Stories from 13 July 2009
Russia: If you can't beat the west – join NATO
LJ user ne onegin defaitistically argues [RUS] that Russia should join NATO due to the alliance's military superiority, arguing if you can't beat them, join them.
Moldova: Review of the Twitter revolution
Nouvelle Europe reviews [FR] the April 2009 Twitter revolution in Moldova and puts it into greater perspective as for the country's relations with neighbouring Romania.
Lithuania: Russian charter challenges loyalty
Lituanica comments on news that a Russian NGO is starting to issue so called Russian charters – a certificate of allegiance to Moscow – to ethnic Russians outside of the...
Armenia: Flag display
517 Design [RU] posts a photograph of a billboard made up of the flags of those countries which will be entering films into the Golden Apricot festival in Yerevan. The...
Azerbaijan: “Hooliganism”
A Fistful of Euros comments on the arrest of Emin Milli and video blogger Adnan Hajizade last week in Baku, Azerbaijan. The blog says that charges of “hooliganism” are a...
Obama's Ghana Speech Underwhelms
Two Congolese readers react to Obama's first-ever visit to Africa as president, each unimpressed by the speech he gave Saturday before the Ghanaian parliament.
Azerbaijan: Last tweet before arrest
Emin Milli, one of two youth and civil society activists severly beaten and jailed for two months for hooliganism in Baku last week, sent a tweet back on 24th June. Not only was it the last before his arrest, but it was also particularly poignant.
Czech Republic-Slovakia: Fraternal friction in Euroland
Czechmatediary comments on a New York Times article reporting how Slovakia benefits from the introduction of Euro, whereas the Czech Republic seems to lag behind without the EU-currency.
Azerbaijan: Citizen media in defense of detained activists, bloggers
Although most activity can be found on Facebook where users continue to update each other on the case of video blogger Adnan Hajizade and youth activist Emin Milli, detained last week and sentenced to two months pre-trial detention, less activity might be visible in the mainstream media, but the situation is changing. Nevertheless, citizen media remains the main source of information.
Yemen: “This Is It”
“Michael Jackson wanted to give his greatest and best show. One last show which he called: ‘This Is It’. In death, he has done just that,” writes Yemeni blogger Omar...
Egypt: Doctors without masks
Egyptian Leftist [Ar] describes the paranoia gripping people over swine flu or H1N1 and bird flu. The blogger, who has been to three hospitals, notes: “Despite the horror spread in...
Bahrain: Livestock Dying
Bahraini Khalid [Ar] comments on the death of livestock in Bahrain this summer. “There are sheep that die, goats that die and cows that die of the heat and thirst;...
Jordan: Swine Flu Reactions “Funny”
Jordanian Osama Romoh [Ar] is surprised with the mania surrounding swine flu (H1N1) in this part of the world. “The reaction of people towards swine flu or any other epidemic...
Palestine: No Progress
Palestinian Pundit‘s Tony Sayegh celebrates his blog's third anniversary. “A lot has happened in the world during these three years, but in the case of the Arabs in general and...
Morocco: Buying and Selling Blogs
Moroccan Mohamed Saeed Hjiouij [Ar] writes about selling and buying blogs in this informative post.
Saudi Arabia: Above the Law
Saudi blogger Najla [Ar] writes a sarcastic post in which she suggests the authorities draft two laws – one for ordinary citizens and another one for those with influence or...
US-Russia: American reactions to Obama in Moscow
The Ivanov Report discusses some reactions in US media on President Obama's visit to Moscow last week.
Kazkahstan: Public administration discussed by bloggers
The bloggers are trying to understand what is happening in the country and how adequate is the public administration in Kazakhstan. Megakhuimyak thinks over the future of the local political...
Argentina: Digital Cumbia in Buenos Aires
Digital Cumbia is one of the latest musical genres that is taking off in Buenos Aires, Argentina thanks to the music club Zizek. Good Airs writes more about why this...
Argentina: Contracting the AH1N1 Virus
In Argentina, Leandro Zanoni of E-Blog [es] writes about his experience of being diagnosed with the AH1N1 virus and provides tips to his readers how to prevent contraction.
Indonesia: Presidential election results
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia wins the first round of the presidential elections based on quick count results.
