Stories about Breaking News from August, 2011
Lebanon: Special Tribunal Unseals Indictment
“The first question that comes to mind is: is this it? After nearly six years of investigation, does the case truly rest solely on telecommunications data? What about witness testimony? Forensics? DNA analysis? Magnifying glasses and trench coats?” asks Qifa Nabki while summarizing the indictment and posting his first reaction...
India: RTI and Wildlife Activist Killed in Broad Daylight
Indian Right To Information activist and NGO worker Shehla Masood (39) was shot dead in front of her residence in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. She was also known for campaigning on wildlife conservation. Indian Twitter users react to this tragic death.
Nepal: Prime Minister Resigns
After six months of serving as the Prime Minister post of Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal resigned today, reports Nepali Blogger. The 34th Prime Minister of the country was elected after 17 attempts in the parliament to reach a consensus on a candidate.
China: Large NIMBY Protest Erupts in Dalian
A Sunday morning sit-in protest in downtown Dalian, Liaoning province, against a chemical factory located in the city turned into a large-scale procession through the streets. Police were out in full force, but so too were the microbloggers.
Chile: Demonstrators Thwart Hooded Violent Protestors
Chilean students protesting for educational reforms have been rallying since April and in the process have been forcefully controlled with water cannons and tear gas. A recent video has shown some demonstrators stopping a violent protest; many Chileans have shown support for the students.
Palestine: Israeli Bulldozers Blamed for Cutting Off Gaza Telecoms
Reports are appearing online of a total communication blackout in Gaza. On Twitter, users are blaming Israeli bulldozers for the outage. Here is part of the conversation.
Yemen: Pressing Humanitarian Needs and Deteriorating Economic Situation
The United Nations Security Council has issued a statement expressing grave concern about the situation on the ground in Yemen, including pressing humanitarian needs and a deteriorating economic situation following months of protests calling for the overthrow of the Ali Abdullah Saleh regime.
Arab World: Watching London “Burn” in Social Media
Arab Twitter users are sharing their perspectives on the ongoing rioting in the United Kingdom, which started three days ago. Many frown on the actions of rioters and their vandalism, insisting there is no comparison to draw between what is happening in the UK and the ongoing revolutions and protests across the Arab world.
United Kingdom: Making Sense of the London Riots
London woke up to a wave of destruction on Tuesday morning, following another night of anarchic rioting and looting. As communities clear the damage and brace themselves for more unrest, the country is trying to make sense of the events, which have highlighted deep tensions in the relationship between political leaders, the police and the communities they aim to serve.
United Kingdom: Time for #RiotCleanup in London?
After extensive looting and rioting across London and other cities in the United Kingdom since Saturday night, ordinary citizens are now looking for ways to help their cities heal. On Tuesday morning the hashtags #prayforlondon and #riotcleanup have overtaken #londonriots on Twitter.
Japan: Perspective on London Riots scale in relation to Tokyo
To get perspective on the geographical scale of the London Riots, @c50cub96 mapped a comparison to the greater Tokyo area.
United Kingdom: London Burning (Videos)
Anger over the police killing of a 29-year old man in Tottenham, north London on August 4, 2011 fueled by racial tension, has spiralled into rioting and looting by youth across London and other cities in the United Kingdom.
Syria: Death Toll Mounts as Ramadan Massacre Continues
Protests calling for President Bashar Al Assad “to leave” continue in Syria this Ramadan. As the death toll mounts, reactions continue to pour in from across the Arab world.
Ukraine: Court Orders Yulia Tymoshenko's Arrest
According to media reports, the court has ordered the arrest of Ukraine's ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko (@YuliaTymoshenko [uk]). Olga Sulyma (@OlenyatkoS) addresses [en] Ukraine's President Victor Yanukovych on Twitter: “Dear Mr.President,by arresting #Tymoshenko you are one step away from handcuffing #Ukraine.”
Brazil: New Minister of Defence Becomes Trending on Twitter
Brazilian diplomat Celso Amorim, Minister of External Relations of the former President Lula da Silva, was appointed by President Rousseff as the new Minister of Defence, replacing the controversial Nelson Jobim, writes [pt] Hugo Albuquerque. Thousands tweeted the news as Amorim's name became [pt] a worldwide trending topic.
Lebanon: Protest Against Syrian Regime Attacked by Loyalists
A small protest in the front of the Syrian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon ended in violence on Tuesday, 2 August 2011, when pro-regime loyalists stormed the gathering. Syria has always had a polarising effect on its smaller neighbour Lebanon, and Lebanese politics is often divided between pro-Syrian and anti-Syrian camps.
Chile: Students Defy Government and March Through Alameda Avenue
Although the government refused to authorize today's demonstration on Alameda Avenue in Santiago, Chilean students are protesting for education reform once again. This time netizens are using the hashtag #4deagosto on Twitter to share reports, pictures and reactions.
Russia: Police violence towards journalists and bloggers
Russian journalist and photoblogger Ilya Varlamov was threatened and attacked by Russian policemen when he covered oppositional demonstration in Moscow. He posted his story and photos [ru] of the attacker on his blog. Another story of police violence against a photoblogger during the same demonstration was told [ru] by Dmitriy...
Guatemala: Soldiers Involved in 1982 Dos Erres Massacre Sentenced to 6,060 Years in Prison
“A Guatemalan elite army unit entered Dos Erres in the northern Petén region on 5 December 1982 and tortured and killed some 250 men, women and children over the course of three days before razing the village”: Amnesty International explains. Four former soldiers involved in this massacre were sentenced this...
Caribbean: Update on Emily
Tropical Storm Emily lightly skirted Dominica, Guadeloupe [FR] and the U.S. Virgin Islands, causing rain and “wave action”; now, Cuba and Haiti await her arrival.
Egypt: Scenes from Monday's Crackdown on Tahrir Square
The Muslim holy month Ramadan didn't begin well for Egyptians on Tahrir square in Cairo protesting for the numerous still unmet demands of the revolution. On Monday, 1 August 2011, the army evacuated them with an iron fist, leaving many injured and more than one hundred detained.
