Chile: Mapuche Prisoners End Hunger Strike After 60 Days

After 60 days on hunger strike, four Mapuche prisoners have ended their protest after the Chilean Supreme Court agreed to some of their demands. This struggle has also brought to light divisions about the conflict among Chileans.

Israel: The Unification of Right-Wing Parties Gives Birth to Bibirman

Israelis took to Facebook and Twitter to react to the announcement that the two largest right-wing parties in Israel will run on a joint ballot in the upcoming January 2013 elections. The parties, Likud, headed by Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, and Yisrael Beyetenu headed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, are projected to form the next Israeli government, as all polls show that the right-wing blog will once against be dominant one in the Knesset.

Mauritania: Authorities Hand Over Gaddafi's chief intelligence to Libya

Mauritanian authorities handed over the Gaddafi regime intelligence chief Abdallah Senoussi to Libyan authorities. Ahmed Jedou collects blogger reactions to the development

Haiti: Flooding in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Haiti Libre reported that the the General Hospital in Les Cayes was flooded when Hurricane Sandy hit Haiti on october 23. Haiti Libre added that a woman drowned trying to cross a river in Camp-Perrin.

Ghana: Meet Agnes Chigabatia – Ghanaian Female Politician

There have been considerable efforts by women to have chance in Ghanaian politics. Agnes Chigabatia, a parliamentary candidate and a former member of parliament, is one of them. Ghana Decides, a non-partisan project which aims to foster a better-informed electorate for free, fair and safe 2012 elections using social media tools took a personality profile look on her. She is

Costa Rican Bloggers Speak Up for Freedom of Expression

Ticoblogger summarizes [es] the participation of bloggers, journalists, and activists in the forum “Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression” held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. The post links to presentations by Gustavo Araya [es, pdf], Julio Córdoba [es], and José Medrano [es].

Peru: Police and Protesters Clash in #LaParada Market in Lima

A police operative blocking streets in a wholesale market area in Lima ended in clashes between merchants and the police. Television newscasts broadcast violent scenes showing a policeman on the ground being stoned in the head by rioters. Juan Arellano posted [es] a summary on his blog. More under the...

Kazakhstan: Misused National Symbols

People should be punished for displaying the coat of arms on garbage trucks and for using the national flag as a construction tool or toy bag.

Ukraine: Crowdmapping Election Violations

ElectUA.org [uk] is a crowdsourcing tool used to report and map election violations in Ukraine. A project of Internews-Ukraine, its goal [en] is “to encourage citizens to have active social position and monitor the electoral process.” So far, 1,177 reports have been submitted; the parliamentary vote is to take place...

Riots Erupt Anew in Western Myanmar

As of October 24, 2012, the government reported that 12 persons were killed, 50 were injured and 1,948 houses were destroyed in the riot clashes between Rakhine residents and Rohingyas in Kyaut Phyu, Min Pyar, Myay Pone and Myaut Oo towns of Rakhine state in western Myanmar. This was disclosed by the...

Thailand: Problems in Implementing Information Act

Saksith Saiyasombut and Siam Voices translate an article written by ThaiPublica about Thailand's experience in implementing the Official Information Act of 1997: Thai citizens were given more rights to request the disclosure of official government information…But even with such progress, it hasn’t resulted in simpler access to official information yet,...

Malaysia: Penang's Bicycle Lanes

anilnetto writes about the proposed 12.5km bicycle lane in Penang, Malaysia. The first phase of the project has already started and completion is targeted in the next two years.

Ukraine: Pre-Election Roundup

In the run-up to the October 28 general election in Ukraine, discover a selection of relevant blog posts.

China: Zero Donations to Government Education Development Fund

Does the recent zero response to the Guizhou Education Bureau's fundraising campaign reflect Chinese people's distrust in government-led charity work?

Kyrgyz Music Fridays

Kyrgyz Music Friday is a weekly feature in which I post a pop music video from an artist in Kyrgyzstan… [It] is not trying to appeal to your musical taste, but simply gives you a glimpse into how pop music is done on this side of the world. Presented by Ivory Pomegranate.