Stories about International Relations from October, 2009
Thailand, Cambodia rift evident in ASEAN conference
absolutelybangkok.com provides a backgrounder and update to the continuing rift between the top leaders of Thailand and Cambodia who are both attending the annual conference of Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
China: Relics of the Old Summer Palace
Back in the news again is Beijing’s Old Summer Palace, whose destruction still remains a sensitive topic in China. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it was later sacked by British and French troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Countless works of art were also looted from the palace...
Saudi Arabia: The Future Husbands and Wives of Saudis Revamped
Future Husbands and Wives of Saudis is introducing new changes for its readers.
Nepal: The Maoist Insurgency
Neil’s Nepal, a Maoist expert, posts an analysis of the implications of the present Nepali conflict from the perspective of the US military.
Haiti: No Justice?
As an ex-priest is extradited to Canada to face charges of sexual abuse of minors in Haiti, The Haitian Blogger says: “The international community has evidently concluded that there is no justice in Haiti. Sexual predators who have been operating with impunity in Haiti are being extradited to their countries...
China: Nobel Dream
This month, the Chinese press and online forums are saturated with coverage of Charles Kao’s winning of the Nobel Prize in Physics. Yet another overseas Chinese scientist has snatched the prestigious prize, this temporary moment of shared glory is quickly turned into a more profound question: when would China produce its first indigenous Nobel Prize winner?
Puerto Rico: Crime Solution?
If the majority of Puerto Rico's crime comes from the island's reputation as a drug smuggling transshipment point, Dondequiera suggests having “the travel and shipping authorities change Puerto Rico to become an International destination…that way, all of the travelers going between Puerto Rico and the United States would be forced...
UK: Russian Film Festival
Siberian Light writes about the 3rd Russian Film Festival, which begins on Oct. 30 in London.
Bermuda: Economic Pinch
“The critical mass of tourism facilities continues its tailspin of decline. The Government may spin all it wants, but the facts are dismal”: Vexed Bermoothes says Bermuda is feeling the economic squeeze.
Serbia: Preparations for Medvedev's Visit
Belatedly, a mock review of the preparations for president Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Belgrade – at Belgraded: “He already was in Serbia once last year, but this time there’s a lot more fuss about his visit, presumably because we need to suck up to the East at least as much...
Russia, Ukraine: A Georgian Politician's View
Window on Eurasia highlights a Georgian politician's view on the relations between Russia and Ukraine.
Trinidad & Tobago: Who's to Blame?
As the Trinidad and Tobago government is criticized over the sub-standard living conditions of Chinese labourers brought in to work on state construction projects, Survivein’ Trinidad says: “If a private company offers me a fully loaded contract (housing, travel allowance, etc.) to work in Germany and I get there only...
Russia: Election Fraud and Blogging
Reports of vote-rigging in the local elections, which took place in 75 of Russia’s 83 regions on Oct. 11, spurred protests by citizens and politicians in Moscow - and quite an outrage among some of the country's bloggers.
Georgia: Andy Garcia's starring role
Tbilisi's Blog – News, Events, Comments… reports that U.S. actor Andy Garcia has arrived in Georgia. The Hollywood star might play Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in a film on last year's August war with Russia.
Azerbaijan: Happy Birthday, Emin Milli
Wednesday saw the 30th birthday of detained youth activist and video blogger Emin Milli. Friends and other bloggers marked the event worldwide.
Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: Salt
“Things must be bad in Trinidad when Chinese (from China) workers, who seem to constitute the government’s entire economic stimulus plan, don’t get paid…the most visible indicator of what we have taken to be prosperity in Trinidad has simply collapsed”: B.C. Pires provides interesting commentary.
Israel: What Other Countries Eat
Daniel Lubetzky's Peaceworks blog posts photos of what countries around the world eat in one week. Each photo shows a family in their kitchen surrounded by a week's worth of food.
Israel:Blog Action Day for the Environment
On Blog Action Day, October 15, Israeli bloggers were already looking ahead to October 24 when environmental organizations, activists, and bloggers too, are planning a day of climate change protest across the Middle East.
Bahamas: Crimes Against Tourists
Tourists are held at gunpoint, prompting Rick Lowe at Weblog Bahamas to ask: “What will the ramifications be to our tourist industry? How do we get this under control? Only time will tell, and obviously we only have ourselves to blame, but what have we become?”
Turks & Caicos: Hail To The Chief
The Turks and Caicos Islands has a new Chief Executive, whose appointment is “part of the much criticized British takeover of the T&C government following a corruption scandal.” Repeating Islands has the details.
Pakistan: The Kerry Lugar Bill
The Kerry Luger bill is a non military aid package for five years granted to Pakistan by USA. The stringent and dictating conditions along with this bill have instigated a lot of debate in Pakistan and agitated its bloggers as well.
