With Corruption All Too Common, Brazil Pushes Back

More and more cases of corruption are reported all the time in Brazil. However, after the histicoral judgement of those involved in one the largest scandals of corruption in the country, the situation may be changing.

Marco Rubio's Bitter Drink at the State of the Union Address

Marco Rubio, Republican senator from Florida, was the first senator to address the country in both English and Spanish following President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. However, thirst played a trick on him, and his sip of water, live and in mid-speech, unleashed a wave of commentary on social media networks.

Eurovegas in Spain: Panacea or Plunder?

Officials have announced that Eurovegas, the future city of leisure that will supposedly create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Spain, will be built on the outskirts of Madrid. Why, then, are so many people raising their voices against the project, which should be a godsend for a country with more than five million people out of work?

Bangladeshi Artists Capture Shahbag Protests in Cartoons

The protests in Shahbag square in Bangladesh's capital city, where thousands of people have gathered to demand death for war criminals, rage on for a 12th day. Several artists have put pen to paper to capture the movement in cartoons.

Memorable Moments from the Brazilian Carnival

The importance of Carnival in Brazilian culture cannot be overplayed. Love it or hate it, the Party has bestowed joy on its anonymous masses, fired up those with an opportunistic unbridled penchant for the pursuit of fame, and destroyed the reputation of public figures who have lost all reason and personal boundaries. Check out the following for some magical, shameful, irreverent, controversial and entertaining flashbacks from this important Brazilian extravaganza.

“A Thousand Europeans Staring Back at You”

The Portuguese website Variações Sobre a Europa (Variations on Europe) [pt] invites one thousand citizens to create a digital avatar and to participate with their opinions for the construction of a democratic Europe.

Japan's Conservation Groups Fight to Preserve Wetlands

Damp and marshy, they seem boring and barren. But contrary to their appearance, tidal flats or coastal wetlands are rich in biodiversity and help maintain balance in the water cycle. For Japan, which hosts 46 of the 2,098 registered wetlands worldwide, their conservation is essential.

Under Pressure, Spain Opens Door to Foreclosure Reform

The Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH), joined by an impressive social movement, fought for Congress to change mortgage legislation in Spain. In the end, the Popular Party bowed to intense public pressure mobilized via the #ILPescrache hashtag.

Dominica, Curacao: Carnival 2013

Catch a glimpse of what this year's Carnival celebrations were like in Dominica and Curacao.

Hand-painted Ads in Guinea-Bissau

In Guinea-Bissau “there is a real market of experts on painting wall advertisements”, says landscape architect Manuel Bivar. In 2011, he shared a collection of photos featuring hand-painted ads from Guinean shops on the African contemporary culture website, Buala.

Spain: €8.1 Million Bail for the King's Son-in-law

Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma, accused of embezzlement of public funds, fraud, breach of trust/corruption and forgery of documents since 2012, has been in and out of the courts with less than enviable frequency. Recently, a warrant for Urdangarín was issued in relation to misappropriation of public funds.

Protester Sets Himself on Fire, Yemen Remembers the Revolution

Revolutionaries throughout Yemen are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of February 11, 2011 - the day Yemen's revolution began. Netizens share their thoughts on the occasion.

Brazil Gets Into Carnival Mood to the Afro Beats in Salvador

The biggest party on the planet, Brazilian carnival, has grown to such an extent in Salvador, Bahia, that it’s now spread over three main points in the city, attracting half a million tourists during the days of revelry. Preserving Afro-Brazilian culture is key to the Bahian carnival, and this year the theme for the famous Pelourinho historical centre is ‘Black Carnivals’.

Bangladeshi Women Join Shahbag Protests in Remarkable Numbers

Extraordinary numbers of Bangladeshi women have joined the groups of protesters occupying the capital city Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection demanding capital punishment for war criminals. The movement, spearheaded by bloggers and online activists, is seeking the death penalty for those who committed crimes against humanity during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

Kazakhstan's ‘Breathtakingly Beautiful’ Parks

In Pictures: The Protesting Crowd In Shahbag

Last Friday, 8th of February, 2013, hundreds of thousands of people started to gather since morning in Shahbagh's Generation Square in solidarity with bloggers and online activists’ ongoing protests. Arif Hossain Sayeed shares pictures of this mass gathering in Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

Peru: Heavy Rains Affect Arequipa

Blog Globalizado [es], by Juan Arellano, Global Voices in Spanish editor, shares photos and videos in the aftermath of the heavy rains that have affected the city of Arequipa: […] city council of Arequipa declared 30-day period state of emergency [es]. However, the Regional Government nor the Provincial Council have resources...

Hong Kong Activist Jailed for Burning Chinese Flag

A Hong Kong activist was sentenced to nine months in prison on Thursday for burning and defacing the Chinese flag and the Hong Kong flag during two separate demonstrations against the mainland's communist government, sparking many web users to upload their own desecration of the Chinese flag in protest of the heavy-handed sentence.

Southern Brazil Marches in Memory of Nightclub Fire Victims

A week after more than 230 young people lost their lives in a horrific nightclub fire in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria, thousands gathered across the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul to pay homage to the victims.

Bangladesh: All Roads Lead To Shahbagh

The protests at Shahbagh intersection in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka continue for the fourth day. Protesters demand capital punishment for Jamaat-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah and other war criminals on trial.

Dreams Come Alive, Baseball Player José Contreras Returns to Cuba

The arrival of José Ariel Contreras to Cuba, a Cuban baseball pitcher based in the US since 2002, has moved the habitants of his native province, Pinar del Río, and also fans of the island's national sport, baseball. Elaine Díaz tells us about this emotional event and its historical and political meaning for Cuba at the moment.