Stories from 4 November 2012
Myanmar: Foreign Investment Bill Approved
Myanmar President Thein Sein signed the foreign investment law which was approved by the parliament last September. The president suggested 11 minor amendments which the parliament accepted except for one provision. The new law is expected to facilitate more foreign investments as Myanmar continues to implement economic reforms.
Cuba: “Hurricane” Damage
Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter calls Fidel Castro “Cuba's longest and most damaging hurricane”, while Through the Eye of the Needle refers to Hurricane Sandy as “‘The Matador,’ — The Killer — who has come to give the final mortal blow to a bull already greatly injured by stabs...
Student Beating Raises Issue of Homophobia in Jamaica
A gay student at Jamaica's University of Technology (UTech) was allegedly caught in a "compromising position" and suffered a beating at the hands of campus security guards. The incident was captured on video and immediately went viral, raising the question of homophobia and gay rights in Jamaica.
Despite Threats, Macedonian Activists Fight for Fair Energy Law
Members of the grassroots civil initiative AMAN, who are demanding fair energy legislation and an end to state-controlled price hikes in Macedonia, are facing various forms of pressure, including increasing threats. On Saturday, the police averted a violent incident during a rally.
Ink Duel: Bulgarian Artists vs Egyptian Artist in London
Studio 75, a London-based “100% independent, not part of any school, trend, fashion or directive” artist space is hosting ‘The Orientophobia Sessions’ this weekend. In the program of the Out Of The Deep East, Bulgarian artists Krum and Desi engage into an ink duel with Egyptian artist Naz:
Guinea-Bissau: Citizen Frustration and Defiance in Face of Turmoil
On October 21, a violent incident occurred at an airbase outside Bissau. Six people were reported killed, and gruesome images of bodies of accused assailants circulated on the internet. While the international institutions express "concern" and conduct meetings, the people of Guinea-Bissau have little outlet for their fears and frustrations.
Malawi's Economy: A Mountain Too High to Climb?
Since April 2012, when Joyce Banda took over the running of the Malawian government, citizens have been experiencing a mix of economic hope and despair - find out some of the reasons why.
The Latest LiveJournal Sensation, Courtesy of the Russian Special Forces
The anonymous LJ blog hardingush was created on September 15. Now, less than two months later, the blog, subtitled "Ingush Special Forces, is number 425th in LJ's general user rating. Netizens have left over 4,000 comments on its various posts. Four of these posts also made it into the October top-25 list of North Caucasus bloggers. But who's behind the account?
What Ever Happened to Russian Nationalism?
Just two years ago, Russians' capacity for street protests seemed limited to soccer hooligans and race riots. This, it appeared at the time, was the most the world could expect from Russia's struggling civil society, a ramshackle patchwork of decidedly unpopular liberals and apparently bloodthirsty nationalists. After last winter's protests, what's changed?