Indonesia: As an update to the growing backlash in SE Asia over the China-ASEAN FTA, the Berita Jakarta is already blaming the FTA on a decline in exports from Jakarta: It can be seen from the decline in the city’s export value by 4.80 percent or US$ 2.828 billion in January this year, from that […]
Following the current events in Afghanistan is not for the faint of heart, but one specific recurring story is by far the most distressing for me: The continuous attacks on education facilities, teachers, and most appalling, students by extremists. While modern Afghanistan has never been home to a strong educational system, ever since the Taliban […]
Fallout from the assassination of a high-ranking Hamas official continues with Israelis barred entry into Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. While Israel only has full diplomatic relations with Egypt and Jordan in the Middle East and the Jewish state remains at war with Syria and Lebanon, Israelis were permitted into Dubai and Qatar if […]
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Once the foreigners who dared to push Russia from the podium have been taken care of (via strategic bombers and lethal psychological warfare), heads will roll over the country’s worst Olympics in history, assured Medvedev yesterday. But whose? Well, sports minister Vitaly Mutko says it wasn’t his fault; it was the stoopid new sports, dastardly […]
Israel seems to be facing something that it might not have expected in its war of words with its neighbors: unity. And it looks like some nations of the Middle East are hanging together in the face of Israeli aggression instead of hanging alone, which has often been the tradition in the past. Falling far […]
Egypt is bracing for changes in its internal politics. Mr. Elbaradei is in the lead in this push for political reform in the country; supported by small opposition groups he warned the current regime of potential civil disobedience. The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest political group in Egypt, under the leadership of its new elected chairman […]
In Brazil, nicknames are very common, especially for famous people and even politicians. President Lula da Silva received his nickname when he was young, since the common nickname for Luiz, his given name, is Lula (similar to calling a person named Robert, Bob). However, given that lula means squid in Portuguese, the president has really […]
The Washington Post has a fascinating article on the uranium market in Kazakhstan, complete with extensive photo galleries. The most illuminating aspect was the arrest of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former chief executive of the state nuclear firm Kazatomprom. According to the Post, “the KNB, local successor to the KGB, accused him of transferring the rights […]
Underscoring the depth of the problems Chinese leaders face at home, a recent report by an authoritative state think tank says domestic law and order will face serious challenges in 2010. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ “China’s Rule of Law Development Report No. 8” shows that in 2009 the number of criminal and public […]
Well, Mr. Moammar Gadhafi has now called for “Jihad” against Switzerland. The call to Jihad is suppose to be in retaliation against the Swiss ban of the building of new mosque minarets in the country. Mr. Gadhafi made the provoking comments fully aware of special place he enjoys in the Arab and Muslim World. When […]
The stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process and U.S. position toward Israel has reportedly frustrated Special Envoy and Obama administration negotiator George Mitchell, leading him to offer his resignation, which was rejected in turn. Peace talks have gone nearly nowhere and Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. officials alike have scattered blame for the failure. Mitchell reportedly objected to […]
In a break with judicial procedure in Mexico and the United States drug kingpin Osiel Cárdenas, former head of the Gulf Cartel, was sentenced to 25 years in a secret hearing in Houston this week. He pled guilty to five counts, including drug dealing, money laundering, and attempted murder of federal agents. He also forfeited […]
I do not have much regard for Jamie Kirchick as a commentator on African Affairs. His Africa resume is so thin you could not hang a hat from it. But he has positioned himself well, especially at The New Republic, where he is assistant editor, by writing the occasional article on Zimbabwe or South Africa […]
I’m off for a boys’ ski weekend in Utah and so will not be back to posting until Tuesday or Wednesday. I’m leaving you with some links and brief commentary to start your weekend off right! Fans of Bafana Bafana probably should not get their hopes up that Benni McCarthy is going to step forward […]