 RFE/RL Headlines 5/11/2010 7:16:07 PM A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty RFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org. |
| Features  Five Years After Andijon Events, Key Questions Remain Unanswered What is now widely known as the "Andijon massacre" transpired when government forces opened fire on crowds of protesters who had been staging peaceful antigovernment demonstrations in the eastern Uzbek city for several days. Five years later, little is known about what ignited the violence, or even how many victims there were. More  Iraq On Air: Should Girls Study? RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq has just launched a weekly youth program, "Shabab Al Nahrein" (The Youth Of Two Rivers ). The program takes on taboo issues in Iraqi society, particularly those among the country's booming younger generation (60 percent of the Iraqi population is under the age of 25.) This week, host Rowayda Faris talks about women's education with guests and callers from across Iraq. More  In U.S., Karzai Seeks To Repair Image, Win Support For Peace Talks Coming after months of tension between Kabul and Washington, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit is seen as critical for both sides. Karzai needs U.S. support for planned reconciliation talks with the Taliban, and Obama needs Karzai's cooperation with U.S. security and governance goals. More  U.S. Revives Nuclear Energy Pact With Russia, Citing Cooperation On Iran U.S. President Barack Obama has resubmitted to Congress a nuclear energy pact with Russia that was cancelled two years ago in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian war. More  U.S. Vows Not To Abandon Afghanistan The United States pledged today not to abandon Afghanistan as the two countries began top-level talks. More  Kyrgyzstan Warns Border Closures Could Lead To 'Economic Catastrophe' Kyrgyzstan's acting deputy prime minister has warned that the continued closure of borders by the country's neighbors could lead to "economic catastrophe" in Kyrgyzstan. More  Russia Mine Deaths At 47, Many Missing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the site of a Siberian coal mine tragedy today, pledging government support to relatives of the scores of miners and rescuers who were killed by two explosions at the Raspadskaya mine at the weekend. More  Medvedev Leaves Syria For Turkey President Dmitry Medvedev leaves Syria for Turkey today following two days of talks in Damascus, which covered economic and military ties as well as the Middle East peace process and Iran's disputed nuclear program. More  Russian Poll: Medvedev Still In Putin's Shadow A recent poll has found that only 22 percent of Russians believe President Dmitry Medvedev formulates his policies independently. More  Armenia Warned Of 'New Wave' Of Emigration Armenia is being warned that it faces "a new wave of emigration" unless the government does more to improve the socioeconomic situation and strengthen the rule of law. More  Slain Kyrgyz Protesters' Relatives To Picket Belarusian Embassy Relatives of people killed in clashes between Kyrgyz security forces and antigovernment protesters in Bishkek last month say they will picket the Belarusian Embassy to call for former President Kurmanbek Bakiev to be extradited. More  Azerbaijanis Blame Iran For Flooding Some Azerbaijani politicians have blamed Iran for manipulating reservoirs near their common border and contributing to the flooding of villages in southeastern Azerbaijan. More  Kyrgyz Officials Split On Constitution Two key members of Kyrgyzstan's interim government have spoken against transforming the country into a parliamentary republic. More  Armenia Opposition Shunning Vote Most of Armenia's leading opposition parties will not participate in upcoming local elections, while the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has official candidates in about half of the 24 villages in which mayors and local councils will be elected later this month. More  Proud To Be An Afghan The meteoric rise of the Afghan side and the fact that it played in the world competition promises a bright cricketing future and a national obsession in a postwar Afghanistan. More  Detente And Modernization According to a report in "Russian Newsweek," Moscow is planning to reorient its foreign policy in a more pragmatic and pro-Western direction. More  Musavi And Wife Condemn Executions, As Authorities Fail To Deliver Bodies Opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard have both issued separate statements in condemnation of the May 9 hanging of five prisoners for their alleged links to terrorist groups and involvement in bomb attacks. More  Banned Music Banned Rasul Abbasi, the director-general for transportation and traffic coordination of Iran's municipalities, has told the Borna news agency that taxi drivers are not allowed to play banned music in their taxis. More  Karachayevo-Cherkessia Still Without A New Prime Minister Eleven days after the deadline imposed last month by North Caucasus Federal District head Aleksandr Khloponin, it is still unclear who will succeed Vladimir Kayshev as prime minister of the Karachayevo-Cherkessia Republic. More  Iran’s Navies Flex Their Muscle Despite official rhetoric about “the brotherhood of the two navies” and reports of their close cooperation and coordination in many fields, Iran's two naval forces are most definitely rivals. More |
