Week # 94- Dated, Nov. 15th-21st 09’
WESTERN EUROPE
EU leaders agreed on Nov.19th to appoint Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy as the first permanent European Council President. EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton of t
he UK was named as EU foreign policy supremo. The two posts were created under the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making within the EU.
Senior diplomats from the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members and German representatives took part in talks in Brussels considering measures against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities. Meanwhile Germany is to extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home.
Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially, a ban on blasphemy. The Associated Press reported that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to bring the matter to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.
According to Officials Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to apologize for Britain sending thousands of children to former colonies, where they faced mistreatment and neglect.
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
Voters in Kosovo headed to the polls on Nov.15th in the first elections since the country announced its independence from Serbia in February last year. Meanwhile the EU is optimistic about prospects for a compromise between Macedonia and Greece over their long-standing name dispute. Also the Macedonian Parliament voted on Nov.16th to remove the five-pointed red star from the country's coat of arms signifying the breaking of all ties with its communist past.
EU foreign ministers officially accepted on Nov.16th Albania's application for candidate status.
US/CANADA
Complying with a Supreme Court ruling last year, 15 federal judges in the U.S. are giving Guantanamo detainees their day in court after years behind bars. Meanwhile the Pentagon has announced that it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage.
Although producing no breakthroughs on key issues, Obama's first state visit to China is being heralded by both sides as a success. However, much of the U.S. media coverage was strongly negative, accusing Obama of failing to gain concessions on key issues such as Iran's nuclear program, climate change, and human rights.
The Canadian government last week dismissed calls for a public inquiry into allegations that senior officials had ignored evidence regarding Afghan authorities torturing detainees handed over by Canadian troops.
LATIN AMERICA
Street protests and strikes in Argentina depict deepening unrest where center leftist President Cristina Fernandez’s approval ratings are stuck at about 30 percent due to a slowing economy and disillusionment with her combative approach. Meanwhile hundreds of people gathered in the square opposite Argentina's congress in Buenos Aires for a protest march against Israel, scheduled to coincide with the visit of President Shimon Peres to the country.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner said last week that they would not recognize the results of the elections to be organized by the post-coup de facto government in Honduras. Also ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya insisted that he will not accept any deal to restore him to office if it means he must recognize elections later this month. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has rejected a Brazilian proposal for a joint border monitoring system with Colombia, saying he would not allow any "extra-national force" along the Venezuelan border zone with Colombia.
The president of Israel, Shimon Peres recently paid a historical official visit to Brazil while Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are expected to be the next Middle East visitors to Brazil.
After recent talks between their Defence ministers, China and Brazil are set to enhance cooperation on military industry and science and technology. Meanwhile Brazil has announced to offer a "voluntary" cut of between 36 and 39 percent in greenhouse gas emissions at the December 7-18 UN conference. Brazil is the fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, largely because of carbon released through deforestation of its vast Amazon forest.
Mexico has decried Forbes magazine’s decision to name the country’s most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin Guzman, one of the “World’s Most Powerful People,’’ calling it an insult to the government’s struggle against drug cartels.
AUSTRALASIA
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an apology last week to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians", the disadvantaged children who were shipped to Australia to live in poorly monitored state and church institutions.
EU leaders agreed on Nov.19th to appoint Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy as the first permanent European Council President. EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton of t
he UK was named as EU foreign policy supremo. The two posts were created under the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making within the EU.Senior diplomats from the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members and German representatives took part in talks in Brussels considering measures against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities. Meanwhile Germany is to extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home.
Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially, a ban on blasphemy. The Associated Press reported that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to bring the matter to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.
According to Officials Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to apologize for Britain sending thousands of children to former colonies, where they faced mistreatment and neglect.
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
Voters in Kosovo headed to the polls on Nov.15th in the first elections since the country announced its independence from Serbia in February last year. Meanwhile the EU is optimistic about prospects for a compromise between Macedonia and Greece over their long-standing name dispute. Also the Macedonian Parliament voted on Nov.16th to remove the five-pointed red star from the country's coat of arms signifying the breaking of all ties with its communist past.
EU foreign ministers officially accepted on Nov.16th Albania's application for candidate status.
US/CANADA
Complying with a Supreme Court ruling last year, 15 federal judges in the U.S. are giving Guantanamo detainees their day in court after years behind bars. Meanwhile the Pentagon has announced that it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage.
Although producing no breakthroughs on key issues, Obama's first state visit to China is being heralded by both sides as a success. However, much of the U.S. media coverage was strongly negative, accusing Obama of failing to gain concessions on key issues such as Iran's nuclear program, climate change, and human rights.
The Canadian government last week dismissed calls for a public inquiry into allegations that senior officials had ignored evidence regarding Afghan authorities torturing detainees handed over by Canadian troops.
LATIN AMERICA
Street protests and strikes in Argentina depict deepening unrest where center leftist President Cristina Fernandez’s approval ratings are stuck at about 30 percent due to a slowing economy and disillusionment with her combative approach. Meanwhile hundreds of people gathered in the square opposite Argentina's congress in Buenos Aires for a protest march against Israel, scheduled to coincide with the visit of President Shimon Peres to the country.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner said last week that they would not recognize the results of the elections to be organized by the post-coup de facto government in Honduras. Also ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya insisted that he will not accept any deal to restore him to office if it means he must recognize elections later this month. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has rejected a Brazilian proposal for a joint border monitoring system with Colombia, saying he would not allow any "extra-national force" along the Venezuelan border zone with Colombia.
The president of Israel, Shimon Peres recently paid a historical official visit to Brazil while Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are expected to be the next Middle East visitors to Brazil.
After recent talks between their Defence ministers, China and Brazil are set to enhance cooperation on military industry and science and technology. Meanwhile Brazil has announced to offer a "voluntary" cut of between 36 and 39 percent in greenhouse gas emissions at the December 7-18 UN conference. Brazil is the fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, largely because of carbon released through deforestation of its vast Amazon forest.
Mexico has decried Forbes magazine’s decision to name the country’s most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin Guzman, one of the “World’s Most Powerful People,’’ calling it an insult to the government’s struggle against drug cartels.
AUSTRALASIA
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an apology last week to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians", the disadvantaged children who were shipped to Australia to live in poorly monitored state and church institutions.
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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.
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