Stories from 15 July 2008
Ukraine, Russia: Yushchenko and Litvinenko
Taras Kuzio believes that “the connections between the Yushchenko’s poisoning and Litvinenko’s murder are closer than at first seems.”
Ukraine: Kryvorizhstal
Ukrainiana writes on whether Arcelor Mittal Steel's Kryvorizhstal is to change hands again.
CEE: World's Youngest Leaders List
Veni Markovski writes about CEE individuals who've made it on the World’s 10 Youngest Leaders list of the Foreign Affairs Magazine: Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev, Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
Uganda: (No longer) lost in translation
The majority of Ugandan bloggers have yet to write in languages other than English, perhaps because over 50 different indigenous languages are spoken in the country. Over the last year, however, several of Uganda's blogren have forayed into the world of local-language blogging via Luglish, a blend of English and Luganda, the local language most commonly spoken the capital city Kampala.
Balkans, U.S.: Goran Bregovic in NYC
Veni Markovksi posts pictures and writes at length about Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra's concerts in New York City.
Transnistria: Voices of Tiraspol
In recent years, it seems like a solution to Moldova's long-unresolved secessionist conflict is always being forecast but never quite materializes. Meanwhile, the people who live in the unrecognized Transnistria just try to get by. At least a couple of the territory's netizens, however, seem unhappy with some of the initiatives of their de facto government. Lyndon Allin translates their posts.
Iran:Front Page of 50 Banned Journals
In Gavras, an Iranian blog, we can discover the front page of more than 50 journals and magazines that have been banned and shutdown in recent years in Iran.
China: Locking down IDC server rooms for the Olympics
Have you been to Beijing lately? For those making their first trip for the Olympics, there's lots that's going to impress. What you won't see, however, is just as telling.
Russia: One Year Sentence for Blog Comment
On July 7, Savva Terentyev, 22, a Russian blogger and musician, received a one-year suspended jail sentence for a comment he posted on Feb. 15, 2007, on the blog of a local journalist Boris Suranov. Below are rough translations of the comment and a small passage from the verdict, as well as an opinion poll on the impact of Terentyev's case on the freedom of expression in the Russian blogosphere.
Dominica: Local Food Alternatives
Danielle Edwards, guest blogging at Dominican Weekly, says that “we should all make the effort to resist rising food prices by being more innovative with our meals.”
Barbados, U.S.A.: Controversial Cartoon
Barbadian blogger Cheese-on-bread! comments on the controversial cover of The New Yorker: “Some people are really scared Obama is going to be the 43rd President of the United States…”
Guyana: Summer Time?
Guyana-Gyal notices some strange weather patterns at work in her neck of the woods…
East Timor: Teachers protest and get a pay rise
Moriae [pt] celebrates the local teachers’ victory after a manifestation over pay rise in East Timor. They used to be paid less than Portuguese teachers working in the country.
Bhutan: Making money
Freedom in Bhutan on the lack of transparency in governance and how politicians make money.
Pakistan: Public sector employment
Five Rupees on the government's ban on public sector employment in Pakistan.
Pakistan: Politics in Dubai
All Things Pakistan wonders if Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is the new political centre for Pakistan.
Nepal: Political intrigue
Nepali Netbook sums up the political events of the last few weeks in the country – as ‘wackiest’ ever in Nepali politics.
Angola: The 16 year Parliament legislature finishes today
“In 1992 the Angolans went for the first to the polls. No one imagined that Parliament which resulted of those elections would have a 16 year legislature, the longest of the continent.” JotaCê Carranca [pt] explains the numerous reasons for this prolonged period in power, and says that this legislature...
D.R. of Congo: Dysfunctional Justice
More than a year after his colleague at the Radio Okapi Serge Maheshe was murdered, Cédric Kalonji [Fr] says that one of the alleged perpetrators fled the prison in Bukavu. “Justice, the pillar of the State's authority which is the very foundation of democracy, is not working in the Congo”,...
Armenia: Relations With Turkey
The Armenian Observer comments on new moves to promote dialogue with Turkey. The two countries have no diplomatic relations and the border remains closed. However, the blog notes that the response inside Armenia to moves to promote reconciliation between the two neighbors is disappointing.
Armenia: Meet The Kardashians
Blogian posts the text of an email that laments the fact that many Americans are beginning to associate ethnic Armenians in the U.S. with socialite and sex tape celebrity Kim Kardashian.
