Stories about International Relations from May, 2006
China: Discoveries in the desert
Haven't had time to follow the news out of northwestern China's muslim-dominated Xinjiang province over the past three months? Davesgonechina at Musing Under The Tenement Palm rounds up the relevant stories, including two discoveries in the desert; one of a 2,200 year-old peach-shaped city and a 26 year-old mummy, the...
Iran: Leader's Advisor is Blogging
Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, Leader's advisor and former Foreign Affairs Minister, started his blog. Concerning Iran-US negotiation about Iraq or other issues, Dr.Velayati says Iran has never had such a strong influence in Iraq & Palestine like today. He adds we have the best advantages to bargain now (Persian).
Montenegro: “It Looks Like Europe Has a New Country”
This past Sunday, 55.4 percent of the voters of Montenegro, the smallest of the six former Yugoslav republics (population slightly over 600,000), decided in favor of independence – by a narrow margin of 0.4%, in a heavy turnout. Below are some bloggers’ reactions to the May 21 referendum results. Doug...
Belarus: Brief Blogosphere Update
TOL's Belarus Blog reports on the Belarusian blogosphere's lack of interest in such important issues as the EU's initiatives to freeze Aleksandr Lukashenko's assets and boycott an Interpol conference in Minsk. Polina Smolova's very poor performance at this year's Eurovision Song Contest is widely discussed in Belarusian LiveJournals, however.
Belarus: Off the MSM and Bloggers’ Radars
TOL's Belarus Blog cites Google Trends and Technorati to show that Belarus has virtually disappeared “from the radars of mainstream media” and bloggers.
Myanmar: Street Snacks and Latest Happenings
Moemoe links to the recent happenings in Myanmar along with a picture of snacks in a popular Yangoon market.
Europe: Eurovision Song Contest
Rachel of Pustolovina: Adventure in Serbian shares her impressions on this year's Eurovision Song Contest, the first one she's watched.
Grenada's Chinese Village
From the Caribbean Free Photo photoblog: This rather quaint archway marks the entrance to the construction site for Grenada's new National Stadium in Queen's Park, which is being built with funding, expertise and manpower provided by the People's Republic of China. With 500-plus construction workers from China living and working...
African Diaspora: Victory for Sarkozy's Immigration Law
” [French Interior Minister] Sarkozy's immigration law [CESEDA] passed in the French National Assembly! ” says (Fr) Aimafrica . “For a country like Mali, this could be the beginning of an economic catastrophy. France … after having looted our riches and our people, wants business as usual. She no longer...
Taiwan: Chinese spy confesses
A Taiwanese agent for the Chinese government wasn't so covert in trying to purchase an F-16 fighter jet engine and cruise missiles, blogs James J. Na at The Korea Liberator, followed up by a post from Joshua on the defection of another senior North Korean scientist: “The bad news is...
Haiti: What Will Preval Bring?
AyitiCherieConnexion summarizes Preval's inauguration and wonders (Fr): “Ever since the election, things have settled a bit in Haiti. Kidnappings have almost disappeared. Will Preval stabilize the situation, eliminate government corruption, crime, unemployment and feelings of resentment …? Will certain countries of the international community stop dividing and conquering so that...
Japan: Questionable new laws
Riding Sun‘s GaijinBiker pokes some big holes first in the Japanese government's new law requiring all foreigners entering the country to have their fingerprints scanned followed by another new law which will see a gradual decrease in the number of free parking spaces for bicycles, scooters and motorcycles in Tokyo.
China: To hell with the Vatican
Simon at Simon World looks at the Chinese government's decision this week to spurn the Vatican and appoint their own Bishops: “Naturally, this debate boils right down to control over Chinese civil society, and whether the Chinese government will tolerate any form of civil pluralism or alternate authority hierarchies in...
Senegal: Tiff with France over “Chosen Immigration”
Commenting on a recent tiff between French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade over France's new policy of “choosing its immigration,” Forum Realisance says (Fr): “Wade is dead on because it is evident that France wants its pick of the best of African elites and takes for...
Belarus: Athletes and Fans For the White-Red-White Flag
TOL's Belarus Blog writes about Belarusian athletes speaking up for the outcast white-red-white flag – and Belarusian fans promoting it abroad: “There is one embarassment, though: Lukashenka cannot prevent waving of the banned flag abroad, and wave they do! Every away game, any hockey championship, etc. becomes an opportunity for...
Ukraine: Obstacles in the Foreign Adoption Process
Cristin of the Ukraine Adoption blog reports that many American families willing to adopt Ukrainian children are losing patience after many months of waiting for the Ukrainian government agency to start issuing paperwork needed to finalize the adoptions. To fight red tape, Cristin suggests writing letters to the president of...
Bangladesh: Guantanamo Bay and lack of information
Or how I leart to stop worrying comments on the information released on the two Bangladeshi detainees at Guantanamo Bay. “The information released by the Pentagon, on close examination, suggests that after 4 years of detention the United States Government does not have complete or accurate information on, at the...
Iran: Diplomacy & War
Rajabali Mazroi, reformist politician & blogger, says diplomacy is the best way to solve nuclear crisis. He writes that he does not agree with Iranian President's policy concerning nuclear issue. Blogger adds he believes USA and other big powers have not been on a right diplomatic path to negotiate with...
Cambodia: Is the world getting Flat?
Kalyan in Cambodia is reading Thomas Freidman's “The World is Flat“. Kalyan is asking the visitors to her blog “Do you believe that the world is or is going to be flat?”
South Korea: Farmers protest military camp
unity at Days in Daechuri blog keeps up the coverage of villagers peacefully protesting the expansion of an American military base into their village, and the resulting state crackdown with the post ‘Environmental Testimony from Daechuri Villagers.’
China: Canadian faces execution
“A program called Ultrareach is helping thousands of Chinese defy internet censorship every day,” writes Celia at China Activist Weekly, along with posts on disturbances in Tibet and the response to a letter written to the Canadian government regarding Canadian citizen Husein Celil currently in Uzbekistan “where he is being...
