Stories from 5 February 2013
Ecuador: Stabbing Spree at President's Rally in Quinindé
On the night of Monday, February 4, 2013, in Quinindé, in Esmeraldas province, a man stabbed several people on a political rally by President Rafael Correa, causing the death of two citizens and injuring another four.
Paraguay After Presidential Candidate Lino Oviedo's Sudden Death
Lino César Oviedo, Paraguayan general and polítician, died on Saturday, February 2, 2013 when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in northern Asunción. His pilot and his bodyguard died too.
“Christian” Zambia: Blessing or Curse?
Mr. Ndhlovu explains the purpose of his book in the last pages. He states that he was motivated to write this book because pastors and politicians who had been abusing...
African Union Panel of the “Not-So-Wise”
Collins Mbalo wonders whether the African Union Panel of the Wise and the COMESA/IGAD committee of elders was unwise in their assessment of whether Kenya is ready for peaceful elections...
Future of Media Censorship in China
At ChinaFile, former Southern Weekend editor Chang Ping talks about the Southern Weekend incident from an insider's perspective, including its effect on the prospects for media freedom in China.
“Hands up! This is a robbery!”: Protests Continue in Spain
People in Madrid have taken the streets in droves to show their fury with President Mariano Rajoy over new corruption allegations. Anna Williams shares her photographs of the protests.
Iran: Will Thieving Officials Also Have Their Hands Chopped Off?
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once again proved his talent for making surprising headlines when he played a video for the parliament implicating some of the country's leading officials in a corruption scandal.
U.S. President Barack Obama Supports Immigration Reform
U.S. President Barack Obama supported a bipartisan proposal developed by eight senators to overhaul immigration by strengthening border security, verifying the legal status of workers, and allowing university students to continue their university studies. Netizens react.
Peru: Lima's Electors Caught Between Yes and No
In a municipal recall referendum set for March 17, voters in Lima will decide whether the city's first mayoress is to stay or go. And both the YES and the NO sides have come out swinging.
One Joke Too Many? Bhutanomics Satire Blog is Suddenly Blocked
Rousing suspicions that Bhutan's government does not appreciate the humor of political satire blog Bhutanomics, the website was blocked on January 12, 2013 from a major internet service provider with no explanation or warning.
Escaping Russia's “Vulgar, Primitive” Secularism
Vladimir Putin has given another speech in defense of Russian Orthodox values, this time calling on the Church to study the lessons of the twentieth century. "We must avoid a vulgar, primitive understanding of secularism," he told the Bishops' Council, a massive gathering of Orthodox clergy. Putin's comments are hard to divorce from several conservative legislative efforts in the last year.
Historic ‘Tanka’ Poem Rises from Japan's Nuclear Ashes
Drawing from contemporary issues, a Japanese blogger writes an adaptation of a famous piece of tanka - a genre of Japanese poetry - originally published in 1957 by an avant-garde Japanese artist, Shuji Terayama. What will you hear in this piece which has been re-created more than half a century after its original?
Somyot Case Ignites Lese Majeste Debate in Thailand
Activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was found guilty by the Bangkok Criminal Court of violating the Lese Majeste (anti-royal insult) law. As editor of the Voice of Taksin magazine, Somyot was slapped with a 10-year jail sentence for publishing articles that ‘insulted’ the monarchy. Somyot's case ignited debate on whether it's time for Thailand to reform the controversial law
When Sex is Just the “Room Thing”
Jocelyn Eikenburg from Speaking of China talks about some subtle expressions of sex in Chinese. Doing the “room thing” is one example.
Anti-Japan Education in China
Cecilia Miao translated a netizen story about the encounter of a Japanese and Chinese children in her family and reflect upon how the nationalistic education has affected the Chinese children...
