Month: February 2009

Categories
Culture & History Russia

Russia to Establish Naval Bases on Mediterranean, Arabian Sea

Russia’s aspirations to expand their influence abroad have led them to talks with Syria, Libya, and Yemen in the hopes of establishing navy bases within the respective regions.

The Syrian port of Tartus and the Libyan port of Benghazi may be the future locations for Russia’s Mediterranean bases, while projections regarding Yemen’s likely port on the Gulf of Aden remain uncertain.

The naval ports, set to be operational within the next few years, would help satisfy Moscow’s current desire to take a more assertive role in global politics by expanding their military presence in the world.

Categories
China Culture & History

China to Loan Qing Dynasty Artwork to Taiwan’s National Palace Museum

In a demonstration of goodwill, collaboration between the Palace Museum in Beijing and the National Palace Museum in Taipei looks to send several Qing Dynasty artworks to Taiwan for a three-month exhibit.

The artwork from Beijing will consist mainly of portraits and seals of Emperor Yongzheng and, while not considered some of the finest Chinese art, is said to be of immense historical importance.
Set to open this October, the Qing Dynasty exhibit will feature 180 pieces from the National Palace Museum’s own collection and also expects to include 29 pieces on loan from Beijing’s Palace Museum.

Taiwan’s collection of imperial era art has long been a topic of intense debate with Mainland China. When Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan in 1949 after their defeat at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, they took with them some 3,000 crates filled with artwork of extreme value. Many Chinese demand that the compilation of imperial works be returned to the mainland, while Taiwan insists that they are the rightful owners of the rare collection.

Categories
Culture & History North Korea

A 1-0 Win Over Saudi Arabia Boosts North Korea’s Chances of a FIFA World Cup Appearance

Mun Il Guk’s goal in the first half of play was all it took for the North Korean national football team to defeat a talented Saudi squad at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang yesterday. The well deserved win jumps North Korea into sole possession of second place during Group Two preliminary play in Asia – just one point behind neighboring South Korea.

The top two teams of each division advance to the 2010 FIFA World Cup which will be held in South Africa. North Korea has failed to qualify for the World Cup since its historic run in 1966 where they were defeated by Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Categories
Central Asia Culture & History

Azerbaijan and Armenia Reach Partial Concordance Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

A Turkish-led resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been accepted by both Azerbaijan and Armenia, hopefully bringing an end to a long drawn out conflict.

Stipulations of the agreement call on Armenia to concede some of the townships surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Azerbaijan as well as to allow the repatriation of the Azeris who were forced to leave their homes.

Furthermore, the transportation routes between Azerbaijan and Armenia will reopen with an international peace keeping force present at the Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh border. A temporary administrative body will govern the region while its status is evaluated.

Categories
Cambodia & Laos

Global Crisis Greatly Impacting Cambodia

With its pillar textiles industry suffering from lack of sales abroad, and reduced tourism numbers projected for 2009, Cambodia faces dire challenges from the global financial crisis.

An annual IMF review said the crisis will potentially affect economic activity, capital inflows and the banking system in the southeast Asian country. The impact on the garment industry is already being felt. As was recently reporting by NPR, two-thirds of Cambodia’s export earnings come from the garment industry, which employs about 360,000 people — almost all of them women.

With demand for garments dropping, these workers are losing what was once thought of as a steady, good-paying job. NPR sites Whitex Garments in Phnom Penh; Six months ago, the factory had more than 500 workers in the packing department alone, manager David Teo says. Now, there are fewer than 300.

Categories
Eastern Europe

Uncertainty Regarding IMF Loan May Send Ukraine to Moscow

As prices of Ukraine’s chief exports continue to fall, uncertainty has arisen as to whether the Ukrainian government can continue to meet the stipulations of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) next installment of a US$16.4 billion loan.

Continue reading “Uncertainty Regarding IMF Loan May Send Ukraine to Moscow”
Categories
Russia

Russia Looks to Discuss Gas Swaps at Next GECF Meeting

Russia, the world’s largest producer of natural gas, has been making moves recently with other industry leaders – Iran and Qatar – to further tighten the Gas Exporting Countries Forum’s (GECF) global control of the industry.

Continue reading “Russia Looks to Discuss Gas Swaps at Next GECF Meeting”
Categories
North Korea

U.S. warns North Korea over missile

The commander of U.S. forces, General Walter Sharp , in South Korea said they will have no choice but to launch a military response should North Korea test-fire its long-range missile. Sharp urged North Korea to stop provocations, and behave like a responsible country.The Korean peninsula has felt under threat in recent weeks when the North said it considers itself on the brink of war with the South.

Categories
China Culture & History

China to open 250,000 rural retail shops

China is taking decisive steps to contain social unrest stemming from the slowing economy as many jobless migrants go home to the countryside. Beginning this year until 2010, 250,000 rural retail stores will be set-up to create 775,000 jobs for migrant workers. In recent news, official figures showed that more than 4,000 Chinese toy companies closed last year due to cuts in export demands while an estimated 20 million migrant workers are said to be unemployed.

Categories
Culture & History Russia

Georgia Accuses Russia for Sending Jets

Georgia’s foreign minister charged Russia for sending 27 fighter jets to a former Soviet air base in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.

The Abkhaz defense official denied the accusation but added that Russian jets could be based there in the future. Russia recognized Abkhazia as an independent nation after its war with Georgia last August.