Week # 93 – Dated, 8th -14th Nov. 09’
WESTERN EUROPE
European stock markets rose modestly last week as investor optimism was dented by a subdued performance in Asia. Official figures show that the 16-country euro area has joined the United States and Japan out of r
ecession, despite falling short of predictions, after the bloc's economy grew by 0.4 percent in the third quarter.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be publicly questioned about the Iraq war during a long-awaited inquiry. Meanwhile PM Gordon Brown says NATO nations may contribute 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Denmark's premier sent invitations Thursday asking 191 world leaders to attend next month's U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen, saying their presence was "pivotal" to its success
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated that there is no place for full face and body veils’ in France, calling it a debasement of women. In a speech on national TV he said that all beliefs will be respected in France but "becoming French means adhering to a form of civilization, to values, to morals." France has a large Muslim community but only a small minority of French Muslim women wears such veils. A French parliamentary panel has been looking into the possibility of banning them in public.
A former French interior minister says former President Jacques Chirac and other senior figures were aware of secret arms trafficking to Angola in the 1990s in a case being dubbed "Angolagate" for which former Interior Minister Charles Pasqua was among those convicted last month.
Italy's top security official announced that authorities have smashed an international terror cell with the arrest in Italy and elsewhere in Europe of 17 Algerians. Meanwhile Italy's parliament is considering a controversial bill that would limit the length of trials, with critics saying it was drafted to help Premier Silvio Berlusconi with his legal problems.
A four-day symposium in the Vatican is being hosted by the European bishop's media commission and is designed to delve into questions about what Internet culture means for the church's mission and how the church communicates that mission to others.
European stock markets rose modestly last week as investor optimism was dented by a subdued performance in Asia. Official figures show that the 16-country euro area has joined the United States and Japan out of r
ecession, despite falling short of predictions, after the bloc's economy grew by 0.4 percent in the third quarter.Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be publicly questioned about the Iraq war during a long-awaited inquiry. Meanwhile PM Gordon Brown says NATO nations may contribute 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Denmark's premier sent invitations Thursday asking 191 world leaders to attend next month's U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen, saying their presence was "pivotal" to its success
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated that there is no place for full face and body veils’ in France, calling it a debasement of women. In a speech on national TV he said that all beliefs will be respected in France but "becoming French means adhering to a form of civilization, to values, to morals." France has a large Muslim community but only a small minority of French Muslim women wears such veils. A French parliamentary panel has been looking into the possibility of banning them in public.
A former French interior minister says former President Jacques Chirac and other senior figures were aware of secret arms trafficking to Angola in the 1990s in a case being dubbed "Angolagate" for which former Interior Minister Charles Pasqua was among those convicted last month.
Italy's top security official announced that authorities have smashed an international terror cell with the arrest in Italy and elsewhere in Europe of 17 Algerians. Meanwhile Italy's parliament is considering a controversial bill that would limit the length of trials, with critics saying it was drafted to help Premier Silvio Berlusconi with his legal problems.
A four-day symposium in the Vatican is being hosted by the European bishop's media commission and is designed to delve into questions about what Internet culture means for the church's mission and how the church communicates that mission to others.
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
In Serbia, Belgrade's produce markets the price of garlic has shot up which believed to be a good luck charm is being sought as a solution to the swine flu pandemic.
Meanwhile in Slovenia the ruling coalition has joined appeals coming from the opposition to hold a referendum on the new arbitration agreement with Croatia to settle the bilateral border dispute. Also the EU is expected to allocate nearly 3.5 billion euros to Croatia in the first two years of the country's membership.
In Bosnia the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) turned down yet another invitation last week from the president of the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, Sulejman Tihic, for talks on constitutional changes, pending the reforms that would move BiH towards NATO and EU integration. Meanwhile Romanian President Traian Basescu has begun considering early general elections, should the second attempt to select a cabinet fail.
In Albania, ambassadors representing EU countries in Tirana are urging political leaders to find a way to entice opposition lawmakers back into parliament.
New Zealand has become the latest country to recognize Kosovo's independence, just three weeks before hearings begin at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of its unilaterally-declared independence in February 2008.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said last week that resolving the name dispute with Macedonia is a precondition for Skopje's accession to the EU.
In Serbia, Belgrade's produce markets the price of garlic has shot up which believed to be a good luck charm is being sought as a solution to the swine flu pandemic.
Meanwhile in Slovenia the ruling coalition has joined appeals coming from the opposition to hold a referendum on the new arbitration agreement with Croatia to settle the bilateral border dispute. Also the EU is expected to allocate nearly 3.5 billion euros to Croatia in the first two years of the country's membership.
In Bosnia the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) turned down yet another invitation last week from the president of the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, Sulejman Tihic, for talks on constitutional changes, pending the reforms that would move BiH towards NATO and EU integration. Meanwhile Romanian President Traian Basescu has begun considering early general elections, should the second attempt to select a cabinet fail.
In Albania, ambassadors representing EU countries in Tirana are urging political leaders to find a way to entice opposition lawmakers back into parliament.
New Zealand has become the latest country to recognize Kosovo's independence, just three weeks before hearings begin at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of its unilaterally-declared independence in February 2008.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said last week that resolving the name dispute with Macedonia is a precondition for Skopje's accession to the EU.
US/CANADA
The Obama administration plans to put on trial the professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and four alleged accomplices in a move that is being termed as politically and legally risky. Meanwhile it is expected that President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, will be able to sign a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty next month in Europe when Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10.
A radical American imam on Yemen's most wanted militant list who had contact with two 9/11 hijackers praised alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan as a hero on his personal Web site last week.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is planning to join a 24-hour fast to spotlight the plight of the one billion people suffering from hunger world wide.
The Obama administration plans to put on trial the professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and four alleged accomplices in a move that is being termed as politically and legally risky. Meanwhile it is expected that President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, will be able to sign a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty next month in Europe when Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10.
A radical American imam on Yemen's most wanted militant list who had contact with two 9/11 hijackers praised alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan as a hero on his personal Web site last week.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is planning to join a 24-hour fast to spotlight the plight of the one billion people suffering from hunger world wide.
LATIN AMERICA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at an agreement for American troops to use more Colombian military bases last week. Meanwhile Colombia brought what it called threats of war from neighboring Venezuela to the U.N. Security Council after the leader of the neighboring country, told his army to get ready to fight.
Venezuela and Russia are working on a series of agreements for Moscow to provide the South American country with technology for the development of industries ranging from robotics to biochemistry.
Meanwhile eight American scientists, including Nobel laureate in chemistry Peter Agre, are in Havana, Cuba to engage in "science diplomacy." The trip comes as Cuba and the U.S. are taking tentative steps towards improving 50 years of frigid relations.
Haiti's new prime minister was inaugurated last week. He promised to attract more investment and create jobs, while forging good relations with lawmakers who have ousted two heads of government in as many years.
AUSTRALASIA
Despite Australian government’s pledges to tackle their health problems, figures show that Aborigines die up to 11.5 years earlier than other Australians and are twice as likely to die as infants.
New opinion polls added pressure on Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week to take a tougher stand against asylum-seekers and end a standoff involving 78 boat-people picked up by an Australian ship off Indonesia.
Despite Australian government’s pledges to tackle their health problems, figures show that Aborigines die up to 11.5 years earlier than other Australians and are twice as likely to die as infants.
New opinion polls added pressure on Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week to take a tougher stand against asylum-seekers and end a standoff involving 78 boat-people picked up by an Australian ship off Indonesia.
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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.
Please PREVIEW Your Comments Before Posting.
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.
Please PREVIEW Your Comments Before Posting.
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