Kobakhidze and Beselia questioned re pardons for cash, VLAP delay, Putin says visa movement, Geo China trade talks, train containers move, Misha Avakov yell on camera, Sanakoyev talks Daesh, Margvel in Ashgabad, Poker to Tbilisi, French air defense deal, two US choppers, Korea and Austrian embassy, rate up .5, UNM guys charged, Nuka Miss World designee, EBRD gas busses, four bodies found on Turk border, Bitcoin mine opens, Geo coke captain detained in France, Pushkin overpass, Econ min closed, UK program, mountain pensions, Tbilisi health programs, City employee bribery arrest, new Gudauri, Lolitaz to Eurovision, Bolnisi German museum, Givi Margvelashvili award, excise up, election districts, no pants on subway
The MEME this week is the video of Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov getting into an argument with Misha at a government meeting, Avakov then throws a glass of water at Misha. Link: http://on.fb.me/1QPtJX0
Open Society Foundation reports on one of their grantees, the Information Centre of Kakheti, which has become ‘the’ authoritative voice reporting on ISIS recruiting youth in Pankisi. Link: http://osf.to/1JbmxhH
Agenda.ge reports on restoration works of Florentine style frescoes in a building on Agmashenabeli avenue in Sololaki. Link: http://bit.ly/1Pb1IcI
In Bike Mag, a group of American and Canadian cyclists document their adventurous ride in the Caucasus mountains, from Tusheti to Kazbegi. Link: http://bit.ly/1mjrGiO
The BBC talks with some Reuters photographers whose photos are in the 100 photos of the year 2015, including Beso Gulashvili who shot Begi the hippo in the streets after the June flood. Link: http://bbc.in/1T46Y0W
The Guardian covers the Misha-Avakov spat and in context of larger fights in Ukrainian parliament. Link: http://bit.ly/1YhthS1
Vogue Australia sends a postcard from Tbilisi and the Georgians changing the fashion scene. Link: http://bit.ly/1IWDDFj
In Culinary Backstreets, Paul Rimple sums up the ‘best bites’ in the city for 2015, which is mostly an ode to the Sololaki neighbourhood. Link: http://bit.ly/1QrLMEw
Tbilisi City Hall’s gallery on this year’s Christmas and New Year’s lights decorating the city. Link: http://on.fb.me/1Ynv3B4
The CRRC looks at volunteerism in Georgia. Link: http://bit.ly/1Ynv7ko
The site Film New Europe has a review of developments in Georgia’s film industry in 2015. Link: http://bit.ly/1lTwlIx
Tbilisi-based NGO Chai Khana has a new edition on migration in the South Caucasus. Link: http://bit.ly/1O9jhog
The Organized Crime and Corruption and Reporting Project with Studio Monitori reports on how the government is forgiving major land and contract violation penalties for big business people in Georgia. Link: http://bit.ly/1k4UR7s