Stories from 18 December 2007
Korea: Drama and Politics
With time running out before Wednesday’s presidential election, the event has turned more dramatic. Following a chaotic and physical fight between members of the Grand National Party and the United New Democratic Party at the National Assembly, Lee Myung Bak’s supporters broke into the National Assembly to protest the request...
Kyrgyzstan: Criticism Prevails in Elections Estimates
Asel posts official results of the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, and provides an overview of observers’ reactions to the conduct of the vote.
Kyrgyzstan: Election's Over
The Azamat Report says violations during yesterday's voting process (not counting the pre-election irregularities) were massive.
Kazakhstan: Zebra Mussels Invade U.S.
Steve LeVine says that communities around the U.S. are in a panic over the creeping invasion of a native Caspian Sea mollusk called the Zebra Mussel, which had been first described in the eighteenth century by a visitor to the mouth of the Ural River in the northeastern Caspian near...
Kyrgyzstan: A Kyrgyzstani nominated for Grammy
Asel reports that Eldar Djangirov, a Kyrgyz musician, has been nominated for the 2007 Grammy Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
Uzbekistan: News Portal Not-Approved by Google Sec
Libertad writes about the incompatibility of Fergana.ru with Google Web Search’s security system. Fergana.Ru is known for its timely and objectively given information about Central Asian countries.
Tajikistan: Fortune Tellers to Be Banned
Vadim reflects on the authorities’ decision to banish witchcraft and fortune-telling, and thinks that this is another trick of authorities to draw away the attention of people from more important issues, such as electricity cut-offs, increase in food and oil prices, lack of gas etc.
Turkmenistan: Life of Turkmen Conscripts
Maciula tells about terrible situation of coscripts in the Turkmen army – reportedly, they escape from military bases, sell their forms and sometimes also guns, and then they hide in their relatives’ homes. .
Kazakhstan: Offshore Islands as Best Investors and Importers
Marat reviews statistics on the investments in Kazakhstan and exports from Kazakhstan – and in both cases the offshore paradises occupy a significant space.
Kyrgyzstan: Women and Youth Score Worst in Elections
GenderStan opines that the way Kyrgyz society is structured does not allow for diversity in the parliament. The party called “New Power” won as little as 0,23% of the votes. It has included mostly women and young people and was not able to invest into a large-scale campaign.
Uzbekistan: Rightless and unprotected militia
Bordersca shares a story of a former militiaman, who lives now in Europe tells his own story about what he had to go through, while working in Uzbekistan, and why he had to do “evil” things.
Afghanistan: More aid, more personnel
Bboyd reviews a new report on aid progress in Afghanistan, published by Senlis, a European-based think tank, which is saying that aid inflows have been inadequate.
Afghanistan: Who's to Blame?
Barnett R. Rubin analyzes the change of tactics in dealing with NATO allies in Afghanistan, announced by Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, at a NATO meeting in Edinburgh.
Iran:24 Internet cafés closed,23 people arrested
According to Reporters Without Borders, 24 Internet cafés in the course of a police operation in Tehran on 16 December were closed and 23 people, including 11 women, were arrested for “immoral behaviour.”
Jamaica: In-Your-Face Culture
Francis Wade says that Jamaican culture comes at people “like a truck barreling down on them on a highway that is impossible to avoid.”
Cuba: Castro Retiring?
Cuban bloggers are abuzz about speculations that Fidel Castro may be about to retire. The Cuban Triangle says: “To my knowledge, this is the first time Fidel has addressed his future role”, while Child of the Revolution says: “Unless the man is truly near death or under strong pressure from...
Bermuda: Election Day
Today is Election Day in Bermuda and Politics.bm is getting the sense that there is a desire for change in the community”, while A Limey In Bermuda endorses what he calls “the protest vote”.
Barbados: Dissociation
Gallimaufry realises she has “been doing the dissociation thing without knowing that it was called” and links to a New York Times article that dicusses “the right balance between dissociation and association.”
Tanzania: Have you tried dried fish heads?
Pernille writes about “chakula” (food in Swahili) in Tanzania: “Rice, beans and ugali – after three months I've concluded that these are the most important Tanzanian food ingredients – and that it might never ever change. Well, sometimes there are small alterations: This Friday the rice and beans came along...
Africa: Will No One Let Africa Speak for Itself?”
Kenyan Pundit asks, “Will No One Let Africa Speak for Itself?”: “However, I’m have been pretty outspoken about the fact that I’m tired of the Bono’s and Sach’s of this world articulating my views as an African.”
Armenia: Bloggers Protest Days of Azerbaijan
Oneworld Multimedia reports that a group of Armenian bloggers have protested the Days of Azerbaijan currently being held at a school in Yerevan. However, while the bloggers do not represent every Armenian with a blog, it is interesting to note that certain media outlets neglected to report the incident at...
