Stories from 18 October 2005
Hungary: Big Star
Pestiside.hu profiles the Hungarian scene-stealer in the newest Harry Potter movie.
Poland: Another #1
Warsaw Station congratulates (tongue-in-cheek…) Poland on beating out its fellow EU members to come in at number 1 on a very special list.
Russia: Why Bribe-takers Get Caught
Russia Blog discusses why bribe-taking officials get caught. It certainly does not appear to be an interest in stamping out bribery in Russia, where it is estimated over three times more is paid in bribes each year than is paid out in the government's budget.
Ukraine: The Market That Wouldn't Die
Cyber Cossack discusses a Ukrainian market that survived all Soviet efforts to eradicate it. It still exists and is one of the largest markets in Europe.
Uzbekistan: Recognition at the Cost of Lives
Ali of neweurasia says that the deaths of Andijon citizens in the May massacre have irrevocably changed the path of Uzbekistan by drawing international attention and pressure..
Armenia: Low Marks for Local Election
Oneworld Multimedia reports that local observers have given last weekend's local elections low marks.
Georgia: An Autumn Day
Hans Heiner Buhr writes on an autumn day in Georgia, providing a brief slice of daily life in the country.
Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua: Hurricane Wilma
A Hurricane Wilma weblog has been set up to disseminate information as the category 4 storm heads for Mexico and Central America.
Cuba: A Link “Ajiaco”
Babalu Blog has a thorough list of links to mostly conservative weblogs discussing Cuba over the past week.
Colombia: Changing Outsider Perception
Logtar explains why he has created a new blog, Proyecto Colombia to help educate non-Colombians about the positive aspects of his home country.
Brazil: Neocon Discontent
Luís Afonso Assumpção translates parts of an article by brazilian neocon Reinaldo Azevedo on why conservatives are upset with Lula da Silva's government.
Argentina: Still Corrupt, But Not As Corrupt
GoodAirs tries but ultimately fails to find anything worth celebrating after Argentina claims 97th in Transparency International's annual honesty/corruption rankings.
Egyptian Parliamentary Elections
The parliamentary elections Egyptians face next month may very well be more substantial than the first Presidential one they encountered last month. Through these elections many hope to influence the stranglehold the National Democratic Party (NDP) has on both the upper and lower houses of parliament (upwards of 85%).
Lebanon: The Mehlis Report Inconsequential
Lebanon Profile says that all the people who argued that Lebanon needs a short period of Amadou Toumani Toure-style dictatorship to rid the country of corruption before immediately returning to democracy have almost been vindicated.
Livability in the Middle East
Mahmood says that the Economist Intelligence Unit has just published its world-wide livability index, that is, the best cities in the world to live in based on various criteria. Needless to say the Middle East is not on top of the heap.
Bahrain: Corruption Perceptions Index
Abdulhadi Khalaf of Jaddwilliam2 writes that scoring 5.8 out of 10 , Bahrain is percieved by business community as less ‘corrupt’ than Kuwait and Saudi Arabia but percieved more ‘corrupt’ Oman, Qatar and the UAE. The complete data and explanatory material is available at The Internet Center for Corruption Research.
Tunisia: Hunger Strike and Censorship
Neila Charchour Hachicha writes that the PLM’s web site, which was the unique political website accessible in Tunisia has been censored today. “However we want you to get the declaration of the 7 political personnalities who undertook today October 18th 2005 an unllimited hunger strike. We need the help of...
Food aid for Zimbabwe
Sokwanle – Civil Action for Zimbabwe has issued a press release “Crimes against humanity: The Case for Urgent Action Against Zimbabwe. In today's press release , Cardinal Napier and Archbishop Pius Ncube, two leading clerics in the Roman Catholic Church, stress that if the United Nations’ Security Council does not...
India: Protest March
India: Protest March
India: Contraceptives
India: Contraceptives
Sri Lanka: Son Of So-and-So
Sri Lanka: Son Of So-and-So