Inter-oceanic Canal Project Leads to Doubt and Rejection in Nicaragua

A controversial law granting a Chinese company the concession to build an inter-oceanic canal in Nicaragua has generated great discussion among the population. Although the law was passed by the National Assembly as a matter of urgency, a feasibility study of the real impact on the country has not yet been conducted.

Thousands Are Joining Bosnia's ‘Babylution’

The death of a baby girl has people in Bosnia-Herzegovina crossing the country's deep ethnic divides by the thousands to protest together against the government's failure to remedy a lapse in the law that is preventing newborns from being given an identity number and, by extension, travel papers and healthcare.

A Year of Demanding Justice in Paraguay: What Happened in Curuguaty?

A year after a clash that resulted in the death of 11 farm workers and 6 police officers in Curuguaty, Paraguay, organizations that defend human rights and farm workers point out that the criminal case investigating the incident is partial and that there were several human rights violations during the proceedings, such as executions and subjecting the farm workers to torture as acts of revenge.

Malaysia Launches Dengue Web Portal

To fight dengue, Malaysia's Ministry of Health launched a GIS-based web portal called I-Dengue, “which aims to provide the public with the latest information on dengue hotspots and preventive measures on how citizens can avoid getting the disease.” Dengue is a tropical virus with no known cure that is carried...

Peruvian Rock Band Wins Festival in Russia

The website TimonRock announced [es] that Peruvian rock band Contracorriente was awarded first place in the St. Petersburg White Nights Festival in Russia. The website also posted videos and images of the band: Music band Contracorriente, won today [June 15, 2013] one of the most important festivals in Europe, St....

Man Disappears in Uzbekistan Police Custody

On Registan.net Noah Tucker reports that the 71-year-old father of an Uzbek opposition politician has disappeared in police custody in Uzbekistan. The authorities intimidate the elderly man (as well as scores of his relatives) apparently because his son founded an opposition party that had been quite successful in mobilizing supporters...

ABRE LATAM: Open Data Unconference

Fernando Briano from Picando Código informs [es] about the upcoming unconference ABRE LATAM [es], organized by D.A.T.A. [es] and Ciudadano Inteligente [es], on June 24 and 25 in Montevideo, Uruguay. The event hopes to “bring together representatives of different sectors of Latin American civil society who work with Open Data...

Czech PM Resigns Amid Sex Scandal

Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas steps down after his Chief of Staff and mistress, Jana Nagyova, is arrested on charges of bribery and corruption.

Tajikistan Leader's Visits Force Road Repairs

Khujand [Sughd's capital] prepares to welcome the president again. Banners, posters, and fixed roads [are there] again. I can only be happy about the latter! I would love to see the president come to Khujand as often as possible - this would force the authorities to fix the roads. It is a pity, however, that only part of the city's roads are fixed - that part along which the president's cortege will travel. The rest of the roads have been neglected for years.

Disabled Persons ‘Disrespected’ in Kyrgyzstan

Blogger Dmitry Efremov writes [ru] about the negative attitudes that people with disabilities confront in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan: It is terrible to realize that some people among us disrespect persons with disabilities.

‘Qandisha’, the Women's Webzine that is Ruffling Feathers in Morocco

A webzine for women in Morocco is causing a stir for its frank treatment of religion and sexuality. Global Voices recently caught up with the founder, Fedoua Miski.

As Kabul Gets a Bomb Attack, the Taliban Open an Office in Doha

A suicide bomb explosion shook a western district of Kabul, Afghanistan on June 18, killing at least three and injuring more than twenty. The explosion took place shortly before the international coalition (ISAF) forces were due to officially transfer responsibility for security of the remaining districts of eastern and southern...

Elections 2013: Challenges Ahead for Nepal

The Nepalese government has announced dates for the 2013 Constituent Assembly polls which will be in November this year. Siromani Dhungana at ‘United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal’ discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead for Nepal.