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9 April 2012

Syria: Activist Rima Dali Arrested in Damascus for Calling for End to Killing

Written by Leila Nachawati Rego · Syria

"Stop the killing. We want to build a Syria for all Syrians." These were the words on the banner that Rima Dali held in front of the Syrian Parliament in Damascus on Sunday, April 8 just before her arrest.

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7 April 2012

Pakistan: Immediate Reactions on the Death of Sindhi Nationalist Leader

Written by Aamir Raz Soomro · South Asia

On 23rd of March, Karachi (Sindh) hosted a massive rally for the independence of Sindh from the Pakistani state which was organized by the Long-Live Sindh National Front (JSQM) under the leadership of Bashir Khan Qureshi. Pakistani netizens express their reactions on the sudden and untimely death of Bashir Khan Qureshi at Sakrand, a small town in Sindh in the early hours of Saturday.

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4 April 2012

Greece: Public Suicide of 77 Year Old Man in Athens Square

Written by Veroniki Krikoni · Western Europe

All Greece was shocked this morning by the news that Dimitris Christoulas, aged 77, shot himself in the head around 9 am, in full view of passersby in Syntagma Square, Athens, across from the Parliament building. Before the shot, he reportedly shouted that he "didn't want to leave any debts to his children".

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3 April 2012

Colombia: 10 ‘Last' Armed Forces Hostages Released by FARC

Written by Julián Ortega Martínez · Latin America

On Monday April 2, four soldiers and six policemen kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were released. In February the group had announced that they would abandon kidnappings and release the remaining hostages.

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30 March 2012

Spain: General Strike Across Cities and Neighborhoods

Written by Lidia Ucher · Translated by Marianna Breytman · Western Europe

Hundreds of people took the streets around cities and neighborhoods in Spain yesterday to participate in a general strike (29M) to protest against proposed government cuts to indispensable social services. March 29 became a new important date in the movements' agenda.

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South Korea: Politician Ridiculed for Twitter Account “Explosion” Accusation

Written by Lee Yoo Eun · East Asia

In South Korea,a politician's ridiculous comment that his Twitter account was "exploded" by the opposition has come under fire. The politician's remark and the governing conservative party's rhetoric have drawn numerous jokes and sneers online.

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29 March 2012

Spain: General Strike After Only 100 Days of Government

Written by Chris Moya · Translated by Eleanor Staniforth · Western Europe

Spain's main trade unions have called a general strike for today, March 29, with the aim of paralyzing the country, and forcing the government to back down on implementing measures that will weaken workers' rights and cut social services.

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Senegal and Neighboring Nations Celebrate Peaceful Elections

Written by Abdoulaye Bah · Translated by Jane Ellis · Sub-Saharan Africa

An historical ending to a tense electoral period took place in Senegal on March 25. Senegalese celebrate peaceful elections which have permitted the political alternative to express itself. Citizens from Senegal and neighboring countries have voiced their approval, and in some cases, envy.

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27 March 2012

Cuba: Pope Benedict XVI Takes a Glance at Cuba's Future

Written by Elaine Díaz · Translated by Elizabeth Rivera · Caribbean

Pope Benedict XVI's arrival at the western province Santiago de Cuba placed the Caribbean nation at the Twitter Trending Topics. Blogs and social media are raging with netizen's opinions on the Pope's visit to the island.

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22 March 2012

Mali: Citizens Stunned by Sudden Military Coup

Written by Lova Rakotomalala · Sub-Saharan Africa

Rengade soldiers have announced that they are seizing power in Mali, after taking over the state television building and presidential palace. They say the government failed to adequately support their troops in an increasingly violent struggle with a Tuareg rebels in the north of the country.

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Updates about Breaking News

1 April 2012

Mali

As Junta leader Sanogo announces that he vows to “re-establish, from today, the Malian constitution of Feb. 25, 1992 and the institutions of the republic”, and set up a transition body with Malian political parties, Tuareg rebels claim to have control over the town of Kidal and have entered Gao and Timbuktu. Africa Nova writes that the army has fled Timbutku and that the main traders there are negotiating with rebels to prevent pillages [fr].

• Lova Rakotomalala

27 March 2012

Senegal

The provisional tally of the second round of the presidential elections were published on March 27: The incumbent candidate Abdoulaye Wade is projected to have obtain 999,556 votes which is about 34.2% of the votes. Macky Sall was elected with about 1,909,244 votes which amount to 65.8%. The percentage of voters was about 55%. On his blog, Mr. Boombastic PIO [fr] lists the townships that A. Wade won [fr] during the elections. The elections that seem to have been a referendum on his term as a head of state.

• Anna Gueye

26 March 2012

South Korea

The Monster Island blog wrote several posts on US President Obama's visit to South Korea. Read the blogger's commentary on Obama's side trip to the demilitarized zone which is a de facto border between the two Koreas and President Obama's new Korean name.

• Lee Yoo Eun

South Korea

North Korea Tech blog wrote about North Korea's rocket launch which is scheduled for next month. The blogger, after analyzing the International Maritime Organization's documents, predicted that the rocket will drop to earth in two stages off the western coast of South Korea and to the east of Luzon Island in the Philippines.

• Lee Yoo Eun

17 March 2012

South Korea

South Korean Tweeters have joined rallies against the Jeju naval base construction that has been blamed for disrupting residents' livelihood and destroying a rare ecosystem. Each Twitter user has volunteered to take turns to one-person protest against the construction and to tweet the photos, such as user @okeeffe00, @sirdy10 and @yds5921 did in the link.

• Lee Yoo Eun

15 March 2012

Colombia

Colombia's Attorney General ordered the arrest [es] of Colombian ambassador to Peru, Jorge Visbal Martelo, for alleged links with paramilitary groups. After the order Visbal resigned [es] and is expected to return to the country, as confirmed by his lawyer. Twitter users [es] are connecting him [es] with former President Alvaro Uribe, and ‘Jorge Visbal' became a local Trending Topic on Twitter.

• Lully

South Korea

A controversial free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea took effect starting March 15, 2012, prompting protests in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The nation's citizen media, Wiki Tree consolidated tweet photos of the protest.

• Lee Yoo Eun

8 March 2012

South Korea

South Korean net users have created a crisis map on clashes between the government and activists over a naval base construction in the Jeju island. The construction plan has been accused of destroying the environment and the villagers’ way of life.

• Lee Yoo Eun

7 March 2012

South Korea

Arrest and detention and violent clampdowns are worsening in Gangjeong village, South Korea's Jeju island as dynamites for construction purposes were delivered this week. Media Mongu is live-tweeting photos of clashes between the government and activists, residents and religious groups.

• Lee Yoo Eun

6 March 2012

Madagascar

Rivonala Razafison reports in Africa Review that “scores of Antananarivo residents wore black clothes to denounce poverty in the country”. He adds that Madagascar has experienced over 10 different forms of protests since early January. The latest protest is still ongoing and was initiated by army officers of the CAPSAT, the same regiment who helped put the current government in power.

• Lova Rakotomalala