Stories from 19 November 2013
PHOTOS: Voters Turn Out in Droves for Nepal's Constituent Assembly Elections
A record 70 percent turnout was recorded in Nepal's first post-monarchy elections. Will this assembly accomplish what the last could not and draft a constitution?
Iran: You Tube and Nuclear Talk
Iran’s Foreign Minister Turns to YouTube to talk about Iranian nuclear program. Javad Zarif who is very active on social media and has about 600,000 fans on his Facebook page, talks about nuclear program,Iran's rights,”respect” and “dignity”.Iran and world powers will start another round of negotiation about Iranian nuclear program...
Ecuador: “The indigenous movement will continue”
“The government may continue its attempt to render us invisible, but our struggle cannot be defeated. As long as there is injustice, as long as the profound inequalities between the urban and the rural remain, the indigenous movement will continue.” Manuela Picq spoke with Carlos Pérez Guartambel, the current leader...
PHOTOS: Five Stories About Syrian Refugees You Need to Know
Rami Al Hames selects five stories through photographs to illustrate the hard and real life that Syrians refugees are facing away from their homes.
Video: Harasta/Syria massive blast captured on camera
An unconfirmed video posted by Syria Archives 2013 on November, 17th shows a massive blast in Harasta, a city and northeastern suburb of Damascus, Rif Dimashq, Syria, in a government military building which kills 31 members of Assad regime forces. Booby Trap bomb Placed in Tunnel under the Assad Army...
Bicycles as a Solution in the Streets of Damascus
Hundreds of photographs showing Syrian men and women riding bikes have swamped the world wide web. Find out why.
Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef Terminates his TV Contract
Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef has decided to terminate his contract with the program's host channel, CBC. The saga continues after the popular show was taken off air.
Egypt: Mohamed Mahmoud Won't Be Forgotten
Back in November 2011, violent clashes erupted in Mohamed Mahmoud Street, in Cairo. Protests erupt two years later in remembrance
Massive Railway Project between Niamey and Cotonou Underway
A 1,500 km-long railway project between Niamey, the capital city of Niger and Cotonou, the capital city of Benin has been green lighted by the authorities of the two countries and construction will begin on March 2014 [fr]. Francois Ndiaye in Niamey unpacks the set up of the financial agreement [fr] that includes...
Monitoring Media Bias in Malaysia
Tessa Houghton shares the findings of a study which monitored media bias in Malaysia during the 13th General Elections a few months ago: Malaysian citizens who relied on English and Bahasa Malaysia newspapers and/or television as their media source/s during the GE13 campaign were not provided with fair and accurate...
“Underground” Newspaper Launched in Mozambique
A new “underground” newspaper called “Vigilant Citizen”, launched in Mozambique on the eve of elections, is being shared in .PDF by the blog Moçambique para Todos [pt]. Its cover carries the iconic image of protesters with the poster “Who keeps voting for these guys?”
Bangladesh: Is Restorative Justice the Best Way Forward?
In the backdrop of Bangladesh’s violent history of birth, ongoing violent political practices, and high rates of homicide, mob violence, neighborhood/street violence, violent labor unrests, family violence and intimate partner violence, the need for restorative justice is paramount. Without an intervening model aimed at resolution, we will remain a nation...
Cushy New Job for Sacked Russian Defense Minister
Is former Minister of Defense Serdyukov's new appointment a reward for his silence in a large-scale corruption scandal?
When Third Culture Kids Grow Up
When the time comes for them to put down roots, third culture kids sometimes have a tough time making the transition to becoming one culture adults, writes Danica Radisic.
Long-Awaited Madagascar Elections Go to Second Round
Jean-Louis Robinson won 21.1 percent of the vote, and Hery Rajaonarimampianina won about 15.9 percent. The second round is scheduled for December 20, but many questions remain.
South Koreans in US Hold Candlelight Vigil Over Spy Agency Scandal
South Koreans living in the United States held a candlelight vigil in Times Square, New York, denouncing the state spy agency's interference with the latest presidential election. @Metempirics posted photos and a video clip of the protest.
Largest South Korean Church's Embezzlement Scandal Just Got Worse
"Does this sound to you like something a pastor would do? Or more like a cult leader?"