 RFE/RL Headlines 7/24/2010 3:09:08 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  Tajik Prosecutor Targets Forerunner's Son The son of former Tajik Prosecutor-General Bobojon Bobokhonov has been arrested on corruption charges, the latest in a string of moves initiated against current or former judicial officials by Bobokhonov's successor. More  Wary Locals Question Allegations Of Islamist Role In Kyrgyz Violence The authorities in Kyrgyzstan accuse Islamist militants of taking part in ethnic violence in the south of the country last month that killed more than 300 people and threatened to undermine the new government. But locals say religious groups weren't involved and that the government's accusations threaten to provoke further unrest. More  Will New Diplomatic Service Help EU To Speak With One Voice? Might the EU's newly formed diplomatic service answer Henry Kissinger's famous quip that he didn't know whom to call when he wanted to speak to Europe? More  Eastern Europe's Frozen Conflicts Look To Kosovo Ruling While the International Court of Justice says has said its ruling approving Kosovo's declaration of independence is unique to Kosovo, the ruling is being regarded in more universal terms. And nowhere more so than by parties involved in secession crises or frozen conflicts themselves. More  Taliban Violence Creating Social Revolution Among Pashtuns A years-long Taliban campaign to eliminate Pashtun leaders and radicalize the youth they traditionally controlled has brought chaos to communities already ravaged by war, migration, and underdevelopment. More This week, Facebook announced that its number of user profiles had reached 500 million. But American satirist and journalist P. J. O'Rourke is not impressed. In an interview with RFE/RL's Luke Allnutt, he explains why he isn't very hopeful about the future of journalism and what he thinks of when he thinks about Twitter. More  In Crimea, Putin Touts Black Sea Fleet Putin is in Ukraine's Crimea for a two-day visit that is likely to raise tensions over the disputed, predominantly Russian-speaking region. More Russian police have detained a dozen environmental activists at the Khimki forest north of Moscow, which is slated to be replaced by an $8 billion highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. More  NGO Wants To Erase 'Soviet Streets' The cultural group Homecoming argues that just as several Russian cities have discarded their Soviet-era names for their original ones -- for example Gorky reverted back to Nizhny Novgorod and Sverdlovsk to Yekaterinburg -- the same should also be done to street names in St. Petersburg, which used to be called Petrograd and Leningrad. More  Tajiks Nab Renegade Colonel's Men A Tajik security official says that six followers of renegade Colonel Mahmud Khudoyberdiev have been detained so far this year and six others are still on the run. More  Armenia To Restrict Brandy Imports The Armenian government has decided to ban local brandy producers that use imported alcohol and label it "Armenian cognac." More  Iran's Karrubi Slams Guardians Council Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karrubi has criticized the influential Guardians Council for "institutionalizing fraud" and offering a "double-standard interpretation" of the constitution. More  Armenian TV Station's Uncertain Future The owner of an independent Armenian television station has predicted that the administration of President Serzh Sarkisian will try to take it off the air in the next few years. More  Terror Suspects Extradited To Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan has confirmed that two men who were detained earlier this month in northern Tajikistan have been handed over to Kyrgyz authorities at Bishkek's request. More  Iran Relocates Government Employees The Iranian cabinet has passed legislation forbidding the creation of new government posts in Tehran and instructing other employees to relocate. More  Kazakhstan's Ex-Drug Czar Extradited Turkey has extradited Kazakhstan's former antidrug czar who has been charged with abuse of power. More  Moldova Promises Russia Better Wine Moldovan Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar says that "only good wine" will be exported to Russia. More  Tajiks Open U.S.-Funded Customs Post The U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan said Washington's investment in a customs post on the Tajik-Afghan border shows its interest in battling drug trafficking. More  Innocent Pakistani Woman Released From Jail After 14 Years The High Court in the Pakistani city of Lahore has ordered the release of a woman held without trial for 14 years on blasphemy charges. More  Armenian Party Denies Conspiracy An Armenian opposition party has strongly denied any stifling of dissent within its ranks and the ostracizing of a prominent member critical of its de facto leader, former President Levon Ter-Petrossian. More  'Red Terror' Mass Grave Found In St. Petersburg Archeologists working at the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg have discovered some 100 bone fragments which they say are part of a mass grave from the Red Terror of 1918. More  Hazing Increases In The Russian Military Russia's Military Prosecutor's Office says instances of hazing in the army during the first five months of 2010 have increased by 50 percent compared to last year. More  Kazakh Inmate Found Hanged In Jail The inmate in Kazakhstan's notorious Dolinka prison who shot a video showing another inmate being beaten by a jail guard in May was found hanged in the penitentiary last month More  Russia Court Rules Against Skyscraper The Russian Constitutional Court has ruled against the construction of the controversial Okhta Center skyscraper in St. Petersburg's historic downtown. More  Pakistan City Calm After Christian Killings Tension has eased in the east-central Pakistani city of Faisalabad after the killing of two Christians accused of distributing anti-Islamic leaflets. More  Ahmadinejad Asks, 'Is Mevedev A U.S. Agent?' Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of kick-starting a "new Western scenario against Iran that is directed by the U.S." More  Central Asia, Al-Qaeda New Recruiting Ground? Does Central Asia now have its first homegrown Al-Qaeda member? More  Abkhazia Does U-Turn Over Geneva Talks Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia apparently will, after all, send a delegation to attend the next round of internationally mediated talks in Geneva on security measures for Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the wake of the August 2008 war. More Tajik Prosecutor Targets Forerunner's Son The son of former Tajik Prosecutor-General Bobojon Bobokhonov has been arrested on corruption charges, the latest in a string of moves initiated against current or former judicial officials by Bobokhonov's successor. More |
