Stories about International Relations from October, 2008
Russia, U.S.: McCain and the KGB
Eagle and the Bear and The Ivanov Report write about John McCain's campaign – and, among other things, his “repeated references to the K.G.B.”.
Thailand: Dispute over Preah Vihear Temple
Thai Girl has photos of Preah Vihear temple and a discussion of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
Laos and Western culture
Lao Voices ponders about the impact of Western culture on Lao people.
Taiwan: Huge crowd at 1025 protest
Several media outlets reported that 600,000 people attended the 1025 Safeguard Taiwan protest on Saturday in Taipei. A-gu live blogged on the protest tracking the news reports of several TV channels. Travels around Taiwan had a post featuring photos of some of the signs at the protest. Memories of Past...
Barbados, U.S.A.: Behind Barack
Barbados Underground says that most Caribbean people support Barack Obama for U.S. President.
Guyana, Suriname: River Dispute
Living Guyana blogs about an escalating diplomatic dispute between Guyana and Suriname over access to the Corentyne River, while Guyana 360 suggests that a boat accident along the river in question comes at a curious time.
Armenia: Madrid Principles
Unzipped posts details of the “Madrid Principles,” a proposed framework for future resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The post also compares the principles with that believed to have been agreed in the late 1990s.
Taiwan: Protest to defend Sovereignty
Claudia Jean blogs photos of the weekend protest organized by Democratic Progressive Party against the president Ma Ying-jeou concerning his policy towards China.
China: “Criminal” with Human Rights Award
Last week (Oct 23) it was announced that the European Parliaments’ Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to Chinese political activist Hu Jia. On the other hand, China government expressed its anger and disappointment at the European Union decision, insisting Hu was a criminal, and described the...
Chile: The 1985 Meeting Between McCain and Pinochet
In 1985, a U.S. Congressman named John McCain traveled to Chile and met with dictator Augusto Pinochet. The previously unreported meeting was revealed by journalist John Dinges, who published the findings in two blogs, and which were especially timely because of the current Republican nominee “who has harshly criticized the idea of sitting down with dictators without pre-conditions, appears to have done just that.”
Southeast Asia: Impact of Financial Crisis
What are the views of several Southeast Asian bloggers about the global financial crisis? First, an authoritative voice: Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He points out the double standard of the US government in solving economic problems: “We cannot forget how, in 1997-98, American hedge funds destroyed the economies...
Morocco: Tangier Experiences Massive Flooding
For the past few years, Morocco has been experiencing a significant drought. Unfortunately, recent rain storms have brought little relief, as Northern Morocco experiences massive flooding, claiming the lives of at least 13 people. The View From Fez recently reported on the floods: Thirteen people have been killed in northern...
Lebanon: Saturday Security Briefs
Blacksmiths of Lebanon updates us on the security situation in Lebanon in this post entitled Saturday Security Briefs.
Jordan: Rumours, Gap Year Foreign Students, and Body of Lies
From an innocent murmur to a devastating consequence on the life of an innocent girl, see how rumours can destroy lives in Jordan in this round up of Jordanian blogs by Mohammad Azraq, which also discusses foreign gap year students in Amman and the latest big screen hit Body of Lies.
Ukraine: Politics Versus the Economy
Ukraine's tumultuous internal politics has long stood in the way of the country's economic development - and even now, at the time of an economic crisis, there seems to be no sign of respite. Below is what some English-language bloggers have to say about the current situation.
Paraguay: Lugo Set to Visit Bush at the White House
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo is set to visit the White House and President George W. Bush next week. With Bush on his way out, Pepa Kostianovsky of De Pe a Pa [es] doesn't see the point and wonders why even make the long trip north [es].
Cuba: Ties That Bind?
Steven's Cuba Blog and Havana Times report on the formal resumption of ties between the European Union and Cuba, while Child of the Revolution adds: “the Cubans say they are happy to restart an open and constructive dialogue with the EU – on the Cubans’ terms, of course, which essentially...
Croatia: More on Ivo Pukanić's Death
Hudin writes about yesterday's blast in Zagreb, Croatia, which killed Ivo Pukanić, publisher and editor-in-chief of Nacional, and Niko Franjić, a journalist: “Pukanić had been fearing for his life for some time. I have no idea as to what his dealings were behind the scenes, but on the surface, he...
China and Taiwan: Zhang Mingqing Incident
ESWN has followed up closely the Zhang Mingqing incident (the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait vice-chairman being attacked and push to the ground during his visit to Southern Taiwan). Here is a collection and translation of local media reports and here is a collection of stories on Zhang...
Ukraine, U.S.: A View on Foreign Policy
Taras of Ukrainiana shared his view on the upcoming U.S. election in a comment posted on a Fox News blog, following Sarah Palin's recent mention of Ukraine at a rally in Nevada. Taras wrote: “You and I will be better off if you elect a president who will spare no...
Serbia: Asylum Seekers
At Belgraded, a rather heated discussion of Serbian asylum seekers: their true numbers, origins and political views.
