Stories from 23 July 2008
Israel: Favorite Quotes from UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman
“The Palestinians’ real tragedy is that they have not been able to produce a Nelson Mandela. Every single day, Muslims are killed by Muslims. You do not see a single Muslim leader get up and say, ‘Enough is enough.’ It’s nearly as if we live in a world where if...
Lithuania: “War Crimes of WWII Jewish Resistance Fighters”
Dr. Sean's Diary comments on BBC Radio 4’s report on how the Lithuanian authorities are “investigating the supposed war crimes of Jewish resistance fighters in World War II, whilst dragging their feet over prosecuting the country’s own wartime collaborators who took part in the Holocaust.”
Kosovo: Miss Kosovo at Miss Universe
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros reports that the Miss Universe pageant “accepted Kosovo as a country, and […] Miss Kosovo made it into the top ten. (To be precise, she placed sixth in swimsuit and eighth in evening gown.)”
Israel: Jerusalem Suffers Copycat Terrorist Attack
Jerusalem Terror Attack– Breaking news in the Israeli mainstream news and blogosphere reports that a man driving a bulldozer ploughed down the streets of Jerusalem in a mad rampage, mimicking the tractor attack of 20 days past. An estimated 24 people were wounded and three killed when armed civilian Yaakov...
Palestine: Selective Journalism
Following a second bulldozer attack by a Palestinian civilian in less than a month, Palestinian bloggers are frustrated by how local and international media has covered both events, and ignored more universally significant issues in the country.
Iran: Nuclear crisis
Farideh Farhi, Iranian-Ameircan academic and blogger, analysed the recent nuclear negotiation between Iran and six world powers in Geneva.
Israel: Welcoming New Immigrants
Jacob Richman of Good News From Israel reports on the nation's newest North American immigrants (olim, in Hebrew): “There were 217 olim on the flight including 50 singles… 28 families with 98 children (98 – wow!). The youngest oleh in the group is 3 months old and the oldest oleh...
Serbia: Radovan Karadzic was Disguised as a Doctor
Radovan Karadzic lived in Belgrade under false name of Dragan David Dabic. He was disguised as an alternative medicine doctor and even worked in one private clinic in Belgrade. He also was a contributor to the Healthy Life magazine and took part in forums and lectures, gathering up to several hundred people. At the time of the arrest, Radovan Karadzic (aka Dragan Dabic) had long hair and a white beard. Sinisa Boljanovic translates Serbian bloggers' reactions to this astonishing piece of news.
U.S., Russia: Foreign Policy
The Ivanov Report reflects upon the ignorance of and indifference to Russia in US foreign policy and in the ongoing presidential campaign, and ponders upon the implications for Russian policies towards the US with a new incoming administration in Washington.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Sharpton Calls for Prisoners’ Release
“When it comes to Cuban political prisoners, any publicity is good publicity”: Uncommon Sense and Balablu Blog draw attention to Reverend Al Sharpton's “call for the release of Cuba's prisoners of conscience.”
Russia: Ethnic German Diaspora
Otto's Random Thoughts discusses the question of belonging for the ethnic German diaspora in Russia against the background of regular displacement and forced movement.
Guyana: Disturbing Legislation
Living Guyana draws attention to “a worrying piece of legislation that was sneaked into Parliament” that would give great power to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Russia: Military Bases in Venezuela?
LJ community Politika v Rossii (RUS) conducts a survey on whether Russia should pick up on an offer by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to build military bases in Venezuela. So far, the results are that some 70% of respondents have been positive to the idea.
Barbados: Honest Politicians?
“There is a need for present day politicians to reclaim the trust of the people”: Barbados Underground wonders whether “it might be ‘moral character’ we need – in politics – even more than Integrity Legislation.”
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Obama the Hero?
“As the days, weeks, and months have gone by, it has become increasingly clear that Barack Hussein Obama…has been stepping into this role of the ‘selfless superhero'”: Jamaican Geoffrey Philp says time will tell if the Democratic US Presidential candidate can fulfill the “mythical role” that has been hoisted upon...
China: Olympic protest zones
Jeremy Goldkorn at Danwei.org translates the news that the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games has designated three special demonstration zones for protesters who show up at the Games.
China: Will Yao help China win basketball gold?
No doubt many eyes will be on Yao Ming during the Olympics, but will China's men's basketball team be able to take the gold? More on that at sometimes sports blogger the black China hand in The Luanda Shiver
Croatia: Reactions to the Karadžić Arrest
While not having suffered as severely as the Bosniaks at the hands of Radovan Karadžić, opinions amongst Croatians were varied, although most were pleased with his arrest and looked forward to the day when he will face trial. Here are some opinions from the Croatian blogosphere.
India: A Trust Vote, and a Nuclear Deal
It’s not time yet, for the ruling party to gloat over their sensational yet marginal victory over the ‘Indo –US Nuclear Deal Issue’ which has long haunted their very existence. But they have emerged as the winners nonetheless. Lok Sabha TV drew eyeballs off the internet to engage many Indians...
Japan: LGBT Youth Exchange Project
LGBT Youth Exchange [jp] is a joint project by the Center for Gender Studies at International Christian University in Tokyo and Youth and Play Services of the city council of Bristol to bring LGBT youth from England and Japan together. This year, young people from Bristol are invited to come...
China: Olympic heads
Tianya user akcadia1618 has posted a series of photos of different Olympics-inspired hairdos people have taken to. Responses below the post are…mixed.
