Global Voices Online

Yulia translates a Russian language post on Kyrgyzstan's shadow economy.

JJ recently took a short trip to the village of Sheker in Kyrgyzstan and writes about both the trip and the town's famous son, famed Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov.

Nessuna writes that her uncle was pressed into joining the “Prosperous Armenia” party. She also gives details on the shady past of the party's founder.

Alexa writes on fashion-consciousness in Mongolia.

Searching for Utopia writes this: “We still had no clue of how serious it was until he turned the TV on. It said that more than a million people were gathering around the parliament and they all ran for their lives. Trees fell, cars were damaged, several ships crashed, three people died and hundreds were injured. The night was closed with a blackout.”

Central Budapest Blog writes this about the storm that hit Budapest Sunday: “This morning people are picking through the detritus and working out what it all means. On the National Holiday right at the appointed hour for the firework display as everyone (1-1.5 million) was gathered along the Danube the skies opened, a gail force wind appeared from nowhere, the heavy rain quicky turned to pelting hail… Someone was sending a message. Just not any of the politicians or meteriologists, who according to all reports all knew what was coming, but still put everyone in danger.”

Petro of Petro's Jotter writes that the previously secret KGB records on the Ukrainian Famine have been made public - and available online.

Novala, Europa has reached the beautiful Montenegro and shares tips on how to drive there: “If you think drivers in BiH are totally nuts, wait until you reach Montenegro. The closer you come to the sea, the worse the drivers.”

Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa posts a list of “15 Things Estonia has Given the World Since 1991″ - which includes Skype: “True, Skype is based these days in Luxembourg, but its primary code was written in Tallinn, where one of its main offices is located.”

TOL's Belarus Blog reviews what was being said on Belarusian blogs and online forums between August 17 and 22.

VW of TOL's Belarus Blog posts an update on political developments in Belarus: some activists have been released from jail, others are on trial - and still others have been taken off the bus and made to cross the border on foot - all because they were allegedly carrying banned publications: “Dudes at police probably don’t know that all “illegal” literature is nowadays sent as word or pdf attachments…”

The death of a music maestro - Ustad Bismillah Khan evokes poignant tributes and posts, one of them being Falstaff's Bidai. (Farewell)

In preparation for the mid-term congressional elections in the US on November 2, a wise Palestinian strategy would be to remove all possible contentious issues that can be used as excuses by Israel not to engage directly and seriously with the Palestinian side, from November 3 on, Daoud Kuttab Said.

Tololy writes about the five most important elements missing from Arab educational curricula.

Ammar has no problem with the resumption of Syrian-Israeli peace talks provided certain conditions are met, namely that they take place within the framework of a wider regional initiative that includes Iran, and that the issues of internal reforms is put on the table.

Ahmed writes about the latest case of DWF (aka Driving While Female) and wonders: “Since when has driving a car become a crime? And not just an ordinary crime that you might commit everyday without even realizing it, but a terrible one, for that matter.”

Zena shows oil slick on Beirut public beaches as result of Israeli air strikes during the 33 days Israel/Lebanon conflict.

Dina reflects on her experiences as a participant at the BlogHer 2006 conference.

Life in Taprobane on women in Sri Lanka. “Not that the island lacked pretty women of suitable stature or the Kings got bored of their harems, they wanted to make some symbolic gestures. The Lankan women were a common topic of admiration, as evident in Sigiriya frescos, various temple paintings, carvings and literature.”

Shirazi on the Bolan Pass and railways. “The present day railway track through Bolan Pass is actually the third attempt of laying railways through the pass. In 1889 torrential floods destroyed the track which was first laid on Bolan River bed”

Cricket runs into stormy weather. Rezwan on when a Pakistani player is accused of ball-tampering, but there are others who claim that South Asian teams are treated differently.

Jeff Ooi in Malaysia is asking his readers “Do you favour a pre-moderated comments mechanism, or real-time publsihing after the initial user authentication requirement (as currently practised in this blog)?”. This comes after a newspaper editor filed a complaint against a comment posted on Ooi's blog.

MohammadAli Abtahi, reformist politician & blogger writes about Ahmadinejad's new blog. He says I think the fans of weblog and internet are happy that Mr. Ahmadinejad is also a member of the society that Keyhan (conservative newspaper) called it two years ago as the spider network, if and only if he continues.

In Dot we read that Dr.Ahmad Tavakoli, academic and writer, considers the most important problem of journalism is that Iranian journalists neither think nor work in an academic way [Fa].

Claudia Ruth Francis considers a new property tax imposed by the government and its impact on locals in Antigua and Barbuda.

Ben at Mai Me Arai blog talks about his theory “todays society is full of people who want to be entertained every single moment“. Ben and his boyfriend are both ardent online game players.

chlim01 links to a forum that has pictures of flooding in Cambodia's third largest city Battambang.

Fat4 laments the security situation in Johor Bahru, the Malaysian town that forms the border with Singapore. In recent years the rising crime has given the city a bad name. “The Johor Bahru i used to love has been snatched away from me.”

UDPS Liege posts (Fr) pictures of an August 21 Congolese demonstration in front of European Union offices in Belgium. The demo was called by Bana Congo. The blog adds: “Between two evils, we must choose the lesser. That does not mean that we are for JP BEMBA but we know how to combat dictatorship when it comes from a real Congolese.”