Stories from 15 July 2009
Zambia: HIV Discrimination case round 2
Latest update about the HIV discrimination case in Zambia: “After an almost eight week delay, we expect to start the trial of 2 former employees of the Zambian Air Force who were allegedly tested for HIV without their consent and dismissed because of their status. The trial is expected to...
India: Of Surnames and Globalization
In this post, Vinod Joseph discusses the problem that some Indians face while trying to split/fit their names into the conventional Western format of name plus surname and wonders if, in this age of globalisation, it would not be best to do away with this kind of templatising.
Latvia: IMF raises the stakes
Baltic Economy Watch speculates upon what new conditions the IMF has set for Latvia to receive new loans to avert the country's financial crisis.
EU-Serbia: Visa freedom in 2010?
Popkitchen writes about rumours that the EU might lift visa regquirements for citizens of Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia in 2010. Americans for Bosnia reacts against Bosnia-Hercegovina, apparently, being excluded from this deal.
Lithuania: Interview with new president
Lituanica posts a translation of an interview in Verslo žinios with Lithuania's new president, Dalia Grybauskaite, upon her inauguration.
Slovenia: Averted assassination attempt
Sleeping with Pengovsky discusses the aftermath of an alleged assassination attempt on Slovenia's Prime Minister, Borut Pahor, and how the media is dealing with the incident.
Russia: GUM – a strategic object?
Your Life Will Turn Into Photography reports [RUS] that Moscow's world famous department store, GUM, apparently has been turned into a “strategic object,” along with an increasing number of Russian business ventures.
Russia: Social friction police
LJ user Savinkoff comments on [RUS] the establishment of Interior Ministry squads targeted at averting social friction in Russian regions, such as protests and demonstrations due to the economic crisis.
Bangladesh: The art of the Nakshi Kantha
Sudipto Salam of Amarblog, draws our attention to the traditional Bengali art of the Nakshi Kantha (embroidered quilt). In this post [bn], he discusses the importance of the Nakshi Kantha, not only as a thing of beauty, but also as a reflection of socio-cultural imagery.
Bahrain: Blogging Ministers
Bahraini blogger Yagoob reports on new initiative on Bahrain's E-Government Portal – a blog where people can leave comments, and where ministers will be available to answer questions.
China: Old Man Attacks Red Light Violators’ Cars With Bricks
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a Netease news story and netizens’ opinions on an old man using bricks to smash 30 cars illegally running red lights.
China: Free Tibet Concert
ChinaGeeks translated parts of Wosers's blog post on Taiwan's free Tibert concert on 11th of July.
Japan: Poor Japanese people
Lee from Tokyo Times brings into focus a 10 minutes documentary, Japan: A Story of Love and Hate, which touches upon poverty problem in Japan.
Japan: The coming DPJ tsunami?
Tobias Harris from Observing Japan comments on Daniel Twining's argument that the advent of a DPJ government could represent a “tsunami” for the US and Japan. The blogger pointed out that the era of Japan's becoming a deputy to the US sheriff in East Asia has passed.
China: Netizens starving, no more rice talk!
Since July 8, the Chinese rival of Twitter, Fanfou has been suspended. Up till now, Fanfou's founder Wang Xing has only clarified that the website's “maintenance” has nothing to do with Internet content provider (ICP) license. As the date of its suspension is soon after the Xinjiang riot and Fanfou.com...
