Muslim Burmese refugees stay shut up in camps, fearing more violence

 
One month after the attacks that targeted its Muslim community, life in the central Burmese city of Meikhtila is still a long way from getting back to normal. Meikhtila’s police presence has been strengthened, and nearly half of the city’s 30,000 Muslim residents are now living in heavily-guarded refugee camps that they don’t dare venture out of. Read more…
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Aftermath of the French embassy attack in Libya

 
A car bomb exploded in front of the French embassy in Tripoli, Libya on Tuesday morning, injuring two guards. Observers on the scene sent us photos and videos taken just moments after the explosives went off. See images... 
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Gaza police, or fashion police?

 
After outlawing bicycles and hookahs, Gaza police are now looking to ban men from wearing low-cut jeans and having long hair. For local youths, many of whom already see Gaza as an open-air prison, these new restrictions are the last straw. Read more…
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Displaced villagers rebuild lives deep in Congolese rainforest

 
For a decade, the Bafwasende territory in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from a violent ethnic and tribal conflict that has caused massive population displacement. The former inhabitants of the Opienge and Balobe villages have been trickling back to their abandoned homeland since 2010 and starting over from scratch. Our Observer tells us about how these “returned refugees” are faring. Read more...
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Therapy dogs bring comfort to Boston victims

 
The very same therapy dogs that comforted grieving friends and family following December’s Newtown school shootings arrived in Boston earlier this week. With hundreds injured and many undergoing amputations following the marathon bombings, the K-9 Comfort Dogs help provide affection and emotional release. Read more...
 
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Outcry in Iran after police punish man by dressing him like a woman

 
An unusual punishment has shocked many in Iran. On April 15, police paraded a convicted criminal through the northwestern city of Marivan dressed in traditional Kurdish women’s clothing. This has prompted protests in the streets, online, and even in Iran’s parliament. Read more...

In photos: “To Boston from Kabul, with love”

 
Following the Boston attacks, photos showing Afghans holding a sign reading “To Boston from Kabul, with love” started spreading on social networks. This touching show of support was launched by a photographer from Boston working in Afghanistan. Read more and see photos…

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Egyptian activists tell govt religious identification 'None of your business'

 
In Egypt, identity cards feature a citizen’s name, picture, profession… and religion. A group of young Egyptian activists feels that this last bit of information is irrelevant, and have launched a Facebook campaign against what they see as government intrusiveness. Read more…
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Children caught up in fighting on both sides of Syrian conflict

 
Children and teenagers were front-row witnesses of the Syrian uprising from the very beginning, as participants both in protests against the regime as well as protests in support of president Bashar Al-Assad. But as civil war has engulfed the country, they have become actors in the conflict in their own right. Three local activists tell us how the war has ensnared these youths. Read more...

Violence and looting in CAR capital as former rebels force 'disarmament'

 
The capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, was rocked by clashes between Seleka forces (the new coalition in power) and locals during the weekend of April 13 and 14. Residents living in the affected areas claim the new government’s disarmament operation has become a pretext for Seleka troops to pillage the population. Hear what they have to say...
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