Stories about Politics from May, 2007
Latvia: Doctor to Become President
All About Latvia reports on the election of the new president: “And this is the first time in my recent memory, the Parliament voted in a person opposed by so many organizations.”
Macedonia, Greece: Name Dispute
The Macedonian Tendency posts a note on the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
Russia: Off-the-Beaten-Path Research
Darkness at Noon blogs on his scientific research from “a run-down bus station in a little village about 2 hours outside of Lipetsk, which is itself about 10 hours from Moscow by train”: “Never did I think I would long for Moscow so intensely, but after a week in and...
Ukraine: Tsushko's Illness
Foreign Notes writes on the speculation around the sudden illness of Ukraine's minister of internal affairs: “Any number of unexplained deaths and assassination attempts on highly placed politicians and businessmen over the last decade and a half [including that of a former Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Kravchenko who committed...
India: Muslims and Political Parties
Indian Muslims on the civic elections in Malegaon, which was rocked by bomb blasts last year. “So, does it helps if you are concentrated in a region, play communal politics and still be acceptable to the mainstream? Or can you be a party of only the majority group and still...
Jordan: Who to Trust?
“Who do you trust these days? The tug-of-war between the government and the IAF in Jordan is a traditional center piece of Jordanian politics. It’s a back and forth effort and it has just gotten to a point where one cannot trust either and it merely becomes a question of...
Cuba: Today Show
“I'm sorry, but an American news outlet visiting Cuba isn't news. That they're not going to be able to score an interview with Fidel Castro is news.” Lawhawk shares his thoughts on the upcoming Today Show visit to Cuba – as do Uncommon Sense, El Cafe Cubano and Babalu Blog.
China: Pork barrel politics
Will from imagethief discusses the delicate politics in the recent rise in pork price in China, the connection between epidemic, death sentence of the former commissioner of the State Food and Drug Administration, pork reserves, etc.
Lebanon: Questioning Amnesty for Islamic Militants
Frencheagle writes that certain members of Fatah Islam implicated in the decapitation of 27 people on the first night of the conflict with the Lebanese government were not only granted amnesty by parliament [Fr] in 2005, but were arrested last year–and then promptly released–for vandalizing the Danish embassy. “You don't...
Touring Libyan Blogs: Tony Blair, Watermelons, Shock and Awe and a Really Hot Summer
Extreme security measures, the relationship between bloggers and watermelons, shock and awe tactics and what happens to you when the weather reaches 49 degree Celsius are just some of the topics Fozia Mohammed echoes from Libyan blogs this week.
Africa: blogging the G8 Summit
A team of African journalists, who are working with Panos London will blog from the G8 Summit in Germany: “For nine days starting on 1 June, journalists from Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa will bring you stories and perspectives from Africa on HIV/AIDS and healthcare, international aid, debt relief...
Ukraine: Crisis, Again
Abdymok.net reports: “the so-called agreement reached under the rug at the presidential administration in the wee hours of may 27 lasted . . . about 72 hours.”
Russia, Austria: Raiffeisen, Murder and Money Laundering
Robert Amsterdam writes about the alleged ties of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) of Austria to murder and money laundering in Russia.
Latvia: Gay Parade and Other “Problems”
“Gay parade is the least of our problems,” writes All About Latvia: abortions, the lowest life expectancy in the EU, and human trafficking are no less – if not more – significant.
FSU: Interview With Edward Lucas
Peteris Cedrins of Marginalia interviews Edward Lucas, the Central and East European correspondent of The Economist – and a blogger.
Russia: KPRF/Just Russia Merger?
Siberian Light reports on the proposed merger of the Russian Communist Party with Sergei Mironov's Just Russia: “[…] I’m sure there are many within the Kremlin who would like to see the influence of the Communist Party diluted still further – although they are broadly supportive of Putin at the...
Pakistan: Jobs for country runners
The Pakistani Spectator has an interesting list of job profiles. “A matriculate or having a bachelor degree from an un-recognized institution having 30 years political / no-political experience and the age should not be less than 45 years. The candidate will be reporting to relevant institutions abroad but not reporting...
Swahili Blogosphere: Higher Education Blame Game, Miss Universe, and Personal Privacy vs. Public Life
Hardship is the name of the game, it seems, for Tanzania's higher education students both at home and abroad. While the University of Dar Es Salaam has readmitted all the suspended students after the recent students’ strike over ‘unaffordable fees’, another crisis over students funds ensues for Tanzanians in Ukraine....
Syria: A Letter from a Syrian Worker in Lebanon
Golaniya posted a letter from a Syrian Worker in Lebanon. “In Lebanon, our hopes are now starting to flee away. We are outcasts. We receive all kinds of cursing and swearing from people. We sometimes got hit and killed. This happens when politicians, deliberately and non deliberately, make their loaded...
Guinea: top businessman becomes honorary president
News From Guinea and Friends of Guinea reports, “Mamadou Sylla, Guinea's richest business patron, was named as the new honorary president of the ruling PUP party. Sylla is a close ally of the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté and is often referred to as ‘the ruling party's banker.’ Last...
Egypt: Monem will be freed and Amr Gharbeia interrogated
Blogger Abdel-Monem Mahmoud appeared today before the Public Prosecutor who ordered to release him after 45 days in custody. “Monem and his group are expected to be release on Saturday after completing paperwork.” said his lawyer. Hossam el-Hamalawy reported that the Egyptian blogger Amr Gharbeia has been interrogated today on...
