Iran: Detained Green Movement Leader Moved to Hospital

Mir Hossein Mousavi, a key Iranian Green Movement leader, who was a reformist candidate in the 2009 presidential elections and eventually the leader of the opposition in the post-election unrest, has been moved to the hospital for "heart problem." Mousavi has been under house arrest for about 520 days.

Togo: 11 Missing After Clashes Between Police and Protesters

Koaci writes that 11 protesters are reported missing [fr] after the police clashed with thousands of protesters on the streets of Lomé on August 23: Police forces have used violence so far...

Russia: Drug Drugu, Wish Fulfillment via Social Networks

Drug Drugu ("To One Another") is a service that works with the wishes of users. Community members can not only request some kind of help, but also offer their own. The resource's operating principle is very simple: a user leaves a message in the appropriate category, assigns it a category, location, and image, and waits for another community member to response.

China: Open Letter to Car-Smashing “Patriots”

The territorial conflict between Japan and China has led to a series of protests in major Chinese cities, with angry patriots smashing Japanese vehicles. In response to such action, a...

Russia: Taxi Drivers Versus Dagestanis in Ryazan

A possible fight between Russians and Dagestani migrants perhaps led to dozens, possibly hundreds, of taxi drivers organizing a pogrom-like attack. Events like this raise questions about Russia's capacity to effectively cope with its multiculturalism, especially now, when the situation on the ground in the North Caucasus is so troubling.

China: Mahjong Obsession

Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu translates a local news feature on the Chinese obsession with Mahjong, a game of chance.

Caribbean: The Number Portability Game

. . . there has been considerable buzz around [Number Portability], and several countries across the Caribbean have embarked upon activities that ultimately should lead to its implementation. Yet, how...

Myanmar: Delta Region Hit by Worst Flooding in a Decade

More than 30,000 people were displaced from their homes as floods hit the delta region of Myanmar. Residents have described the flash floods as the worst in a decade.

Egypt: Women on TV in Ramadan

Now that Ramadan is over, I can get it out of my mind and scream hard on how women were portrayed in the Egyptian TV throughout the whole month Eman...

Tunisia: Former Presidential Advisor Faces Military Trial Over Army Criticism

Ayoub Massoudi, a former advisor to Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, faces a military trial over his declarations regarding the extradition of former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi (under Gaddafi). He described the extradition as "treason against the State".

Colombia: President and Indigenous Leaders Meet to Discuss Cauca Conflict

President Juan Manuel Santos met with the indigenous people of the Cauca to hear their grievances and to talk about the ongoing conflict in this department. Thousands of indigenous people came from several regions of the country with the intention of speaking with the President and to push an initiative of peace. The meeting ended without having reached substantial agreements.

Lebanon: Awaiting the Pope's Visit in September

The head of the Catholic Church Benedict XVI is to visit Lebanon from September 14 to 16. Father Alex, from Germany, hopes the visit is not late for the region...

Peru: Syllogisms, Questions and Famous Quotes

Peruvian blogger Cyrano, from Columna 17 [es], raises some interesting questions and phrases, such as “an earthquake comes when the Earth trembles with fear”, or “What if I wage it...

France: Unexpected Parallel Between Assange and Strauss-Kahn

The blog de Casimira highlights some similarities [fr] between the timing of the charges and the ensuing judicial battles facing  J. Assange and D. Strauss-Kahn.  She also clarifies the peculiarities of the charge, “sex...

Bahrain: Nabeel Rajab Acquitted for ‘Insulting’ Tweets

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab's teenage son Adam tweets [ar]:

My father was found innocent of insulting the people of Muharraq after he spent two and a half months in prison

Argentina: Blogging in Welsh from Patagonia

The Argentine Patagonia was the first home of the Welsh migration that arrived in 1865 on the Mimosa steamboat. People from Wales and their descendants living in Argentina keep their culture and language alive through blogs and social networks.

Lebanon: It's Back to Kidnapping Time

A wave of kidnappings is taking place between Lebanon and Syria. While the Lebanese government seems incapable of acting, these events are reminding Lebanese of the civil war they lived with for 30 years. Netizens are angry and are blaming all parties.

Six days in Hong Kong's Occupy Central

Among the “occupy” movements, Hong Kong's activists probably have set the longest record in the occupation of the central financial area. Hudson Lockett from DANWEI lived with the activists and...

China: Power Cut at Indie Film Festival

Wendy Qian from China Digital Times translates Beijing Indie film circle's discussion about the sudden power cut at the opening of this year's Indie Film Festival.

Portugal: The Dark Side of the National Dam Program

The dams in the Programa Nacional de Barragens (National Dam Program) will cost the Portuguese government €16 billion, to be spent on construction, subsidies and interest on loans. Together with wind farms, they are going to make Portuguese electricity the most expensive in the world.

Peru's Feminist Activist-Artist: María María Acha-Kutscher

Peruvian feminist, activist and visual artist María María Acha-Kutscher is using the Internet to share her work. From Mexico's Frida Kahlo to Spain's "indignadas" (outraged) and Russia's Pussy Riot, Acha-Kutscher's drawings reflect the life and struggles of female artists and activists from all over the world.