30 September 2009

Stories from 30 September 2009

UAE: Dubai Metro Pride

  30 September 2009

This month's opening of Dubai Metro has attracted a lot of commentary on UAE blogs. Buj Al Arab notes: “Such a fantastic project for Dubai, the UAE, and the Arab World to be proud of. One of the fastest rates of construction.”

South Korea: Kids Lack Sleep

  30 September 2009

Korea beat translated a local news report on a survey about Korean kids’ sleeping time, which is the shortest among the 6 surveyed countries.

China: When will the sunshine come?

  30 September 2009

Chinese officials will soon be required to report all their assets as part of an anti-corruption "Sunshine Act" of the Communist Party. But resistance so far has been significant, leading to much online public debate among Chinese citizens.

Russia: “Afro Plus”

  30 September 2009

Adventures in Wheelville expresses solidarity with Moscow's African residents: “While Obama is busy making buddy with Medvyedev, scores of black folks on Moscow streets are looking over their shoulder every two seconds in fear. It's horribly ironic.”

Ukraine: Political Rivalry and Journalism

  30 September 2009

Foreign Notes writes about a popular Ukrainian political talk show that was to feature “a battery of eminent journalists” posing questions to PM Yulia Tymoshenko this past Friday, but which evolved into yet another political battle when a group of Tymoshenko's rivals showed up in the studio, seemingly uninvited.

Poland: Sexual Crimes and Roman Polanski

  30 September 2009

Polandian writes about Poland's plans to legalize chemical castration for those who commit sexual crimes against minors – and about the arrest of Roman Polanski in Switzerland and the Polish foreign minister's intention to ask the U.S. president to pardon the film director: “Now, if the 1977 charge had been...