Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Tuesday 27 September 2011


RFE/RL Headlines
9/27/2011 8:25:48 PM
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

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Features

The Actress Who Took On The Mufti The Actress Who Took On The Mufti
Pakistani reality TV star Veena Malik is used to improvising on stage. But even she was unprepared for the surprise guest who joined her on television recently: a religious cleric eager to criticize her career. The debate that followed made Pakistani television history. More
 
Following Terror Attacks, Kazakhstan Hurriedly Tightens Religious Law Following Terror Attacks, Kazakhstan Hurriedly Tightens Religious Law
Kazakhstan is about to adopt a new law on religion, which stipulates strict control over the activities of religious institutions. The bill was hurriedly drafted after the country witnessed several terrorist attacks this year -- including its first known suicide bombing -- blamed on underground Islamic groups. The draft law is seen by many as Astana's response to what officials call a growing threat of religious extremism in Kazakhstan. But it has its critics. More
 
News

Azerbaijan Accuses Armenia At UN Azerbaijan Accuses Armenia At UN
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has accused Armenia of "flagrant" violations of the UN Charter and disregard for the Security Council resolutions. More
 
Iran Bank Chiefs Ousted Over Scandal Iran Bank Chiefs Ousted Over Scandal
Iran's official news agencies are reporting that the head of Bank Melli Iran has resigned over a $2.6 billion fraud case that is being described as the biggest financial scam in the history of the Islamic Republic. The same reports say Mohammad Jahromi, the head of Bank Saderat, and the head of Bank Saman have also been dismissed over the scandal. More
 
Lavrov Cites Afghan 'Heroin Aggression' Lavrov Cites Afghan 'Heroin Aggression'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described the narcotics threat from Afghanistan as a "heroin aggression" aimed at Russia and Central Asia. More
 
Torture Dossier Posted On Lukashenka Torture Dossier Posted On Lukashenka
A London-based law firm has published a dossier of evidence online against Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a bid to bring private prosecutions against him wherever he travels. More
 
Afghans Protest Rabbani Killing Afghans Protest Rabbani Killing
Hundreds of protesters rallied in Afghanistan's capital today to denounce the assassination of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. More
 
Uzbek Minister Calls for Kyrgyz Probe Uzbek Minister Calls for Kyrgyz Probe
In an address to the UN General Assembly, Elyor Ganiev, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, says ethnic tensions between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz will not be resolved until there is a full investigation into last year's deadly clashes between the two sides, and the perpetrators of the bloodshed are punished. More
 
Eurozone Crisis Talks In Berlin Eurozone Crisis Talks In Berlin
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will do what it can to help Greece regain markets' confidence. More
 
From Our Bureaus

Protesting Kazakh Inmates Maim Selves Protesting Kazakh Inmates Maim Selves
Inmates at an maximum-security prison in central Kazakhstan severely cut and maim themselves to protest alleged beatings and the strict regime in the notorious labor camp. More
 
Jailed Belarusian Activist 'On Hunger Strike'  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' 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
 
Jailed Belarus Opposition Leader Found Jailed Belarus Opposition Leader Found
A lawyer for Andrey Sannikau says the jailed former Belarusian presidential candidate is in a detention center in the eastern city of Mahileu, ending a week of uncertainty over his whereabouts. More
 
Iran State Media Journalists Arrested 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 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 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
 
Eight Sentenced For Murder In Northern Tajikistan Eight Sentenced For Murder In Northern Tajikistan
A court in northern Tajikistan has sentenced eight men for the murder of a bazaar administrator last year. More
 
Jailed Lawyer Of Striking Kazakh Oil Workers Loses Appeal Jailed Lawyer Of Striking Kazakh Oil Workers Loses Appeal
The jailed lawyer of striking oil workers in western Kazakhstan lost her appeal today and will remain in prison. More
 
Transmission

United Russia Party Congress -- A User's Guide
Last weekend's congress of the ruling United Russia party made headlines around the world with President Dmitry Medvedev endorsing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the party's candidate for president in 2012. More
 
Smooth Operator Smooth Operator
As Kremlinologists continue to percolate over Medvedev, Kudrin, and 12 More Years, a gimlet-eyed subsection of the population is focusing instead on the question that has truly bedeviled Russian politics for over a year: Has Vladimir Putin gotten a facelift? More
 
Commentary

The Biggest Hypocrite Of All The Biggest Hypocrite Of All
The flowery phrases that rang out in the hall of the UN General Assembly when Iran's president spoke might as well have ended with "except in Iran." The fact of the matter is that when Ahmadinejad talks about hypocrites, he's talking about himself. More