1 June 2012

Stories from 1 June 2012

Kyrgyzstan: Civic Initiatives Seek to Tackle Bride-Kidnapping

Although bride kidnapping is officially a crime in Kyrgyzstan, it remains a common occurrence in the country's rural areas. With the authorities reluctant to clamp down on the practice, civil society organizations and creative troupes harness the power of performance to educate the population about the harmful effects of bride kidnapping.

1 June 2012

Spain: “Wanted: The Ones Responsible for the Crisis”

Following the departure of Rodrigo Rato as chairman of the financial institution Bankia, with over a million euros in indemnity payments and without any kind of explanation as to why the bank has ended up in its current state, groups of activists linked to the 15M movement have created a digital platform with the aim of making the people responsible for the crisis accountable.

1 June 2012

Mexico: #YoSoy132 Youth Movement Generates Debate

The supposed non-partisanship of the far-reaching youth movement #YoSoy132 has prompted questions and opinions on social networking sites. With a month left before the Mexican elections, take a look at some of the conflicting opinions on various blogs and in tweets.

1 June 2012

Zambia Donates Five Million Litres of Fuel to Malawi

Years of diplomatic incidents between various major political figures of Malawi and Zambia, recently culminated in the Zambian donation of five million litres of fuel to Malawi. The gift was ostensibly for the funeral of the country's late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died on April 5, after a heart attack. The political wrangling that has led up to this gesture, makes however, for a complicated backstory.

1 June 2012

Uganda: Is Uganda Becoming a Monarchy?

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been in power since 1986. A few weeks ago, citizens started speculating about who will succeed the president if he does not stand for presidency in 2016. It is rumored that the president was supporting his wife Janet Museveni, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, for succession.

1 June 2012

Singapore: Bloggers Analyse Hougang By-Election

Singapore bloggers analyze the defeat of the ruling party in the Hougang Constituency by-election. They believe that it reflects the dissatisfaction of many voters over the leadership of the ruling party which has been in power since 1959

1 June 2012

Côte d'Ivoire: Controversy as Manager of National Football Team Replaced

Ivorians reacted with surprise and indignation following the shock announcement of a change at the head of the national football team. The controversial change was announced on May 28, 2012 by the Ivorian Football Federation. The inexperienced Sabri Lamouchi was named trainer and manager of the Côte d'Ivorian national A Team, replacing the successful François Zahoui.

1 June 2012

Taiwan: Flying Fish Season on Orchid Island

Every spring, when the flying fish are carried to Taiwan by the Kuroshio Current, Tao fishermen from Orchid Island are waiting for them. In fact, Tao culture is very much connected with the flying fish season.

1 June 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi Visits Thailand

Ronald Reagan was still president of the United States the last time Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi left Myanmar. That was 24 years ago. This week she travelled to Thailand where she delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Bangkok. Thousands of people in the streets greeted Suu Kyi during her visit

1 June 2012

Poland, Ukraine: Euro 2012 and Racism

Football fans across Europe have been presented with quite a list of reasons not to travel to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012, which is scheduled to begin in a week. The newest item recently added to this extensive and diverse negative publicity menu is racism.

1 June 2012