World Chronicles News

Bolivia: Emergency declared on May day

May 7, 2012

On the occasion of the May Day, Bolivian president Evo Morales announced the nationalization of the Spanish-owned Transportadora de Electricidad (TDE). A déjà vu; similar to the declaration of nationalizing Bolivia’s oil and gas reserves in 2006 to celebrate the international day of workers. If in that occasion banners called Morales the Bolivian ‘liberator’, this year people burned effigies of their leader claiming that they “have nothing to celebrate”...

Post-revolution, pre-evolution Egypt

April 27, 2012

In 2011 the Legatum Institute published its 'Prosperity Index' assessing 110 countries, defining prosperity as both wealth and wellbeing. Under the category of Personal Freedom, Egypt ranked 109th out of 110 countries indicating the limits on citizen’s freedom of expression. The miracle of the revolution has reversed the situation with Egyptians hitting the streets on a nationwide scale to demand justice and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. With the presidential election approaching, filmmaker Nadia Kamel discussed in Brussels the deep roots of the Arab Spring and the current situation in Egypt...

Somali pirates: Heroes or villains?

April 24, 2012

Over the course of my life, I have learnt that anything is absolutely true or absolutely false. No heroes, no villains, it just depends on the point of view of the observer. What is your point of view?

Proliferation of piracy activity off the coast of Somalia has driven into diplomatic conflicts, negative effects on international trade, low security and it has questioned the goals of international cooperation in the region. Seen from the outside, piracy is seen as a huge threat to international interests and security, but in Somalia, piracy is perceived as a powerful tool to bring development...

Month-long festival of the Rato Machhindranath

May 2, 2012

The month-long festival of the Rato Machhindranath is celebrated both by Buddhists and Hindus of the Newar community. Devotees carry the chariot of the Rato Machhindranath the deity of rain and water, to various placed in the ancient town of Patan (Nepal)...