Stories from 15 August 2007
Kenya: Media Bill Faces Public Opposition
The Kenyan civil society and human rights groups are protesting against the controversial Media Bill passed by the Kenyan Parliament last week. The Bill is waiting Presidents Mwai Kibaki's assent to become part of the Kenyan law. Kenyan bloggers have been analyzing it, blogging about demonstrations in opposition to the Bill and publishing photos of demonstrators in the streets of Nairobi.
Ukraine: Immoral Politicians
Taras Kuzio comments on the immorality of some Ukrainian politicians: “Anatoliy Kinakh, Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Ivan Bilas, Taras Chornovil, Moroz, Holovatiy and many others all have one thing in common: they are male and have bruised ego’s, injured male pride and immaturity.”
Ukraine, U.S.: Gogol Bordello
Ukraine List writes that Gogol Bordello band “has been all over the TV and radio in the US as of late promoting their new album Super Taranta.”
Ukraine: More Sketches From Lviv
Olechko is in Lviv again – and is posting her lovely sketched of the city.
Beyond Borders: Bloggers Face off over Jordanian Treatment of Iraqi Travellers
The treatment of Iraqis at the Jordan's Queen Alia Airport has triggered a storm in the Middle Eastern blogosphere. What at first seemed to be a straight forward story of refugees being ill-treated by their neighbour's security guards has spawned into a Pan-Arab spat (the type of which is normally reserved for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict), writes Mohamed Nanabhay, who sifts through blogs to bring us what the uproar is all about.
Ukraine: Karpachova's Award
Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, who has just received an award from the president that she doesn't deserve.
Russia: St. Pete Pics; A. Kostia's Short Story
Random pictures from St. Petersburg, including one of a pub called Puberty – at Megan Case's blog. Also, a translation of A. Kostia's short story, Mama.
Russia: Washington Post Conflict
James of Robert Amsterdam's blog writes about “a war of words” between the Washington Post and Russia.
Russia: More on the Violent Video
More on the video of the execution of two non-Russians – at The Accidental Russophile.
Russia: Ulster in North Caucasus
“Russian forces fighting Chechens and other rebels in the North Caucasus today are self-consciously copying the approach their British counterparts used against the Irish Republican Army in Ulster 40 years ago,” writes Window on Eurasia.
Russia: Blogger Faces Jail
More on the Russian blogger facing a jail sentence for insulting police on his blog – at Publius Pundit and La Russophobe.
Bulgaria, Czech Republic: Flat Tax
More on flat tax in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic – at Dr. Sean's Diary.
Israel: Policeman Bribed in Bashkiriya
Snoopy The Goon, from Israel, relates the story of a policeman who accepted a bribe, in Bashkiriya.
Israel: Sudanese Refugees
Stephanie from Israel discusses the problems facing Sudanese refugees in Israel in this post.
Yemen: Bin Ghanim R.I.P
Yemeni Omar Barsawad mourns the death of a national leader – Dr Faraj Bin Ghanim.
Bahrain: Super Rich Gulfies
Bahraini Esra'a discusses what it means to be a Gulf national abroad.
Tanzania: let's talk about textmessaging
Let's talk about textmessaging in Dar es Salaam:“And then comes the theme of this story. Somewhere along the route going at eighty kilometres per hour, the driver decides to send a text message. His eyes dart between the road and his deftly held cell phone. I am thinking, here I...
Kyrgyzstan: Chinese Flattery
Kyrgyz Report reports that now that the Chinese delegation has arrived in Kyrygzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, the Kyrygz president Kurmanbek promptly signed a declaration that Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of China. Mirsulzhan Namazaliev comments: “I think President Bakiev hasn't even understood what he signed, as he...
Honduras: An Introduction to Honduran Blogs – Part 3
Many young Hondurans are blogging now, and personal blogs in Spanish abound. These defy being pigeon-holed into categories. Many entries are about anything or nothing in particular, the latest movie trailers, family stories, and even raunchy ads. In Part 3 of this introduction to the Honduran blogosphere, the focus is on blogs about personal and everyday topics.
India: What a speech!
The Middle Stage on the art of oratory and great speeches of Modern India.
India: Economic Freedom
Atanu Dey on economic freedom in India, and the potential it unleashes.
