Elspeth A. Lodge

Royal wedding fever hit YouTube hard, AFP reports.

The event was the subject of 72 million live streams in 188 countries and had over 100 million views on April 29.

“The total streams on April 29, 2011 reached 101 million as romantics around the globe tuned in to watch the fairytale ceremony, the procession and the final balcony kiss,” YouTube said.”… there have been 37.7 million page views of the official royal wedding website from 13.7 million visitors.”

YouTube said to AFP that “the top five countries watching live streams of the royal wedding on the site’s Royal Channel were Britain, the United States, Italy, Germany and France.”

After months of political unrest that resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives,  Alassane Outtara has finally been sworn in as president of Ivory Coast.

He succeeds President Laurent Gbago, who is currently under house arrest in the country’s north, reports CNN.

“It is the beginning of a new era of reconciliation for all the sons and daughters of our dear Ivory Coast,” Ouattara said after taking the oath.

CNN reports that Ouattara was sworn in by Paul Yao Ndre, the head of the country’s Constitutional Council.

There were a number of members of the government, diplomats, representatives of the armed forces, and civil society leaders, among others present at the ceremony in Abidjan, reports say.