Global Voices Online

GuyanaGyal's pen raises suspicions in a supermarket, which causes her to wonder about the source of the fear people in her community seem to have of pens and writing.

Serbian and Croatian fans have started a rather big fight at Australian Open, reports Belgrade 2.0.

Yulia Tymoshenko got rid of her famous braid and made a few controversial political steps. More on Foreign Notes.

Siberian Light reports on the recent arrest of Russia’s eighth richest man was arrested in Courchevel in a pimping case - but then let go without charge.

Adventures in Moldova posts a reader's letter, in which a 20-year-old Moldovan currently living in the States compares the two countries: “What I love about America is that it pardons mistakes and [applauds] successes. American children are always encouraged to succeed and to do their best. In Moldova, more energy is geared towards punishing failures than towards rewarding successes.”

A Time To Reflect captures the festive spirit of Makara Sankranti with photographs of kite flying.

Ghomar Asheghaneh criticised Iranian government financial's support regarding Lebanese publishers.He says Lebanese publishers got a lot of financial support to participate in International Book Fair in Iran but Iranian editors and publishers got nothing[Fa]. The blogger adds publishers are in a very bad situation in Iran but government does not pay any attention to them.

Marginalia writes about Auseklis Bauskenieksone, one of Latvia's leading avant-garde painter who Jan. 13 at the age of 96.

United We Blog! on the Maoists inside the parliament. “Putting behind their weapons in UN monitored cantonment sites (the process has started today) Maoists in Nepal have entered inside the parliament building in Kathmandu to attend the first meeting of the interim legislature.”