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Venezuela

Extra! Mass Protests In Venezuela

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El Nacional, September 2

"Massive, without fear and in peace" reads Friday morning's front-page headline of Venezuelan daily El Nacional, after one of the largest protests to date against President Nicolas Maduro's reign.

Tens of thousands of chanting protesters marched Thursday through the streets of Caracas demanding a vote on recalling Maduro.

In recent years, hunger and shortages have grown as the economy of this oil-rich country has sharply contracted, undermining the popularity of Maduro, who was elected in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in the days leading up to the protest, the government arrested several prominent opposition activists, and barred at least six foreign journalists from entering the country. Fearing violence, downtown shops were closed, and police in yellow vests took up positions around the city during the march. Still the rally turned out to be largely peaceful.

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Society

Tales From A Blushing Nation: Exploring India's 'Issues' With Love And Sex

Why is it that this nation of a billion-plus has such problems with intimacy and romance?

Photo of Indian romance statues

Indian romance statues

Sreemanti Sengupta

KOLKATA — To a foreigner, India may seem to be a country obsessed with romance. What with the booming Bollywood film industry which tirelessly churns out tales of love and glory clothed in brilliant dance and action sequences, a history etched with ideal romantics like Laila-Majnu or the fact that the Taj Mahal has immortalised the love between king Shahjahan and queen Mumtaz.

It is difficult to fathom how this country with a billion-plus population routinely gets red in the face at the slightest hint or mention of sex.

It therefore may have come as a shock to many when the ‘couple-friendly’ hospitality brand OYO announced that they are “extremely humbled to share that we observed a record 90.57% increase in Valentine’s Day bookings across India.”

What does that say about India’s romantic culture?

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