Suu Kyi’s World Tour – Armed with her passport and the freedom to travel without restrictions or fear, Burmese opposition leader and iconic democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi embarked on her first international trip in 24 years, …
The Best (and Wackiest) Royal Jubilee Souvenirs
From queen-themed cookies to Union Jack umbrellas, the Brits are offering every kind of keepsake in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign.
Thai Webmaster Gets Suspended Sentence in Free-Speech Case
In a much anticipated ruling that struck a chord of moderation in Thailand’s contentious battle over free speech, a Thai court on Wednesday convicted an Internet webmaster accused of violating the country’s lèse-majesté laws, …
What a Referendum in Ireland Means for the Rest of the E.U.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny knows it’s good to look voters in the eyes. When that’s not possible, a nationally televised speech works just as well. On May 27, Kenny took to the airwaves and appealed to the debt-ridden nation …
Indian-Burmese Ties: New Delhi Woos a Nation No Longer a Pariah
The Pain in Spain: A Banking Scandal Makes the Crisis No Joke
Spaniards have been trying to deal with their economic problems with a good measure of black humor. The mood, however, has gone from black to bad with the Bankia revelations
After Nearly a Quarter-Century of Isolation, Burma’s Suu Kyi Begins Her Global Tour
Must-Reads From Around the World, May 29, 2012
A Polarized Polity – In a significant development that squarely pits the Muslim Brotherhood against Egypt’s old guard, results of the first round of polling in the country’s presidential race reveal that next month’s runoff …
Self-Immolation Protests Spread to Tibetan Capital
Two men lit themselves on fire Sunday in Lhasa, Chinese state media and overseas Tibetan groups reported, marking the first time that the self-immolation protests have reached the Tibetan capital. One of the men, Tobgye Tseten …
Lady Gaga, Deemed Satanic by Conservative Groups, Is Bullied Out of Indonesia
The show won’t go on. Lady Gaga this weekend announced that she is canceling a sold-out concert in Jakarta because of threats of violence from religious hard-liners. The gig, scheduled for June 3, was staunchly opposed by …
Murdoch and Blair: Britain’s Former PM Testifies to Hacking Inquiry
Tony Blair still divides Britons. His supporters are messianic. His opponents are implacable. But watching their former Prime Minister testifying to the Leveson inquiry that is looking into the tangled relationships between the …
Must-Reads From Around the World, May 28, 2012
Syrian Massacre – The U.N. Security Council on Sunday condemned Bashar al-Assad’s government for its use of tanks and artillery against civilians during Friday’s Houla massacre that left at least 108 villagers dead. …
After 23 Years, Father of Tiananmen Victim Commits Suicide
This June 4 will mark the 23rd anniversary of the brutal crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, when hundreds of demonstrators were killed by soldiers on the streets of Beijing. Twenty-three is not a special number. In …