The State of Affairs in Russia

[Tonitrus]

I can hear the "imbeciles", but whatever obscenity was used is totally drowned about by the Arabic to my ears.

[Syt]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/news/article/russias-state-duma-supports-mandatory-hiv-testing-before-marriage/527840.html

Russia's State Duma Supports Mandatory HIV Testing Before Marriage

The State Duma's health care committee sided on Wednesday with a suggestion to impose mandatory HIV testing on couples who want to get married, news agency Interfax reported.

"It's a reasonable proposal and should be supported. The number of HIV-positive people is growing and it is becoming a serious problem. I think our top public health official [Anna Popova, who suggested the move] is absolutely right," Nikolai Gerasimenko, first deputy chairman of the committee, told Interfax on Wednesday.

Popova, the head of health care watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, proposed the idea on Tuesday at a youth forum titled Territoriya Smyslov na Klyazme and known in English as Terra Scientia, Interfax reported. She also said she would support genetic testing and hepatitis testing for couples who plan to have a baby.

The head of the Federal AIDS Center, Vadim Pokrovsky, said he supported the idea, but only if the testing was carried out on a voluntary basis.

"Mandatory testing might cause serious problems. For example, who should be informed of the results? The future wife, the bride [if her fiance was tested]? How would she react? Most likely the marriage would fall apart," he told the Business FM radio station Tuesday.

"What is going to happen to this bride or groom whose test was positive? The processes that are going to take place next should be seriously thought over," Pokrovsky added.

According to the center's prognosis, the number of recorded cases of HIV in Russia is set to exceed 1 million by the end of this year.

[Valmy]

If there is a HIV problem doing testing might not be a bad idea but why at marriage?

[Tamas]

If there is a HIV problem doing testing might not be a bad idea but why at marriage?

Because Russians don't do pre-marital sex. That's a Western decadent thing.

[Martinus]

Given the attitudes of Russian people against HIV-positive individuals, I somehow doubt this would be used to the benefit of the patient.

[Syt]

The Russian anthem as played by the Egyptian army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=25&v=IifStkAsemU

[Razgovory]

Well that's fucking awkward.

[Monoriu]

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bush was present at a swimming contest, and the US won a gold medal.  However, when the US anthem was played, it stopped in the middle for no reason and wasn't resumed.  The Chinese foreign minister next to Bush was petrified.  Bush seemed to be completely cool though. 

[Martinus]

- Intl tribunal should try 1945 US nuke attacks on Japan - Duma chief

Who exactly are they planning on putting on trial here?

That Enola gay. They don't like gays there.

[Martinus]

"Asian country" is not a coherent concept.

I don't think Israel and China have much in common just because you could hypothetically travel from one to the other on land.

It's a cultural concept, and culturally Israel is not an Asian country. By the way, you could also travel from Spain to China on land. 

[Martinus]

The Russian anthem as played by the Egyptian army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=25&v=IifStkAsemU

[Eddie Teach]

It's a cultural concept, and culturally Israel is not an Asian country. By the way, you could also travel from Spain to China on land. 

Which countries do you consider to be Asian countries besides Russia? China? India? Iran? South Africa? 

[Martinus]

It's a cultural concept, and culturally Israel is not an Asian country. By the way, you could also travel from Spain to China on land. 

Which countries do you consider to be Asian countries besides Russia? China? India? Iran? South Africa? 

China, Mongolia, the Stans, Japan, Korea, countries in South East Asia. India is a distinct culture. I would argue that Iran (Persia) is probably distinct enough as well.

[Martinus]

As for Israel, to me it is an element of Western Civilisation in the Middle East. In that, it is a spiritual descendant of the crusader states.

[Eddie Teach]

China, Mongolia, the Stans, Japan, Korea, countries in South East Asia. India is a distinct culture. I would argue that Iran (Persia) is probably distinct enough as well.

Russia has less in common with China than India does.