Stories about International Relations from April, 2006
Trinidad & Tobago: World Cup football news
Stacy-Marie Ishmael responds to a FIFA news story expressing surprise that the Trinidad & Tobago World Cup team has a white member, with a reminder that it's important to “militate against stereotypes wherever possible”. She also points to some of the commemorative items being produced as tributes to the team,...
Argentina, Uruguay: EU Sticks Nose in Conflict
And Yes I Do Take it Personally paints EU involvement in the Argentina-Uruguay paper mill debate with a sarcastic brush.
Latvia: Dangerous for Russians
All About Latvia writes that, according to one survey, “53 percent of [Russian] respondents named Georgia as the most dangerous country to Russians, while Latvia came second with 29 percent.” Belarus and Kazakhstan are considered the safest.
Nepal: Understanding India's Stand
Nepali Netbook on India's stand on the situation in Nepal – “History is instructive here. Remember the Delhi Compromise of 1951 under which Jawahar Lal Nehru constructed the platform for King Tribhuvan, B.P. Koirala and Mohan Sumshere Rana to work out their differences?”
Bangladesh: Lennon and Bangladesh
imperfect world 2006 draws up an analogy between Lennon getting shot and Bangladesh becoming free, and wonders who Musharraf looks upto.
Tajikistan: Host
neweurasia reports on what Tajikistan gains by playing host to India's first foreign military base.
China: America's oil foe
China Confidential‘s Confidential Reporter continues to make the case that China and the United States are locked in a race to the bottom of the world's oil barrel. “Like a player in a modern version of the Great Game—the classic contest between the British empire and Czarist Russia for mastery...
China: Google deletes Tibet?
Has Google Earth left Tibet off the map? (via China Herald)
French Antilles: Banana Drama
InternetRapide.com points (FR) to recent efforts to promote Martinique and Guadeloupe bananas, including a commercial and website featuring athletes from the two islands. The blogger cites increased competition from American corporations and international regulations limiting French government subsidies as threats. Caribbean Free Radio gave the commercial a thumbs up.
Africa: Chinese visit
akwaabaghana reports that the Chinese leader, President Hu Jintao begins a week long tour of Africa - no doubt to check on how his country's investments are going and to encourage African leaders to welcome even more Chinese money.
Scrapped Malaysia-Singapore Bridge – loosers and gainers
Competitivemalaysia lists the loosers and gainers in the recently scrapped bridge project between Malaysia and Singapore.
Colombia: Extraditing Gabriel Puerta Parra
Adam Isacson emphasizes the sensitive consequences of extraditing longtime narcotrafficker, paramilitary associate, and ex-government security agent, Gabriel Puerta Parra (alias “The Doctor”) to the United States. Included is a translation of an intriguing and recent interview with Parra by the news magazing Semana.
Brazil, Mexico: Landless Workers Movement and Zapatistas
The Western Hemisphere Policy Watch blog cites a meeting between the Brazilian NGO, Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Zapatistas in Southern Mexico as proof “that the international left's designs on the Americas are quite real and very much alive.”
DRC: Cardinal Asks Congolese to Protect DRC From Foreigners
Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Etsou, asked Congolese to protect their country from foreigners, reports (FR)Renouveau Congolais. “You have left this beautiful country to foreigners who are carving it out” said the Cardinal to local political actors.
Pakistan: The Bin Laden Story
The various sides of the Bin Laden story. Why various stories still float around and who benefits from them on A Journey To The End Of Time.
DRC: Informal vs. Official World Order
UDPS Liege contrasts (FR) the official world order (UN and other international bodies) to the informal world order (multinational corporations and secret service agencies). According to the informal world order, the DRC is not a sovereign nation, continues the blogger.
Brutal murder of Guyanese government minister sends shockwaves
“The news that the Guyanese Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Satyadeow Sawh, was brutally gunned down at his home along with his brother, sister and bodyguard early Saturday morning is sending shockwaves around the Caribbean,” wrote Trinidadian blogger Jonathan Ali on April 23. Jonathan noted that “the Express article...
Cayman Islands: Residency for sale?
“According to very unconfirmed sources, the Cayman Islands government may be looking into a way to sell permanent residency and/or status – this time above the table,” writes Cayblogger, who isn't happy about this at all.
Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: US Army Bases
A Flickr photoset prompts Mad Bull to satisfy his curiosity – whetted years ago in Lit. class — about the presence of US army bases in Trinidad and Jamaica.
Japan: China's military buildup
In Hostile Maneuvers, Reloaded, Curzon at Coming Anarchy traces increases in Chinese military spending since the 1990s in the context of Japan's ratification of the American Missile Defense Plan.
China: Photoblogs allow exchange
Photoblogs can not only get around keyword filters but language barriers too. Beijing-based Ziboy has invited his photoblogging peers to send in contributions to his exhibition to be held in China's capitol this coming Saturday, which will “[use] the form of photoblogs on the internet to promote exchange and understanding...
