 RFE/RL Headlines 5/17/2010 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  Kyrgyz Civilian Patrols Expand Security Role Kyrgyz citizens, claiming that police were unable to protect them during the recent political unrest, have organized their own neighborhood-watch groups to defend themselves and their property. Thousands of people have joined "druzhinniki" -- civilian patrols that now guard not only their own houses, but also the parliament building, schools, bazaars, banks, and shopping centers alongside the police. More  Constitutional Crunch Time In Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan has not yet calmed down since last month's violence chased yet another president from office. But the lack of stability has not stopped work on a new constitution for the country, something the interim government has been promising from its first days in power. More  Internet Tax, Other Global Fees, To Be Considered During WHO Assembly As the World Health Organization prepares to meet in Geneva for its annual assembly starting today, a range of public health issues are up for discussion. They run from the mundane -- program budgets and administrative matters -- to the intriguing -- how to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol -- to the logistical -- how to control the spread of counterfeit medical products. But to the average global citizen, the most interesting discussions relate to a fund-raising proposal that would tax their Internet usage. More  Interview: 'Spectator' Editor Says U.K. Coalition Not Likely To Last Long Britain's general election this month was the first in more than 30 years to produce a parliament where no party has an outright majority. After days of negotiations, David Cameron's center-right Conservatives struck a deal with the party that came third, the Liberal Democrats -- paving the way for the country's first coalition government since World War II. But will it last? Fraser Nelson, the editor of Britain's weekly political journal "The Spectator," is doubtful. He spoke to RFE/RL's Ron Synovitz. More  NATO Experts Recommend Balance Between Global Challenges, Local Concerns Experts led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright have unveiled a set of recommendations on NATO's future strategy. In a report, they say the alliance must balance its increasingly global concerns with reassurances to members with more traditional security concerns, such as Russia. More  Iran Agrees To Nuclear Swap Deal Through Turkey Iran has agreed a deal to send low-enriched uranium abroad in return for nuclear fuel, following mediation talks with Turkish and Brazilian leaders. More  Russia's Medvedev Begins Ukraine Visit Russian-Ukrainian relations have improved dramatically since the election of the pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovych as president in February. In a two-day visit that starts today, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will test the limits of the new relationship. More Emigre Entrepreneurs Encouraged To Invest In Georgia A business forum opened in Tbilisi today designed to encourage Georgian businesspeople living abroad to invest in their home country. More A Minsk court today found seven gay activists guilty of participating in an unsanctioned mass gathering and fined them about $6 each. More  Latvia Welcomes Court Decision Latvia today welcomed a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that upholds its war crimes conviction of former Soviet partisan fighter Vasily Kononov. More  Armenian Airline Delays Direct Flights To U.S. Armenia's national airline has postponed a long-awaited launch of direct flights to the United States. More  Georgia Lawyers Want Election Changes Dozens of Georgian lawyers have protested in Tbilisi to demand changes to the electoral code. More  Azerbaijan Halts Mosque Demolition Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has ruled that the controversial Fatimeyi-Zahra Mosque on the outskirts of Baku will be subordinated to the country's leading religious authority. More The Week In Facebook RFE/RL presents a Facebook-style summary of last week's events. Click on any of the status updates for more information. -- Kristin Deasy More  Does Lula Want To Be UN Secretary-General? Last week, I wrote on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to Iran. It seemed clear that the two-day visit, which began on May 16, was about more than the standoff over Iran's nuclear program. More  Baha'i Leaders Enter Third Year Of Imprisonment In Iran May 14 marked the second anniversary of the imprisonment of seven Baha’i leaders in Tehran, where they have been held in Evin prison in small cells and solitary confinement. Baha’is around the world gathered in their local communities last weekend to pray for their safety and timely release. More  Russian Newspaper Publisher Charged With Libel, Inciting Hatred The founder of an independent newspaper in the south-central Russian Altai Republic is being charged with defamation and inciting interethnic hatred. More |
