Here is the Thursday, August 21st, 2008 edition of what’s making news and interesting reads from the world.
Growing Repression in Malaysia
In Malaysia, an influential Catholic newsletter faces closure, an inter-ethnic forum on religious freedom has been forcibly disrupted and a popular book on Islam banned. The growing repression has only intensified an opposition movement bidding to topple the government by next month. More from the Asia Times.
An Interview with Georgia’s Foreign Minister
Western powers, including the United Nations and NATO are keeping up the pressure on Russia to pull its troops out of Georgia. Germany said the latest delays were unsatisfactory, and the United States said Russia’s withdrawal must be speeded up. Georgia itself continues to accuse Russia of an organised, well-planned invasion of its territory. Euro News. spoke to the Georgian Foreign Minister, Eka Tkeshelashvili. There is both a video and a transcript.
Benazir Bhutto’s Husband the Frontrunner to Succeed Musharraf
Members of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party want its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of slain Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president, a party spokeswoman said. More from Bloomberg News. The Washington Post also has an editorial entitled The Perils of Pakistan that hopes that Pakistan can now focus on democratic governance now that Musharraf is gone.
Japanese Exports Tumble
Japan’s trade surplus tumbled for a fifth straight month in July as China overtook the ailing US economy to become the country’s biggest export market. It was the first time in the post-war era that mainland China has been the top destination for Japanese goods. Other Asian market also remained robust for Japanese goods. More from Agence France-Presse.
India’s Tech Sector Losing Steam
India’s information-technology industry, the engine of the nation’s economic resurgence, is losing steam. After posting years of 40% or more a year growth, India’s tech sector is now looking at growth rates half that. More from the Wall Street Journal.
Niue Pacific Forum
The leaders gathered at the Niue Pacific Forum urged strong cooperation to tackle the impact of global climatic change that threaten low-lying islands across the Pacific. More from Radio Australia. In other news from the Niue Pacific Forum, leaders across Oceania are threatening to isolate Fiji for failing to restore a democratically elected government. More on this story from the BBC.
The Second Balkan War of 1912 and the Georgia Crisis of 2008
Douglas Muir of Fistful of Euros looks back at the Second Balkan War of 1912 after which Bulgaria was carved up and what it might portend for Georgia. It’s damn clever read.