November 2005
November 18, 2005
Famous Boxer Klitschko Retires From Ring
Ukrainian sport is proud of few people: boxing brothers Klitchko, Olympic swimmer Yana Klotchkova and world-record holding pole vaulting guy Serhij Bubka. Well, now one of the boxing brothers is leaving the sport, which is sad.
Ukraine to withdraw majority of troops from Iraq
Withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Iraq was one of the most controversial promises the new democratic government of Ukraine has made. However, it took ⌠just■ one year to make the actual decision about withdrawal.
Immigrant-loaded boat reaches Spanish southern coast
Nowadays, one of the main issues in Spain is immigration. Because of the precarious life conditions in some African regions, hundreds of immigrants try to cross the border every year to reach Spain. Some will try to get to other European countries, while others will stay in the Spanish territory.
Among the current ways to reach Spain, these three are some of the most commonly used by immigrants:
a) Sailing the distance which separates African coast and Islas Canarias (Spanish islands situated near the border in between Morocco and Western Sahara) in small rudimentary boats called ⌠pateras■.
b) Also using ⌠pateras■ through the Strait of Gibraltar or nearby routes such as the ones which end up on the coast of Granada. This is the case cited in the article, in which two on board passed away during the attempt to reach the province.
c) Crossing the border between Spain and Morocco in Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish towns located in North Africa and completely surrounded by Morocco.
One of the most negative aspects of the problem is traffickers who try to take advantage of desperate people by making them pay exorbitant prices without guaranteeing them safety or good hygienic conditions.
Spain is trying to make a large effort to control and improve this terrible situation and, since the Spanish government considers this to be a common problem, they are asking for the help of other members of the European Union.
New royal family member
Leonor, the new member of the Spanish royal family, was born on Monday, October 31st 2005. According to Spanish Constitution, she is the second one in the list to inherit the throne. Her father Felipe, crown Asturia▓s prince, is the first one in such list as he▓s the only son of the king, Juan Carlos I, and the queen, Sofia.
Monarchy has a long history. Juan Carlos, the present king, hold the Spanish crown since 1975. In that year Francisco Franco, who had been the head of the power during his dictatorship, died. Such period, which started in 1939 after a rough 3 years civil war, is called ⌠dictadura franquista■ and was characterized by the lack of some liberties. Once Francisco Franco passed away Juan Carlos I performed the establishment of democracy (the first elections of the new democratic period took place in 1977). He is also well remembered by his important help in avoiding the coup committed by a sector of the army in 1981.
Leonor▓s birth has taken up a lot of time in all the masse media all over the country as she will likely be queen some day as long as Felipe and his wife, Letizia Ortiz don▓t have a son. This rule, which gives advantage to the sons instead of the daughter in order to get the crown, is criticized by some sectors because of its sexist nature. In fact, the actual government is looking for a change in the constitution to make equal the rights of the female and male royals.
Continue reading "Jaime Mata Miguez"
Does anybody watch ⌠sumo■?
Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, a Mongolian sumo wrestler, is called Asashoryu in sumo and he is one of the most powerful and beautiful of all the sumo. Asashoryu is smaller and lighter than most of the sumo he fights, his style attracts sumo fanatics. He is so low to the ground, so stable and so much in control of his mind and his body that he just marches forward pushing every other sumo out of his way. A caterpillar tractor pushing over a five-story building.
Sumo is elegant, so simple and ancient. Two fighters are in a ring 15 feet in diameter, nearly naked. The loser is either pushed out of the ring or touches the clay ground with some body part other than the bottom of his feet. The only rules are no closed fists, no choking and no kicking in the groin. Asashoryu equaled a 38-year-old record held by sumo legend Taiho with his sixth straight title in November.
Mongolian Art and Music
Ever heard Mongolian long song and throat music?
The most comprehensive Mongolian arts and culture website, containing information on all areas of the arts, as well as arts organizations and a monthly events calendar for Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolian Art and Culture website
Arts Council of Mongolia website
Condoleeza Rice visiting Mongolia
US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is visiting Mongolia, leading a delegation of over 300 US officials as they accompany President Bush. Mongolia and the United States of America established the diplomatic relations in 1987. Mongolia opened its Embassy in Washington DC in 1989 and the United States of America opened its Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 1988. Secretary of State Madeline Albright visited Mongolia in May 1998. Mongolia is included in the list of 16 countries eligible to receive funds from the US Millennium Challenge Account. The U.S. provides support for the Mongolian Government's economic reforms and has supported Mongolia's transition to political democracy and a market economy.
Mongolian people think that it▓s great that Bush is visiting Mongolia and very happy that US-Mongolian relations developing.
Endangered animals sold
The President of Kenya just signed an agreement to sell 175 animals to Thailand, including some that are on the endangered species. This, obviously, has sparked outrage in Kenya and internationally.
Kenya press frets as vote nears
As next Monday's referendum on Kenya's new constitution looks set to go ahead after a court rejected an appeal to cancel it on grounds of illegality, leading newspapers there express concern at the level of violence and intolerance surrounding it.
Comparisons are made with the violence in other African countries and in France and there is a particular fear that "hate speeches" are fanning the flames of unrest.
The Standard argues that "there is then no need for the kind of intolerance and hatred we have witnessed in the last few days".
Pros and cons about female emperors
In Japan, there were only male can be emperors by law today. However, the children who are members of the Imperial Family are only girls now. Therefore, government panel needs to discuss about female can be emperor or not. Eighty percent of the Japanese nation agree with the opinion that female can be emperor. In this article, there are the pros and cons about this problem.
Japanese Language
In Japan, there has been a marked decline in the levels of skills of Japanese language. To solve this problem, broadcasting stations the programs which are containing about Japanese language. These help not only for Japanese but also foreigners who study Japanese. Let▓s check contents of these programs out!
The Common Lottery in Japan
There are a lot of lotteries in Japan. The most popular lottery is ▒Takarakuji.▓ In each season, we can get different ▒Takarakuji▓ in Japan, and the prize money is so big deal. The prize money of first prize is about 300 million yen (3 million dollars)!! This lottery is really famous in Japan and ▒Takarakuji▓ has long history.
Fashion !!!
This isn't a news article; it's a link that highlights some clothes on the Indian fashion ramp. Women might be particularly interested to read. In my writing, I would like to begin with one site which talks about India in general.
India to make 'radical proposals' at SAARC summit
We have the British structure in the government where the prime minister is more prominent than the president. The current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is originally an economist and his work and ideologies are very promising. He is a man who looks to rise above politics and looks at the prosperity of India, Asia and the world in all his deals.
I have never voted myself as I feel there is going to be one or another one who will take money out of the taxpayers and people suffering but I am keeping my fingers crossed for him. The below article talks about the SAARC meet scheduled to be on 12th & 13th November. What is SAARC? - South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation.
The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation website
Serial blasts rock Delhi , at least 61 dead
Delhi is the capital state of India and had recently witnessed terrorist attacks. You will be surprised to know the number of terrorist attacks in India which have significantly increased after the 1970's post the conflict in Jammu & Kashmir began (Kashmir is so beautiful, it was regarded as a Heaven on Earth, still good to visit). As sad it is, the people suffering most are people on whose names the fight is being found. Call me an optimist but I see the conflict getting resolved in next 20 years, but we will see.
UFO's and Germany
This article illustrates how rumors can arise about possible UFO's in Germany because numerous fireballs were seen in the skies. Scientists try to explain this nature behavior as a "bizarre annual meteor blitz". However Germany is not the first and country which is visited with fireballs; fireballs were sighted also in the States, Canada, the Netherlands, North Ireland and Japan . Please read more about this phenomen:
Racial discrimination
In this article Europe discusses racial discrimination and the need of integration, especially in France . In Paris, a substantial percentage of immigrants are living in poor, ghettoized neighborhoods it is not easy to find a solution for this urban agglomeration. Germany's politicians don't have a solution for these cultural problems but they hope for a better integration through obligatory learning of the German language. A change in living conditions is important for those immigrants who live in ghettos.
Bird flu declared ▒global threat▓
Bird flu was first founded in South Africa in 1961. Infected birds spread the virus through their bodliy excretions. This originally was not transmittable to humans, however 1997 was the first time that humans were infected in Hong Kong. A few days ago is the nightmare back, this time in Europe.
Four guilty in terror trial
Germany is also not anymore a save place against terrorism: four Arabic terrorists planned to attack two Jewish owned discos in Duesseldorf, West Germany and in Berlin. Fortunately, the German laws take drastic steps against these men.
Troubled and dissilusioned youth: Krach im Viertel-conflicts in the neighborhood
In this article young people from different countries clash; conflicts between Turkish, Kurdish, Russian and German youngsters are getting normal, especially in big cities. Teenagers are dealing with topics which should not be important to them because they usually have no idea what's going on there and they do not live there (such as, conflicts between Turkish/Kurdish people in Turkey).
One might not forget that in the parts of cities where different cultures crashing together usually no integration happens. Self identifying processes, just to being part of a special culture, the nostalgi to belonging to somewhere is the root of the matter.
Paris Riots
This is an article about violence in Paris suburb. Indeed, cars have been burned as protest after two North African people were electrocuted by trying to escape climbing up an electrical fence. The government finds it unacceptable and claims for calm in these districts. This happened mainly because black people are not totally integrated in today society.
New French Food Campaign
This is an article in which France cares about what children eat and concerns about obesity. So they want to create advertising about healthy food. You should read it, in the long run, that involves everybody!
The Paris Riots
Everything started when two teenagers died by electrocution when trying to escape the police┘And now the situation is out of control; night time rioting has raged in Paris's suburbs and urban violence has reached a dangerous point┘ How is the government going to calm things down?
Our government is focused on repression and putting people in jail when they should be looking at the causes of people▓s discontent. People in the suburbs are poorer than the rest of the population and as a consequence, when school is finished, they are purely and simply bored. They do not go anywhere for the holidays, they do not do anything during the weekends; they have to stay in those dilapidated estates that the government built for their parents when needing workforce.
For sure, things must change!!! But what is the point in burning schools? (their little brother and sister▓s school). People rioting set cars on fire but they did not go to burn the minister▓s car, no, they burnt their neighbours▓ cars, people who are in the same situation as they are, people who need their car to go to work everyday.
Some of them are 10, 12 or 14 years old; we can wonder, where are the parents? Don▓t they have any authority on their children? I wander if a ten-year-old kid has any idea of the political and social aspects of such actions or if it is just something fun to do? I just hope the government will take immediate measures to change things. But for now, the effect on the rest of the population is anger and an increase feeling for the extreme right ideas which is more than scary.
Girls and boys in the estates: no equal rights
Continuing with news of the riots...there is a big difference in the way boys and girls are treated in the suburbs. Many girls complain that in a Muslim family, they do not have the same ⌠rights■ at home as their (older or younger) brothers. Boys have a lot more freedom than girls, even nowadays, the boys can go out and come back whenever they want although their sisters have to be at home at 8pm. And outside, girls have to endure harassment and discrimination from the boys.
A girl▓s everyday life in the suburbs is everything but easy┘that is maybe the reason why they seem to show much more courage than their male peers to get themselves out of these estates and to do something with their lives.
French non-smokers will have to wait a bit more
The Parliament rejected the anti-smoking proposal although it is an important public health issue. After Ireland, Italy, Norway and Malta, one thought France would be the next country to adopt the law against smoking in public places but no, it seems like French people are not ready to give up their bad habit not even for the good of passive smokers┘
Is that French they are speaking?
If you go to Brittany, you may hear people speaking a language which is not French, but that closely resembles Welsh: It would be the Breton language, which even though has no legal status, is spoken by around 300.000 people. Despite the fact that in France you must speak French and nothing else, according to the constitution, the Breton language has its fervent upholders.
Young female immigrants in France at risk
Fifteen-year-old Rawa risks verbal abuse -- or worse -- every time she leaves her house wearing jeans. Jenah was thrown out of the family home at 11, became a drug dealer at 13, and was raped by a relative a year later.
If young men in France's poor housing projects -- scenes of three weeks of nightly arson and unrest -- have it rough, girls often have it worse. Not only do they suffer from racism, unemployment and deprivation: They also endure daily harassment and even violence in their own communities.
Night schools in Ecuador close
The Ecuadorian Secretary of Education has come up with the oddest plan to improve Ecuadorian's educational standards: all nocturne schools will disappear as a step towards the "Reconstruction of Nocturne Schools" Program. Almost 20 thousand people who attend these schools, most of them working children and adults, will be forced to quit school. This link deepens the case of Cesar, a child who works during the day helping building houses and who is asking the Secretary of Education to give him and other like him an educational alternative.
Ecuadorian teenagers want to vote at 16
Teenage students, grouped in a political association known as "Federation of High School Students of Ecuador", promote a campaign to change the Political Constitution of the country and start voting at 16 instead of at 18, as it is currently mandatory. They say that at that age, citizens are old enough to take such responsibility, and cite the cases of Brazil , Cuba and England , which have considered allowing teens to vote.
"We are mature" they say, but the arguments they use to support their request are somewhat far from maturity. Read it yourself and decide:
Food for thoughts
China's per-capita dining expenditure this year is 100 times that of the year 1978, and Guangzhou citizens spend most on dining among all Chinese, according to official statistics.
The rise in food spending was mainly driven up by the increase in the disposable income of China's urban and rural dwellers, which increased 7.7 percent and 6.8 percent year-on-year, respectively, in 2004.
Personally, I feel the increase is also driven up by the inflation as well.
The trade surplus is getting bigger
China's trade surplus will probably widen to $90 billion this year from $32 billion in 2004 because of surging exports from the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, clothes and steel, the Ministry of Commerce said.
RMB is going up
What with the huge surplus, it's understandable that Chinese currency, RMB, is going up. However, unlike most of the free currency trade market around the world, the Chinese government has the ultimate control on its currency. Under the pressure of the US administration because of Chinese huge surplus against the US, the Chinese government is increasing its currency value bit by bit.
Pinochet's health tested before trial
On Tuesday, former dictator Augusto Pinochet underwent a series of court-ordered medical tests to determine whether he can stand trial on human rights charges. Mr. Pinochet remained for two and half hours at the downtown Catholic University Hospital . No details were available on the exams. The top court last month stripped the 89-year-old retired general of the immunity from prosecution he enjoys as former president, a mandatory step before he can be tried for his alleged role in the disappearance and killing of 15 dissidents during his 1973-90 regime, a case known as "Operation Colombo."
But the court ruled that medical tests must show he's able to stand trial before court action could begin.
The Supreme Court has twice blocked attempts to try Mr. Pinochet on human rights charges citing health reasons. Mr. Pinochet has been diagnosed a mild case of dementia caused by several strokes since 1998. In addition, he suffers from diabetes, arthritis and has a pacemaker. "Operation Colombo " involves the killing in 1975 of 119 dissidents whose bodies were found in Argentina . Mr. Pinochet has been charged in the deaths of 15 of those victims, stemming from lawsuits filed by relatives. Mr. Pinochet's regime said the killings were the result of clashes among rival armed opposition groups. The current case is only one of a number of legal problems for Mr. Pinochet, who faces dozens of lawsuits stemming from human rights abuses during his regime, a time when 3,197 dissidents were slain or disappeared, according to a report by an independent commission appointed by the civilian government that succeeded him in 1990.
Mr. Pinochet also lost his immunity in a case involving alleged tax evasion related to multimillion-dollar bank accounts he owns abroad. An appeal is pending before the Supreme Court. Whether or not he ever sees the inside of a courtroom, the trial and even the punishment of Augusto Pinochet has already begun.
Bulgarians and the Harry Potter connection
If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast like myself, you will surely know the name of Viktor Krum. The 'dashing' magician will compete in the TriWizard tournament; there have been strongly-supported rumors that he and Hermione Granger are shifting into the romantic. Yes, Krum is Bulgarian (kind of), but there are a few things you did not know:
• Krum is the name of the first recognized founder of the Bulgarian nation, Khan Krum, who ruled in the 7th century.
• His name is pronounced Krum, not crum-(my). It is a hard "u" like the sound in "puma."
• He was considered a genius by many, having entered the International Quidditch League while still attending wizarding school at Durmstrang (far from the truth).
• In the movie, the Durmstrang school is welcomed as "our friends from the north." That is geographically improbable considering Bulgaria is located south of England.
Children prized for creating violence-free games
Primary and High school students in Bulgaria competed in a contest asking them to create a violence-free computer game on Thursday. The competition, called "A game with your idea", was held in the eve of the World's Day of the Child, that marks the adoption of UN's convention for children rights.
Traditional Japanese sumo getting "Bulgarian accent"
With the next tournament in sumo set to begin on Sunday, all eyes are on the rivalry between the yokozuna, or grand champion, a Mongolian named Asashoryu, and a rising star from Bulgaria, Kotooshu.
The rise of foreign wrestlers in sumo has stoked fears of a foreign invasion in the past, read the International Herald Tribune on Thursday. But the emergence of Europeans may be a blessing for the ancient Japanese sport, which is suffering from falling popularity amid an absence of locally born heroes.
Another 75 Days of Agony for the Bulgarian Nurses
The Supreme Cassation Court of Libya postponed hearings on the AIDS trial against the five Bulgarian nurses for January 31, 2006. New pleading will be heard in the courtroom. Thousands of Libyans attacked the building of the Supreme Cassation Court, shouting death for the nurses. The five women have been in jail for seven years already without receiving a fair trial and investigation.
The Way Bulgaria Jumped into Libyan Trap
This article is just an opinions editorial, which describes in a few words some of the reasons which stand behind the long and painful prison stay of five innocent Bulgarian nurses in a country that does not abide to any human right laws.
Libyan court postpones Bulgarian nurses ruling
This is an article from Reuters about the latest ruling of the Libyan Supreme Court and some of the latest developments on the case of the Bulgarian medics in Libya from the view of a Western journalist.
Elshad Rustamov
Parliamentary elections held November 6 in Azerbaijan, draw international attention from around the world. Opposition forces claim they were false, but the Ruling party claims victory. Some of the articles below will shed light on those issues.
This article in Economist, will give you a general idea of what happened in the country's controversial elections.
This article gives information on opposition rally, which doubts legitimacy of elections. click here
And this is press release of US Department of State on the elections. click here
