Stories from 2 August 2006
China: Yao Ming resturant?
Dan Washburn in Shanghaiist investigates whether Yao Ming had really openned up a resturant in Shanghai: what the People's Daily is calling the Yao Restaurant is really Yeeha.
China: NGO
Fons Tuinstra in China Herald carries on the discussion of China's blooming NGO scene outlined by Paul Mooney in Yale Global.
China: great fire wall
Chen Shao Ju has collected a list of censored words in the Great Firewall (zh).
Hong Kong: WHO
China government nominated former Hong Kong government official Dr. Margaret Chan to be the Chief of World Health Organization because of her experience in fighting SARS in Hong Kong. However, Martinoe says in his blog that: as a Hong Kong citizen he wants to write to members of WHO to...
Uzbekistan: Pop & the Press
The Long and Winding Road reports on a collision between some of Uzbekistan's biggest stars (with their fans by their sides) and a government-backed reporter.
Kazakhstan: E-Government
Leila of neweurasia asks questions about Kazakhstan's e-government initiative (RU).
Kyrgyzstan: Expelled
Registan.net notes the expulsion of two Kyrgyz diplomats from the United States, most likely as a response to the expulsion of two US diplomats from Kyrgyzstan last month.
Armenia: Call to Arms
Onnik Krikorian reports that the US born Armenian opposition politician Raffi Hovannisian has called for an end to public apathy in the lead up to next year's parliamentary election.
Martinique: Beach and Flora
Bien Vu posts (Fr) pictures of the beach and flora of Martinique.
DRC: Candidates Complain about Rigging
The Salon deplores that so many candidates are complaining about fraud in Sunday's election fearing the aftermath will lead to riots: “If they can convince people that their allegations are true, it will mean that the international community is in collusion with the riggers… recipe for chaos. I believe these...
Balkans: Destroying Enemy Websites
Balkan Ghost of Finding Karadzic writes about “the inefficient tactics of destroying mainstream enemy websites” by the American government – including karadzic.org.
Latvia: Diplomatic Conflict With Belarus
All About Latvia writes about the confusing diplomatic conflict currently raging between Latvia and Belarus.
Estonia: Gay Pride
Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia's positive image in the international gay community. Estonia's third gay pride festival is taking place in Tallinn August 7-13.
Albania: Travel, Fiction and Immigrants’ Stories
Neil Woodburn is wrapping up the Albanian segment of his Balkan journey. Our Man In Tirana discusses “the role of Albanian as stock villain” and one crime writer's attempt to move beyond that. He also posts links to articles and discussions on Albanian immigrants.
Russia: Russian-German Deportation Anniversary
J. Otto Pohl writes that this month “marks the 65th anniversary of the deportation of the Russian-Germans to special settlements in Kazakhstan and Siberia” and posts the atrocity's timeline.
Czech Republic: Folk Music Festival
Jesse of Bored in Brno shares his impressions of the folk music festival he attended last week: “Overall, I give this festival the highest recommendation of any that I've been to so far.”
Morocco: Cartoonist's view of Lebanon Crisis
Cartoonists, both on-line and in the print media, have contributed to the condemnation felt around the world. This is the view from one Moroccan source.
Jordan: Designers, bloggers for Lebanon
Designers and bloggers from around the region are using their skills to help Lebanon in the face of the ongoing Israeli attack. Humeid has the details.
Israel: Mel Gibson Arrested on Terrorism Charges
themiddle wonders if the news about Mel Gibson who has been arrested on terrorism charges is a hoax?!
Egypt: Fiasco
Zeinobia says that last night Israeli Army operation on Baalbak city in South Lebanon is another fiasco that the army wants to appear like a victory to deceive the poor frightened people of Israel and says that it achieved some sort of victory. She confirms that those captured persons are...
Bahrain: New Weekends!
Finally Bahrain’s new weekend spanning Friday and Saturday, rather than the so far usual Thursday and Friday, was approved to start from September 1st, 2006, Mahmood said. The move is seen as a good step in the economical development of the country.
