Armenia: Hye Tghek

Who knew Armenians Could Rap? posts about Hye Tghek, a Yerevan rap duo.

Armenia: Yeraz Art

Raffi Meneshian, a blogger at Life in the Armenian Diaspora, writes about joining Yeraz Art, a nonprofit that assists young Armenian musicians in finding venues to perform internationally and helps fund their education.

Armenia, Azerbaijan: NK Peace

Oneworld Multimedia has plenty of discussion of talks in France between Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a settlement over Nagorno Karabakh, including that a US military presence in the region may be key to lasting peace.

Georgia: The Fitness Scene

Ben Wheeler has a postage stamp sized portrait of the Georgian gym scene.

Iraq: Riverbend Raided

Riverbends neighborhood and home was raided by the police. She provides a detailed account of what happened: “One of them stood with the Klashnikov pointed at us, and the other one began opening cabinets and checking behind doors. We were silent. The only sounds came from my aunt, who was...

Ecuador: History and Analysis

In a somewhat enigmatic, but very informative series of four posts, S. Artesian of The Wolf Report describes, “The Importance of Being Ecuador.”

Costa Rica: On Ballots and TP

Costa Rica en el Presente has unofficial election results which are being thrown around as the Supreme Election Tribunal (TSE) continues to hand count ballots. In what Bob Glass calls a “fitting end,” those 7.7 million paper ballots may end up recycled as toilet paper.

Bolivia: Troubled Airline and U.S. Relations

Eduardo Ávila has two posts on the current troubles for the airline, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB). Jim Shultz tries to decipher Washington's mixed signals towards Bolivia and then calls a rumored reduction of US aid to the country a “good thing twice.”

Gustav of the Warsaw Station reports on the meeting between Poland's president Kaczyński and George Bush, during which Bush, among other things, asked Kaczyński for “his advice on Ukraine.” Gustav also writes that president Kaczyński and some political analysts expect Poland's relationship with Russia to improve soon.

“Billboard Ballyhoo”

Lemuel Kolkava of Deleted by Tomorrow writes about a funny development in the Slovak politics: because of the early election, the party that most wanted it now risks being left without space for campaign ads – “most of the billboards were already rented by private companies in the preparation for...

“The First Circle” and “East-West”

Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog writes about the TV adaptation of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novel “The First Circle” that's currently being shown on Russian TV. He sees it as a “positive development.” Charles also reviews a 1999 Russian-French-Bulgarian movie “East-West,” and promises that the “The Ninth Platoon” review will be next

Russia's War, Oligarchs and Arguable Foreign Policy Decisions

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog writes on the recent clashes in a Southern Russian village, the inadequate coverage of Russia in the U.S. media, the West's support for the Russian ‘oligarchs’, Putin's decision to invite Hamas representatives to Moscow – and the possible reasons to be concerned and even outraged...

Brazil: Carnival, Football, and Elections

Ricardo Héctor, a Brazilian living in Chile, says it's going to be a busy year for Brazilians with Carnival right around the corner, a difficult World Cup tournament in Germany, and federal and local elections. Brazil Uncovered is a weblog which recorded the journey of Doug Banks and Dan Osborne...

“Go Back to Slovenia!”

Michael M. at The Glory of Carniola writes that Slovenian women were portrayed as not pretty in a 2002 Ali G's movie – and how Slovenians remained unmoved by it.

Estonian Beauty Contests

Inspired by a Finland blogger, Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa discusses something as relative as female beauty – and the lack of it – and writes on the Miss Estonia and Miss Tallinn contests.

Nepal: The elections and after

Nepal: The elections and after

Nepal: Power and its components

Nepal: Power and its components

Nepal: Valentine and the country

Nepal: Valentine and the country

Jamaica: Spanish Town Blues

Charles Matheson reports to work at his office in the Jamaican district of Spanish Town, which erupted in violent protest on Wednesday in response to the killing of a gang leader. “The silence outside was broken by the crack of gunfire as we all scampered away from the front of...

India: Education and the government

India: Education and the government

Bangladesh: The blog meet

Bangladesh: The blog meet