Police Besiege Barcelona District in the Run Up to May 1st

The day before May Day, a hundred protesters peacefully went through the streets of a Barcelona district, followed throughout the entire route by hundreds of riot police heavily armed with anti-gas masks and shotguns. Social networks were abuzz with reactions.

Yemeni General Apologizes for 1994 Civil War on Facebook

Waving flags of a country that once existed, thousands assembled in former cities that used to make up South Yemen on 27 April 2013, to commemorate the day the north declared war on their people and occupied their land, nineteen years ago. The same day, the President's chief military advisor issued an apology on Facebook for all "unjust wars" declared by former President Saleh's regime.

EU Seal Ban Maims Indigenous Way of Life in the Arctic

A European Union court in Luxembourg has upheld its ban on the commercial trade of seal products despite a challenge from Canada's Inuit and several Canadian lawmakers that it cripples the indigenous people's ability to make a living.

Kazakhstan's First Ever Lesbian Wedding

This was a real wedding. With limousines. With friends and guests. With champagne. With congratulatory speeches. You might ask, "but what about the law?" You see, love does not recognize the law. This is why the wedding took place. However, it was not [registered by the state]. Same-sex marriage are not allowed [in Kazakhstan].

‘Awe-Inspiring Fortresses’ in Eastern Tajikistan

Caravanistan presents a collection of images of the “awe-inspiriting fortresses” in the eastern Tajik region of Badakhshan (or GBAO). The ruins of these fortresses, some of which are still used by Tajik border guards, suggest that “life was once very different here”.

Arabic Hashtag Trending Worldwide on Twitter

Kuwaiti Hamad Al Sabah tweets: @hmalsabah: Twitter is finally allowing Arabic hashtags to trend worldwide #كلام_مصري_مترجم pic.twitter.com/tb84Nkrk94 Netizens are using the hashtag, which translates to Egyptian Talk Translated, to translate Egyptian expressions and idioms.

“Drone Strikes are the Face of America in Yemen”

22-year-old Yemeni Farea Almuslimi, appeared before the U.S. Senate hearing on America's secret drone war and gave a powerful testimony. The activist and freelance journalist comes from Wesab village, which was hit by a US drone strike on April 18, 2013.

Mapping Tool to Track Insecticide-Resistant Mosquitoes

Cameroonian blogger Edouard Tamba posted on twitter about the first online mapping tool to tool to track insecticide resistance in mosquitoes that cause malaria : IR Mapper.

Giants, Hackers, Trolls: Where Mythology and Online Activism Meet

The online world has much more in common with the mythological world than you might expect. A look at Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks, and Anonymous and their corresponding roles in mythology.

Spain: The Bishop and the Global Conspiracy Against Humanity

José Antonio Reig Pla, bishop of the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares, refers to abortion as an "international conspiracy to reduce the population." The news has spread quickly on social media sites.

Japan's Cherry Blossom Tradition Tests Rookie Employees

Among the thousands of people that fill Japan's parks every spring to picnic under the delicate pink cherry blossoms are young professionals sent by their bosses to reserve a spot for the company's outdoor feast.

Expectations Run High for Immigration Reform in the United States

In a massive rally in Washington DC, protesters, activists and community leaders called for immigration reform that would legalize the status of some 11 million immigrants in the United States. Their cause seems to have been heard by a bipartisan group of senators who have just proposed a new immigration bill. Netizens weigh in.

Car Explosion at the French Embassy in Libya

Twitter user @Eh4b10 has posted several photos on twitter of a car explosion near the French Embassy today around 6:50 am local time in Tripoli, Libya.

Brazilians Accuse FIFA of Stamping Out Local Culture

Anger in Brazil is on the rise as World Cup authorities refuses to allow street vendors in the northeastern city of Salvador, one of 12 cities hosting the 2014 football competition, from selling a typical local food known as "acarajé" during the Cup. Some are accusing FIFA of trying to snuff out Brazilian culture from World Cup branding.

Monsanto Nominated for Puerto Rico's Agricultural Hall of Fame

As soon as the non-profit organization Acción y Reforma Agrícola announced that it nominated the agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto to the Hall of Fame of Puerto Rican Agriculture, many grassroots groups demonstrated their fiercest opposition.

Astronaut Tweets Breathtaking Pictures of the Middle East from Space

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, currently in space aboard the International Space Station, is sharing pictures of breath-taking views from around the world on Twitter. Here are a few shots he shares of the Middle East from space.

Double Standard? Protesting Foreclosures and Abortion Clinics in Spain

Elena Valenciano, Deputy Secretary General of Spain's Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), has criticised the Popular Party for seeking to regulate "escrache" protests against foreclosures, citing that many abortion clinics have suffered for years without the government stepping in to limit groups' freedom of expression and right to protest.

Young Haitian-Dominicans Demand Their Right to a Legal Identity

Around 50 Dominican youth of Haitian ancestry marched towards the National Palace demanding the return of their documents and, as such, their Dominican nationality, taken away arbitrarily through an administrative ruling issued by the Central Electoral Board in 2007.

Urban Art Festival Highlights Neighborhood in Puerto Rico

After the 4th annual urban art festival of "Santurce es Ley" in Santurce, Ángel Carrión strolls down the Calle Cerra, a street now converted into the mural mecca of Puerto Rico.

#Yemen: A US Drone Hits Dhamar

After a three month break in Yemen from U.S drone strikes, a drone last night, April 18th, 2013, killed five Qaeda suspects. Activist and journalist Farae Al-muslimi, from the village of Wessab, in the province of Dhamar, broke the news of the US drone strike, on Twitter.

Madagascar's Economy Falling Behind Africa's

While sub-Saharan Africa's economic growth is projected to “outpace the global average“, a study by M. Razafindrakoto et al. from IRD (The Institute of Research on Development) published earlier this month unpacks the causes of Madagascar's economy lagging behind its African counterparts [fr] (Via Madagoravox).