Stories from 25 December 2007
Lithuania: Religion
Lituanica cites the results of a survey on religious views of the Lithuanians.
The Baltics: “Borderlands (V)”
There's something to grieve and much to celebrate when the Baltic states join the Schengen, writes Marginalia.
Latvia, Estonia: Valka and Valga
Valka is in Latvia, Valga – in Estonia. Until 1920, they used to be one town, Walk. “The Latvian side faces a back door of an Estonian supermarket.” But, as All About Latvia reports, “town officials from both sides plan to take [the metal fence] down altogether to allow pedestrians...
Latvia, Estonia: Schengen
All About Latvia celebrated the Schengen expansion at what used to be a Latvian-Estonian border post.
Belarus, Russia: $1.5-Billion Loan
TOL's Belarus writes about the possible reasons behind Russia's $1.5-billion loan to Belarus.
Europe: Good-Bye to More Borders
Novala, Europa says good-bye to border-crossings as more countries join the Schengen zone.
Russia: “(Chimerical) Stability”
Streetwise Professor criticizes Time Magazine's coverage of Putin's Russia: “The touting of the (chimerical) stability of Russia under Putin is another example of the superficiality that passes for incisive journalism.”
Central & Eastern Europe: Populism?
Dr. Sean's Blog reviews texts on populism in Central and Eastern Europe that have appeared in the special issue of Journal of Democracy: “The irony is that this comes just as the ‘populist backlash’ seems to be waning.”
Ukraine: Yanukovych Privatizes State Residence
Ukrainiana translates a video in which Victor Yanukovych is threatening to sue a journalist for questions on murky privatization deal.
Dubai: Sex Slaves Exist
Bahraini Esra'a says slavery isn't a thing of the past and that sex slaves exist in our modern day and age. She also posts related videos which expose the sex trade in Dubai.
Bahrain: Difficult National Reconciliation
Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif sheds light on Bahrain's troubled road towards national reconciliation in this article.
Russia: Frozen Gas, No Diesel on Sakhalin
White Sun of the Desert discovers that no gas station in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is selling gas “before lunchtime” – because it is frozen until then.
Brazil: The first Christmas of a mother who has lost a son
Carlos Eduardo Santos [pt] publishes a moving letter from a mother who has lost her son telling us about the first Christmas without him. Her 26 years old son was killed on a robbery in Recife, Brazil. She says: “Is it worth it to love this city? This state? This...
Angola: Jailed journalists still in prison
Orlando Castro [pt] reports that Angolan journalists Armando Chikoca and José Lelo, both arrested in the past months while working in different news pieces in two different parts of the country, are still in prison. “This all happen because there still are journalists who insist on being journalists”.
Georgia: Shakira in Tbilisi
After finding myself without the Internet at home for three days, I feel gutted that I missed out on Shakira's free concert two days ago in Tbilisi, Georgia. Writing on my Oneworld Multimedia blog, had I known I would have considered visiting Armenia's neighbor to the north for the concert.
Georgia: Opinion Polls
With the presidential election in Georgia two weeks away, Social Science in the Caucasus, looks at the reliability of opinion polls in the country. The blog says that opinion polls from every side are confusing the electorate and there is an urgent need for transparency.
Georgia: Sycophantic Poetry
Writing on his blog, This is Tbilisi Calling, the BBC's Matthew Collin recounts following Georgian president's motorcade around the country as part of his campaign for re-election in January's vote. The journalist and blogger reproduces a poem written especially for Mikhail Saakashvili by one elderly voter discovered en route.
Armenia: Aeroflot
Now that airline ticket prices have increased in Armenia, one ethnic Armenian from the Diaspora finally journeyed back home for Christmas via Moscow on Aeroflot. Raffi K at Life in Armenia says that avoiding the terrible service on Aeroflot is best advised.
Armenia: Campaign Politics
With the presidential election in Armenia less than two months away, The Armenian Observer is impressed by how seriously one candidate is taking campaigning for the vote.
Armenia: Yoga
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs taken at a new Yoga center in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
Palestine: Christmas and the Occupation
Mohammad from Kabobfest sheds light on Christmas in a Holy Land under occupation.