Stories from 25 April 2009
Syria: Damascus Real-Estate is the World's 8th Most Expensive
Syriangavroche writes [Ar] that commercial real-estate in Damascus is the 8th most expensive in the world, topping international hubs such as New York.
Russia: Baymurat (aka Jimmy) Singing Bollywood Song
Videos of a rendition of a Bollywood song by Baymurat (aka Jimmy) – an ethnic Uzbek from Tajikistan, a gastarbeiter in a town near Moscow, and a YouTube celebrity: one...
Hungary: The Parliament
Hungarian Spectrum writes about history of the Hungarian parliament building – and the politics taking place inside it.
Kyrgyzstan: Lame Ad Design Spurred Nationalist Debates
On April, 22, a deputy Askarbek Shadiev criticized the advertisement billboard of the Swiss Office for Cooperation [en] during the session of the faction “Ak Zhol” party. Deputy was outraged...
Armenia: Obama recognizes Genocide… kinda
The Stiletto comments on yesterday's statement by US President Barack Obama on the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The blog rounds up different reactions to the statement and also...
Madagascar : Transitional government is trampling on freedom of speech
A series of unfortunate decisions taken by the Andry TGV Rajoelina, High Authority for the Transition (HAT) government--the violent arrest of a protester and the shutdown or intimidation of radio stations and journalists--is seriously threatening freedom of speech in Madagascar.
World Book Day: Women's lives in the mirror of their men
Do women's lives paint themselves on- or against - the canvas "their" men provide them through the years ? A literary stroll gives us a bigger picture and takes us from Quebec, to France and finally, to some fascinating Algerian writers.
Ecuador: The Departure of a Television Anchor
In the middle of a tense election season in Ecuador and with the general elections scheduled for April 26, a popular television journalist was fired by the Ecuavisa [es] station....
Japan: 50 Japanese Twitter Bots to Follow
From the weather in Tokyo to updates on what manga was published that day, Ascii.jp has posted a list of 50 Japanese Twitter bots to follow.
Mexico: Concern Over Swine Flu Outbreak
Mexican health officials have become concerned with an outbreak of swine flu, which has caused the deaths of 68 in Mexico City, and another 1,000 have fallen ill. The outbreak prompted the closure of schools and the cancellation of many cultural events. On the streets of the capital, residents are taking precautions to avoid the virus and others are waiting to see if it spreads.
Brazil: Judges quarrel live on TV and scandalize the country
The live broadcast of a fight between two judges of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) has scandalized Brazilians and excited the blogosphere and social networks across the country.
Afghanistan: The Tricycle Theater hosts Afghan actors
Colla writes that the London’s Tricycle Theatre organised one of the most comprehensive and challenging arts festivals ever mounted on the subject of Afghanistan.
Kyrgyzstan: Disputes on .kg domain continue
Elena tells about the disputes around the regulation of the domain names and Internet in Kyrgyzstan.
Turkmenistan: First major gas deal with a Western company
Elina Galperin reports that Turkmenistan has signed a major agreement with the German energy giant Rheinisch-Westfaelische Elektrizitaetswerk.
Russia: New Blog
Siberian Light reviews a new Russia blog: Viewpoint Russia.
Ukraine: More on Chernobyl Photo Exhibit
More pictures from Michael Forster Rothbart‘s Chernobyl photo exhibit in Kyiv
Russia: Union of Repressed Peoples
Window on Eurasia reports that “six of the more than a dozen nations Stalin deported during World War II – the Kalmyks, the Chechens, the Ingush, the Balkars, the Karachays,...
Russia: CTO in Chechnya's Four Districts
A Step At A Time reports that counter-terrorist operation restrictions have been re-introduced in four districts of Chechnya.
Armenia: Debate over campaign promise overshadows 94th anniversary of WWI killings
Yesterday marked the 94th anniversary of the massacre and deportation of as many as 1.5 million ethnic Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. Bloggers react to a statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama marking the occasion, but which avoided directly referring to the WWI events as genocide.
Poland: Banning “Offensive Symbols”?
The beatroot writes about the government's proposal “to make all images that promote dictatorship, communism or fascism illegal from public display.”
Mexico: Cancellation of Important Football Matches Due to Swine Flu
Esta Maraña de Contradicciones [es] writes that she is worried about the swine flu spread in Mexico City because two important football matches were cancelled. Considering how important the sport...
