Here is the Friday, June 6th, 2008, edition of interesting reads from around the world.
South Korea Has a Beef with US Beef
South Korea’s president has vowed to press ahead with reforms and overcome a crisis facing his government amid growing protests over the resumption of US beef imports. Thousands of South Koreans protested the government’s decision to allow beef imported from the United States into the country. The story from United Press International. Meanwhile, the ruling Grand National Party of President Lee scrambled to contain the fallout from Wednesday’s by-election setback, urging a sweeping government reshuffle and sending an olive branch to the main opposition party in libel litigation. The GNP suffered a crushing defeat, wining only nine of the 52 local administration and council seats up for grabs. More on Korea’s local elections from the Korea Herald.
Sahrawis Remain in Limbo 33 Years On
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony wedged among Mauritania, Algeria, Morocco and the Atlantic Ocean, and it has been in political limbo since Spain withdrew in 1976. After Spain’s departure, Morocco annexed most of the land, an action that no other country recognized, and the Polisario Front waged a bitter battle for independence that led to a cease-fire in 1991. There has been a political impasse over its status ever since. Meanwhile over 100,000 Sahrawis remained mired in refugee camps, largely in Algeria. More on this story from the New York Times. This story has special significance for me as my first job out of college was doing relief work for refugees from the Western Sahara.
Head Scarf Ban Upheld in Turkey
Turkey’s top court ruled Thursday that Islamic head scarves violate secularism and cannot be allowed at universities, deepening a divide between the country’s Islamic-oriented government and secular institutions. A showdown between the court and the Islamic government still looms. More from the Los Angeles Times.
Slovene Nuclear Reactor Water Leak
Slovenia on Thursday blamed a faulty valve for a water leak at a nuclear plant, seeking to play down the incident as European Union ministers from Austria and other nations questioned the safety of nuclear reactors. Stories from the International Herald Tribune and from Vienna’s Weiner Zeitung.
The Paradox of Selective Immigration Policies
Fistful of Euros reports that “the paradox is that countries attempting to screen immigrants by skill level, so that they only get the more skilled ones, end up with an immigrant mix that is less skill-intensive than countries with open immigration.”
The Political Scene in Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi, under increasing attack from his predecessor for his handling of politically disastrous elections in March and other issues, has nonetheless been compiling an impressive record through his appointments of top officials in the civil service and government-linked companies (GLCs) such as the national air carrier, Malaysia Airlines (MAS). The full story in the Asia Sentinel. Malaysia is a complex country and it has always surprised me. I particularly love Padang and the Tea Highlands. It is also an Islamic multi-ethinic society that despite occasional fits of ethnic violence does seem to be making strides of co-existence. Under Dr. Mahatir, the country chafed under his tight rule. Prime Minister Badawi is attempting to move Malaysia further down the path of a true multi-party democracy, or so it seems from this vantage point.
The Political Scene in Thailand
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s northern neighbour Thailand remains in the throes of a political crisis. Thousands of protesters say they will continue their call for Prime Minister Sundarevej’s ouster. More from the Asia Sentinel.
Nicaraguan Elected President of the UN General Assembly
The Rev. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, an outspoken leftist critic of the United States and a former foreign minister in Nicaragua’s Sandinista government, was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. It is a one year term. More from the New York Times.