Global Voices Online

Windows to Russia! writes about local “customs and superstitions.”

Window on Eurasia writes about one “small Finno-Ugric people”'s demand that Microsoft add six “additional modified Cyrillic letters their language requires but that are not found in Russian to his company’s Windows operating system.”

Robert Amsterdam writes about various (mis)interpretations of Vladimir Putin's quote on a possible pardon for Mikhail Khodorkovsky - in the Russian press as well as in the Western media - and offers a translation of his own.

Moscow Rules blogs the 4th Ukrainian Investment Summit - here and here.

La Russophobe explains and translates the video parody “of the way Dimitri Medvedev was selected to be the next ‘President'”: “The parody appears to have become wildly popular on the RuNet, with nearly 800,000 views to date.”

Libyano, from Libya, posts pictures from his country in this post.

On the international action day “Free Osanloo“, 6 march 2008, the FNV awarded the Febe Elisabeth Velasquéz prize to Mansour Osanloo,jailed trade union leader in Iran.Watch the video here.

From Bahrain, Silly Bahraini Girl takes offence to a comment made by a reader on another blog about her nationality.

Firouzeh Mozafari,from Iran, has published “Seed of democracy” cartoon in Haditoons.

Jomhour says[Fa] that his vote for reformists on Iranian parliamentary election on Friday is a no to fascism!Meanwhile Economist Magazine has published an interesting diary about this election.

“In an effort to clear the mind and explore new territory, we ventured into one of the 726548724 hiking trails around Tzur Hadassah in the Judean Hills this afternoon,” writes Lizrael, from Israel, who takes us on a pictorial tour of her ‘backyard.'

Marcy Newman writes that March 10 was the Fast for Gaza Day.

As if plans to construct a hotel bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Death Star weren't enough, Carpetblogger reports that rumors are circulating in Baku that the Azerbaijani capital is now negotiating to host a Disneyland. The blog takes an irreverent look at some of the attractions a localized theme park might be able to offer in the “Oasis Between Iran and Chechnya.”

Jordanian Khalaf discusses his country's new oil law in this post.

The View from Fez takes us on a taxi ride in this post.

Or Does it Explode.. posts an interview with Yemeni activist lawyer Khalid Al Anesi.

“Do you take your friends for granted?” asks Bakkouz, from Jordan. “It seems that in this digital age, with the means and ways of communication a plenty, and much better and faster than they used to be, The social ties between people are getting weaker, friends seem to take each other for granted,” he explains.

The Armenian Observer posts a video of a press conference held by radical opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian currently under de facto house arrest. The blog also provides a summary of what the former president said.

“Globalisation - it means more cross-border travel, trade, information and investment than ever before. But what does it mean for the average Bahamian?”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit finds out.

The Armenian Observer reports that restrictions on the media under the current stage of emergency might now be eased. News reports indicate that because there have been few violations of the emergency regulations, the outgoing president might allow media outlets to return to near-normal operation.

Blogging from Trinidad & Tobago, This Beach Called Life offers some food for thought: “Citizens of the country are being urged to plant food in their backyards in order to reduce the effects of rising food prices…with this in mind I planted two boxes of original KFC with fries, a slice of Pizza Hut Pizza and two dozen shrimp wontons.”

Tibetan Uprising provides constant updates on a march to Tibet from India to protest China's actions.

Kalachakra on the Indian constitution and its role in shaping governance.

Pakistan Paindabad on the blasts in Lahore - resulting in more attacks on civilians in the country.

Jahane Rumi on the lack of unbiased perspectives on Islam in the media.

The Armenian Economist examines the possible economic impact of post-election unrest in Armenia. The blog likens the situation to that following the disputed 1996 presidential election and says that depreciation of the dram might occur.

The Armenian Odar posts some thoughts on the bloody aftermath of the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog says that while government propaganda and control of the media is sickening and the situation needs to change, it is not convinced that the radical opposition led by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian is the answer.

TOL Georgia says that after November's crackdown on opposition protests in Tbilisi, NATO might not be so eager to start the process of eventual membership for Georgia of the international military coalition at its summit in Budapest in April. The blog also says that two frozen conflicts over territories not under Georgian control also make the situation worse.

NewEurasia reports on a deal signed in Baku that ends a 16-year dispute between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan over debt. The blog says the news is an “important step forward on the way to build a Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.”

Registan comments on renewed protests by the opposition in Georgia. The blog says that it is increasingly obvious that one guide for assessing whether democracy has taken root in a country is whether losing candidates or parties can accept defeat.

Richard Kabamba blogs at Forum Realisance [Fr] about the return of Mbundu dia Kongo, a decades' old political-religious movement based in Bas-Congo province which “now more than ever continues to defy [President] Kabila's authority, powerless in the face of the acts of barbarism, vandalism and anarchy which destabilize the otherwise peaceful [province].”

Unzipped posts some remarkable photographs of former president and radical opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian surrounded by security forces after police dispersed the overnight demonstration which had occupied Yerevan's Liberty Square.

My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 reports that YouTube is no longer blocked and is once again accessible in Armenia. The news comes on the first Online Free Expression Day launched by Reporters Sans Frontieres to protest internet censorship.

le blog de [moi] blogs the results of the first round of municipal elections [Fr] in Martinique.

ArmeniaNow comments on the existence of a video which clearly shows that security forces fired directly ahead of them while advancing rather than in the air as the authorities claim. The video raises some urgent questions about democracy and human rights in Armenia, the blog concludes.

Child of the Revolution reports that there are plans to translate Fidel Castro's biography into three ancient languages, “with Castro sharing his views and thoughts on issues as diverse as French cheese and solar panels. No, it's not a fun read.”

Cheese-on-bread! properly defends Barbados' “proper pork”.

Blog politique au Senegal writes of Karim Wade's appearance [Fr] at a “Generation du concret” rally in the suburbs of Dakar: “For a t-shirt and a sandwich, these young people sell their futures.”

Vexed Bermoothes wonders if Bermuda's government's “enthusiasm for Private Finance Initiatives…will be a means of diverting huge Government budgets into the hands of selected special interests.”

Togo-iTunes has photos of a francophone book fair [Fr] at the Librairie Star bookshop in Lome.

Réseau sida Afrique shares the story of a 22 year-old woman [Fr] in Congo-Brazzaville, dying of AIDS in the town of Makoua, 800km from the capital and the free medicine that could save her life. (more…)

The Hong Kong Police is effective to crack down T-shirt design with 14K logo by local designers. Penguin Jas notices that Adidas' design might have violated the National Flag Law [zh]. The blogger wonders why the police is silent about that.

C. W. Hayford from Frog in the Well wrote the historical significance of five things that didn't happen but might have happened.

It seems that SARFT is not very sure whether Tang Wei (actress of Lust, Caution)has been banned or not. More from DANWEI.

Chow and suedevil took a video showing the culture and landscape of Kwun Tong old district in Hong Kong. The district would be redeveloped into a shopping mall campus in a few years.

Chainsaw Riot blogs the statistic of flu over the past few years to show that the situation of flu is no worse than the past. However, the number of flu patients visiting public hospital has increased after the media reported about the sudden death of a girl with flu symptom [zh].

ESWN translated a blog post by a reporter in search for eyewitnesses for the hijacking attempt of China Southern Airlines flight CZ6901 on March 7.

On ChinaDialogue, Lijiang’s war on “white pollution”: “A recent Chinese government ban on plastic carrier bags was hailed around the world. Under the new regulations from the State Council, which come into effect on June 1, 2008, shoppers at supermarkets, shopping malls and markets across the country will have to pay for plastic bags. The production, sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags will be outlawed completely. “

Adam posts some facts and figures about the condition of health of the Kazakhstani citizens today, including a couple of comparisons with other Central Asian countries and EU.

Yuri updates on the developments around one of the most controversial companies originating from Kazakhstan. ENRC, majorly owned by the Forbes-listed post-Soviet oligarchs, prosecuted by Belgian law enforcement bodies, aspires to enter the top third of the FTSE100, and sues the European Commission.

Nomad4ever has written a comprehensive post on Malaysian political history leading up to the recent elections.

Vola, a Malagasy blogger living in Paris, writes [Fr] about Moroni Blues, a musical comedy by Comorian writer, Soeuf Elbadawi, which explores love, cosmopolitanism, and ethnic division in the island nation's capital city.