10 January 2013

Stories from 10 January 2013

Russia's Protest Movement Is Back (to Usual)

RuNet Echo

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past year: the Russian protest movement—which sprung to life in December 2011—has collapsed. Trusted demonstration speakers are selling toothpaste on TV, top bloggers are accused of pedophilia, and recent rallies have attracted smaller crowds. In other words, Russia's opposition—as it's been known throughout the Putin years—is back to usual.

10 January 2013

East Timorese Politicians on Social Media

The most popular East Timorese politician on Facebook, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, with a page that counts up to 6,737 likes, doesn't update it at all. Despite having used Facebook quite...

10 January 2013

The Three Kings Visit New York

The Three Kings came and went, but not before passing through New York City to celebrate with hundreds of children that came out for the parade. This Christmas celebration has been a part of the Caribbean and Latin American cultural traditions for numerous centuries.

10 January 2013

How Many Twitter Users in China?

A few months ago, a research marketing company claimed that 35 million people in China used Twitter. Jason from Blocked in Weibo puts forward a more sophisticated estimation. Among the...

10 January 2013

Conversations: A Road Trip to Idlib

As part of our effort to highlight civilian stories, below is a conversation between Syria Deeply and a Syrian university student. She’s from a conservative Sunni family in Aleppo. She hopes to leave the country, but first had to get a passport from her family’s registered home address in Idlib. She told us her observations about the road between Aleppo and Idlib.

10 January 2013

Public Prosecutor Seeks Flogging for Saudi Women Protesters

Last Saturday, January 5th, relatives of uncharged prisoners managed to organize a small protest in Saudi Arabian city Buraida to demand the release of the prisoners. The protesters, all of them were women and children, were quickly surrounded and arrested by police forces since all methods of public dissent are strictly prohibited and harshly crushed in the absolute monarchy.

10 January 2013

China to Surpass the US by 2049?

A report released on January 8, 2013, by the Chinese Academy of Sciences says that China is likely to surpass the United States in all areas by 2049, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be realized. The statement has been made fun of on Sina Weibo, with netizens urging the real problems in China should be faced.

10 January 2013

Police Harass Ordinary Citizens in Kerala, India

The Delhi gang-rape case has activated many live discussions and the moral policing of the Indian societies. In Kerala, most recently there have been three incidents of police harassing the ordinary citizens have been discussed in the social media.

10 January 2013

Turkmenistan: What Do Tourists Want?

Tourists coming to Turkmenistan do not seek five-star hotels and casinos; they do not travel to exotic countries for something which they can easily find close to home. They are interested in the local [customs and traditions], antiquities, and the Silk Road.

10 January 2013