The Daily Parrot: October 2008

Friday, 24 October 2008

Greenspan's Testimony

The Wall St Journal carries the full text of Alan Greenspan's questioning of free market risk management

Greenspan Testimony

Letter from Jaffna

Newsweek reports that though the Sri Lankan Army is pushing back the Tamil Tigers there is still a long way to go before normality will return to the Northern city.

Letter from Jaffna

NSA Law unto itself

Newsweek reports the Congress is finding the National Security Agency's decision to classify a 'public' report galling.

NSA law unto itself

Al Qaeda on trial - in Saudi Arabia

The Economist reports on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's intention to try 991 terrorist suspects under Sharia law.

Saudi 991

European gas pressure builds

The Economist looks at the contest between Russia and Iran to supply the European Union with natural gas. Its a strategic Hobson's choice.

Gas Pressure

Friday, 17 October 2008

Spy vs Spy: NSA & Mossad

Ha'aretz's Yossi Melman reviews David Bamford's latest book on the US national Security Agency and his allegations that Israel is a dubious ally.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1029006.html

Water

Vaclav Havel writes for the Jordan Times on the problem of water scarcity in the Middle East

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=11403

Who is in charge in Poland?

Der Spiegel on the spats between Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,584259,00.html

Ukraine has Kremlin tail twitching

Der Spiegel talks to Kremlin-aligned political strategist Vyacheslav Nikonov about the Russian view of Ukraine joining NATO

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,584631,00.html

Khatami for 09 ?

Der Spiegel asks if the former Iranian President will stand in the 2009 elections

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,584526,00.html

Victory of a sort

MacLeans magazine looks back on the 2008 Canadian election

http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20081016_84666_84666

The International Herald Tribune reports that Mbhazima Shilowa, one of the ANC's more respected officials and a supporter of Thabo Mbeki, is to join the splinter group led by former Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/15/africa/15saf.php

Aceh leader returns to tension

The International Herald Tribune reports that the return of the 83-year old leader of the Aceh independence movement Hasan di Tiro will do little to settle tension on the Indonesian province.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/13/asia/aceh.php

Climate cost disquiet in Europe

The International Herald Tribune reports that Italy and Eastern European nations are getting queasy about the economic cost of proposed climate policies.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/16/europe/union.php

Infant mortality rankings shock "first world"

When it comes to infant mortality rates the New York Times reports that so-called second world nations in 1960 are now well ahead of the so-called first world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/health/16infant.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

No fair! GOP's gone bananas

The LA Times Rosa Brooks says the desertion of the Republican presidential ticket by the GOP's best and brightest only leaves the loonies left to argue with.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-brooks16-2008oct16,0,4661274.column

Tuna too cheap in Japan

The Japan Time's nature correspondent argues the price of Tuna in Japanese markets does not reflect the risk of fishing out the species.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fe20081008rh.html