Estonia, Poland, Ukraine: The Holocaust

A Step At A Time quotes from an article on the “European complicity and responsibility” for the Holocaust and the ways in which Poland and Ukraine are dealing with “vague and extremely unfair accusations levelled at a whole nation.” AnTyx writes about Estonia's pre-war Jewish population: “While it is a...

Poland, UK: Abortion

Polandian notes that thousands of Polish women are having abortions in the UK: “With it being illegal here in Poland, they are forced to travel to other countries thereby adding bureaucratic hassle and a strange environment/language to what must already be a very nasty and stressful situation.”

Turkish PM: Should Israel be allowed in the UN?

Au début était le Blog writes about the Turkish prime minister, who, referring to Israel recently asked “how a country that does not put into effect Security Council resolutions can be allowed to enter UN headquarters” [FR].

Serbia, UK: Stevo Jakšić, Rest in Peace

Alan Jakšić of Balkan Anarchist posts a moving tribute to his father, Stevo Jakšić, who passed away in June 2008.

Macedonia: Anti-Visa Regime Posters

Posters expressing Macedonian discontent with the EU's visa regime – at Say: Macedonia.

Lithuania: Vilnius Photos

Some photos of the “quirky Vilnius” – at Wu Wei.

Latvia: Book Publishing VAT Up From 5% To 21%

Very belatedly, links to Peteris Cedrins’ reporting and musings at Marginalia on the history of book publishing in Latvia and the outrageous VAT increase on books from 5 percent to 21 percent.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz: Free speech or hypocrisy?

Parole de democrate posts a screenshot from the Haaretz website, a left-leaning Israeli newspaper, which features an editorial with the headline “The IDF has no mercy for the children of Gaza nursery schools” alongside an IDF advertisement urging readers to “Support the soldiers today”.  Parole thinks, “This attitude casts strong...

Hungary: Lifestyle, Literature, Law and More

A selection of posts from The Hungarian Spectrum: the lack of continuing education programs; health and lifestyle issues; domestic violence; writer György Dragomán; the Hungarian Secret Service and the Catholic Church.

Azerbaijan: World's Oldest Surviving Centenarian?

Eternal Remont comments on recent reports in the Azerbaijani media that 126 year-old Kableyinovruzali Aslanova is the oldest living resident in the country. Born in 1882, Aslanova has over 200 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. However, the blog also notes that while Aslanova is reportedly 12 years...

Slovenia: Ljubljana is “The World’s Most Honest City”

Balkan File writes that Ljubljana has been declared the world’s most honest city by Reader’s Digest: “Teams from the publishing company ‘lost’ 30 mobile phones in 32 world cities” – and 29 of them were handed to the police in Slovenia's capital.

Albania: New Highway

A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about Albania's new 4-lane highway that “is causing so much uproar in political circles” but is “close to completion.”

Moldova: Chisinau Circus

Moldovarious.com writes about the German artist collective “Project: Synapses” that has initiated the re-opening of the Chisinau circus.

Africa: How to start as a journalist in Africa

Scarlett Lion offers tips and ideas on how to start as a journalist in Africa (as well as thoughts on being ten feet tall).

Ghana: Meet Ghanaian Poet, Nana Fredua-Agyema

Nana Fredua-Agyema is a Ghanian poet. One Ghana, One Voice interviews him about his work.

Zambia: Share IT Best Practices

Are you interested in IT development in Zambia? Do you want to share ideas and tips in order to promote IT best practices in Zambia? Share them on Codzed.

Africa: Redefining African Literature

Ukraine: Rescuing the European Bison

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe Blog writes about efforts to rescue the European Bison from extinction.

Russia: “Shaverma” in St. Pete

Eagle and the Bear writes about “shaverma” in St. Petersburg, “unmarriagable cousin in relation to the spicy Middle Eastern shawarma hawked by New York street vendors.”

Belarus: A Roundup on Politics

Belated links to posts on media freedom, entrepreneurs’ protests, and web activism in Belarus, a country with the “100% opposition-free” parliament – at Andrei Khrapavitski's Belarusian American Blog.

Ghana: Chocolate Tourism

“Chocolate tourism” in Ghana is a form of tourism that “involves a week long journey tour that helps people understand the basic nuances of cocoa cultivation and its processing to make into an export product.”