Here is the Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 edition of interesting reads from around the world.
South Korean Cabinet Shake-up
President Lee Myung-bak is expected to replace up to 10 of his Cabinet ministers and senior secretaries this week in efforts to ease the public backlash over U.S. beef imports and a lackluster economy, ruling camp officials said yesterday. More from the Korea Herald. Additionally tonight in Korea, over a million people are expected to participate in a candlelight vigil to protest the importation of US beef. This part of the story from the Times of London.
Irish Political Leaders Pull Out All the Stops to Save Lisbon
With the prospect of a defeat at the polls in the referendum over the Lisbon Treaty, Ireland’s political leadership are going on the offensive to sway voters. The Irish Times reports.
The Syrian-Iranian Alliance
Syria, alone among Arab nations, supported Iran in the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s establishing then a Damacus-Tehran entente. Now come signs that the alliance may be fraying. Syria’s rapprochement with “moderate” Arab states may be the rebirth of Syrian-Arab relations and a stepping stone for dialogue between Damascus and Washington. Considering Syria’s indirect talks with Israel, it is also a step away from Tehran, which is not pleased, fearing a break between Syria and Iran on one front, and Syria and Hezbollah on another. The Asia Times has the coverage.
The US and the EU to Warn Iran
US President George W Bush is holding talks with EU leaders in Slovenia, at the start of what is expected to be his last tour of Europe while in office. They are expected to issue a joint warning to Tehran that more sanctions against Iran’s banks are being readied to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, rejecting claims it is solely for peaceful purposes. The BBC reports the story while the New York Times writes an editorial entitled Threatening Iran.
On Bush In Europe
Fistful of Euros blogs on the indifference to Bush on his last European tour. Bush may as well take in all the sights he can because once he leaves office, he will be a prisoner at his Crawford Ranch. War crimes charges are sure to dog the President and many of his team.