Stories from 21 October 2009
Russia: Kindle
Profy reports on Amazon Kindle's “international expansion”: “This decision is obviously good at least because I personally don’t like any limitations and opening yet another window to the huge Russian market is hopefully a wise decision for Amazon. […] At the same time I myself suspect that the vast majority...
Russia: Stalin's Grandson vs Novaya Gazeta
Foreign Policy's Passport reports on a lawsuit brought against Novaya Gazeta by Josef Stalin's grandson, Yevgeny Dzhugashvili.
UK: Russian Film Festival
Siberian Light writes about the 3rd Russian Film Festival, which begins on Oct. 30 in London.
Western Sahara: Hunger Strike in Support for Separatists
Solidarité Maroc [Fr], an online forum regrouping some Moroccan human rights activist, publishes an appeal (video) by French national Jean François Debargue who's on hunger strike in solidarity with Sahrawis whom he says are living in “dire conditions” in Western Sahara – a territory administered by Morocco and contested by...
Brazil: The challenge of hosting a worthwhile Olympic Games
Brazilians highlight the problems that the country will have to deal with before the 2016 Olympic Games with wry humor, hoping that organizers will learn from the mistakes made during the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio.
Pakistan: Abuse Of Religion
“The trend of moulding religion to suit one’s needs instead of amending ones own behavior to suit the needs of religion is a symptom prevalent even amongst the so called liberal and educated classes of our country,” comments Pakistani blogger Tayyab at Deadpan Thoughts.
Bhutan: End Tobacco Ban
I am Drukpa brings to our notice “the rising insane and inhuman prices” of freely available smuggled cigarettes in Bhutan because of a outright tobacco ban in the country. The blogger advocates for “ban-free legalized tobacco that is reasonably taxed and regulated”.
India: Campaign To End Homophobia
“The Campaign for Open Minds is one of the many efforts to end homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in India and was created in response to the alarming surge in attempts at conversion therapy and other negative reactions to increased visibility of LGBT people, following Delhi High Court’s historic July 2...
Trinidad & Tobago: Truth or Dare
“We are a society that publicly cries corruption but privately upload mega-project photos on Flickr with misguided pride”: This Beach Called Life uncovers “the hidden truth” about Trinidad and Tobago.
Barbados: New Hospital?
Barbados needs a new hospital, but Barbados Free Press wonders whether people understand “how much commitment and effort this will require.”
Bermuda: Economic Pinch
“The critical mass of tourism facilities continues its tailspin of decline. The Government may spin all it wants, but the facts are dismal”: Vexed Bermoothes says Bermuda is feeling the economic squeeze.
Guyana: Here Comes The Rain Again
Guyana-Gyal‘s garden writes a love letter to the rain.
Namibia: Introducing Namibia election bloggers
Namibia will hold presidential and national assembly elections on 27 and 28 November 2009. A number of Namibian journalists will use blogs to report and monitor the elections. We are introducing these new election bloggers to you.
Colombian film on petty theft wins National Documentary Award
In Square Eyes blog, a Colombian blog about TV, movies and shows, they bring us the trailer of Bagatelle, the winner of the National Documentary Award. Bagatelle shows the day to day happenings in the judicial system where petty criminals are brought to justice.
Ecuador: 7th Annual Gay Film Festival
Lesmode [es] is looking forward to the 7th Annual Gay Film Festival called “The Place Without Limts” to take place in 4 cities across Ecuador from November 21-28.
Vietnam: Flooding pictures
The Fish Egg Tree uploads pictures of the recent flooding in Kon Tum, Vietnam. The flooding was caused by Typhoon Ketsana.
Social divide in Singapore
Liau Chuan Yi and Norvin Cha write how and why social divide in Singapore seems inevitable.
Serbia: Preparations for Medvedev's Visit
Belatedly, a mock review of the preparations for president Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Belgrade – at Belgraded: “He already was in Serbia once last year, but this time there’s a lot more fuss about his visit, presumably because we need to suck up to the East at least as much...
Russia, Ukraine: A Georgian Politician's View
Window on Eurasia highlights a Georgian politician's view on the relations between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia: Polina Zherebtsova's 1999 Chechen Diary
Jost A Mon translates the intro and excerpts from Polina Zherebtsova’s 1999 Chechen Diary that were published in Bolshoi Gorod (RUS) in Sept. 2009.
Inheritance tax and children in limbo: adoption in Japan.
Adoption in Japan is a statistically under-represented, multi-dimensional issue. Young families seeking children, inheritance tax-evading grandchild adoptions, conservative opposition to confusing family blood-lines, and loosely regulated groups illegally netting profit from international adoptions out of Japan.
