I once read that there are but three types of western expats to be found in Cambodia: drunken/stoned womanizers, fugitives, and do-gooders. After much independent research and a brief stopover during a border run from Thailand, I have no reason to question the veracity of this assertion. That said, I will leave the former two […]
Prime Minister Naoto Kan created two new cabinet posts in order to oversee reconstruction from the March 11 quake and tsunami and nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. This is purportedly to get Japan’s reconstruction on solid footing before he steps down. Kan also asked opposition Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kazuyuki Hamada […]
Under the resumed dialogue process, the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India met in Islamabad, on 23-24 June 2011 for bilateral talks on Peace and Security including Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges. In India –Pakistan relations, where atmospherics are as important as actual diplomatic agreements, the meeting was […]
According to Kyodo News, a draft policy document on the nation’s international cooperation, Japan plans to tap into its foreign aid funds to pay for reconstruction in the aftermath of the March 11 quake and tsunami. The fund will also be used to buy processed seafood from affected areas for export to developing countries. Due […]
The U.S. and Japan agreed to delay relocation of the U.S. Marine Futenma air station to another location in Okinawa until 2014, at the earliest. The wording of the agreement said the base would be transferred “at the earliest possible date after 2014.” This wording will allow the two countries to put the relocation on […]
The latest Pew Research Center public opinion poll shows that the Pakistani people continue to hold the U.S in astonishingly low regard. However, one sliver of good news, for American interests, is that since the May 2nd Navy Seal operation that captured and killed Osama bin Laden, U.S support in Pakistan has not fallen further: […]
It is a dangerous time to be a fishing trawler in the South China Sea these days. Earlier this month, a Vietnamese vessel searching for oil had a rather unpleasant confrontation with a Chinese fishing boat, resulting in damage to the Vietnamese’s seismic equipment used for exploration purposes. Moreover, just this past week, the administration […]
More than 52.6 million* domestic workers across the world, including South Asians employed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, are set to get more protection through a landmark treaty. Adopted on June 16, 2011 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers would ensure domestic workers enjoyed […]
The U.S. voiced discontent with the Japanese government through official channels last month over Japan’s postponement on a decision to join a U.S.-led Pacific free trade accord. Tokyo was to arrive at a decision by June, but postponed it in the wake of the March 11 earthquake. Washington is understandably frustrated with Tokyo’s delaying a […]
From the days of the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics to the boycotts of 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by the ‘NATO aligned’ and the ‘Warsaw Pact nations’ respectively, whenever sport has got affected, it has more or less indicated of a conflict larger than that confined to the […]
One of the key resolutions of 16th SAARC Summit held in Thimpu, Bhutan, in April 2010 was about the establishment of a South Asia Forum (SAF) consisting of diverse stakeholders from all member-countries, to generate ideas to further links. Pioneered by India, which emphasized the need to develop a ‘Vision Statement’, the member states of […]
Much has been written and discussed about the recent ‘civil society’ protests against corruption in India. Social activist Anna Hazare’s four day fast in April compelled the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to re-consider the Lokpal Bill through a joint committee involving ministers and members of civil society. Yoga guru, christened as ‘Baba’ Ramdev, launched his […]
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