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Russia: Farewell to “Khrushchevki”

Veronica Khokhlova · 00:47, July 5th, 2008 · Eastern & Central Europe

Earlier this week, LJ user drugoi, one of the most popular and prolific Russian bloggers, posted 17 photos from a Moscow neighborhood of Khrushchev-era apartment blocks, commonly known as khrushchevki, pyatietazhki, or khrushchoby. The neighborhood is about to disappear, to make room for more up-to-date residential high-rises. Below is some of the text that accompanies drugoi's photos, and a few of the 331 comments that the post has generated. 0 comments · »»

Colombia: Íngrid Betancourt and Other Hostages Rescued

Carlos Raúl van der Weyden Velásquez · 07:59, July 4th, 2008 · Americas

lingua → es

Colombian bloggers praise the government for the military operation that rescued 15 hostages held by the FARC, all without a single shot being fired. This has proven to be yet another blow to the guerrilla group. Others analyze the media coverage provided to the event saying that Betancourt's rescue overshadowed the other 14 hostages. 3 comments · »»

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July 5th, 2008

Venezuela: Bloggers Pay Tribute to Eugenio Montejo

Laura Vidal · 05:09 · Americas

Venezuelan bloggers pay tribute to Eugenio Montejo, one of the country's greatest poets, who won the national prize of literature and the international prize Octavio Paz. One blogger even recounts meeting Montejo and being introduced to him by his father who said, "son, meet one of the greatest poets of this country, Eugenio Montejo." 0 comments · »»

July 4th, 2008

Beijing Announces Traffic Rules to Combat Air Pollution

Kelly Proctor · 21:11 · East Asia

lingua → mk

Danwei says Beijing recently announced traffic rules that will be in effect during the Olympics. The rules dictate that from July 20th to September 20th 2008, only cars with license plates ending in odd numbers can drive, among other rules. Authorities estimate the new rules will cut down on Beijing's ... 0 comments · »»

Iran: Death Penalty for Blogging?

Hamid Tehrani · 14:14 · Middle East & North Africa

lingua → pt · mk · fr

On Wednesday, Iranian members of parliament voted to discuss a draft bill that seeks to "toughen punishment for disturbing mental security in society." The text of the bill would add, "establishing websites and weblogs promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy," to the list of crimes punishable by death. 1 comment · »»

Americas: Region Celebrates Rescue of Betancourt and Other Hostages

Eduardo Avila · 01:47 · Americas

lingua → es · mg · mk · bn

The entire Latin American region celebrated with the people of Colombia upon hearing the news that ex-Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages were rescued. In the operation named “Jaque,” Betancourt, 3 U.S. citizens and 11 members of the Colombian forces were freed after the rescue attempt. Bloggers from many countries throughout Latin America shared the excitement and wrote their own personal reflections. 1 comment · »»

July 3rd, 2008

Bahrain: Bloggers’ Code of Ethics Against Sectarianism

Ayesha Saldanha · 17:25 · Middle East & North Africa

lingua → mk

With the political divide in Bahrain usually framed in sectarian terms, blogger Mahmood Al Yousif has posted a code of ethics aimed at stopping the propagation of hate online. 0 comments · »»

Southeast Asia: Alternative sources of energy

Mong Palatino · 04:58 · East Asia

lingua → fr · mg

Due to skyrocketing oil prices, many Southeast Asian countries are intensifying efforts to tap alternative sources of energy. Lifestyles are changing since people are now more aware about the oil price crisis. 4 comments · »»

July 2nd, 2008

Ukraine: Grassroots Activism

Veronica Khokhlova · 22:49 · Eastern & Central Europe

Many Ukrainians, fed up with a culture of lawlessness that is flourishing in their country, are becoming increasingly involved in grassroots activism. One of the latest rallies - Velonayizd ("Bicycle Attack") - took place in Kyiv on June 21, when nearly 500 cyclists, bikers and pedestrians gathered in front of the municipal police headquarters for a Critical Mass-type event, prompted by the recent deaths of at least two cyclists and the authorities' failure to bring the perpetrators to justice. 1 comment · »»

Taiwan: Conflict over Diaoyutai Islands

Portnoy · 20:03 · East Asia

On June 11, a Taiwanese recreational fishing boat United(聯合號) sank following a collision with a Japanese coastguard vessel 11km off the disputed Diaoyutai(釣魚台) (Japan: Senkaku) islands, an island chain simultaneously claimed by Taiwan, Japan and China. Passengers and crew on the sinking boat were picked up by Japan. Shortly after, ... 4 comments · »»