Bodies of decapitated convicts displayed in Saudi public square

 
Five Yemeni nationals convicted of murder and of belonging to a criminal organisation were decapitated and hung by the shoulders from cranes Tuesday in the city of Jizan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia. According to our Observer, this macabre scene is intended to terrorize criminals and illegal immigrants. Read more...

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Sweden riots over 'bleak prospects' for youth

 
For the past four nights, hundreds of young people have rioted in the suburbs of Stockholm, torching cars, clashing with police, and getting arrested in scores. Our Observer, who lives in Husby, the low-income suburb where the riots first broke out, thinks the root of the violence is the local youth’s sense of social exclusion. Read more...
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The “Nana Benz”, Togo’s fallen textile queens

 
The fire that ravaged Lomé’s central market last January struck a fatal blow to the livelihoods of the famous Nana Benz, some of whom made true fortunes four decades ago by selling pagnes, colorful African textiles used to make clothing. Our Observer, a matriarch of the Nana Benz movement, told us how, without a proper marketplace and faced with increased competition from foreigners, these women have had to improvise to stay in business. Read more...
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“Lhasa's Tibetans will soon be nothing but decorations for tourists”

 
Lhasa, the ancient city at the heart of Tibetan culture, contains several sacred sites that have been visited by Buddhists for centuries. But the city’s face is changing as Chinese presence in the area grows, giving way to mass tourism and large shopping districts. Read more...
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Amateur footage of the Oklahoma tornado

 
A massive, 3km-wide tornado hit the town of Moore in the suburbs of Oklahoma City on Monday, flattening entire neighbourhoods. Watch amateur videos of the tornado...
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The glitzy Cannes festival, through the eyes of a small-town cinema owner

 
Despite the rain, this year’s Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be a magical event. Steven Spielberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes… all are in attendance. Among these world-famous Hollywood stars, a small-town cinema owner from southwestern France tells us about his festival experience. Read more...
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Headscarves and long tunics don’t stop Iranian women from practising parkour

 
Despite having to practise in unwieldy clothing – not to mention having to stay on the lookout for police - Iranian women are getting into the sport of parkour. Some even create videos in which they show off their skills, and post them online. One of these brave women tells us about the challenges of practising parkour in an Islamic republic. Read more...
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Do-it-yourself weaponry: How Syrian rebels wage war

 
The vast majority of the Syrian rebels’ weapons come from the regular army’s stocks. The rebels use everything they can get their hands on — ranging from ammunition and weapons to vehicles — and modify the equipment to fit their needs. Read more...
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Video: "Heart-eating" Syrian rebel defends act

 
Abu Sakkar became infamous last week when a video surfaced online showing him apparently tearing the heart out of a Syrian soldier’s corpse and biting into it. Now, the rebel fighter explains his act in a new video. Read more...

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Beijing cracks down on barbecues as it battles record pollution

 
The Chinese capital Beijing keeps beating its own air pollution records. To combat this, the authorities have come up with a number of measures, including, to many people's surprise, combatting smoke from street vendor barbecues. Read more...
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