Breaking News · August, 2013

Egyptian forces are now dispersing two sit-ins in Cairo, with conflicting reports on casualties. The action is unfolding live on television. Netizens weigh in.

Mexican President Reveals Controversial Energy Reform Plans

Latin America 13 August 2013

The president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, has presented his proposal to reform the constitution regarding Mexican Petroleum and the oil industry.

‘Red Wednesday’ Protests to Benin President: ‘Don't Touch My Constitution!’

Sub-Saharan Africa 11 August 2013

The Red Wednesday movement is growing in Benin. Sinatou Saka explains why.

“They have Killed Eid in Iraq”

Middle East & North Africa 10 August 2013

This Ramadan marked one of the deadliest months in Iraq. Around 17 bomb explosions across the country have left 91 dead and 323 injured tonight. And the number of victims continues to climb.

‘Rewire': How to Be a Better Media Consumer

North America 10 August 2013

Commentary from around the French-speaking Web on serendipity and cosmopolitanism, two key concepts found in the book 'Rewire' by Global Voices co-founder Ethan Zuckerman.

Mauritanian Blogger Babbah Weld Abidine Arrested

Sub-Saharan Africa 10 August 2013

On August 7, Mauritanian authorities arrested [ar] Babbah Weld Abidine, a blogger (editor of Lebjawi News blog) [ar -fr] and a correspondent in the Region of Tagant for the website “Reporters – Mourasiloun”. Two days before his arrest, Weld Abidine went to the Public Prosecution office to inquire about a rape case...

Public Transit Strike Paralyzes Paraguay

Latin America 8 August 2013

The strike left some 700,000 transit users without access to their primary mode of transportation. A protest has been called in reaction to the demands by the transport owners' association.

Congolese Teacher Pushed Out of Moving Police Van in Morocco, Dies

Middle East & North Africa 7 August 2013

The death of Toussaint-Alex Mianzoukouta, a french teacher in Tanger is symptomatic of increasing brutality towards sub Saharan immigrants from the Moroccan police, Afrik Online reports [fr]. Mianzoukouta was not given the opportunity to present his immigration documents before he was taken into the van, the report says. He died from...

Madagascar Agency Suspended from Network Tracking Money Laundering

Sub-Saharan Africa 7 August 2013

Lambo T. reports [fr] on the website of La Gazette de La Grande Ile that Samifin [mg], the agency in charge of cleaning up the financial sector and combat transnational illegal operations in Madagascar has been suspended from the Egmont Group of financial intelligence units. Egmont is an international network that helps tracks...

Macedonians Protest Clearing of Trees in Skopje

North Macedonia 6 August 2013

Like in nearby Turkey and Serbia, the protest that seemed to revolve around a few trees became something much more.

Saudi Activist Released After Two Years in Prison

Middle East & North Africa 6 August 2013

Charged with establishing an unlicensed association and possessing illegal books, Mohamed el-Bjadi was released from a Saudi prison today. The Saudi Twittersphere rejoices.

Japanese Users Break Tweets Per Second Record

East Asia 4 August 2013

Japan's netizens broke the world record for tweets per second on August 2, 2013, flooding Twitter with the magic word “balse” [バルス] from the 1986 anime film Castle In the Sky as the movie was broadcast on television in Japan on August 2, 2013. Users set a new record of 143,199 tweets...

News Websites Indicted over Land Grab Report

Sub-Saharan Africa 2 August 2013

News Websites Rue89 and Basta Mag are indicted [fr] following charges by French investment and industrial holding group Bolloré over a report in which they implicate Bolloré [fr] in land grab activities [fr] in Africa. The report lists the group's activities in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Politis, a weekly analysis website, reacted...