29 November 2007

Stories from 29 November 2007

China: Taxing Post-graduate Student

  29 November 2007

Pbzhai writes a story he heard from his university [zh]. A post-graduate student wrote to the Nanjing city mayor and asked why the post-graduate students had to be taxed even if they got only RMB200 (US$26) per month subsidy? In a recent party meeting, teachers were asked to teach their...

Egypt: The Annapolis Peace Conference

  29 November 2007

When the onset of the Annapolis Peace Conference first arose hopes were high and all were looking forward to meeting at the peace table. Since then complications and controversies have muddied the waters and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been in the middle trying to bring all parties back to order. Many if not most Arab leaders had originally refused to attend following the release of contextual details. Egypt's bloggers can help us to understand why.

Bolivia: Tactics Used

  29 November 2007

Miguel Buitrago of MABB wonders whether the tactics used by President Evo Morales in Bolivia will pay off or whether it will produce undesirable results.

Russia: Peter Nalitch

  29 November 2007

Siberian Light writes about Peter Nalitch, Russia's “homegrown star to match Borat”: “Seriously – who could resist the charming Nalitch as he croons “Gitarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr, jump to my yaguarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr Gitarrr, come to my boudoirrr” from the front seat of his cramped Soviet Kopeika car?”