Stories from Quick Reads from May, 2007
Estonia: The Emperor's Menu
Nami-Nami examines the menu of the Emperor of Japan during his recent visit to Estonia: “The only ‘outsider’ is the snow crab, which was caught in Kamtchatka.”
Latvia: Doctor to Become President
All About Latvia reports on the election of the new president: “And this is the first time in my recent memory, the Parliament voted in a person opposed by so many organizations.”
Macedonia, Greece: Name Dispute
The Macedonian Tendency posts a note on the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
Russia: Off-the-Beaten-Path Research
Darkness at Noon blogs on his scientific research from “a run-down bus station in a little village about 2 hours outside of Lipetsk, which is itself about 10 hours from Moscow by train”: “Never did I think I would long for Moscow so intensely, but after a week in and...
Russia: Export of Bio Specimens Banned
Russia bans export of biological specimens, Siberian Light reports.
Russia: Pirates Strike Back
Russian pirates strike back: “By buying licensed Windows you sponsor the war in Iraq.” See the poster at Russian Marketing Blog.
Ukraine: Kyiv Mayor and Orphans
Scenes from the Sidewalk reports on Kyiv City Administration's attempts to deal with the problem of orphaned children in Kyiv.
Ukraine: Tsushko's Illness
Foreign Notes writes on the speculation around the sudden illness of Ukraine's minister of internal affairs: “Any number of unexplained deaths and assassination attempts on highly placed politicians and businessmen over the last decade and a half [including that of a former Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Kravchenko who committed...
Palestine: The 1967 War
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah gives us a history lesson about the 1967 war between the Arabs and Israel here.
Sri Lanka: An Expat's reasons
An ex-pat (was) explains why he came back to Sri Lanka and why he chooses to stay there. More at Indi.ca. “I was born in 1982 and my entire life has been defined by this war I had nothing to do with. It was just this messy inheritance. With the...
Israel: Underground Sderot
Batya, from Israel, jokingly suggests building an underground Sderot. “‘Sderot Underground’ should be so strong, secure and reliable, that the new “Sderot” will be the most desirable place to live in all of Eretz Yisrael, especially when Iran (G-d forbid) gets the bomb. “I have no doubt that Olmert and...
Lebanon: It's Getting Hot in Here
Sietske, a Dutch expat living in Lebanon, fills us in on the latest developments in Beirut. “The Warden messages from the Canadian and American embassy are arriving more frequent now (Warden messages are messages from embassies to warn their nationals of (imminent) danger that may befall upon them). “I even...
Morocco: Bono in Fez
“The View from Fez has its ear to the ground and can confirm a rumour that has been floating around the Medina (city) for the last two days. Bono is in Fez. Why? Well according to one source he is recording here with U2 – another is that he has...
India: Development and West Bengal
Singur underlines why development is crucial in West Bengal. “Today, regional and sub-regional cooperation is the axis around which the wheel of economic growth is turning. The nay-sayers to new investments in West Bengal and Bangladesh should glance eastwards to see how this wheel has turned in the direction of...
India: Muslims and Political Parties
Indian Muslims on the civic elections in Malegaon, which was rocked by bomb blasts last year. “So, does it helps if you are concentrated in a region, play communal politics and still be acceptable to the mainstream? Or can you be a party of only the majority group and still...
Sri Lanka: My mom is a Doctor
London, Lanka and Drums reflects on being the child of a doctor and doctors in SL. “These Sri Lankan Doctors are an abundant resource aren't they? I was travelling to the motherland last year with my brother and there was an announcement over the plane's PA asking if there was...
Jordan: Who to Trust?
“Who do you trust these days? The tug-of-war between the government and the IAF in Jordan is a traditional center piece of Jordanian politics. It’s a back and forth effort and it has just gotten to a point where one cannot trust either and it merely becomes a question of...
Morocco: Punish YouTube Blockers
“People behind the blocking of Youtube in Morocco have to be reprimanded in proportion with the damage caused from ban. The news has made its way to BBC,New York times, Washington Post and a plethora of other news outlets in the world causing an unwanted negative advertising of a Kingdom...
Saudi: Saudi Jeans Birthday
Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans (Ahmed Al Omran) is marking his 23rd birthday without much fanfare. “As for my birthday, there will be no party: Just me and my beer coke, working on some unfinished projects and getting ready for the tough finals,” he explains.
Kuwait: Paris Hilton Lingerie
“I came across this bizarre news while surfing the net, Inspired by the great Paris debate, Mio Destino, a designer lingerie company, has specially designed “Free Paris” and “Jail Paris” silk panties. The company will contribute 50% of the profits from the ‘Paris Hilton Panties’ sales to an Ovarian Cancer...
Israel: Kuwaiti Weekend
ISRAELITY comments on Kuwait's plans to change its weekly holidays from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday here.
