ViewsWeek Views from around the world
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was full of tough talk when he visited the island kingdom of Bahrain in early December. The United States, he vowed, will continue to guard “the free flow of energy and commerce” from the Persian Gulf and keep Iran nuclear-free, through the presence of 35,000 U.S. military personnel or the (as-yet-unproven) regional missile defense system. Hagel also trumpeted …
January, 2014
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4 January
Chechnya and the Politics of Sochi Olympics
“They plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many Muslims buried on our land by the Black Sea. As Mujahideen we are required not to permit that, using any methods that Allah allows us,” said Dokku Umarov, the self-styled ‘Emir of the Caucasus’. That he was playing no games with …
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1 January
EU from Ukraine to Bosnia
Declining to sign an accession agreement with the European Union toward the end of 2013, Ukraine struck a major blow to the West’s wish of pulling the Eastern European country out of Russia’s sphere of influence and control. It was a great gift that Russian President Vladimir Putin got for the new 2014. To save the image of its Eastern …
December, 2013
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31 December
Thailand and Bangladesh: A Tale of Two Countries
Recent events in Thailand bear some parallels with events in Bangladesh. In both countries, the party out of power demands an interim caretaker government. In Thailand, the ruling majority, confident of its support from the majority of the voters, has called for new elections. The opposition, supported by the urban well-to-do, and some say, the military, is campaigning against holding elections, …
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30 December
Looking Back at 2013
The year 2013 will go down in history books as a year of wars, natural disasters, political upheavals, economic slowdowns and stagnations, polarization and terrorism. The year’s lows were still better than 2012, especially on world economic front. It still faces huge challenges but early signs of betterment are good news for the downtrodden around the globe. The US …
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29 December
New Battle Lines in Malaysian Politics
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak enters 2014 with one big worry on his mind: how to win — and win decisively — the next general election (GE) that must be called by 2018. The last one seven months ago on 5 May saw his ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition in its worst victory since 1969: despite winning the …
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27 December
14 Things to Watch in Africa in 2014
As election season hits Africa’s four biggest economies, fears mount over further radicalization from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, African governments stand up to the Chinese and Cape Town is World Design Capital 2014. The new year will also bring debates about the new global development agenda and how to attract more infrastructure investment for the continent. A …
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25 December
Can South Sudan Follow South Africa?
While people around the world are mourning and reflecting on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, and the champion of national reconciliation and forgiveness, South Sudan, the newest African state is descending into deadly political violence with devastating human cost. Indiscriminate killing of civilians, destruction of private properties, and disintegration of security, and armed forces …
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24 December
The New Silk Road to Nowhere
The United States is due to leave Central Asia by the end of 2014. Along with troops, money and equipment, U.S. interests in the region will also be pulled back. As it withdraws, the U.S. State Department is emphasizing a project called “The New Silk Road,” aimed at facilitating Central Asia’s efforts to return to its historic role as the …
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24 December
Elephants Are the Latest Conflict Resource in Africa
An average of about 45 elephants per day were illegally killed in 2011 in every two of five protected sites holding elephant populations in Africa, thanks to the growing illegal trade in ivory, which continues to threaten the survival of elephants on the continent. A joint report by four international conservation organizations says that 17,000 elephants were killed in 2011 …
