· May, 2012

Stories about Breaking News from May, 2012

Portugal: Police Evicts Squatted Building in Lisbon

  31 May 2012

Going against an injunction approved by the Supreme Court of Lisbon, the police evicted today, May 31, the collective São Lázaro – “the only public squat in the capital” of Portugal. There are reports [pt] of detentions and violence. The activist platform Tugaleaks is sharing updates on its Facebook wall.

Bulgaria: The Strongest Earthquake Since 1917

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake, the strongest since 1917, shook Bulgaria's capital Sofia and the perimeter zone of around 100 km last night, followed by a number of strong aftershocks. No victims have been reported so far. The website Earthquake Reports has published live updates and social networks such as Twitter...

Guadeloupe: “Political Manipulation”

  21 May 2012

In a post entitled “On Kalkil Politik” [Cr], Guadeloupean blogger Gwakafwika explains his complete distrust in the recent appointment of 1 Guianese and 2 Guadeloupean-born Ministers in the new socialist French government. He calls it a political manipulation.

Mayotte: Capsizing Boat Kills at Least 5 Economic Refugees

  21 May 2012

Malango Actualité provides the social context [fr] related to the sinking of a boat  that killed at least 5, including 3 children and an infant. The fishing boat was carrying 43 people from Comoros to the French territory of Mayotte. It is the third disaster  of such kind in 2012 for Comoran...

Portugal: Unemployment as the New ‘Thang’

  18 May 2012

Portuguese Minister of Economy Álvaro Santos Pereira‘s speech on the Parliament today, May 18, has become a national joke [pt], with the hashtag #Coiso (slang for “thing”) trending on Twitter. The minister stated [pt] that “we all must to work together – unions, employers and parties so that we can...

Colombia: 5 Dead, 19 Injured After Bomb Blast in Bogotá

  15 May 2012

Netizens are reacting to the explosion of a bomb on a bus on Caracas Avenue and 74th street in Bogotá, Colombia's capital. The attack was allegedly directed at former Interior Minister Fernando Londoño. The latest reports [es] list 5 dead and 19 people injured. Related words and phrases like “74...

South Korea: Monks Caught in Gambling, Smoking and Drinking Scandal

  15 May 2012

In South Korea, six leaders of the nation's biggest Buddhist order were caught playing high-stakes poker, along with drinking and smoking. The case was disclosed through leaked video footage that shows high-profile monks gambling at a luxury lakeside hotel just days before a national holiday celebrating the birth of Buddha.

South Korea: Continuing Mad Cow Controversy Over US Beef Imports

  12 May 2012

Since last week, South Korea has seen continuing protests against importing beef from the United States after mad cow disease broke out in California. Korean government dispatched its inspection team to the US to quell the public anger incited by the government's unkept promise to halt the beef import immediately when the disease was detected. However, the inspection team's lack of control over the investigation process and the biased member selection process further deepened South Korean's distrust of the government.

Brazil: Homeless Movement in Belo Horizonte Surrounded by Police

  11 May 2012

“Ocupação Eliana Silva” [pt], a camping site of around 300 families in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which had been occupied mostly by homeless workers [pt] on April 21, in protest against lack of housing conditions, was sieged by the military police today, May 11. Journalist Adriano Ventura (@adrianoventura) is tweeting photos...

Thailand: Grandfather Jailed for Lese Majeste Dies

  8 May 2012

Amphon Tangnoppakul, the 62-year-old Thai jailed for Lese Majeste (royal insult), died in prison today. His 20-year jail sentence was criticized by human rights advocates who are also demanding an amendment of the controversial law.

Pakistan: Public Reaction on PM's Contempt Verdict

  4 May 2012

The long process of contempt case against Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ended with verdict of a symbolic punishment of 37 seconds against him. Analysts say that the decision would not end the prevalent constitutional confusion, rather, it only have increased it.

Madagascar: Two Journalists in Jail on World Press Freedom Day

  3 May 2012

Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy et Fidèle Razarapiera, two radio journalists of Free FM Radio in Madagascar are held at the police station [fr] of Betongolo, Antananarivo for libel and diffusing political news [fr] that do not conform with the original radio programming agreement. Blogger Teraka Randriatsoa explains the context of the conflict [fr] between Free FM Radio station,...