Stories from 21 July 2008
Georgia: Hacker Attack
The Threat Expert Blog reports that political tensions between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia have spilled over into cyberspace. The IT security blog implies that...
India: All about the Theatre!
A bunch of IT professionals, with a hectic weekday schedule, are keeping themselves busy even during the weekends. They have been smitten by the theatre bug. ‘Rebelz’ as they are otherwise known, formed this group with just one purpose in mind.
Kazakhstan: Olympics Blogwatch
On the eve of the Beijing Olympiad, the Kazakhstani bloggers discuss what chances their country has to performs decently in summer sports.
Mongolia: State of Emergency Aftermath
Guido Verboom reflects on the popular protests during the parliamentary elections in Mongolia.
Kazakhstan: Mega Media Holding
Adam reports on creation of a new Kazakhstan media holding company, made up of state-owned and – of course – pro-government outlets.
Kazakhstan: Mittal’s Business Still at Risk
Adam Kesher reflects on the recent developments around Arcelor Mittal’s enterprise in Kazakhstan against the background of evolving resource nationalism trends in Kazakhstan and consolidation of major industries in hands...
Central Asia: Update on EU's Cantral Asia Strategy
Phillip posts his impressions of a panel discussion of the German Association for Eastern European Studies about the Central Asia strategy of the European Union.
Kazakhstan: The Rise of Kazakh Military
Adam tells that new types of ammunition, designed in Israel, but made in Kazakhstan, comply with the world trends in the sphere of design of high-precision weaponry.
Kyrgyzstan: Schoolchildren Partake in Festival of National Cultures
Elena tells that pupils-winners of school olympiads from Kyrgyzstan took part in the festival of national cultures in Moscow, Russia.
China: How you feeling about the Olympics?
Joel at Fool's Mountain recently took to the street where he lives in Beijing neighbor city Tianjin to ask locals what they think about next month's Olympics. He took video...
Kazakhstan: New Scandal, Bribes and Politics
The Roberts Report reviews the new scandal evolving around Kazakhstan following the Sunday Times article, alleging that KazmunaiGas paid $2 million for vice-president Cheney’s visit to Astana in 2005.
Afghanistan: The Myth of Taliban Tribalism
Josh Foust says that one of the most shallow prejudices on the conflict in Afghanistan is the assertion that the Taliban insurgent groups are being driven by tribal loyalties
Kazkahstan: Pipeline Blast
Patrick Frost reprots that a 20-mile section of a natural gas pipeline, which travels from western Kazakhstan into Russian territory, was shut down late yesterday after an explosion damaged the...
Afghanistan: Government Blames Pakistan for Terrorism
Barnett R. Rubin reports that the government of Afghanistan, chaired by President Hamid Karzai, formally endorsed a statement charging Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate with responsibility for most of the terrorism...
Afghanistan: Women Shot by Taliban
The Rumi reports that two women who had been returning home from shopping in the Kandahar province of Aghanistan, were abducted and shot to death by Taliban insurgents.
Afghanistan: Hizb-i Islami Press Release on Bombing
Barnett R. Rubin posts translation of the Hizb-i Islami press release on the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghainistan, in which Northern Alliance is blamed for for the...
Afghanistan: Revisiting Reports on al-Qaeda
Joshua Foust compares journalistic and intelligence reports on the early days of al-Qaeda, and realizes they were almost exactly the same.
China: Tianjin People's View on Olympics
Joel posts a video on Tianjin’s LaoBaiXing's view (common people) on the significance of Olympics.
Afghanistan: Eve teasing
Joshua Foust looks at the problem of eve teasing in Afghanistan, an abhorrent tendency of young men to sexually harass women on the street.
Japan: Ban on Daggers and Double-edged Knives
Esotericlarity from Japundit comments on the recent ban on daggers and double-edged knives to prevent assault incident such as Akihabara massacre. The blogger wonders if the ban would be effective...
Japan: Why Expats Don't Speak Japanese?
Dann0 listed out 10 reasons on why expats in Japan don't speak Japanese.