http://www.rferl.org/archive/Transmission/latest/648/648.html Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. http://www.rferl.org/img/rssLogo.gif http://www.rferl.org/archive/Transmission/latest/648/648.html en-US Copyright 2009 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:52:44 +0000 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL A horse owned by Ramzan Kadyrov came in third in the Melbourne Cup race earlier this month, winning $420,000 for the Chechen strongman. But the money may never make it into Kadyrov’s pockets. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kadyrovs_Unlucky_Day_At_The_Races/1883657.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kadyrovs_Unlucky_Day_At_The_Races/1883657.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:25:55 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Kadyrovs_Unlucky_Day_At_The_Races/1883657.html#relatedInfoContainer The Iranian news website “Tabnak” and several bloggers are reporting that authorities are sending text messages to citizens warning them not to take part in antigovernment protests. http://www.rferl.org/content/Authorities_Warn_Iranians_Not_To_Protest_By_SMS/1883679.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Authorities_Warn_Iranians_Not_To_Protest_By_SMS/1883679.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:21:34 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Authorities_Warn_Iranians_Not_To_Protest_By_SMS/1883679.html#relatedInfoContainer News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1883064.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1883064.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:22:31 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1883064.html#relatedInfoContainer Authorities in Moldova are taking some interesting precautions against swine flu (which is spreading there just as borders are opening), according to Reuters. http://www.rferl.org/content/Sick_Of_Vampires_Too/1882740.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Sick_Of_Vampires_Too/1882740.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:17 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Sick_Of_Vampires_Too/1882740.html#relatedInfoContainer The following is a guest post from Ali S. Novruzov, an Azerbaijani who blogs over at "In Mutatione Fortitudo. He describes how the arrest and conviction of the "donkey bloggers" have pushed the country's youth activists into finding creative ways to get their message out using new technologies. http://www.rferl.org/content/How_We_Used_Facebook_To_Try_To_Free_Azerbaijans_Donkey_Bloggers/1882215.html http://www.rferl.org/content/How_We_Used_Facebook_To_Try_To_Free_Azerbaijans_Donkey_Bloggers/1882215.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:27:48 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/How_We_Used_Facebook_To_Try_To_Free_Azerbaijans_Donkey_Bloggers/1882215.html#relatedInfoContainer News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_rundown_press_review/1882004.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_rundown_press_review/1882004.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:13:28 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_rundown_press_review/1882004.html#relatedInfoContainer Several Russian opposition leaders were detained briefly on November 16 for protesting against the detention of Eduard Limonov, a leader of the Other Russia coalition. It turns out that their detentions were not a simple matter; in fact, they required a little assistance from a pair of agents provocateurs. http://www.rferl.org/content/Threes_A_Crowd/1881203.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Threes_A_Crowd/1881203.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:49:51 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Threes_A_Crowd/1881203.html#relatedInfoContainer News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region. http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1880988.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1880988.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:13:47 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1880988.html#relatedInfoContainer A conservative Iranian website, "Alef," has claimed that a former deputy defense minister who has been missing for three years was abducted by Israel's secret services with the collaboration of German and British intelligence services and is now being held by Israel. http://www.rferl.org/content/Website_Claims_Missing_Iranian_Deputy_Minister_Held_In_Israel/1881307.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Website_Claims_Missing_Iranian_Deputy_Minister_Held_In_Israel/1881307.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:55:54 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Website_Claims_Missing_Iranian_Deputy_Minister_Held_In_Israel/1881307.html#relatedInfoContainer Two opposition websites have reported a physician resident at the Kahrizak detention center has committed suicide. One said that he committed suicide following the revelation of events at the detention center that is being described by the opposition as "Iran's Guantanamo." http://www.rferl.org/content/Tehran_Detention_Center_Doctors_Death_Arouses_Suspicions/1879441.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tehran_Detention_Center_Doctors_Death_Arouses_Suspicions/1879441.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:41:55 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Tehran_Detention_Center_Doctors_Death_Arouses_Suspicions/1879441.html#relatedInfoContainer The prominent Russian journalist and free-press advocate Oleg Panfilov has moved to Tbilisi. Panfilov, a longtime critic of the Russian authorities, said he had been receiving death threats. He took Georgian citizenship last year. http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_FreePress_Advocate_Moves_To_Georgia/1877790.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_FreePress_Advocate_Moves_To_Georgia/1877790.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:48:37 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_FreePress_Advocate_Moves_To_Georgia/1877790.html#relatedInfoContainer A senior Iranian police officer in charge of cyber crimes has announced that a special police unit to fight “crimes” committed on the Internet has been created. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Creates_Cyber_Police/1877656.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Creates_Cyber_Police/1877656.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:29:17 +0000 Transmission A member of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Nabi Rudaki, has said that the green opposition movement doesn’t exist. Rudaki made the comments in an interview with Iran’s official news agency (IRNA). http://www.rferl.org/content/Green_Opposition_Movement_Doesnt_Exist/1877610.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Green_Opposition_Movement_Doesnt_Exist/1877610.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:59:01 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Green_Opposition_Movement_Doesnt_Exist/1877610.html#relatedInfoContainer News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region Afghanistan/Pakistan # A car bomb blew up an ISI building in Peshwar # The Guardian reports on how the U.S. gets its supplies to Afghanistan # Results of The Asia Foundation's Afghan public opinion poll # Glenn Hubbard thinks Pakistan needs a Marshall Plan # Roger Cohen is not sold on drone warfare # Will Inboden on ensuring security first in Afghanistan # Michael Hayes on Afghan cynicism Russia # Medvedev calls ... http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1877042.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1877042.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:05:37 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1877042.html#relatedInfoContainer Uzbek President Islam Karimov's daughters are known for living the high life. But even for them, this is pretty impressive. http://www.rferl.org/content/Daddy_Buy_Me_A_Bellucci/1876229.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Daddy_Buy_Me_A_Bellucci/1876229.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:37:11 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Daddy_Buy_Me_A_Bellucci/1876229.html#relatedInfoContainer News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1875713.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1875713.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:20 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/rundown_press_review/1875713.html#relatedInfoContainer A group of Iranian women staged a protest today in Tehran, in front of the British embassy, calling for the extradition of an Iranian doctor, Arash Hejazi, who tried to save Neda Agha Soltan’s life after she was shot during a June protest in the Iranian capital. http://www.rferl.org/content/Protesters_Call_For_Extradition_Of_Neda_Doctor__/1875378.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Protesters_Call_For_Extradition_Of_Neda_Doctor__/1875378.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:13:52 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Protesters_Call_For_Extradition_Of_Neda_Doctor__/1875378.html#relatedInfoContainer John Limbert, a veteran U.S. diplomat and former hostage held in Iran for 444 days, has reportedly been appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_US_Hostage_Appointed_Senior_Iran_Official_At_State_Department/1875367.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_US_Hostage_Appointed_Senior_Iran_Official_At_State_Department/1875367.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:05:00 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_US_Hostage_Appointed_Senior_Iran_Official_At_State_Department/1875367.html#relatedInfoContainer A first look at the news on RFE/RL's broadcast region RFE/RL in the Media # Lucian Dan Teodorovici on listening to RFE in 1989 Romania # NIAC says it supports Radio Farda and Iran's democrats # Lydia DePillis discusses the BBG for the New Republic Int'l Press Review Afghanistan/Pakistan # Ashraf Ghani asks for more than more troops in Afghanistan # Michael Chertoff advocates a large troop presence # Deepa Narayan on local politics as a solution in Afghanistan # ... http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_off_mic_rundown_press_review/1874712.html http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_off_mic_rundown_press_review/1874712.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:06:02 +0000 The Rundown http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl_off_mic_rundown_press_review/1874712.html#relatedInfoContainer A leader of Iran's Student Basij organization has announced that 6,000 Basij units will be created in Iran’s elementary schools. http://www.rferl.org/content/Starting_Irans_Basij_Young/1874384.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Starting_Irans_Basij_Young/1874384.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:18:32 +0000 Transmission A Ukrainian women's group, FEMEN, took to the streets of Kyiv on November 9 to protest what they see as swine-flu hysteria. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukrainian_Women_Protest_Flu_Panic_Wearing_Only_Surgical_Masks/1873921.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukrainian_Women_Protest_Flu_Panic_Wearing_Only_Surgical_Masks/1873921.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:14:51 +0000 Transmission The video says it all. A young man writing on a wall a message to Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. “Mr. Potato, make everyone happy and say goodbye.” http://www.rferl.org/content/Mr_Potato_Make_Everyone_Happy_By_Saying_Farewell/1873018.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Mr_Potato_Make_Everyone_Happy_By_Saying_Farewell/1873018.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:13:05 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Mr_Potato_Make_Everyone_Happy_By_Saying_Farewell/1873018.html#relatedInfoContainer Some friends and I stopped by McDonald's last weekend. We ordered a couple trays of food, paid our money, and waited. After a bit, the clerk came back with the food and said: "I'm sorry, but you can't take your cheeseburgers and fries now. The last customer didn't pay, so until he comes back and hands over the money, we won't give you your food." http://www.rferl.org/content/Heat_Up_Another_Cheeseburger/1870496.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Heat_Up_Another_Cheeseburger/1870496.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:17:20 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Heat_Up_Another_Cheeseburger/1870496.html#relatedInfoContainer The big thinkers in the capital, Astana, are urging ordinary Kazakhs -- who earn on average $114 a week -- to make more use of small planes to replace what they call the "anachronism" of long car and train journeys. After all, it's an 800-mile trip between the main business hub of Almaty and Astana. http://www.rferl.org/content/Honey_Dont_Forget_Your_Parachute/1870444.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Honey_Dont_Forget_Your_Parachute/1870444.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:46 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Honey_Dont_Forget_Your_Parachute/1870444.html#relatedInfoContainer Not that we needed another reminder of the dismal state of Ukrainian politics, but an individual called Protyvsikh ("Against all" in Ukrainian) has registered as a candidate in the country's upcoming presidential election. http://www.rferl.org/content/Againstall_To_Run_For_Ukraines_Presidency__/1869505.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Againstall_To_Run_For_Ukraines_Presidency__/1869505.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:16:22 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Againstall_To_Run_For_Ukraines_Presidency__/1869505.html#relatedInfoContainer Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized Russia’s film industry yesterday, telling prominent directors assembled at the recently created Council of Cinematography that “goals of economic, cultural, and humanitarian influence are not being reached.” http://www.rferl.org/content/Putin_The_Director_/1869494.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Putin_The_Director_/1869494.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:07:12 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Putin_The_Director_/1869494.html#relatedInfoContainer Upon landing at Kyiv’s Boryspil airport on Sunday afternoon I was met by Ukrainian passport-control personnel in surgical masks. http://www.rferl.org/content/Swine_Flu_Mania_In_Kyiv/1868617.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Swine_Flu_Mania_In_Kyiv/1868617.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:38:08 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Swine_Flu_Mania_In_Kyiv/1868617.html#relatedInfoContainer An old video of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei visiting some of the U.S. diplomats detained in Iran some 30 years ago has been posted on his website ahead of the anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover and the hostage taking of U.S. diplomats and embassy staff. http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_Visits_US_Hostages/1868607.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_Visits_US_Hostages/1868607.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:22 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_Visits_US_Hostages/1868607.html#relatedInfoContainer Mohammad Ali Ramin, who is said to have shaped the views of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on the Holocaust, has been appointed deputy culture minister for media affairs. Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust a "myth." http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Holocaust_Adviser_Named_Deputy_Culture_Minister_/1867427.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Holocaust_Adviser_Named_Deputy_Culture_Minister_/1867427.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:51:31 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Holocaust_Adviser_Named_Deputy_Culture_Minister_/1867427.html#relatedInfoContainer An Iranian activist, Farvartish Rezvanieh, has protested against what he describes as a lack of action against swine flu by the Iranian authorities by walking the streets of Tehran wearing a full isolation suit with H1N1 on it. http://www.rferl.org/content/Fighting_H1N1_On_The_Street_Of_Tehran/1867322.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Fighting_H1N1_On_The_Street_Of_Tehran/1867322.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:36:49 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Fighting_H1N1_On_The_Street_Of_Tehran/1867322.html#relatedInfoContainer As every good Slavic studies student knows, it's "Ukraine," without the definite article. But Dick Cheney and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko are reportedly at odds. Slate has more: http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukraine_Vs_The_Ukraine/1865351.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukraine_Vs_The_Ukraine/1865351.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:37:01 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukraine_Vs_The_Ukraine/1865351.html#relatedInfoContainer Several Iranian websites, including the official site of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have published details of an unusual encounter between Khamenei and a student who publicly criticized the Iranian establishment. http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_And_The_Student_/1864962.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_And_The_Student_/1864962.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:32:44 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_And_The_Student_/1864962.html#relatedInfoContainer According to a "New York Times" report published on October 28, Ahmed Wali Karzai, the younger half brother of embattled Afghan President Hamid Karzai, has been on the U.S. CIA payroll for the past eight years despite being accused of being linked to the mushrooming drug trade in the region. http://www.rferl.org/content/Working_For_The_CIA_In_Afghanistan/1864519.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Working_For_The_CIA_In_Afghanistan/1864519.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:14 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Working_For_The_CIA_In_Afghanistan/1864519.html#relatedInfoContainer The families of three Americans detained in Iran have released videos that they say prove that their children were on vacation and meant no harm in crossing the border. http://www.rferl.org/content/Videos_Released_By_Families_Of_US_Hikers_Detained_In_Iran/1862688.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Videos_Released_By_Families_Of_US_Hikers_Detained_In_Iran/1862688.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:55:02 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Videos_Released_By_Families_Of_US_Hikers_Detained_In_Iran/1862688.html#relatedInfoContainer Sent by one of our readers, Ahmed Mukhtar, to our Azerbaijani Service's "Mobile Reporter" page. http://www.rferl.org/content/Photo_Of_The_Day/1862683.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Photo_Of_The_Day/1862683.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:43:14 +0000 Transmission http://www.rferl.org/content/Photo_Of_The_Day/1862683.html#relatedInfoContainer The U.S. decision to cut $85 million in democracy funds for Iran has led to mixed reactions among Iranian-Americans, Iran analysts, rights activists, and others. http://www.rferl.org/content/The_Good_And_Bad_Of_Cutting_Iran_Democracy_Funding/1862671.html http://www.rferl.org/content/The_Good_And_Bad_Of_Cutting_Iran_Democracy_Funding/1862671.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:24:37 +0000 Transmission