Stories about Breaking News from February, 2013
Women Protesters Call for the Fall of the Saudi Interior Minister
A group of women and children who are relatives of uncharged prisoners managed to organize a small sit-in in Saudi Arabian city of Buraida, challenging the strict ban on demonstrations in the absolute monarchy. This week's sit-in had an unprecedented, explicit demand: the fall of the Interior Minister.
Turkey: Lynch Attempt on Kurdish Members of Parliament in Sinop
Kurdish members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Democratic Congress of the People (HDK) faced a lynch attempt by almost 2,000 angry protesters during their visit to Sinop, a city in Black Sea region of Northern Turkey. Baran Mavzer charts netizen reactions.
Pakistan's Hazara Shias Demand Arrests, Protection After Deadly Bombing
In the latest attack against Pakistan's Hazara Shia minority, a bomb ripped through a busy market in the southwestern city of Quetta in Pakistan on February 16, claiming as many as 63 people and injuring 180 others. Many have accused the government of inaction, demanding that authorities step in and put an end to the mass killings.
Marco Rubio's Bitter Drink at the State of the Union Address
Marco Rubio, Republican senator from Florida, was the first senator to address the country in both English and Spanish following President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. However, thirst played a trick on him, and his sip of water, live and in mid-speech, unleashed a wave of commentary on social media networks.
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon Detained in Malaysia
From Hussein abdul Hamid's blog Steadyaku47: ‘Federal independent Senator Nick Xenophon has been detained by Malaysian authorities. He was taken into custody on his arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport and told he was considered a security risk.’ He was to meet with the electoral commission and a senior government minister.
#Shahbag Blogger Hacked To Death
Engineer Ahmed Rajib Haider, a young blogger and online activist participating in the ongoing Shahbag movement in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka was brutally killed a few hours ago, reports Mamur Hossain. Hasib Mahmud writes [bn] that a death warrant was posted against Rajib a few days ago on an Islamist-run...
For Russia's Comics, it's Raining Meteors
Although the shock wave from the Chelyabinsk meteorite injured hundreds of people, RuNet users have been more eager than ever to crack jokes and spread memes.
Bangladesh Unites at Shahbag for 42-Year-Old War Crimes
Drop by drop, the Shahbag intersection in Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka has become an ocean of people, demanding justice for the atrocities committed during the country's 1971 liberation war and death penalty for war criminals.
Under Pressure, Spain Opens Door to Foreclosure Reform
The Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH), joined by an impressive social movement, fought for Congress to change mortgage legislation in Spain. In the end, the Popular Party bowed to intense public pressure mobilized via the #ILPescrache hashtag.
Boy, 16, Killed on Second Anniversary of Bahrain Protests
A 16-year-old boy was killed in Bahrain today (February 14, 2013), on the second anniversary of the start of widespread Arab Spring-style protests across the country. His death, reportedly from shotgun injuries, sparked anger online – and on the streets.
North Korea's Nuclear Test Old Hat for South Koreans
North Korea confirmed on February 12 that it had conducted its third nuclear test, drawing condemnation from the international community. South Koreans living in the shadow of their nuclear neighbor to the north had varying reactions to the news.
Saudi Women Protesters Arrested for “Impairing Development”
Last Saturday, February 9th, a small protest was organized in front of the building of Human Rights Commission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by a group of women and children including the wife, daughter and granddaughter of Suliman al-Rushoodi, the detained chairman of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association. The women were set free today - but the case against them was not dismissed. They will stand trial again on February 27.
Latin America: Pope Resigns – Hope, Humour and Speculation Follow
The announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI from the papal throne, or, more specifically, the Supreme Pontificate of the Catholic Church, took the world by surprise on Monday, February 11, 2013.
North Korea Conducts 3rd Nuclear Test
North Korea conducted its third-ever nuclear test on Feb 12, 2013, sparking condemnation internationally. Check out this Storify link for more details. (Another Global Voices post will be published soon)
In Pictures: The Protesting Crowd In Shahbag
Last Friday, 8th of February, 2013, hundreds of thousands of people started to gather since morning in Shahbagh's Generation Square in solidarity with bloggers and online activists’ ongoing protests. Arif Hossain Sayeed shares pictures of this mass gathering in Bangladesh capital Dhaka.
#Shahbag in a 140 Characters
As the #Shahbag movement of Bangladeshis is gaining its momentum, more and more Bangladeshis are using social network services like Twitter and Facebook to organize the movement. Shopan Awalin provides an in depth analysis on the activity of the hashtag #Shahbag in Twitter regarding the people, what they are talking,...
Colombia: Shots Continue to Ring Out in Medellín
The city of Medellin is facing a difficult public order situation. The most mentioned area is Comuna 13, with several nocturnal clashes on the first weekend of February.
“Pedophile's Guide” Lands Russian Blogging Platform on Blacklist
Russia's Federal communications monitors have tagged blog-hosting portal lj.rossia.org as illegal, after discovering an account that publishes translations of the American book "The Pedophilia's Guide to Love and Pleasure" by Phillip Greaves.
Bangladesh: All Roads Lead To Shahbagh
The protests at Shahbagh intersection in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka continue for the fourth day. Protesters demand capital punishment for Jamaat-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah and other war criminals on trial.
Panic and Terror Walk Hand-in-Hand in Guinea-Bissau
As the world's attention is focused on another part of West Africa, the citizens of Guinea-Bissau struggle to bring a worsening human rights situation to regional and international attention. Guinean Human Rights League released a major report on the human rights situation today, a serious wake-up call for those who think everything is okay in the country.
Bangladesh: Protesters Demand Capital Punishment for 1971 War Criminals
Abdul Quader Mollah, the secretary general of Bangladesh's Islamist party Jamaat-e Islami has been sentenced to life in prison for murder, rape, torture and other crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war. But tens of thousands feel that justice has not been served. They want him hanged. Protests are spreading like wild fire across the country.
