Stories about International Relations from November, 2008
Hungary, Slovakia: Tense Relationship
On Nov. 15, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico and his Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Gyurcsány, met in the border town of Komárno, Slovakia, in an attempt to ease nationalist tensions that have escalated due to Nov. 1 football game violence in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia. Eva S. Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum has been blogging a lot recently about the Slovak-Hungarian relations, and here are some of the highlights.
Pakistan: The politics of condemnation
Chowrangi protests the ineffective condemnation by the Pakistan government against the US drone and missile attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan. The blog suggests that there is more behind...
Anguilla, The Cayman Islands: Children's Rights
“Child abuse and neglect is no less a serious and widespread problem in Anguilla than it is in the Cayman Islands”: Corruption-free Anguilla praises the efforts of a Caymanian woman...
Japan: Revision of the Nationality Law
On the 4th of June, on the occasion of cases filed in 2003 [en] and in 2005 whose protagonists were 10 children born out of wedlock to Japanese fathers and...
Vietnam/Singapore: Bridal service controversy
A Singapore newspaper published an article announcing the discount rate for Vietnam brides. This drew criticism from many Vietnamese individuals and groups: “It's horrible to see them [Vietnamese would-be brides]...
Egypt: Sawiris Takes on Switzerland
Cairo's Scene & Heard celebrated entrepreneur and hotelier Sameh Sawiris's new project in Switzerland saying: “Now that we're branching out into Europe…do you think we stand a chance next to...
Egypt: No More Natural Gas to Israel
An Egyptian court has banned the export of natural gas to Israel. Marwa Rakha briefs us about the deal, and what an Egyptian blogger is writing about the court order in this post.
Cameroon: Questioning the Bakassi Freedom Fighters hostage exchange
A week after the 10 hostages (including 8 foreign nationals) kidnapped by the Bakassi Freedom Fighters were exchanged for the release of 13 prisoners, Cameroonian blogger Le blog du Prési wonders...
Egypt: King Abdullah's Glass of Wine
A rumor has been spreading in the blogosphere, accompanied with a photograph of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia showing him seated beside US President George W Bush while holding a glass of wine in his hand. And as you all know, alcohol is prohibited in Islam, and it is a sin to drink or even stay in a place where it is being served or available. Following are reactions from Egypt.
Peru: APEC Summit an Opportunity for the Country
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will attract 21 member countries to Lima, Peru, which will have the opportunity to put on display its recent economic accomplishments, investment opportunities, as well as its tourism potential. Many Peruvian bloggers are excited about this showcase opportunity, in spite of the logistical nightmares such a large gathering might produce.
Israel: Ceasefire with Hamas Ends
The temporary cease-fire (tahdiya) agreement between Israel and Hamas has come to an end earlier this month with an escalation of violence in the region and a re-implementation of the Gaza blockade. Gilad Lotan highlights conversations on the Israeli blogosphere on the escalation of violence and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Japan: Asia 21 Tokyo Summit
From the 14th to the 16th of November the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit was held in Tokyo, with 160 young leaders debating this year's topic of “Challenges Across Borders,...
Afghanistan: Mired in Combat
An interesting pair of stories in the New York Times illustrate brilliantly just how complex the problems facing the United States in Afghanistan and Pakistan really are. The first is CJ Chivers' look at an embattled outpost in Nuristan...
Uzbekistan: Tashkent Is Quitting the EEC
Michael Hancock writes that Uzbekistan has decided to withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Community, an inter-state union of post-Soviet countries, patronaged by Russia.
Afghanistan: Evaluating Counterinsurgency Practices
Strategist reviews the paper, written by “counterinsurgency guru” David Kilcullen about the West's strategy in Afghanistan – what's right and what's wrong. The latter prevails.
Afghanistan: What Obama Should Know About Afghanistan
Azar Balkhi opines that President Elect Obama will be able to do a good job in Afghanistan if he does not use President Bush strategies.
Russia: Tatars Ask UN to Condemn 1921 Famine as Genocide
Window on Eurasia reports: “Tatar nationalists have appealed to the United Nations to recognize the 1921-22 famine in the Middle Volga as a genocide organized by Bolshevik Russia to destroy...
Russia: The Crisis and the Hajj
Window on Eurasia writes: “For the first time since the end of the Soviet Union, the number of Muslims from the Russian Federation making the pilgrimage to Mecca is set...
Estonia: Citizenship
Itching for Eestimaa writes about “a renewed public interest in the criteria for obtaining Estonian citizenship”: “The news that the Russian embassy handed out more Russian passports to stateless persons...
Czech Republic: Muslims in Brno
Belatedly, a link to the item on the Muslim community of Brno – at The Czech Daily Word.
Indonesia: Pesta Blogger 2008
Five bloggers from different countries have joined Indonesia's Pesta Blogger 2008, a blogging trip and festival.