Stories about Politics from September, 2009
Syrian Students Banned From Using Supercomputer at KAUST
Wael Alwani said on his blog [ar] that Syrian Students at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) are forbidden from using Shaheen, a US made supercomputer, due to technology export sanctions imposed by the US against Syria.
Cuba: Concert for Peace
The "Paz sin Fronteras" concert organized by the Colombian singer Juanes and celebrated on Sunday September 20, 2009, at iconic Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, ignited many passions and heated debates. Posts from Cuban bloggers, living in Cuba and in other countries, show the diversity of opinions on Cuba's political situation and future.
Tunisia: Severe Flooding Kills 15
Flash floods hit Tunisia this week, killing at least 15 people and damaging property in the town of Redeyef in southern Tunisia. Bloggers declare two day of mourning and speak out against a media apparatus which trades on people's miseries to trump up the government.
Turkmenistan: Reforms back on the shelf?
Annasoltan analyzes the political impact of the visit of Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov to the United States, and says that it will be difficult for him to present himself as a reformer who would take Turkmenistan out of present isolationist course.
Iran: Green rage against Ahmadinejad in New York
Protesters against Iranian human rights violations and election irregularities demonstrated against Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York City, as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
Iran: Artists and Green Movement
Artists from different corners of the world have created posters to support Iranian opposition movement (Green Movement) and Iranian people struggle for democracy.
Palestine: Real Palestinians?
Palestinian Mohammed Obaidat [Ar] asks his countrymen if they are real Palestinians.
World: Tweeting Gaddafi's Address to the United Nations
In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi more than made up for lost time. His speech trailed on for six times the allotted slot, as world leaders laughed and yawned. On Twitter, users had a ball reacting to the speech.
Egypt: Blogging Farouk Hosni's Defeat
Egypt's Culture Minister Farouk Hosni has kept bloggers busy over the previous few days. His failed bid to secure a seat at the helm of UNESCO has polarised the blogosphere, with some even cooking up conspiracy theories to justify his defeat.
China: Is Bo Xilai's corruption crackdown good for China?
"Who can ensure that the impartial and incorruptible anti-corruption heroes of today, with their unrestricted power, won't end up on the same path as their predecessors tomorrow?"
Iran: “Bloggers persecuted”
Reporters Without Borders informed us that Ali Pirhasanlou (Alpar), one of the first journalists to start blogging in Iran was arrested last week. This organization adds that Iranian authorities continue to persecute the bloggers.
Japan: The decline of the LDP
Observing Japan has an article explaining the decline of the LDP. The blogger points out that from the early 1990s until 2007 the LDP shifted not just from center to right, but from pragmatism to idealism and from the realm of practical politics.
U.S., Europe: “R.I.P. Missile Defense”
A roundup of blog coverage of the Obama Administration's decision to abandon plans to build the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic: A Fistful of Euros; Edward Lucas; Poemless; Ukrainiana; FP's Passport; Leopolis – here and here; and Robert Amsterdam's Blog.
Latvia: Security Police Questions Blogger
Free Speech Emergency in Latvia highlights the case of a Latvian blogger who “harshly criticized the Latvian state and government as being little more than a rapacious mafia and has said in some posts that revolutionary violence against such a system would be justified” – and was later questioned by...
Russia: Ulitskaya-Khodorkovsky Correspondence
Robert Amsterdam's Blog links to OpenDemocracy.net's translation of correspondence between writer Ludmila Ulitskaya and former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, published (RUS) in Novaya Gazeta earlier this month.
Australia: Kenyan women refused refugee status
Two Kenyan women are facing deportation from Australia after their asylum applications were rejected, despite risks that they may suffer forced genital mutilation if they are sent home.
Ukraine: Media on Ukraine-Russia Relations
Foreign Notes and Window on Eurasia review some of the coverage of the Ukraine-Russia-U.S.-Europe relations that have appeared in Ukrainian newspapers.
Turkey: Next Country to Recognize Abkhazia?
Window on Eurasia reports that “there appears to be a chance that Turkey, despite denials by its officials, might break the embargo against recognition [of Abkhazia] because of Ankara’s desire to play a greater role in the Caucasus region, its own long-standing experience as the only country to recognize the...
Ukraine, Russia: “Operation Barbierossa”
Ukrainiana reviews “two fact-meets-fantasy scenarios [of the beginning of a Russo-Ukrainian war] outlined in a Russian television program.”
Sri Lanka: What's Wrong With Our Democracy?
Going Global points out that a knowledgeable voter base, a strong political opposition and structural reforms in judiciary are some of the aspects which are lacking for democracy to function properly in Sri Lanka.
The Egyptians Tweet Farouk Hosny's Defeat
Bulgarian candidate, Irina Bokova, 57, was elected the head of the UNESCO, defeating Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosny. Instead of mourning the loss, Egyptians celebrated his defeat on Twitter.
