Global Voices Online

Mark MacKinnon writes about the latest political developments in Ukraine: “The standoff is over for now, and Viktor Yushchenko appears to have won the test of nerves against his arch-rival, Viktor Yanukovich. The two men announced today that they have agreed to hold new parliamentary elections in the near future, something Yushchenko has been demanding since dissolving parliament last month amid a bribery scandal.”

Steven D. Levitt of Freakonomics Blog visits Poland and writes on “how incredibly rude the Poles were about lines.” The post has already received 74 responses, and here's the first one: “If you think Polish people does not respect lines, please do not come to Brazil. Here the people use their bags or coats to reserve place in restaurant table. It is terrible….”

J. Otto Pohl reviews Anya Ulinich's debut novel, Petropolis:

Lebanese blogger Mark, who lives in Kuwait ridicules Kuwait's heavy censorship. “Virgin Megastore is open again and I think this time around they are taking censorship to the extreme. I think thats what I would do if I was them, I would want to show people how ridiculous censorship can be. The CD cover above is of the Buddha-bar CD, they’ve censored the Buddha’s face!” he quips.

Deep Griha - an NGO that works in Pune slums blogs about their attempt to increase HIV/ AIDS awareness. “What will bring a housewife onto the streets for something related to AIDS – the seemingly tabooed disease? What will make office-going men and women of corporate India sacrifice their Sundays to protest against discrimination faced by PLHIV at workplace?”

Lokayan has random snippets of experiences from the interiors India - as seen through the eyes of a couple of people working in the social sector “Yet we saw hope. We saw people coming together. We saw individual brilliance. We saw people finding joy in small things in life. We derived and continue to derive energy and impetus from these pockets.”

Konfused Kid from Iraq describes who the pro and anti-withdrawal of US forces from Iraq are. “Whatever happens, Iraq's chance of recovery is incredibly slim, maybe it's just best to let the troops out and let the war begins, cuz we're all so very tired,” he suggests.

Yet another discussion of the Bronze Soldier situation at Edward Lucas' blog.

Egyptian blogger Issandr El Amrani links to an article he published in The Guardian's Comment is Free site “about Arab and Egyptian bloggers and how they might face the ongoing security clampdown.”