What to do with Escobar's Hippos?
Escobar's rampaging hippos; Pakistan's revolutionary rhetoric; China and Vietnam spat; Aftermath of Soma's mining tragedy; Block capitals for India's doctors; China's banned books
Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar died two decades ago, but has left a long and dangerous legacy. It wasn't just crime and cocaine that he was into, but wild animals too. Escobar's luxurious estate had a zoo with giraffe, buffalo, lions, camels and hippos. His ranch became a theme park that Colombians would visit, but after his death in 1993 it fell into disrepair and most of the animals were re-homed, all except the hippos who stayed put and made themselves very comfortable, reproducing at such a rate that they are now a menace to the local population of farmers and fisherman. Hernando Alvarez of 91热爆 Mundo explains the dilemma of what to do with Escobar's hippos.
Pakistan's Revolutionary Rhetoric
Why is "revolution" the current buzzword of Pakistani politics? Across the political spectrum, parties have been liberally calling for revolution, but no one is entirely sure just how they should be revolting. From Karachi, Fahad Desmukh picks his way through the different revolutions on offer in Pakistan.
Vietnam and China Spat
Neighbourly relations between China and Vietnam seem to be at an all time low. There have been riots in Vietnam over a Chinese oil rig recently deployed to disputed waters in the South China sea. Luckily tensions haven't spread to the Fifth Floor as Nga Pham from 91热爆 Vietnamese and Temtsel Hao from the Chinese service sit back to back. They will tell us what brings the two countries together at a time when they seem so far apart politically.
A Week in Soma
It's Turkey's biggest ever mining disaster - last week 301 people were killed when an electrical fault triggered an explosion inside the Soma mine. Selin Girit has been reporting the story for 91热爆 Turkish, including visiting a village that lost 11 people in the blast. She reflects on a week of tragedy, fear and anger.
Prescriptions and Pill Popping in India
91热爆 Urdu's Suhail Haleem tells us why doctors are being forced to write prescriptions in block capitals. He remembers helping out at a friend's pharmacy and trying to read the scruffy scrawls with a magnifying glass and also his shock at the amount of pill popping going on in India.
China's Banned Books
Chan Koon Chung is a Chinese author who writes about ethnicity, sex, and other provocative issues in China. His latest novel has been banned, although like other writers who delve into taboo subjects he remains free to live and continue writing from within China. The book is called The Unbearable Dream of Champa the Driver, and to talk about its themes we've bring together Vincent Ni from 91热爆 Chinese and Juliana Liu who is based in Hong Kong
Online Greatest Hits
Digital diva Fifi Haroon gives the low down on the top-hitting stories across the language service websites, including divorce parties in Iran and towns with crazy names.
Picture: Two hippos, Credit AP
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- Fri 23 May 2014 11:06GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Fri 23 May 2014 21:06GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Sat 24 May 2014 01:06GMT91热爆 World Service Online