4 January 2013
Stories from 4 January 2013
Nepali Citizen Arrested in the UK for Alleged War Crimes
The UK Police has used Universal jurisdiction law to arrest a Nepali army colonel residing in the in East Sussex town of the UK. He has been accused of torturing during the decade-long (1996-2006) civil war in Nepal.
Chinese Journalists Demand Resignation of Provincial Propaganda Chief
In reaction to the brutal censorship of a new year editorial greeting by the newspaper Southern Weekly, a group of journalists issued an open letter demanding that the chief of the Guangdong propaganda department resign.
Vladimir Pozner & Russia's Own Political Correctness
Late last month, Vladimir Pozner—one of Russia's best known journalists—spoke out on his television show against the “Dima Yakovlev” law. He criticized the need for such legislation, condemning it as an unnecessary and improper retaliation against the American “Magnitsky Act.” In what caught Russian headlines and sent the RuNet buzzing, Pozner also took an uncharacteristically harsh shot at the federal parliament, quipping that it is a house of fools
Uganda in 2012: 50 Years of Independence and Africa's Youngest MP
2012 was one of the happiest years in Uganda's history. Sweet memories of 2012 range from Ugandans electing Africa's youngest Member of Parliament to 50 year independence celebrations.
“Some Hope for a Solution in Syria” – Michel Kilo
Michel Kilo is one of Syria’s famous dissidents, a political opponent of President Bashar al Assad. He rose to prominence inthe Damascus Spring, a brief flourishing of political freedom and expression in 2000. Kilo left Syria eight months into the revolution and now lives in Paris with his family. He answered questions from Syria Deeply via Skype.
An Alawite Outcast: How One Syrian Girl Lost Her Mother
Loubna Mrie paid a steep price for her place in Syria’s revolution. As an Alawite who took a stand against President Bashar Al Assad, she pitted herself against her community; many Alawites have remained staunchly behind Assad, as the leader of their sect and the protector of their privileged position of power.
A New Year of Syria’s Turmoil
As the world celebrated the dawn of 2013, in Syria, the regime and the rebels were fighting for the suburbs of Damascus. On Twitter, netizens spell out their anxiousness and hopes for the year ahead.
Chinese Leaders’ Apparent Thriftiness Fails to Resonate
The 'Four Dishes, One Soup' anti-corruption catchphrase originally coined by China’s first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, has re-emerged centuries later. State media recently used the term to describe a simple dinner Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping had in China’s Northern Hebei province. But netizens are not impressed by this apparent thriftiness.