Week # 97 - Dated 6th -12th Dec. 09’
WESTERN EUROPE
The European Union has accused Israel of trying to divide the 27-nation bloc to stop it passing a resolution calling for Jerusalem to be the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state.
In Briton Clive Stafford Smith, director of the London-based rights group Reprieve has said that the British government misled parliament about two terrorism suspects who were subjected to rendition. Meanwhile the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has criticized the government saying it viewed religion as a problem practiced by freaks and foreigners.
The United States and Russia faced off over Kosovo at the United Nation's highest court last week, with the U.S. arguing the world should honor Kosovo's declaration of independence while Russia insisted it was still part of Serbia.
Germany's defense minister traveled last week to a northern Afghan region where a September air strike is believed to have killed many civilians, an attack that has caused political turbulence in Berlin. Meanwhile the German trade surplus, a pillar of the Euro zone economy, climbed to 13.6 billion euros (20 billion dollars) in October. Also unemployment in Switzerland soared to a five-year high of 4.2 percent in November.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned on Wednesday (December 9th) that the nation’s financial woes pose a risk to national sovereignty for the first time since the reinstatement of democracy in 1974.
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
The European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Council of Europe Development Bank launched the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) on Dec. 9th, aiming to provide funding for priority projects in the region.
In Romanian presidential runoff incumbent Traian Basescu of the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) won re-election with 50.33% of the vote. However Romania's Constitutional Court ordered a re-examination of voided ballots from the disputed presidential election, hence prolonging months of political uncertainty.
In connection with the 1991-95 Serb-Croat conflict charges have been brought against 10Croatian military officers including 4 generals with the former Yugoslav National Army (JNA).
US/CANADA
President Barack Obama called for a major new burst of federal spending, aiming to jolt the wobbly economy into a stronger recovery. A Bloomberg National Poll shows that almost half the people now feel less financially secure than when the President took office in January.
LATIN AMERICA
Honduras' interim government has authorized ousted President Manuel Zelaya to go to Mexico; however there was no indication Zelaya was preparing to leave his refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.
Bolivia and Brazil went on the record Friday (December 4th) saying Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence contradicts international law. Venezuela has also voiced its opinions in favor of the Serbian position at the international court of Justice.
Cuba's Fidel Castro having initially applauded Obama's selection for the Nobel peace prize is now calling its acceptance a "cynical act," given that the president is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Opposition groups are threatening to disrupt Haiti's upcoming legislative contests over allegations that election officials are stacking the deck in favor of President Rene Preval's party in a bid to boost executive power.
Some 950 people from 26 nations gathered in Venezuela's capital and agreed to form the Bolivarian Continental Movement a regional leftist movement in Latin America expressing support for insurgent groups like the rebels in Colombia. As a reaction a diplomatic complaint was launched by the latter.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez took over the rotating presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) last week, vowing to boost the bloc's ties with the European Union (EU).
Brazil is to delay an 11th round of bidding for oil-exploration licenses because of concerns that production in the area may harm the environment. Being the world’s largest producer and exporter of ethanol Brazilian government is now pushing for bio fuels at the climate change summit as the only real alternative for a world trying to wean itself away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile according to an Ibope poll Brazil's recovering economy has boosted President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's popularity but done little to improve the prospects of his chosen candidate in next year's election.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Tuesday that the government will not cut back on its fight against organized crime, which, according to media reports, has caused 7,000 deaths this year.
The European Union has accused Israel of trying to divide the 27-nation bloc to stop it passing a resolution calling for Jerusalem to be the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state.
In Briton Clive Stafford Smith, director of the London-based rights group Reprieve has said that the British government misled parliament about two terrorism suspects who were subjected to rendition. Meanwhile the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has criticized the government saying it viewed religion as a problem practiced by freaks and foreigners.
The United States and Russia faced off over Kosovo at the United Nation's highest court last week, with the U.S. arguing the world should honor Kosovo's declaration of independence while Russia insisted it was still part of Serbia.
Germany's defense minister traveled last week to a northern Afghan region where a September air strike is believed to have killed many civilians, an attack that has caused political turbulence in Berlin. Meanwhile the German trade surplus, a pillar of the Euro zone economy, climbed to 13.6 billion euros (20 billion dollars) in October. Also unemployment in Switzerland soared to a five-year high of 4.2 percent in November.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned on Wednesday (December 9th) that the nation’s financial woes pose a risk to national sovereignty for the first time since the reinstatement of democracy in 1974.
SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
The European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Council of Europe Development Bank launched the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) on Dec. 9th, aiming to provide funding for priority projects in the region.
In Romanian presidential runoff incumbent Traian Basescu of the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) won re-election with 50.33% of the vote. However Romania's Constitutional Court ordered a re-examination of voided ballots from the disputed presidential election, hence prolonging months of political uncertainty.
In connection with the 1991-95 Serb-Croat conflict charges have been brought against 10Croatian military officers including 4 generals with the former Yugoslav National Army (JNA).
US/CANADA
President Barack Obama called for a major new burst of federal spending, aiming to jolt the wobbly economy into a stronger recovery. A Bloomberg National Poll shows that almost half the people now feel less financially secure than when the President took office in January.
LATIN AMERICA
Honduras' interim government has authorized ousted President Manuel Zelaya to go to Mexico; however there was no indication Zelaya was preparing to leave his refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.
Bolivia and Brazil went on the record Friday (December 4th) saying Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence contradicts international law. Venezuela has also voiced its opinions in favor of the Serbian position at the international court of Justice.
Cuba's Fidel Castro having initially applauded Obama's selection for the Nobel peace prize is now calling its acceptance a "cynical act," given that the president is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Opposition groups are threatening to disrupt Haiti's upcoming legislative contests over allegations that election officials are stacking the deck in favor of President Rene Preval's party in a bid to boost executive power.
Some 950 people from 26 nations gathered in Venezuela's capital and agreed to form the Bolivarian Continental Movement a regional leftist movement in Latin America expressing support for insurgent groups like the rebels in Colombia. As a reaction a diplomatic complaint was launched by the latter.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez took over the rotating presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) last week, vowing to boost the bloc's ties with the European Union (EU).
Brazil is to delay an 11th round of bidding for oil-exploration licenses because of concerns that production in the area may harm the environment. Being the world’s largest producer and exporter of ethanol Brazilian government is now pushing for bio fuels at the climate change summit as the only real alternative for a world trying to wean itself away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile according to an Ibope poll Brazil's recovering economy has boosted President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's popularity but done little to improve the prospects of his chosen candidate in next year's election.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Tuesday that the government will not cut back on its fight against organized crime, which, according to media reports, has caused 7,000 deaths this year.
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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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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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