22/05/2012 / MOROCCO
Anger mounts at €2.5bn bill for Tangiers-Casablanca high-speed rail link
For the past few months, a group called “Stop TGV” has been campaigning against the construction of a high-speed rail link between Tangiers and Casablanca, arguing that “in a poor country like Morocco” such an expensive project is not a priority. On Sunday, opponents of the project in cities across Morocco took to the streets in protest. Read more...
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22/05/2012 / AZERBAIJAN
Eurovision build up marred by crackdown on protests in Azerbaijan
As the glitzy Eurovision song contest gets underway in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, opposition groups strive to use the international attention to show a much less glamorous side of the host country. Read more...
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21/05/2012 / LEBANON
Clashes in Beirut: "The conflict in Syria is spilling over into Lebanon"
Clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in Lebanon have spread from the northern city of Tripoli down to the capital Beirut. At least two people were killed during street battles Sunday night. Our Observer in the capital describes how the Syrian conflict has spilled over into Lebanon, and how many Lebanese suspect the Syrian government of purposefully stirring up trouble in their country. Read more...
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18/05/2012 / LIBYA
Seven months after Gaddafi’s death, Libyan rebels still out for revenge
A new video of torture in Libya has surfaced on the Internet. The victim is allegedly a former supporter of ex-Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. According to our Libyan Observer, this kind of vengeful brutality often goes unpunished. Read more…
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18/05/2012 / EGYPT
Egyptians debate 'traumatizing tradition' of female circumcision
In Egypt, female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation, was outlawed five years ago after a 12-year-old girl bled to death. However, this ban has done little to stop the widespread practice, and some conservative lawmakers are now pushing to make it legal again, to the despair of those fighting the centuries-old tradition. Read more...
17/05/2012 / MOROCCO
In Casablanca, trash disappears when the king appears
When important Moroccans visit Casablanca – notably, Morocco’s king – bulldozers sweep all the trash from the sides of the roads and leave them spic and span. However, just a few metres away, hidden behind bushes, trash keeps piling up, out of sight of royal eyes. Read more...
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16/05/2012 / GUATEMALA
Army clamps down on Maya revolt against building of power plant on sacred land
The town of Santa Cruz of Barillas, in Guatemala, is currently under military siege. Its residents view the government’s decision to send the troops in as punishment for their open revolt against the planned construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Read more…
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15/05/2012 / SPAIN
Spain’s 'Indignados' protest foreclosures by closing their bank accounts
Just around the corner from Madrid’s Puerta del Sol plaza, the epicentre of Spain’s “Indignados” movement, which is celebrating its first anniversary, dozens of protesters lined up outside a bank Monday to close their accounts. Our Observer explains they did this to protest what they see as Bankia’s unfair seizures of homes that owners can no longer pay their loans on. Read more...
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15/05/2012 / GREECE
Greece: Locals help Athens police beat up an immigrant
A controversial video revealing apparent police brutality is causing a stir on Greek social networking sites. It shows uniformed police officers, assisted by passers-by wearing tracksuits, beating up an immigrant of Asian origin. Read more...
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14/05/2012 / LEBANON
Syrian conflict stokes sectarian violence in Lebanon
The 14-month-old conflict in Syria is now causing unrest in neighbouring Lebanon, where violence between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime – divided along sectarian lines - is rapidly escalating. At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured since the start of clashes two days ago in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. Read more…
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