Stories from 29 June 2006
Pakistan: Through Thar
Light Within on the Thar/. “Thar Parkar is politically alive and in the limelight these days. Previously, one only chewed over and thought of such far away places, or read about Thar's unusual life, of people, who sang and danced with exciting rhythm and melody, radiant colours in dress, Manik...
Bangladesh: SWIFT in the US
Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying on why the recent controversy about NY Times is as relevant to the developing world. But, what about Bangladeshis living in Bangladesh? It turns out that SWIFT is quite the marketing tool in Bangladesh. Banks regularly tout their membership in SWIFT to demonstrate...
Uzbekistan: Andijon Video Reaction
Vilhelm Konnander reacts to last week's release of video footage from last year's uprising in Andijon, Uzbekistan.
Armenia: Yerevan Dining
Notes from Hareinik has a guide to Yerevan dining.
Tajikistan: Very Superstitious
Elizabeth notes the power of superstitions in Tajikistan to determine reality.
Turkmenistan: Shutting off the Gas
Peter of neweurasia notes that Turkmenistan is threatening to shut off natural gas shipments to Russia in September after failing to reach a price agreement.
Taiwan: Chen corruption scandal
“Is President Chen [Shui-bian] implicated in any of the scandals that have surrounded him lately?” asks Politics From Taiwan blogger David. “Who knows. However, it's encouraging to see that there are real investigations going on into these cases…”
North Korea: Test-fire fears
As fears increase that North Korea will go ahead with plans to test fire a long-range ballistic, North Korea Zone blogger Barry Briggs looks at the situation in ‘Why Haven't They Launched?,’ in which he writes: “if China can prevent the launch, the US will refrain from direct action; which...
China: What expats read
What do expats in China most like to read? The ‘hottest blog’ for June at ChinaBlogList.org was Sex and Shanghai, a British man's explicit accounts of all the woman he has sex with.
China: Tips on raising kids
Shanghai-based Sinosplice blogger John Pasden found a book in a supermarket recently, ‘100 Things Parents Should Not Say To Their Kids,’ and translated a few. Number eleven: “Be careful. If you trip, I'm not going to help you.”
Japan: PM goes to Graceland
Perhaps having realized his trips to the Yasukuni war shrine were losing him votes, as seen on Mutantfrog, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is making a trip to a different, more widely-accepted shrine.
China: Artist-blogger leaves
“Tomorrow I'm leaving Guangzhou again,” writes choreographer-blogger Frances d'Ath at Supernaut. “I'll be back in October.“
Vietnam: Street Dessert
Vietnamese God talks about his favourite street dessert in Saigon.
Romania: Recycling
Andy H of Csikszereda Musings writes about recycling in Romania, something that, at first, doesn't seem to exist.
Romania: Getting a British Visa
Andy H of Csikszereda Musings reports on what it takes for a Romanian to get a British visa.
Romania: Plans To Withdraw From Iraq
Doug Muir of A Fistful of Euros writes that the Romanian PM plans to withdraw the Romanian battalion – 900 soldiers, the 5th largest coalition member – from Iraq.
Poland: Troops to be Relocated from Iraq to Afghanistan
The beatroot writes that 500 Polish troops are being transfered from Iraq to Afghanistan: “This will be a much more dangerous mission than the one the Poles got involved in, in the quiet area of central Iraq near Babylon after the invasion to oust Saddam.”
Poland: Poznan Uprising of 1956
The beatroot writes about a little-known 1956 uprising in Poznan, Poland, which preceded the famous Hungarian events.
Poland: Minorities
The beatroot writes that Polish “minorities” can't agree on “just how bad” things are getting for them in Poland. An interesting discussion is taking place in the comments section: “Polish racism is just the stupidity of the uneducated and simple xenophobic folk. It has no ideoligical or religious background.”
Slovakia: Anti-Hungarian Former Prime Minister
Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes that the new Slovak governing coalition may include the former prime minister known “for his anti-Hungarian (and Roma) rhetoric and actions.”
Ukraine: Latest on Ukrainian Parliament
LEvko of Foreign Notes posts an update on the really unproductive work of the newly-elected Ukrainian parliamentarians.
