Stories from 1 February 2016
Following Prisoner Deal, Iranian Nobel Laureate Calls on Tehran to ‘Make Peace With Its Own People’
While expressing joy at Iran’s recent release of four imprisoned Iranian-Americans, Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has called on the Iranian government to “make peace with its own people.”
Russian Social Network VK Claims to Protect Users From Warrantless Surveillance
VKontakte's Ukrainian spokesperson says the social network abhors censorship and only shares user data with secret services when presented with court orders. The website's turbulent history paints a different picture.
The Dangerous and Complex Reality of Women Who Join Central American Gangs
"...I thought it was the best way that people could defend themselves, by being on the strong side rather than the weak one."
What Kicked Off in Uruguay that Lasts for 40 Days?
It lasts for 40 days and is considered the longest carnival in the world. The Uruguayan Carnival brings together traditions born Europe and Africa, and offers a whole lot more.
An Interactive Digital Archive Helps Preserve Traditional Australian Aboriginal Literature
The archive features versions of old-time children’s stories, pre- and post-contact histories, books about the environment and hunting, ghost stories, creation stories, and cautionary tales from Australia's Northern Territory.
A Sexy Guide to Digital Security and Safer ‘Nudes’
The group Coding Rights says sexting can be a “pleasurable resistance to misogyny, conservatism, and heteronormavity,” but it's also seeking ways to protect people from forms of violence.
Seizing Jewelry Isn't the Only Awful Change to Denmark's Refugee Law
The law says asylum seekers must now wait up to three years to have their spouses and children join them, which could violate Denmark’s international treaty commitments.
Jamaican Painter Barrington Watson Dies, Leaving Behind a Rich Visual Legacy
"He was the most highly trained artist, and he brought those academic principles to art."
Russia and Chile Join the Global Campaign to Save a Saudi Poet From Execution
Poets and activists in Moscow and St Petersburg expressed their solidarity with Ashraf Fayadh, who's been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. Similar events were held in Chile and Mexico.
A Syrian Man Takes Refuge in a Korean Honeymoon Resort Island
Ahmed Lababidi, 22, left the war-ravaged city of Aleppo back in 2012, fleeing across the Turkish border. He followed his younger brother on a journey to South Korea.
Spaniards Fired up Over Photo of Bullfighter With a Baby in His Arms
From "irresponsible" to "guardian of traditions": A photo of a popular matador fighting a heifer with his baby in his arms provokes a strong and mixed reaction in Spain.
Lampedusa's ‘Lioness’ Giusi Nicolini Wins the 2016 Simone de Beauvoir Award
The 2016 “Simone de Beauvoir Prize" has been awarded to Giusi Nicolini, mayor of Lampedusa and Linosa. She has been called "lioness" “for her brave actions in favour of refugees”
One Photo, One Thousand Words About Post-Apartheid South Africa
South Africans are saying the photo, which shows a controversial radio personality with his lawyer walking near a man seemingly digging through rubbish, captures the income equality plaguing their country.