Stories from 14 February 2008
Kosovo: Towards Independence?
As the talk of an imminent declaration of independence by Kosovo next Sunday or Monday intensifies, and as leaders in Serbia and Russia make statements rejecting it in advance, bloggers in the Balkans have been busy discussing the issue since December. Here are a few of their views.
Czech Republic: Presidential Election 3.1
The presidential election in the Czech Republic continues – and the legislators have been drinking some wine, The Czech Daily Word reports.
Latvia, Russia: Ambassador Veshnyakov
Latvian Abroad is pleasantly surprised with Russia's new ambassador to Latvia – Aleksandr Veshnyakov, former head of the Central Election Committee: “He was interviewed by Echo of Moscow radio station before leaving for Latvia and he declared that he will learn Latvian because he considers that as a measure of...
Iceland: Hostility Towards Poles
The beatroot writes about hostility towards Poles in Iceland.
Serbia: Web Journalism School
Ljubisa Bojic announces the launch of the first Serbian Web Journalism School.
Serbia: Rimtutituki
Belgrade 2.0 writes about one Serbian band's antiwar efforts of the early 1990s.
Russia, Georgia: Coverage of Patarkatsishvili's Death
Foreign Notes reviews coverage of Badri Patarkatsishvili's death.
Russia: Inadequate Media Coverage
Vilhelm Konnander criticizes “international media's one-eyedness in Russia reporting.”
Russia: Bribes
Moscow Rules writes about corruption and reposts a table of “the current going rate for bribes people have to pay to do business here in Russia,” originally published in a Russian business daily.
Iraq: Treatment of Iraqis in Jordan
Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin, who lives in Jordan, revisits the subject of the treatment of Iraqis in Jordan in this post.
Iraq: Ad Dora Bazaar
Caesar of Pentra, from Iraq, visits Ad Dora Bazaar in Baghdad.
Kuwait: Anti-Segregation Rally
Eshda3wa from Kuwait attended an anti-segregation rally.” I went with 7alawa my friend, she expected some kind of 70's riot, hell no we wont go kind of thing, and she kept chanting Integration not segregation the whole way there!” she writes.
Azerbaijan: Appeal
Leigh’s new adventure in Azerbaijan posts news of an appeal on behalf of Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of an Azerbaijani newspaper, currently facing prosecution in Azerbaijan. The blog says that with a “lack of transparency in the Azeri court system, it is hard to know if anyone is ever guilty or...
Armenia: Bloggers Consider Election Choices
The Armenian Observer posts a comprehensive update and roundup on what's new in the pre-election blogosphere. In particular, the digest examines how some bloggers consider the various candidates on offer and how to cast their votes.
Armenia: Opposition Discord
Unzipped is disappointed by news that an opposition candidate has not pulled out of the race for next week's presidential election in Armenia to support another, former president Levon Ter-Petrossian. Meanwhile, The Armenian Observer offers another opinion.
Armenia: Opposition Rally
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs of a pre-election campaign rally held by former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri.
Armenia: Trndez
Today might have been St. Valentine's day, but in Armenia it was also Trndez, an ancient pagan festival now absorbed into the Christian calendar. Posts from Armenia, a Peace Corps blog, posts an account of the festival.
India: Daughters and Insurance
A certain advertisement aired in India – that seems to sell insurance by communicating that daughters are a burden, isn't winning this author's heart at Sepia Mutiny.
India: Widows on Valentine's
An apt post for Valentine's Day, The Rational Fool on the plight of Indian widows and the religious sanction that allows society to ostracize them.
