Stories from 30 September 2009
Bahrain: Life Changing Decisions
Bahraini Mariam had to plan her next three years in a matter of hours. Find out why in this post.
Kuwait: Blogging under the Spotlight
Kuwaiti blogging came under the spotlight during a workshop organised by IREX entitled The Role of Blogging in Kuwait. Global Voices’ Kuwait author Abdullatif AlOmar, who was a panelist at the event, has more.
Israel: Losing Patience with Obama
“We are losing patience with Obama as well, and so are many of the American people,” writes Israeli Goyisherebbe, at Shiloh Musings.
UAE: Dubai Metro Pride
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
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?
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.
Romania: “20 Years After the Revolution”
David Sasaki/El Oso writes about his trip to Romania and the country's recent history, and posts a video interview with the executive director of Casa Sperantei hospice.
Ukraine: “The Ghosts of Chernobyl”/Destination Truth
Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about a Destination Truth episode about the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone – “The Ghosts of Chernobyl” – which is scheduled to air on Wednesday, Sept. 30, on cable's SyFy channel.
Russia: “Afro Plus”
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.”
UK: Przemek Wajerowicz's “From the Upper Deck”
the POLSKI blog highlights Przemek Wajerowicz's London street photography project: From the Upper Deck.
Ukraine: Political Rivalry and Journalism
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
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...
CEE: History, Nationalism and Identity
Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest writes about issues of history, nationalism and identity in Hungary and other states of Central and Eastern Europe.