Stories from 14 January 2013
Russian Facebook of Horrors: The Murder Trail
A Moscow chef, Alexey Kabanov, has allegedly strangled and dismembered his wife and mother of three small children, Irina Cherska. Kabanov and Cherska were tightly integrated into the protest-minded Russophone Facebook community.
Iran: ‘Tehran Has More Than 1 million Facebook Users’
The deputy parliament speaker says Tehran has ‘more than 1 million Facebook users’ and there are more than 200,000 in other big cities of Iran like Shiraz and Rasht. Hasan Aboutorabi regrets that ‘such a potential space is in the hands of our enemy and they deploy all of its capacities against us.’
Reconciliation Day in Southern Yemen
Thousands of people from all six southern provinces in southern Yemen flocked to the city of Aden over the past few days in order to participate in the carnival of "reconciliation and forgiveness". The carnival commemorates the civil war in former South Yemen which took place in 1986.
Kony's LRA Kills Villagers in Yalinga, Central African Republic
While the Central African Republic awaits a new prime minister [fr] after the peace talks in Libreville, the army reports that Joseph Kony and the Lord Resistance Army LRA have killed three people [fr] near the village of Yalinga. The reports adds that a 12 year old girl was also kidnapped by the rebels.
Armenian Blogger on Trial for Satire Photo of Politician
Edgar Barseghyan, the creator of satire photo website, Demotivator.am is on trial for publishing a satirical photo of a model's body with the superimposed face of Armenian politician Tigran Urikhanyan and the caption "Stylish Politician of the Year".
Protesters Trap QMM Staff in Madagascar over Land Dispute
Bill at Madagascar Tribune reports that protesters held Rio Tinto QMM Staff hostages [fr] on January 11 in Southern Madagascar. After armed forces disrupted the protests with tear gas and freed the staff, police proceed to arrest a dozen of protesters [fr] today. Rio Tinto executives threatened to exit the country after the...
Tuareg Families Regroup to Avoid Airstrikes in Northern Mali
We must regroup so that airplanes can tell us apart from the targeted ismalists fighters who will be on the move. Tuareg refugees in Borj and Timeaouine in Northern Mali are hurrying to gather around their family members in order to avoid airstrikes by French planes against islamist groups, Tamoudre reports...
The Outsourcing Revolution In Bangladesh
Asif Anwar suggests that getting more and more people into freelancing & outsourcing industry can make Bangladesh a medium earning country sooner than expected.
Honduras: Sales in a Bus
Fabricio Estrada, the blogger from Bitácora del párvulo [es] summarizes the speech of a trader that uses a bus as sales venue: Allow me, kind travelers, to interrumpt your nap or the conversation held with your companion or newspaper. I'm here just to offer you the so desired health, just...
Outspoken Critic's Silence at Book Launch Echoes Across China
Outspoken social critic and blogger Li Chengpeng recently released a new book: the Whole World Knows[zh]. Also known as an eloquent public speaker, Li delivered a bold speech on freedom of expression at an elite University in china last November. While the audience expected another speech at Li’s book signing event in his hometown, China’s Sichuan province on Jan 12 2013, what they saw is a silent Li with a mask on his face. His speech was censored.
South Korean TV Networks Shun Politically Active Actress
One of South Korea’s most outspoken actresses revealed through Twitter that two networks cancelled her booked TV appearances after a political candidate she openly supported lost the recent presidential election.
