Problems in Eastern Europe

Der Spiegel has put together a couple of stories about the political problems, corruption, and the rising influence of extreme political views facing several Eastern European countries. As a perfect example of some of these problems, in Russia gay rights activists were beaten up by neo-Nazi's while the police watched, bearing signs such as 'Death to Gays'. To make things worse, the police then went in and arrested the activists, leaving the neo-Nazi's alone. A couple days later, another British official was assaulted after giving a talk on globalisation. Mayors of major European cities decried the violence.

Astronomers have discovered another 28 exoplanets, taking the overall known total to 236 and demonstrating advances in technique that should make it easier to find even more. They are also watching 2 suns orbiting each other that could soon (and that's a relative term) combine to form a 'supersun' 100 times larger than our own. In biology, scientists working on the genome project have identified 6 variations in the genetic code that increase the risk of breast cancer.

Also:
- The first creationist museum has opened in Kentucky.
- USA Today looks at the long history of resistance to science in the US.
- Obama has put forward his health care plan.

Who needs political freedom when you have oil?

In what is becoming a common occurrence, Russia detained more than a dozen opposition leaders who threatened to protest in the provincial city of Samara. Apparently the reasons for the detention according to Putin's government were to ensure the 'authenticity of their airline tickets,' and had nothing to do with the protest itself. This comes a week after authorities raided the local newspaper, once again ostensibly because of 'potential software violations.' Since this is only one of many problems with human rights going on in Russia, the CSM featured a piece from a member of the Russian Duma whose party has been banned, who presented an overview of the sheer scale of the loss of political freedoms in Russia. Also, Frontline examines the Russian government's attacks on independent media.

This act obviously complicates the relationship between Russia and the EU, and German newspapers had much to say about the relationship between the two. Of course, the recent electronic attacks against Estonia, reportedly coming from Russian government sources, only demonstrates the caution is required when dealing with Russian affairs. As a measure to guard against future economic dependency on Russia, the EU is looking into constructing another pipeline to deliver gas to Europe.

In France, Sarkozy is sworn in as the new President. Spiegel looks at what this means for Europe, while the New York Times looks at his surprising choice of left-wing Bernard Kouchner as France's new Foreign Minister.

Astronomers must have been working overtime this week - some found that the solar system is likely to be relegated to a sparse area of space after the collision between our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy - in 3 1/2 billion years. They also discovered an extra-solar planet whose surface might completely covered in of water. Astronomers finally found evidence of a dark matter ring, accompanied by a pretty amazing photograph.

Also:
- Christopher Hitchen's scathing scathing take on the life of Jerry Falwell.
- Explaining the origins of 'white trash'.
- Christina Hoff Sommers on the lack of engagement the American feminist movement has with the oppression of women in Islamic countries.
- Turkey, Islamic parties, the EU and the legacy of Atatürk.
- An argument for the increasing irrelevance of the Middle East in Western foreign policy.
- The CSM on Africa's lack of action over Mugabe.