 2011
South Korea:Protest Against Foreign Finance's Encroachment
KEB(Korea Exchange Bank)'s employees and civil rights groups held a protest in Seoul today against Hana Financial Group's final decision to takeover KEB. The protesters, explaining the U.S. buyout fund Lone Star's involvement with Hana, accused it of foreign finances’ encroachment on Korean turf. South Korea's influential Tweeter @Barunsori6 posted a photo of...
Russia: Police Receives Right to Close Websites Without Court Order
Starting March 1, 2011, new law “On Police” [RUS] grants Russian police the right to order the heads of hosting companies to terminate the activity of those Internet resources that infringe Russian or International law or endanger individual or public security. Previously, police needed a court order to close a...
Côte d'Ivoire: Images of Vandalised Mosque in Yopougon
Ibrahim Diarra posted pictures of a mosque in Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire which he says was vandalised on February 26 by President Laurent Gbagbo's Young Patriots. The photos appeared on the Facebook page, Pour la paix, rien que la paix en Côte d'Ivoire (“For peace, nothing but peace”). Côte d'Ivoire has...
Libya: “The only thing we want is our freedom” (Audio)
Sunday, February 27 brought another day of bloodshed in Libya, as an uprising against Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi's 40-year rule continued into the 11th day. Phone calls with Libyans that have been shared online and translated, show that citizens are still struggling with even basic security.
Tunisia: Prime Minister Resigns Following a Bloody Saturday
Interim government Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi has stepped down following a bloody Saturday in the capital Tunis. The clashes that started on Friday night in Habib Bourguiba Avenue, between security forces and protesters led to the death of three persons.
Côte d’Ivoire: Twitter Campaign for Anderson Cooper’s Attention
Global Voices author Anna Gueye was instrumental in a recent campaign to persuade influential CNN reporter Anderson Cooper to pay as much attention to protests in African countries such as Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire, as he has to Tunisia, Egypt and other Arab world uprisings.
Lebanon: March Against Sectarianism #Feb27 #uniteLB
Lebanese activists are marching today, Feb27, at noon, to demand the end of the confessional system that rules Lebanon. The activists are using this Facebook group to organize. The Unite Lebanon hashtag #uniteLb is also used for Twitter updates.
Oman: The People Want an End to Corruption
"The people want an end to corruption" chanted thousands of Omanis, who have been protesting since Friday in Salalah and Sohar, as well as other parts of Oman. Ministerial changes announced earlier today did little to make protesters return to their homes and demands range from an end to corruption to more social, economic and political reforms.
China: Jasmine Revolution, Week Two
Following dozens of arrests since an anonymous blog post called for revolutionary gatherings in cities across China last Sunday, a second round of gatherings is scheduled for today. Has the heavy-handed government response turned what many insist was a stunt into something more powerful?
Yemen: “I beg you to help us NOW”
While much of Yemen protested peacefully, the country's military used tear gas and fired live weapons on protesters in the sea port of Aden. President Ali Abdullah Saleh said the demonstrations had been hijacked by separatists. But those on the ground claim non-violent protesters were shot and killed.
Egypt: Revolution's Not Over, Army Attacks Protestors
One month after a revolution began to demand political reform, Cairo's Tahrir Square was again the scene for bloody violence as the Egyptian army moved to quash continued protests for civilian rule. Two weeks since the ouster of dictator Hosni Mubarak, Egypt remains grappled in a tug of war between protestor demands for immediate democratic reform and a potent military refusing to cede power.
Egypt: Is Feb25 the Restart Button for the Egyptian Revolution?
Yesterday marked the first month since the start of the Egyptian revolution. Former president Hosni Mubarak has been toppled yet the revolution is still far from over. Protesters at Tahrir Square, calling for the demands of the revolution to materialise, were last night cordoned and attacked by the military police. Is this the beginning of another wave of rage?
Mauritania: Pro-Democracy Protests Break Out in Nouakchott
Protests broke out in Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott, today, after young people assembled themselves online to call for rallies, which demand social, political and economic reforms, and an end to Mauritania's military rule. On Twitter, protesters give us an account of what they witnessed during the day.
Libya: “They Were Shooting Us Randomly” (Videos)
As each day passes, it seems demonstrators and rebel military factions are coming closer to ousting the 40-year regime of Colonel Muammer Al Gaddafi. Like other days, however, Friday bore more news of violence against civilians, and worries that Gaddafi will soon do something extreme.
Yemen: “Our blood is not cheap” (Videos)
Tens of thousands of protesters across Yemen rallied for and against President Ali Abdullah Saleh after Friday prayers. Two protesters were shot dead in Yemen's second-largest city Aden on Friday, February 25, in what appears to be confrontations between anti-Saleh groups and police. At least 34 others have been wounded, mostly by live gunfire.
Libya: Defiant Gaddafi: “People who don't love me don't deserve to live”
Libyan dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi allegedly addressed supporters in Tripoli's Green Square, promising more gloom and doom to people protesting against his rule. In his latest speech, broadcast today on Libyan TV, Gaddafi called on Libyans to defend their country, adding that he would burn it if people don't defend him.
South Korea: Libyan Protest in Seoul
South Korean, Arabian and Libyan activists held a protest near the Libyan Embassy in Seoul today demanding the removal of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, South Korean photographer @photo0301 posted photos of today's protest.
Libya: Refugees Leave as Humanitarian Aid and Journalists Trickle in
As Libyan dictator Muammer Al Gaddafi continues to cling to power, killing protesters who are standing up against him in the process in the most brutal and horrendous crackdown to date, the influx of refugees trying to escape from Libya continues to grow. And as the death tolls rise, aid convoys and journalists continue to trickle into the country.
Iraq: A Day of Rage Begins
Today marks a Day of Rage in Iraq as thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to call for social and economic reforms and an end to corruption. Pro-change or pro-reform or anti-government protesters assembled in different points across Iraq this morning, to be faced with police brutality, media blackout and a government crackdown we have all become so familiar with by now.
China: Ran Yunfei charged with inciting subversion
Five days after he was detained, the family of Sichuan writer, scholar and blogger Ran Yunfei was notified today that Ran has officially been charged with inciting subversion of state power. Dark f**ing days indeed. [Note: People are now saying Ran has in fact been charged with the more serious...
South Korea: Amnesty International Condemns Korean Government's Censorship.
Amnesty International has condemned the convictionof eight South Koreans who are members of the Socialist Workers League. All eight men were found guilty under the National Security Law for “propagating or instigating a rebellion against the State’. Amnesty International criticized the law has been used to justify a form of censorship.
