US/CANADA
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave a stern warning to critics for continued troop presence in Afghanistan, saying it would be a ‘strategic mistake’ to set premature timelines. While a 23% hike in the applications for retirement benefits filed by laid off seniors, are expected to add to the federal deficit in the next two years in the US. Canada's minority Conservative government is set for a showdown with the opposition Liberal Party on Thursday 1st Oct 09’ that could send the country back to the polls for the fourth time in just over five years. Also Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi cancelled his plans for a stop over in Canada after an official statement voiced government intent to rebuke the African leader against the warm welcome meted out to the convicted 1988 Lockerbie bomber. As the leader addressed the UN General Assembly, the US Senate also approved a resolution condemning the lavish welcome. Canada's Federal Court lifted restrictions on Thursday 24th Sept 09’ on an immigrant from Morocco accused of terrorism in 2003 after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) withdrew evidence saying it would endanger the agency's sources. While Trade Minister Stockwell Day revealed that Canada is close to signing a deal with India to sell nuclear technology and materials. A moratorium on nuclear trade with India was only lifted last year, first imposed when India diverted material from Canadian-designed reactors to make a nuclear bomb in 1974. Canada is set to extend a program to help banks by buying insured mortgages, a sign it is not yet ready to unwind temporary crisis measures even though market conditions have improved, reported local newspapers.
WESTERN EUROPE
German voters handed conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel a second term and a chance to create new center-right government last week, while her center-left rivals suffered a historic defeat in the national election. While the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted last week at an annual convention that he won't quit his post before a national election the party is expected to lose. Brown's party trails far behind the main opposition C
onservative Party in opinion polls, and has suffered heavy defeats in recent local council and European elections. Two Uzbeks freed from the Guantanamo Bay prison arrived last week in Ireland, while Amnesty International appealed to other European Union nations to deliver on pledges to give new homes to U.S. terror detainees. As France debates whether to ban the burqa, the government is leading a drive to attract billions in investment from Muslim countries by turning Paris into the European capital of Islamic finance. The French parliament this month has approved changes to legislation to allow Islamic "sukuk" bonds to be issued and the Qatar Islamic Bank has applied to be the first such bank to open in France. While in Copenhagen hundreds of climate activists protested against the use of fossil fuels, but were blocked from entering a coal-firing plant they had hoped to shut down. The demonstration precedes a UN Climate Change Conference due to be held in December. Also the German authorities banned all flights over Munich's annual Oktoberfest beer festival last week after a series of Islamic terror threats targeted Germany for its role in Afghanistan.
LATIN AMERICA/SOUTHERN EUROPE
In the wake of the Honduran Coup in June, the Honduran interim government has set a 10 days ultimatum for the Brazilian authorities to ensure that Zelaya, the ousted president, not use the Brazilian embassy’s diplomatic protection to instigate violence in the country. While Venezuela's science and technology minister said that his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium, qualifying that the linkages with Iran come under the Venezuela's Mining Ministry; the US, however, has voiced its concern regarding a possible exchange of nuclear material. Gadhafi and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez led about 30 presidents in calling for stronger "South-South" ties at a two-day summit last week that was the Libyan ruler's first visit to Latin America. Pope Benedict XVI said last week that all of Europe — and not only his host Czech Republic, a highly secular country — must acknowledge its Christian heritage as it copes with rising immigration from other cultures and religions. While the Socialist opposition leader George Papandreou, who is widely expected to win Greece's national election next weekend, says fighting endemic corruption and creating a stimulus package are essential if Greece is to emerge from a deep financial crisis. Puerto Rico's government has announced that it will lay off more than 16,000 public workers in the U.S. Caribbean territory, adding to an unemployment rate higher than that of any U.S state. Also with the next wave of swine flu upon the region, the Mexicans are bracing for an outbreak that may be even larger than the pandemic last year.
OCEANESIA
First of its kind, Bundanoon, a town in Australia imposed a ban on bottled water after a campaign that educated people about the adverse environmental impact of bottled water. While an Australian court sentenced a former Qantas Airways baggage handler, wanted on terrorism-related charges in Lebanon, to 12 years in prison last week for publishing a do-it-yourself jihad book on the Internet. Also it was revealed that the country has created a massive nature reserve in the country's far north that will be managed by Aborigines. Australia, the largest non NATO participant in Afghanistan says it has not been asked to send more troops to Afghanistan in the wake of a report by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, which warned against premature withdrawal timelines.
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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave a stern warning to critics for continued troop presence in Afghanistan, saying it would be a ‘strategic mistake’ to set premature timelines. While a 23% hike in the applications for retirement benefits filed by laid off seniors, are expected to add to the federal deficit in the next two years in the US. Canada's minority Conservative government is set for a showdown with the opposition Liberal Party on Thursday 1st Oct 09’ that could send the country back to the polls for the fourth time in just over five years. Also Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi cancelled his plans for a stop over in Canada after an official statement voiced government intent to rebuke the African leader against the warm welcome meted out to the convicted 1988 Lockerbie bomber. As the leader addressed the UN General Assembly, the US Senate also approved a resolution condemning the lavish welcome. Canada's Federal Court lifted restrictions on Thursday 24th Sept 09’ on an immigrant from Morocco accused of terrorism in 2003 after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) withdrew evidence saying it would endanger the agency's sources. While Trade Minister Stockwell Day revealed that Canada is close to signing a deal with India to sell nuclear technology and materials. A moratorium on nuclear trade with India was only lifted last year, first imposed when India diverted material from Canadian-designed reactors to make a nuclear bomb in 1974. Canada is set to extend a program to help banks by buying insured mortgages, a sign it is not yet ready to unwind temporary crisis measures even though market conditions have improved, reported local newspapers.
WESTERN EUROPE
German voters handed conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel a second term and a chance to create new center-right government last week, while her center-left rivals suffered a historic defeat in the national election. While the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted last week at an annual convention that he won't quit his post before a national election the party is expected to lose. Brown's party trails far behind the main opposition C
onservative Party in opinion polls, and has suffered heavy defeats in recent local council and European elections. Two Uzbeks freed from the Guantanamo Bay prison arrived last week in Ireland, while Amnesty International appealed to other European Union nations to deliver on pledges to give new homes to U.S. terror detainees. As France debates whether to ban the burqa, the government is leading a drive to attract billions in investment from Muslim countries by turning Paris into the European capital of Islamic finance. The French parliament this month has approved changes to legislation to allow Islamic "sukuk" bonds to be issued and the Qatar Islamic Bank has applied to be the first such bank to open in France. While in Copenhagen hundreds of climate activists protested against the use of fossil fuels, but were blocked from entering a coal-firing plant they had hoped to shut down. The demonstration precedes a UN Climate Change Conference due to be held in December. Also the German authorities banned all flights over Munich's annual Oktoberfest beer festival last week after a series of Islamic terror threats targeted Germany for its role in Afghanistan.LATIN AMERICA/SOUTHERN EUROPE
In the wake of the Honduran Coup in June, the Honduran interim government has set a 10 days ultimatum for the Brazilian authorities to ensure that Zelaya, the ousted president, not use the Brazilian embassy’s diplomatic protection to instigate violence in the country. While Venezuela's science and technology minister said that his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium, qualifying that the linkages with Iran come under the Venezuela's Mining Ministry; the US, however, has voiced its concern regarding a possible exchange of nuclear material. Gadhafi and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez led about 30 presidents in calling for stronger "South-South" ties at a two-day summit last week that was the Libyan ruler's first visit to Latin America. Pope Benedict XVI said last week that all of Europe — and not only his host Czech Republic, a highly secular country — must acknowledge its Christian heritage as it copes with rising immigration from other cultures and religions. While the Socialist opposition leader George Papandreou, who is widely expected to win Greece's national election next weekend, says fighting endemic corruption and creating a stimulus package are essential if Greece is to emerge from a deep financial crisis. Puerto Rico's government has announced that it will lay off more than 16,000 public workers in the U.S. Caribbean territory, adding to an unemployment rate higher than that of any U.S state. Also with the next wave of swine flu upon the region, the Mexicans are bracing for an outbreak that may be even larger than the pandemic last year.
OCEANESIA
First of its kind, Bundanoon, a town in Australia imposed a ban on bottled water after a campaign that educated people about the adverse environmental impact of bottled water. While an Australian court sentenced a former Qantas Airways baggage handler, wanted on terrorism-related charges in Lebanon, to 12 years in prison last week for publishing a do-it-yourself jihad book on the Internet. Also it was revealed that the country has created a massive nature reserve in the country's far north that will be managed by Aborigines. Australia, the largest non NATO participant in Afghanistan says it has not been asked to send more troops to Afghanistan in the wake of a report by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, which warned against premature withdrawal timelines.
________________________________________________________
Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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