The past week of events – from a U.S. Senate hearing, to remarks by China’s State Council, to high-level talks in Beijing – have scattered a layer of rich soil from which robust US-China cooperation on climate change might spring forth. However, that soil is not uniform in content. The issue of quantifiable emissions reductions, […]
It is often said that Pakistan is on collision course with reality and sooner or later, it is going to get very tough for Islamabad to continue like this; no money, no income, terrorism across the country, politicians fighting with each others, people angry with their government, consumer unhappy because of unbelievably high inflation, business […]
The Los Angeles Times published today the latest critique of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s speech from earlier this week, calling the statesman a “roadblock to Middle East peace.” Even though Netanyahu acknowledged his support for a Palestinian state, the editorial team contends that he placed far too many preconditions that would make independence unfeasible. Notably, […]
The secretariat of the European Council (the meeting of all the EU Heads of Government) on Monday released this factsheet on how it is creating an “enabling environment” for EU Memebr-States if they accept former Guantanamo detainees. In it’s own words it is for detainees that are “cleared for release” and “expressed their will to be resettled within the EU” […]
The Israeli military continues to develop some interesting gadgets for multiple battlefield objectives,most recently a robotic snake for search and rescue, assassinations, and reconnissance applications. The newest device uses a robot that looks and moves like a snake in order to stealthily slither into hostile areas or through wreckage. The snake contains a camera and […]
The Canadian navy is delaying its plan to construct a fleet of Arctic patrol boats. It has still not submitted formal requests to shipbuilders for blueprints, and probably will not do so for some time now. The navy’s project management office wrote to the Defence Ministry that “the extent of the delay is unknown at […]
The BBC reports today from South Ossetia that not much has been done for the South Ossetians whose homes were destroyed or damaged in last August’s war. The Georgian minority long ago fled or were forced out. The South Ossetians are left totally dependent on their protectors in Moscow — who were quick ten months […]
A couple days ago, my US State Department daily feeder cooked me up this press conference by US Afghan/Pakistan Envoy Richard Holbrooke. The Q & A, though centered on Holbrooke’s most recent trip to Pakistan and the Gulf States, held several interesting items regarding Afghanistan and the nascent Obama administration strategy for the region. Right […]
After reporting that the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border was tense, Radio Liberty reported on June 11 that Uzbek border guards killed an ethnic Uzbek who was a Kyrgyz citizen. The guards said that he was crossing the border illegally and did not stop when they told him to. Another Kyrgyz citizen, villagers reported, has been missing for […]
Note to Russian war reporters returning to Moscow after dodging bullets in Chechnya: keep those flak jackets on! According to the latest report by The International Union of Journalists, “Moscow is the most dangerous place for journalists in Russia, even more than in relatively unsafe regions like Chechnya”. And with 312 journalist deaths since 1991, […]
Former President Jimmy Carter arrived today in the Gaza Strip as Hamas leaders welcomed him with open arms, but he left the territory amidst an assassination attempt using a road-side bomb. On his brief day-trip, Carter met with ousted Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and handed him a letter for abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit from […]
Military resolve to crush militancy Qureshi warns of Taliban moving into India, Gulf Taliban may open new front, fears Sherpao Mehsuds hedge bets as game on to isolate Baitullah Anti-terrorism force ‘Decisive offensive’ ordered against Baitullah Mehsud Southern Punjab’s troubles Extremists buying children to use as bombers: Malik PML-Q issues white paper against Punjab govt
No need to repeat what is going on in Pakistan. It is a country that is going through its most difficult time since freedom. And regretfully, there is no end in sight as for Pakistan’s troubles are concerned. Economy is terrible, law & order is deteriorating, shortage of water, electricity and other necessities are clearly […]
As the Confederations Cup heats up it is becoming more and more clear that South Africans are wildly enthusiastic, perhaps nowhere moreso than in Soweto, about their country hosting the 2010 World Cup. And why not? In sports mad South Africa football is hands-down the most popular sport, and Soweto represents the epicenter of football […]
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu affirmed his desire to resume negotiations with Palestinians in order to pursue a peace process that would result in a “demilitarized” Palestinian state, he said in a highly anticipated speech last night at Bar-Ilan University. In many ways, the speech offered the same pro-settlement rhetoric and hard-line stances expected from […]