Stories from May, 2007
Lebanon: Questioning Amnesty for Islamic Militants
Frencheagle writes that certain members of Fatah Islam implicated in the decapitation of 27 people on the first night of the conflict with the Lebanese government were not only granted amnesty by parliament [Fr] in 2005, but were arrested last year–and then promptly released–for vandalizing the Danish embassy. “You don't...
Touring Libyan Blogs: Tony Blair, Watermelons, Shock and Awe and a Really Hot Summer
Extreme security measures, the relationship between bloggers and watermelons, shock and awe tactics and what happens to you when the weather reaches 49 degree Celsius are just some of the topics Fozia Mohammed echoes from Libyan blogs this week.
Kenya: they came, they saw, they were conquared
Only in Kenya writes about Harambee Stars vs. the Green Eagles: “They came, they saw, they were conquered. That is the story of the Super Eagles after their encounter with Harambee Stars Sunday 27th May 2007 at Kasarani. Yes, they hit us 1-0, but as anyone who was in the...
Africa: blogging the G8 Summit
A team of African journalists, who are working with Panos London will blog from the G8 Summit in Germany: “For nine days starting on 1 June, journalists from Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa will bring you stories and perspectives from Africa on HIV/AIDS and healthcare, international aid, debt relief...
El Salvador: Preliminary Census Figures
Early returns from the first Salvadoran census since 1992 have found that there are less citizens in the country than expected. Tim Muth provides the prediction that “you can expect the ARENA government to spin this as good news — it means a greater per capita income statistic when you...
Bolivia: Residents of El Alto Fed Up With Bars
Residents of the city of El Alto took the streets and forcibly “closed” clandestine bars that were said to contribute to the rising delinquency of the city. Mario Duran, GV author, descended to the area to have a look and presents a slideshow of images that he posted on Noticias...
Peru: Interview with Archaeologist Guillermo Cock
C.J. Schexnayder of Kleph's blog recently sat down with famed Peruvian archaeologist Guillermo Cock, who led the effort to unearth thousands of mummies and tens of thousands of artifacts in a area of land near Lima that was destined for urban development. Among the topics discussed with Cock were the...
Venezuela: More Protest Photos
GV Author Luis Carlos Díaz continues his on-the-ground coverage of the post-RCTV closure and adds another Flickr photoset.
Peru: Bloggers Featured for the First Time?
Bloggers Juan Carlos Luján and Vladimir Terán Altamirano were interviewed on the radio station Radio Libertad. Podcasts of the interview were posted on the Grupo Periodisimo Digital [ES] blog. This led the blog's author Sandro Medina to comment, “I don't remember a Lima, or even a Peruvian radio station that...
Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul and Tourism
Asel is worried that the pursuit of short-term profit from tourism is ruining Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-kul.
Armenia: Real Estate Prices
At Life in Armenia, Raffi K. reports on real estate prices in Yerevan.
Turkmenistan: Relations with Kazakhstan
Bonnie Boyd discusses the great significance of the emerging relationship between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Kazakhstan: Bikers & the World
neweurasia says that Kazakhstan's government can use the success of Kazakhstani bicyclists to further boost the country's image.
Armenia: All-powerful Seal
Notes from Hairenik discusses the incredible power of seals on documents in Armenia.
One Caribbean; Many Identities…
Calypsonian Lord Nelson once sang, “all ah we is one family”. Optimists in the Caribbean may well agree with these words, but the reality is that if you were to describe Caribbean states as a family, you would have to call it a complex unit - and one in which there is much sibling rivalry. Trinidadian blogger Karel Mc Intosh discusses the intricate subject of Caribbean unity with Jamaicans Geoffrey Philp and Francis Wade and Guyanese blogger Media Critic.
Ukraine: Crisis, Again
Abdymok.net reports: “the so-called agreement reached under the rug at the presidential administration in the wee hours of may 27 lasted . . . about 72 hours.”
Russia, Austria: Raiffeisen, Murder and Money Laundering
Robert Amsterdam writes about the alleged ties of Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) of Austria to murder and money laundering in Russia.
Latvia: Gay Parade and Other “Problems”
“Gay parade is the least of our problems,” writes All About Latvia: abortions, the lowest life expectancy in the EU, and human trafficking are no less – if not more – significant.
FSU: Interview With Edward Lucas
Peteris Cedrins of Marginalia interviews Edward Lucas, the Central and East European correspondent of The Economist – and a blogger.
Russia: KPRF/Just Russia Merger?
Siberian Light reports on the proposed merger of the Russian Communist Party with Sergei Mironov's Just Russia: “[…] I’m sure there are many within the Kremlin who would like to see the influence of the Communist Party diluted still further – although they are broadly supportive of Putin at the...
Slovenia: Vinko Bogataj
The Glory of Carniola writes about the Slovenian skier Vinko Bogataj (who happens to be much more than just his magnificent 1970 crash).