Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Eurasia Review: News & Analysis

---

• Georgians Shaken By Border Incursion Of Islamic Militants
• Georgia: Orthodox Church Looks Askance At Proliferation Of Yoga Studies
• Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda’s Political Woes – Analysis
• Maldives: CoNI Report Holds Power-Transfer Legal – Analysis
• Ban In Disgraceful Show Of US Puppetry – OpEd
• An Interview With Jean Bricmont – OpEd
• Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei’s Inaugural Address At Non-Aligned Movement Summit – Speech
• Government’s Purpose To Serve Citizens, Cardinal Dolan Says
• Indonesia: Clinton Should Raise Plight Of Religious Minorities, Says HRW
• Chilling Methods Could Change Meat Tenderness
• Exposure To Common Toxic Substances Could Increase Asthma Symptoms
• Shine On: Effect Of Artificial Light Cycles On Our Waistlines
• Not So Cute: Raccoons Spreading Dangerous Diseases Around Europe
• Islamic Fundamentalism In Africa – Analysis
• Fighting Over The Sun: EU And China On Verge Of Solar Energy Price War?
• Burma: Kachin Refugees Feel Chinese Heat
• Common-Sense After CoNI – OpEd
• Syria’s Present Is Drenched In Blood So Next Generation Can Have A Future – OpEd
• Saudi Arabia: Shoura Council To Have 30 Women
• Saudi Arabia: One Million Jobs Bonanza
• Are Employers Unfair To Women? – OpEd
• Armenia, Hungary In Diplomatic Fallout – OpEd
• You Know You’re A Moron If… – OpEd
• Venezuela’s Oil Refinery Blaze: Seven Good Reasons To Suspect Sabotage – OpEd
• French Pessimism At Highest Level Since 2005
• Iran To Hold Massive Air Defense Drills
• Senior Officials’ Meeting Opens APEC Summit In Vladivostok
• The RAP Vote: Alternative To Lack Of Acceptable Choices – OpEd
• Mali: Conditions In North Portend Disaster
• Kosovo Finalises Amendments For Supervision End

Georgians Shaken By Border Incursion Of Islamic Militants Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:43 PM PDT By Teo Bichikashvili Georgian troops killed 11 suspected Islamic militants who crossed the border from the North Caucasus this week, in what some see as a a worrying sign that instability could spill over from the Russian republic of Dagestan. Armed men crossed into Georgia on August 28, and seized five people from the village [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Georgia: Orthodox Church Looks Askance At Proliferation Of Yoga Studies Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:39 PM PDT By Molly Corso A growing number of Georgians are turning to yoga to shake off the stress of daily life. But their quest for inner calm and smaller waists is generating hostility from the powerful Georgian Orthodox Church. Over the past two years, yoga has gone from a largely unknown Eastern tradition to a popular [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda’s Political Woes – Analysis Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:37 PM PDT By Prof K.V. Kesavan Mr. Yoshihiko Noda has just completed one year as the Prime Minister of Japan. When he assumed office last year, very few thought that he would survive this long. He started his tenure in the midst of several crisis situations. The first and foremost was how to carry a weak and [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Maldives: CoNI Report Holds Power-Transfer Legal – Analysis Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:32 PM PDT By N Sathiya Moorthy The five-member Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI), attested by the international community, has found no proof to a plot or coup d’etat behind the sudden resignation of then Maldivian President Mohammed ‘Anni’ Nasheed on February 7. Instead, it found evidence of indiscipline in the ranks of the Maldivian National Defence Force [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Ban In Disgraceful Show Of US Puppetry – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:29 PM PDT By Finian Cunningham The high-profile attendance of United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Iran was something of the double-edged sword. Seated alongside Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the day that Iran took over presidency of the NAM of 120 nations, the presence of Ban could be seen as a [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

An Interview With Jean Bricmont – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:26 PM PDT Jean Bricmont teaches physics at the University of Louvain in Belgium. He is author of Humanitarian Imperialism. In your article, “The Case for a Non-Interventionist Foreign Policy,” you write of the justifications the imperial powers come up with in order to rationalize their military expeditions around the world. Isn’t a hawkish foreign policy an advantage for the politicians [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei’s Inaugural Address At Non-Aligned Movement Summit – Speech Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:22 PM PDT The following is the full text of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s inaugural address delivered at the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran on August 30, 2012. ++++ In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Two Worlds, and [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Government’s Purpose To Serve Citizens, Cardinal Dolan Says Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:08 PM PDT Those seeking public office should remember the primary goal of government is to serve its citizens, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said at the Republican National Convention. In his benediction closing out the Aug. 27-30 event, Cardinal Dolan prayed that all those currently serving, as well as those running for office be “worthy [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Indonesia: Clinton Should Raise Plight Of Religious Minorities, Says HRW Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:06 PM PDT United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should raise concerns about religious minorities and political prisoners with the Indonesian government during an upcoming visit to Indonesia, Human Rights Watch said. Clinton will be in Jakarta on September 3, 2012, for talks on the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. “Secretary Clinton should press the Indonesian government to take [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Chilling Methods Could Change Meat Tenderness Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:03 PM PDT In a recent paper published in the Journal of Animal Science, meat scientists report that a method called blast chilling could affect pork tenderness. Researchers at the USDA-ARS, Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) recently conducted a study that compares pork longissimus muscle (LM) tenderness and other meat quality traits between different [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Exposure To Common Toxic Substances Could Increase Asthma Symptoms Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:00 PM PDT Children who are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were commonly used in a range of industrial products, could be at risk of an increase in asthma symptoms, according to new research. The study will be presented in a poster discussion this week (Sunday 2 September 2012) at the European Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress in [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Shine On: Effect Of Artificial Light Cycles On Our Waistlines Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:57 PM PDT (CORDIS) — Electric light has long allowed us to work, rest and play 24/7, defying the Earth’s natural rotations that define night and day. But when Thomas Edison tested the first light bulb in 1879, he probably didn’t imagine that his invention could one day contribute to a global obesity epidemic. But now, a new [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Not So Cute: Raccoons Spreading Dangerous Diseases Around Europe Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:54 PM PDT (CORDIS) _- You could be forgiven for thinking that a raccoon looks quite cute and that it would make the ideal furry friend, but in reality these small carnivores are no cuddly toys: greedy and difficult to control, they can adapt and survive in new habitats, and as they inhabit new areas they also spread [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Islamic Fundamentalism In Africa – Analysis Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:47 PM PDT By Daniel Bodirsky The proliferation of Islamic fundamentalist groups across Africa represents the latest iteration of the War on Terror. Much to the chagrin of the United States, Islamist militant groups from Nigeria to Somalia are increasingly coordinating their efforts and forging close links to al-Qaeda. This dossier will serve as a brief introduction to [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Fighting Over The Sun: EU And China On Verge Of Solar Energy Price War? Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:42 PM PDT German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a frank assessment of a solar panel trade dispute with China. The EU is mulling an anti-dumping inquiry into China after the US took similar action in one of the world’s fastest-developing markets. “I suggest the European Commission and China try to solve the issue through communications, rather [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Burma: Kachin Refugees Feel Chinese Heat Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:33 PM PDT China is forcing back thousands of Kachin refugees fleeing ethnic violence in northern Myanmar, activists and aid workers say. “The latest reports are that the push-backs are still going on and the Chinese government is refusing to face the reality that the refugees are being pushed back into a war zone,” Phil Robertson, deputy director [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Common-Sense After CoNI – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:29 PM PDT By Daniel Bosley “I call upon Dr Waheed to immediately step down from the seat he is sitting in and call for immediate elections… I will never back down until a lawful legitimate government is sworn in.” “I am ready to face any traitor police or army officer that confronts me. And I urge all [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Syria’s Present Is Drenched In Blood So Next Generation Can Have A Future – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:22 PM PDT By Isida Tushe Syria’s riots have turned into war. The country’s civil conflict, however, comes with a sinister twist. Unlike in previous wars the world had witnessed, such as World War I, which saw soldiers making up 90 percent of the casualties, Syria’s ongoing bloodletting has seen civilians accounting for 90 percent of the war’s [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Saudi Arabia: Shoura Council To Have 30 Women Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:15 PM PDT Saudi Arabia is expected to appoint 30 women on the Shoura Council before the consultative body begins its next annual session. “The expectations are that up to 30 women will be appointed to the Shoura,” sources close to the council told Al-Sharq Arabic daily. The newspaper said that talks have already begun with several institutions [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Saudi Arabia: One Million Jobs Bonanza Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:11 PM PDT Asharqia Chamber’s nationalization strategy aims to create one million jobs and contribute SR 105 billion to the gross domestic product in the first phase, said Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, chairman of the chamber yesterday. “The benefits of nationalization will be wide-ranging as it will contribute to realizing the objectives of economic diversification and creating more jobs,” [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Are Employers Unfair To Women? – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:09 PM PDT During the Republican Convention, Democrats took every available moment of air time to count the women’s vote. “Republicans are anti-women,” they chanted. And they frequently brought up this oft-repeated nugget: For doing essentially the same jobs, men get paid more than women. That claim is often combined with the complaint that whites get paid more [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Armenia, Hungary In Diplomatic Fallout – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 09:07 PM PDT By Natalya Kovalenko Armenia has severed diplomatic ties with Hungary after that country released the killer of an Armenian military officer. Street protests have erupted in Yerevan. Armenia’s armed forces are on heightened alert. In 2004, the Armenian officer, Gurgen Markaryan, was axed to death by an Azeri colleague, Ramil Safarov, as both were attending [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

You Know You’re A Moron If… – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:54 PM PDT We now know the theme of Barack Obama’s campaign in the remaining weeks before the November 6 election. In an interview with the Associated Press last week he said that Mitt Romney holds “extreme positions.” This is in line with the immediate Democratic Party attack launched against Paul Ryan as a “radical.” The sad part [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Venezuela’s Oil Refinery Blaze: Seven Good Reasons To Suspect Sabotage – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:47 PM PDT Only 43 days before the Venezuelan presidential election and with President Chavez leading by a persistent margin of 20 percentage points, an explosion and fire at the Amuay refinery killed at least 48 people – half of those were members of the National Guard – and destroyed oil facilities producing 645,000 barrels of oil per [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

French Pessimism At Highest Level Since 2005 Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:43 PM PDT The French are bleaker about their country’s future than at any time since 2005, a new poll showed on Saturday, Sept 1, with 68 percent saying they are “rather” or “very” pessimistic, the highest level ever in the initial months of a new presidency, Reuters reported. The poll’s findings jibed with a survey released last [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Iran To Hold Massive Air Defense Drills Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:41 PM PDT Iran is to launch a massive air defense drills in the near future with the participation of the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), a senior Iranian commander said. “After the successful launch of the tactical air defense exercises in several areas of the country over the past year, the major national maneuver [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Senior Officials’ Meeting Opens APEC Summit In Vladivostok Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:39 PM PDT A concluding senior officials’ meeting opened on Sunday the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit Russia’s Far East. The APEC summit is taking place on the Russky Island in the city of Vladivostok in Russia’s Primorye Region on September 2 to 9. “I’m really pleased to welcome you to this beautiful city of Vladivostok. We [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

The RAP Vote: Alternative To Lack Of Acceptable Choices – OpEd Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:36 PM PDT Almost half a millennium ago, Montaigne, in his wisdom, was telling us that “sometimes it is a good choice not to choose at all.” [Essays III.ix]. He could have been addressing what would eventually be American democracy, its captive politics, and the fantasy that voters are making a meaningful choice when casting their ballots for [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Mali: Conditions In North Portend Disaster Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:33 PM PDT By Jemal Oumar and Raby Ould Idoumou The suffering of northern Mali citizens is becoming worse under the domination of al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)-allied Islamist groups. On Thursday (August 30th), UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos sought to highlight the plight of children, calling for more resources to prevent severe malnutrition. “Children’s lives are being [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Kosovo Finalises Amendments For Supervision End Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:31 PM PDT By Linda Karadaku Kosovo’s parliament approved a package of changes to the country’s constitution on Friday (August 31st) after the amendments were finalised by the Commission for constitutional amendments. The changes, which the 120 seat parliament passed with 63 votes in favour, provide the framework for the official end of supervision in the country. Kosovo [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.