Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

RFE/RL Headlines 9/29/2011 7:55:30 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.

 

Missing zone for Car Bomb Targets Police Officers In Kirkuk Features Lawyer Hopeful For Release Of Iranian Christian Pastor Facing Death The lawyer of Yusef Naderkhani, an Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy, says there is a good chance his client will be acquitted. More   With Pakistan Supply Route In Doubt, Washington Looks To Uzbekistan As ties between the United States and Pakistan continue to sour, speculation is mounting that Uzbekistan may become a new ally of convenience in the U.S. war on terror. Is Washington willing to overlook Islam Karimov's record on torture and child labor? More   One Man's Fight To Block The Euro's Rescue All eyes were on Germany today as its lower house of parliament voted to expand the eurozone rescue fund. That move won't dampen the spirits of one German professor, however, who's on a mission to stop Chancellor Angela Merkel. More   News Tymoshenko Maintains Innocence In Court Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has insisted on her innocence during her final speech in an abuse-of-office trial criticized by the West. More   Iraq: Suicide Bomber Kills Two Iraqi police say a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden truck near a bank in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk today, killing at least two people and wounding around 60 others. More   Kyrgyz To Swap Gas Providers Kyrgyzstan acting Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov says neighboring Kazakhstan has agreed to sell natural gas to his country at a much lower price than it has been paying to Uzbekistan for gas supplies. More   Syria Accuses U.S. Of Inciting Violence Syria has accused the United States of inciting violence against its security forces and said it will confront what it describes as attempts to interfere in its domestic affairs. More   Saudis Vote In Local Elections Men in Saudi Arabia are voting in local elections, the second-ever nationwide vote in the kingdom. More   Bomb Kills Three In Herat Reports from Afghanistan say three people, including at least one policewomen, have been killed by a remote-controlled mine that blew up the vehicle taking them to work at an airport in the west of the country. More   Pakistan Says U.S. Pressure Must End Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has called on the United States to stop blaming Islamabad for regional instability, as Washington stepped up pressure on Islamabad to crack down on militancy. More   'Tricky' Summit Kicks Off In Warsaw The Eastern Partnership summit has kicked off in Warsaw amid fears that the six Eastern neighbors are slipping further away from a European Union that has turned its attention elsewhere. More   Kazakh Religion Bill Clears Hurdle The upper house of Kazakhstan's parliament has approved a measure to restrict the registration of religious organizations and prohibit unauthorized religious activities, clearing it for signature by the president. More   Bundestag Backs Euro Rescue Fund The vote -- on an EU agreement from July that would expand the powers of the European Financial Stability Facility -- is a critical test of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's leadership. More   Obama Calls Uzbeks On Anniversary The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama has telephoned President Islam Karimov to congratulate Uzbekistan on its 20th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union. More   From Our Bureaus Kazakhstan's First Cosmonaut In Opposition To Government The first Kazakh cosmonaut has said ahead of the 20th anniversary of his space flight that it was an event "appreciated by the Kazakh people. More   Azerbaijan Criticized By Council Of Europe Official On Rights A senior Council of Europe official has sharply criticized Azerbaijan's human rights record. More   Russians Protest Possible Abolition Of Mayoral Elections Some 100 residents of the western Russian city of Rzhev blocked a central street on September 29 to protest the possible abolition of direct elections for the mayor's post. More   Protesters Slam Russian Highway Plans Hundreds of people have protested against the planned construction of a highway through the Kai Forest near the east Russian city of Irkutsk. More   Russian Chemical Workers Begin Strike Some 150 workers at a boron-producing plant in Russia's Far East have gone on strike to demand their unpaid salaries More   Iran Lawyer Charged Over Rights Award Prominent Iranian lawyer Abdolfatah Soltani, who has represented a number of well-known Iranian political and rights activists and who was arrested earlier this month, is reportedly facing a new charge of accepting an "unlawful" award for his human rights work. More   All Kyrgyz Casinos Face Closure Casinos throughout Kyrgyzstan face closure under a controversial new law that foresees the country designating a single area where gambling will be permitted. More   U.S. Ambassador Praises Baku's Economic Success The U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan has praised the government's job in reducing poverty and said Azerbaijan's improved economic statistics are not widely appreciated in the West. More   Last Belarus Protest Trial Delayed The trial of the last person accused of taking part in "mass disorder" during the postelection protest staged in Minsk on December 19 has been suspended until next month. More   Prominent Iranian Activist Given 11-Year Sentence The deputy head of Iran's Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), Narges Mohammadi, has been sentenced to 11 years in jail. More   Transmission The Sky High Price of Real Estate In...Dushanbe Manhattan, London, Tokyo, Dushanbe? When surveying the world’s most expensive real-estate markets, Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe (population: 700,000) doesn’t immediately come to mind. More   Shakira To Ramzan: No Thanks Remember when Ramzan Kadyrov turned 30 and gave himself the Chechen presidency as a present? It's been a struggle ever since to top that one, although the Chechen leader has tried his best, alternately opening racetracks, treating himself to million-ruble Arabian stallions -- and now inviting Colombian-born pop star Shakira and a host of other Western celebrities to share in the festivities as he turns 35. More   The Power Vertical An Actor, A Director, A Party Congress, And YouTube The actor Vladimir Mashkov and the director Fyodor Bondarchuk gave very different speeches at the United Russia congress last weekend. Can you guess which one got more play on Russian television (and which one went viral on YouTube)? More   Bosnia An Exclusive Peek Inside 'The Hague Hilton' In this section of the international war crimes detention center in Scheveningen, 40 or so accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia live in remarkable harmony and comfort awaiting trial or sentencing. More

RFE/RL Watchdog 9/29/2011 7:52:52 PM A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region. For more, please visit and bookmark Watchdog .

 

Azerbaijan Criticized By Council Of Europe Official On Rights A senior Council of Europe official has sharply criticized Azerbaijan's human rights record. More   Iran Lawyer Charged Over Rights Award Prominent Iranian lawyer Abdolfatah Soltani, who has represented a number of well-known Iranian political and rights activists and who was arrested earlier this month, is reportedly facing a new charge of accepting an "unlawful" award for his human rights work. More   Kazakh Religion Bill Clears Hurdle The upper house of Kazakhstan's parliament has approved a measure to restrict the registration of religious organizations and prohibit unauthorized religious activities, clearing it for signature by the president. More   Last Belarus Protest Trial Delayed The trial of the last person accused of taking part in "mass disorder" during the postelection protest staged in Minsk on December 19 has been suspended until next month. More   Prominent Iranian Activist Given 11-Year Sentence The deputy head of Iran's Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), Narges Mohammadi, has been sentenced to 11 years in jail. More   Obama Calls Uzbeks On Anniversary The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama has telephoned President Islam Karimov to congratulate Uzbekistan on its 20th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union. More   Jailed Belarusian Activist 'On Hunger Strike' A jailed Belarusian opposition activist who says he was severely beaten by police last week is reported to have started a hunger strike. More   Journalist 'Barred From Leaving Belarus' A journalist for a top Polish daily convicted in Belarus of defaming President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he has been barred from leaving the country. More   Iran State Media Journalists Arrested The Iranian government extends its crackdown to official media, arresting three journalists working for state media outlets, while the Revolutionary Guards announce the launch of the Basij Media Organization 'to confront the propaganda invasion by [our] enemies.' More   Russian Court Prolongs Opposition Activist's Pretrial Detention A court in the western Russian city of Smolensk has extended for a further three months the pretrial detention of an opposition activist held on drugs charges. More   Jailed Kazakh Journalist To Start Rights Activism After Release Jailed Kazakh journalist Ramazan Esergepov says he will start human rights defense activities after his scheduled release in three months. More   Belarus Politician's Location 'Unclear' The wife of jailed former Belarusian presidential candidate Andrey Sannikau says she does not know where her husband is currently being detained More   Kyrgyz Ban Foreign Media For Election Kyrgyzstan's new ban on foreign-media broadcasts in the country during the presidential-election campaign has caused mixed reactions. More   Tajik Police Launch Child Labor Probe Tajik authorities are checking reports that children in the southern part of the country are being used as forced labor. More   Jailed Belarus Activist Has Broken Leg A jailed Belarusian opposition activist who says he was beaten by police last week is reported to have a broken leg. More   Exiled Activist Shot Dead In Russia Exiled Uzbek businessman and opposition People's Movement of Uzbekistan official Fuad Rustamkhojaev was shot several times in the head and chest in front of his home in western Russia. More   Afghan Journalists Report Violence Among Media Outlets Afghan media officials say an unhealthy competition currently exists among many of the country's media organizations. More   Russian Activists Detained Protesting Internet Control Two activists have been detained by police in the southwestern Russian city of Saratov while protesting government control over the Internet. More   Belarusian Activist 'Beaten' By Police n opposition activist in the eastern Belarusian city of Homel says he was beaten and detained by police today before being sentenced to 15 days in jail for insulting police and resisting arrest. More   Azerbaijani Activists To Appeal To French President About Abuses Azerbaijani human rights activists plan to present an appeal to French President Nicolas Sarkozy about rights abuses in Azerbaijan when he visits Baku next month. More   Russian Prisoners Start Hunger Strike Convicts at a maximum security prison in central Russia have started a hunger strike to demand an easing of prison regulations and an end to "arbitrary reprisals." More   Police Quiz Belarus Activist's Colleague An activist with a Belarusian rights group whose chairman was arrested for alleged tax evasion has been questioned by police in connection with the case. More   Kyrgyz Activist Impugns Son's Arrest One of Kyrgyzstan's leading human rights activists says her enemies are targeting her through her son, who was briefly detained by police as a robbery suspect this week. More   Ebadi Condemns Iran Hanging Of Minor Ali-Reza Mola Soltani, who was 17 years old, was publicly hanged on September 21 in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, for the murder of popular athlete Rouhollah Dadashi in July. More