Stories from 24 January 2009
Malaysia: Support for retrenched workers
As companies reduce their operations in Malaysia, anilnetto highlights the need for a national retrenchment fund to support workers.
Kyrgyzstan: Changes, Reshuffling and Invariability
Almatyreporter writes that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has dismissed a batch of ministers, governors, mayors, administration officials, and even several ambassadors.
Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch and The Azizabad Massacre
Colla reports that Human Rights Watch has sent a letter to outgoing US Secretary of Defense Robert M Gates to remind of the US night air attack on Azizabad, Afghanistan, that took place on 21-22 August last year and resulted in tens of dead civilians, while the US authroties were...
Tajikistan: Earthquake rumor
Vadim reports that the recent rumor about the possible powerful earthquake in Tajikistan made thousands of people throughout the country to leave their homes and spend the freezing night in the street.
Kazakhstan: National Issue Revisited
Arseny’s post is about the controversy over the nationality record in the new Kazakhsani biometric passports.
Kyrgyzstan: Not Free Religion
Elena reviews some statements of the new law about religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakhstan: World MBA Tour Comes to Almaty
Adam writes about the World MBA Tour, the world’s best and biggest business school fairs, which will take place in Almaty, the biggest city of Kazakhstan, early March this year.
Afghanistan: Obama Honors Warlord, Snubs Karzai
Joshua Foust reflects on the fact that US President Obama selected four Afghan politicians to participate in his inaugural ceremony, among whom there was no incumbent president of Aghanistan Karzai.
Afghanistan: Election Holdups and Insurgency Holddowns
Patrick Frost analyzes the outcomes of US Assistant Secretary Boucher's visit to Kabul and what it means for the Taliban’s resurgence and governance in Afghanistan, including the issue of possible delaying of this years Presidential election.
Japan: Bloggers on TV-Asahi and “Uso Basutaa”
Heated has been the reaction of many Japanese bloggers over the last week who felt cheated by TV Asahi after it turned out that in the variety show ウソバスター！ (Uso Basutaa!, lit. lie buster), broadcast prime time on the 10th of January, the blogs quoted as sources had been created...
China: Net Nanny, GFW and SEM
Uln explains how the internet censorship in China works through three major tactics, including: Self censorship, Great fire wall's filtering and access control and search engine manipulation.
The Balkans: Urbanization
The Unforgiving Minute writes about urban development in the Balkans and elsewhere.
Russia, Hungary: Tractors, Trolleybuses, Buses
“Crazy” Moscow tractor – at Moscow Blog; St. Pete trolleybuses – at Russian History Blog; Budapest buses – at Budapest Guide.
Europe: More on Entropa
Corina Murafa writes some more on the Entropa controversy.
Russia: Mummies and Lenin's Death Anniversary
Eternal Remont writes about the mummies’ protest on the 85th anniversary of Lenin's death.
Russia: Robert Amsterdam's Interview on Echo of Moscow
Robert Amsterdam's interview on Echo of Moscow radio station about the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov – and a translation of LJ user varfolomeev-v‘s response (RUS) to it.
Russia: Notes on the Crisis, Movies
Megan Case writes about her trip to Russia: “Our friends had stories of their workplaces downsizing, several had been given an extra “vacation” (without pay) or received a pay cut. There seemed to be fewer cars on the road, which is only good for traffic and the environment, but a...
Serbia: Belgrade's Bajrakli Mosque
An account of a visit to the Bajrakli Mosque in downtown Belgrade – at Bill's Blog.
