Stories from 23 August 2012
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,...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
