Stories from 14 June 2008
Egypt: HIV or Homosexuality?
“Which one is wrong – HIV or homosexuality?” is the post of Egyptian blogger Mostafa Husein‘s post.
Ukraine: Victor Pinchuk and Paul McCartney
Vasyl of uaMuzik explains why he decided not to attend Paul McCartney's concert in Kyiv.
Ukraine: Charity Tennis Tournament
Scenes from the Sidewalk is posting updates on the Strokes Against Hopelessness charity tennis tournament, currently being held in Kyiv.
Ukraine: Paul McCartney in Kyiv
Greetings from Kyiv was liveblogging Paul McCartney's Kyiv concert (15 posts).
Kuwait: Covered Hard Candy for Madonna
“Madonna’s album is being raped by Kuwaiti MOI [Ministry of Information], they basically forced leggings on her and took all the pictures off her CD booklet, it is a cover only no inlay pages,” writes Moey.
Saudi Arabia: Long Journey of Waiting
“Lately, I have discovered that my life is a long journey of waiting,” writes Saudi blogger Female [Ar].
Iran: Protest against corruption and inflation
Several Iranian bloggers including Biseda reported[fa] that several hundred people protested in Tehran (Park Melt) and Mashhad yesterday against corruption and high prices.The bloggers and news sites reported at least 150 people were arrested.
Syria: Too Tired
“I can't sleep until I'm too tired to open my eyes, and once I do, I never want to wake up. I have dreams of everything I wanted to do, and nightmares of everything I did,” writes Syrian blogger Yazan, who lives in Japan.
Soviet History: Chingiz Aitmatov
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about the passing of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
Russia: “Nina the Moldovan Grocer”
Moscow Through Brown Eyes shares a wonderful story on “Nina the Moldovan Grocer” and her “interpretation” of the blogger's parents.
Russia: Kozlovsky Criticizes Amnesty International
Oleg Kozlovsky, at Robert Amsterdam's blog, criticizes the Moscow presentation of the Amnesty International World Report 2008.
Russia: The eXile Shuts Down
Sean's Russia Blog, Robert Amsterdam's blog, and FP's Passport comment on the shutting down of the eXile, Moscow's English-language alternative paper.
Russia, Finland: Maria Kirbasova's Case
A Step At A Time and Vera's Log report on the Finnish Immigration Service's decision to deport Maria Kirbasova, a half-paralyzed 67-year-old Russian citizen, who was one of the founders of Soldiers’ Mothers organization.
Lithuania: You've Been There Too Long When…
“You know you've been in Lithuania too long when…” – at With a Grain of Druska. Here's one of these signs: “You consider Lithuania the best and worst place on earth at the same time.
Lithuania: Celebrations in the UK
Lithuanian Jotter writes about traditional Lithuanian celebrations in the UK.
Japan: Reflections on the Akiba Massacre (Part 1)
When all the dust had settled and the knife rampage in Tokyo's Akihabara district last Sunday, which took the lives of seven people and left 17 injured, had come to a close, many were left wondering what it all really meant. In this post, bloggers offer their perspectives about what may have driven Tomohiro Kato to kill and injure so many people.
Cape Verde: Teenage, pregnant and banned from school
The close-knit Cape Verdean blogosphere has launched a campaign against a school decision to ban a student girl on the grounds of "childbirth". An online petition demanding a special framework for pregnant girls at school, which has been organized by the bloggers, is rapidly growing in support.
“Malaysia is a powder keg”
Because of the sudden oil price hikes, blogger Chemical Generation in Singapore warns that “Malaysia is a powder keg unless the government makes a u-turn, or a great propaganda spin”
Singapore: Helping the poor cope with high oil prices
Ephraim enumerates some of the steps taken by the Singapore government to help the poor cope with rising food and energy prices
Singapore: Rising food prices
Malaysia’s decision to hike oil prices affected the food prices in Singapore, as reported by Simply Jean
Malaysia: Escalating fuel protests
Fuel protests are escalating in Malaysia today. A few days ago, the opposition managed to gather thousands of people in the streets as protest to the Malaysian government's move to reduce fuel subsidies and raise fuel prices.