It’s hard to believe, but the people of Afghanistan will go to the polls in just over three weeks to choose their next president. Though the incumbent Hamid Karzai is the clear favorite, but his return to the state’s head office is not assured as challengers Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani have gone on the […]
A ton (or if you prefer, tonne) of stories making waves: Least Surprising Headline Award Goes to: Robert Mugabe ‘In Bid to Wreck Unity’. The Lord’s Resistance Army rebels are back at it in Uganda. The death toll from the clashes in northeastern Nigeria is now above 700. The Washington Post reminds us that the […]
U.S. officials sharply condemned today the eviction of approximately 50 Arab families from East Jerusalem, calling the move a violation of the Road Map. The Israeli government forcefully removed the residents in order to clear room for Jewish settlers in the city who claimed previous ownership of the area extending to Ottoman rule. The annexation […]
There’s a joke in Israel that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wakes up from his coma. He asks the nurse to send him his number two, Ehud Olmert. “Unfortunately,” the nurse responds, “police suspect Olmert of accepting bribes.” “OK,” Sharon responds, “then send me President Moshe Katsav.” The nurse informs Sharon that Katzav resigned in […]
It looks like India might get a new nuclear-weapons neighbor to its north east. According to recent reports Myanmar may be on its way to developing military nuclear capability with the help of North Korea. Myanmar and North Korea have improved their military trade relations over the last few years, and nuclear collaboration as an […]
Here is an update on some of the stories I have previously blogged on: 1) Iran’s Role in the Latin America (July 30) The Iranian lawmakers have questioned the $280 million loan given to Bolivia. Their disapproval arises due to the Article 80 of the Iranian Constitution, which states that the Parliament must first approve […]
The EU has started to take the issue of online shopping seriously recently given that a 2006 study estimated 56% of Europeans shopped online. It’s a multi-million (or maybe billion?) Euro market so it’s not surprising that the EU’s actions have attracted the attention of interested parties. As I noted in February Karl Lagerfeld came […]
– Former Filipino President Corazon Aquino, the nations first female president, died at age 76 from colon cancer. Current president, Gloria Magapacal-Arroyo, who was a protege of Aquino, before a split with her over corruption charges, has declared a 10 day period of national mourning. Aquino is best known for being the widow of Benigno […]
A shooting last night in Tel Aviv left two Israelis dead and approximately a dozen injured. A masked gunman entered a gay-lesbian support event for teens, began shooting indiscriminately, and fled the scene. Even though police determined that the crime was anti-gay in nature, and not with nationalistic motives, the reaction to the event within […]
The recent reports in Western media about Pakistan’s link to Jihadi groups fail to present a balanced picture about what is going on in Pakistan. These drive by reports, coupled with the analysis of the so-called experts on T.V. further confuse the situation. It is difficult to imagine, but there was a time when there […]
About 100 protesters arrested for their involvement in post-election violence were put on trial today. The defendants included supporters of reformist opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of former reformist president Mohammad Khatami. The Tehran Times reported that according to the indictment, a number of protesters confessed that the post-election unrest […]
Some stories for your weekend: Although I am not especially worried that South Africa will succumb to Big Man Syndrome these sorts of stories detailing the extent of the perks of power in South Africa are still always disquieting. Springboks 31-19 All Blacks. South Africa has now taken firm control of the Tri Nations. Morne […]
Is this WTO complaint taken by China against the EU regarding the importation of screws the first sign of an increasingly aggrssive Chinese attitude towards the EU regarding trade? With China being the only major economy with postive economic growth, it is less likely to kowtow to the rules of its trading partners.
Defying the government ban, ten of thousands of Iranians gathered yesterday at Tehran’s main cemetery for the 40-day commemoration of those killed in the aftermath of the election. Police used tear gas and baton to break up the demonstration. The Press TV reported that 50 people were arrested in the protest. Renowned Iranian filmmaker Panahi […]
Here is a smattering of stories that crossed my desk today: The World Food Program has tabbed John Kufuor, President of Ghana from 2001 to earlier this year and head of the African Union in 2007-2008, to lead an effort to fight hunger among schoolchildren throughout the world. He will also help the WFP in […]