24/05/2013 / CHINA
What is this naked man chasing after?
Run, Li Binyuan, run! Sometimes Li runs while carrying a giant crucifix, sometimes a blow-up doll — but always in his birthday suit. Read more...
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24/05/2013 / IRAN
Women skirt Iranian music ban with fancy dress
They are famous singers, but nobody ever recognizes them in the street. In their music videos, you only see their back, their feet, their silhouette outlined behind curtains, or their reflections in a lake; those who show their faces disguise themselves with big sunglasses, heavy face paint, or colorful masks. Read more...
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24/05/2013 / SWEDEN
Sweden riots over 'bleak prospects' for youth
For the past five 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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23/05/2013 / SAUDI ARABIA
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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22/05/2013 / TOGO
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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21/05/2013 / CHINA
“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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21/05/2013 / UNITED STATES
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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20/05/2013 / France
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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20/05/2013 / IRAN
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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17/05/2013 / SYRIA
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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