Stories from 17 September 2007
France: DNA Testing for Immigrants
Vous reprendrez bien un peu d'humanisme? critiques a UMP-proposed amendment (Fr) to require legal immigrants in France who want their immediate family members to immigrate under a family reunification scheme to submit to DNA tests so prove they are related. Humanisme thinks the plan unconstitutional, hypocritical and an affront to...
Madagascar: Young and desperate, will emigrate
An allegedly bogus employment firm is in legal trouble in Madagascar. The firm called, Gateway Global Consultants, and headed by a certain Steve Turmel, an international consultant, who is now facing an interdiction to leave the country, had promised to thousands of Malagasies a job in the Bahamas for the...
Thailand: Crash Update
Bangkok Pundit rounds up more information about Sunday's air crash in Phuket.
Russia: Hotel Baltika in Kaliningrad
Copydude writes about Kaliningrad's Hotel Baltika, “centrally located in the middle of nowhere”: “But for some inscrutable reason, Internet only works on Mondays. To help you feel helpless, this vast and isolated complex doesn’t have a bankomat or a shop either.”
Lebanon: Ramadan Kareem
A bountiful and peaceful Ramadan to all from Lebanon. In this post Moussa Bashir takes us to the homes of Lebanese bloggers who break their fast with their families, showing us their artistic side and how the pace of life changes for an entire month.
Russia: President Lugovoi?
The Accidental Russophile writes about presidential ambitions of Russia's “polonium man” Andrei Lugovoi.
Ukraine: Still Some More on Election
Foreign Notes writes on how Ukraine's big business is preparing for the election and translates a piece on “Life after the election.”
Ukraine: Election Notes
Michelle Knisley of Greetings from Kyiv realizes that she can't ignore the approaching election anymore.
Ukraine: Arsenal
Olechko visits Arsenal, a Kyiv factory turned exhibition space.
Ukraine: Oligarch Neighbor
Petro of Petro's Jotter writes on how the life in his neighborhood has changed since the arrival of a new neighbor, an “oligarch.”
Ukraine: “A Pop-Art Huntingtonian Model”
Ukrainiana writes about Ukraine: “So here we are, half the country stuck in a time warp, marinated in Cold War soup, while the other half hasn’t quit looking for democratic healthfoods. How’s that for a pop-art Huntingtonian model?”
Bahrain: Job Hunting
Tito84, from Bahrain, is looking for a job and has given us a breakdown of the troubles job hunters face in Bahrain where even educated candidates are offered BD200 ($530) monthly salaries.
Egypt: More than a Million Killed in Iraq
A new poll suggests over one million dead in Iraq since the invasion, reports Issandr El Amrani from Egypt, who provides a link to the study.
Egypt: The Fagnoon World
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani, who lives in Egypt, introduces us to the Fagnoon in this post. Fannan means artist in Arabic and Magnoon means crazy. Click on the link to enter the world of the Fagnoon!
Egypt: Great Women
“Today is officially the first day of the academic year in Egypt and for this occasion I would like to talk a little about a woman who helped pave the way for other women to become teachers, school principals and professionals in all fields, the woman who contributed to the...
Hong Kong: IT Voice Called For Universal Suffrage ASAP
IT Voice posts its response to the government's consultation on the constitutional development: Hong Kong people have been longing for democracy for a long time. We are ready for universal suffrage AT THIS VERY MOMENT, well before 2012.
Ramadan Kareem From Kuwait
Ramadan Kareem from Kuwait as bloggers talk about museums, small businesses, conservation and the emergence of the new Kuwaiti superstar. Abdullatif AlOmar has more in this round up from Kuwaiti blogs this week.
Hong Kong: Government Leaded Land Enclosure
Chong visited the wet market in Central in last weekend. He noticed that the old market has managed to survive despite the gentrification of nearby bars and restaurants. However, because of the intervention or “land enclosure policy” of government via the Urban Re-development Authority (URA), the century old market is...
Japan: Hawk VS. Moderate
Hisane Masaki from Ohmynews! writes a report on the race for leadership after former Prime Minister Abe's resignation. The two candidates are Fukuda Yasuo and Aso Tarō, the former is relatively moderate in foreign policy. W. David MARX from neojapanisme also has some comments on the race.
India: Amritsar Diary
Reshma Anand reflects on the various facets of Amritsar.
India: Silk Road
Tabula Rasa travels along the Silk Road and blogs it. Day 9 and 10 here.
