Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Eurasia Review: News & Analysis

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• Queen For A Day-Based Voting – OpEd
• Michelle Obama Seeks To Rally Democrats
• Cindy Sheehan Announces Withdrawal From Campaign – Statement
• Ron Paul: Restore The Dollar – OpEd
• The United Nations And Palestinian Options – OpEd
• At The Crossroads: The Afghanistan, Pakistan And US Triangle – Analysis
• Just What Is The PKK Trying To Do? – OpEd
• Saudi Arabia: Hajis Face Shortage Of Buses Because Of Syria Crisis
• Yemen: Global Donors Pledge $6.4 Billion
• Galaxy S III Dethones iPhone 4S From US Sales Top Spot
• Nokia Music Service Launched For US Lumia Users
• Apple Confirms Sept 12 Special Event, Hints iPhone 5 Release
• Android Viruses Show No Signs Of Slowing Down – McAfee
• Burma: Residents Flee As Fighting Intensifies In Northern Shan State
• Japan Says It Will Buy Three Disputed Senkaku Islands In South China Sea – Report
• Bin Laden Raid Book Contains Secrets, Claims Pentagon
• Bahrain: Opposition Convictions Upheld
• Algerian Football Fans May Miss Morocco Match
• Turkey: Police Accuse Travel Agent Of ‘Abortion Tourism’
• Bosnia Misses Deadline To Change Constitution
• Africa Battleground For Chinese-American Rivalry – OpEd
• Obama Should Extend His Compassion – OpEd
• Malaysia’s Internet Blackout: Politicisation Of Online Activism? – Analysis
• Rising India And China: Can Two Tigers Learn To Share A Mountain – Analysis
• Biden’s Bumper Sticker Moment: Bin Laden Dead, GM Alive – OpEd
• Sectarian Divide: The Modern Warfare – OpEd
• Hindus Welcome McDonald’s “Vegetarian Only” Outlets
• Renewable Energy Sources Could Be Key To Reaching Through To Iran
• African Soccer Executives Oblivious To Winds Of Change – Analysis
• Patrick Buchanan: Last Recourse Of Failed Presidents – OpEd

Queen For A Day-Based Voting – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:04 PM PDT Here I go, dating myself again. In the early 1960s, there was an absolutely horrible game show called “Queen for a Day,” in which each week several women would compete for who had the most pitiful life of hardships. At the end of each show, the audience would vote on who would be—literally, crowned—Queen for [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Michelle Obama Seeks To Rally Democrats Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:59 PM PDT By Jim Malone First lady Michelle Obama was center-stage Tuesday as Democrats opened their national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Democratic speakers focused their appeals on two important voting groups that continue to back President Barack Obama-women and Hispanic-Americans. First lady Michelle Obama rallied fellow Democrats with a personal and, at times, emotional speech, talking [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Cindy Sheehan Announces Withdrawal From Campaign – Statement Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:57 PM PDT For personal and health reasons, I regret that I have to pull out of active participation in the Barr/Sheehan 2012 campaign. I strongly believe in the Platform as written, and the mission statement of the Peace and Freedom Party, and hope to continue my activism when my health improves. As to the personal reasons, Candidate [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Ron Paul: Restore The Dollar – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:53 PM PDT We frequently hear the financial press refer to the U.S. dollar as the “world’s reserve currency,” implying that our dollar will always retain its value in an ever shifting world economy. But this is a dangerous and mistaken assumption. Since August 15, 1971, when President Nixon closed the gold window and refused to pay out [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

The United Nations And Palestinian Options – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:50 PM PDT By Fadi Elhusseini As we are in September approaching the annual United Nations general debate, for the second consecutive year, the Palestinian bid for the recognition of the State of Palestine appears to be one of the most dialectical topics. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said that they will not submit the application in September, [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

At The Crossroads: The Afghanistan, Pakistan And US Triangle – Analysis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:47 PM PDT By Kübra Türk The transformation of Afghanistan has been on the agenda for almost two years as a sequence of the transition process, and the issue of Pakistan has undoubtedly been cemented at the fore by the Obama administration. Since then, the Obama administration has more explicitly called into question the U.S. partnership with Pakistan. [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Just What Is The PKK Trying To Do? – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:44 PM PDT By Hasan Selim Ozertem During the last month the PKK has staged attacks that display every trick it knows and reveal the kind of terrorist organisation that it is. The organisation has engaged in every kind of operation it is capable of, ranging from raids on police stations to full-scale attacks by 500 people and [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Saudi Arabia: Hajis Face Shortage Of Buses Because Of Syria Crisis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:41 PM PDT Some 200 domestic pilgrim service companies in the Kingdom could face a major transport crisis during this Haj season due to shortage of buses caused by political problems in Syria, one of the prime sources of buses. Saad Al-Qurashi, president of the National Haj and Umrah Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Yemen: Global Donors Pledge $6.4 Billion Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:37 PM PDT By Ghazanfar Ali Khan International donors yesterday pledged $ 6.4 billion in cumulative aid to Yemen to help the impoverished country rebuild after it was hit by political unrest and an insurgency waged by Al-Qaeda, the World Bank said. The new figure is up from $ 4 billion pledged to the state at a meeting [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Galaxy S III Dethones iPhone 4S From US Sales Top Spot Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:33 PM PDT Apple’s iPhone 4S has been knocked from the U.S. smartphone sales top spot by Samsung’s Galaxy S III, retailer checks suggest, though the fast-approaching iPhone 5 may well flip things back in Cupertino’s favor. According to SlashGear, August was the first month that the iPhone 4S wasn’t the best-selling smartphone in the U.S., Canaccord Genuity [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Nokia Music Service Launched For US Lumia Users Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:32 PM PDT Nokia announced the launch of Nokia Music, a free streaming service that will be available to U.S. Nokia Lumia smartphone owners, PC Magazine reports. Nokia said its music service will provide access to more than 150 exclusive playlists curated by a group of U.S.-based “musicologists.” Listeners can expect tracks from a range of artists, from [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Apple Confirms Sept 12 Special Event, Hints iPhone 5 Release Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:31 PM PDT Confirming the rumor that originated with iMore, Apple has announced that it will hold an event on September 12 in San Francisco, California. According to the invitation, the event will be held at 10:00 am PT at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, IntoMobile reports. As usual, no details about the event are provided [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Android Viruses Show No Signs Of Slowing Down – McAfee Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:27 PM PDT McAfee’s second-quarter Threat Report shows a rise in malware in the last four years that is consistent with the growth in mobile use – where most of the attacks are now targeted. The security firm found 1.5 million more incidents of malware during this quarter than the previous one, including new threats like mobile “drive-by [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Burma: Residents Flee As Fighting Intensifies In Northern Shan State Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:25 PM PDT By Nang Mya Nadi More than 1,000 Palaung ethnic residents in northern Shan state have fled their homes as fighting between government forces and several ethnic armed groups continues to erupt in the region. Lwe Poe Rein of the Taaung (Palaung) Students and Youth Association said fighting between the Burmese Army and armed groups, including [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Japan Says It Will Buy Three Disputed Senkaku Islands In South China Sea – Report Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:55 PM PDT Japanese authorities have decided to buy several privately owned uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are under control of Japan and also claimed by China, Yomiuri daily reported citing unnamed government officials. According to the daily, Japan will purchase three of five disputed Senkaku islands, called Diaoyu in China, from the Kurihara family [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Bin Laden Raid Book Contains Secrets, Claims Pentagon Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:51 PM PDT (RFE/RL) — A Pentagon official says that a former Navy SEAL’s insider account of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011 contains classified information. Pentagon press secretary George Little said that an official review of the book, “No Easy Day,” determined that it reveals what he called “sensitive and classified” information. [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Bahrain: Opposition Convictions Upheld Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:49 PM PDT A Manama court today upheld guilty verdicts against 13 opposition leaders accused of plotting against the monarchy of Bahrain. The verdicts, including seven life sentences and others ranging from 2 to 15 years in prison, therefore remained unchanged. The defendants, seven of whom tried in abstentia, have already announced appeals. Among those sentenced to life [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Algerian Football Fans May Miss Morocco Match Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:46 PM PDT By Mouna Sadek In the run-up to the CAN 2013 qualifier between Algeria and Libya on September 9th, thousands of Algerian football fans are desperately trying to get to Morocco. Morocco was chosen as the venue for the game by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) because of security problems in Libya. But with the [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Turkey: Police Accuse Travel Agent Of ‘Abortion Tourism’ Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:43 PM PDT By Tulin Daloglu and Bedrana Kaletovic Weeks after a proposed tightening of Turkey’s abortion law sparked public protests, officials have stripped a tourism agency of its license for allegedly suggesting out-of-state travel destinations where women could have the medical procedure. Barracuda Tours and its owner, Cen Polatoglu, deny the allegation that the company promoted “four [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Bosnia Misses Deadline To Change Constitution Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:41 PM PDT By Drazen Remikovic Despite an August 31st deadline set by EU officials, the 13 parliamentary parties for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) again failed to reach a compromise that would allow for constitutional and electoral changes enabling ethnic minorities to run for the country’s top posts. Official in Brussels and minorities are disssatisfied due to the [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Africa Battleground For Chinese-American Rivalry – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:37 PM PDT By Alsir Sidahmed The recently concluded election in Angola is a non-event given the fact that the ruling party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by President Jose Eduardos Dos Santos was expected to win anyway, as it did in the previous election. The difference this time was that 82 percent [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Obama Should Extend His Compassion – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:34 PM PDT The Obama administration’s Treasury Department recently partially lifted some economic sanctions against Iran for 45 days to allow selected nonprofit groups to collect funds for victims of huge earthquakes in that country. These monetary donations are exempt from U.S. government sanctions until Oct. 5; donations of food and medicine were already permanently exempted from the [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Malaysia’s Internet Blackout: Politicisation Of Online Activism? – Analysis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:22 PM PDT The Internet Blackout Day in Malaysia last fortnight has caused the Najib administration to re-evaluate recent amendments to the Evidence Act. While this outcome may be interpreted as a success for online activism in the country, would a similar outcome have been achieved if the campaign had not been supported by the major Opposition parties? [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Rising India And China: Can Two Tigers Learn To Share A Mountain – Analysis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:19 PM PDT Amid tensions with its neighbors in East and South East Asian countries like Japan, Vietnam and The Philippines, in a major strategic move Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie has just visited India after eight long years and reached on various confidence building measures including joint military exercises following such a joint naval exercises earlier in [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Biden’s Bumper Sticker Moment: Bin Laden Dead, GM Alive – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:02 PM PDT During a Labor Day campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, Vice President Joe Biden gave his own answer to the question “are you better off today than four years ago?” Biden yelled: “I’ve got a little bumper sticker for you: Osama bin Laden is dead and GM is alive!” Ironically, according to Osama bin Laden documents [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Sectarian Divide: The Modern Warfare – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:59 PM PDT The current situation in Syria is showing signs of bigger things to come. By the look of it, regime change may not be the sole purpose of the Western coalition, rather dividing Syria for long term goals may also be on the agenda. Observers are of the view that the Syrian state may be heading [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Hindus Welcome McDonald’s “Vegetarian Only” Outlets Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:55 PM PDT Hindus have welcomed McDonald’s plans to open some vegetarian only restaurants in India, which are said to be its first vegetarian outlets. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that “it was a step in the right direction” and urged McDonald’s to open some such restaurants in other parts of [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Renewable Energy Sources Could Be Key To Reaching Through To Iran Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:51 PM PDT By Jen Alic Why are we even talking about Iran’s nuclear program when renewable energy offers a clear way out of this conundrum? If we can remove bad politics from the equation for a moment and get back to business as usual, energy diplomacy with Iran could render the nuclear question irrelevant altogether. The West [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

African Soccer Executives Oblivious To Winds Of Change – Analysis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:41 PM PDT African soccer executives, apparently oblivious to the winds of change that have already toppled three North African leaders, forced constitutional change and elections in Morocco and regularly spark protests in Algeria, this week reinforced structures that ensure that the continent’s governing football body remains a closed shop. In a landslide vote, the Confederation of African [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.

Patrick Buchanan: Last Recourse Of Failed Presidents – OpEd Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:39 PM PDT Both the 20th and 21st centuries have seen failed presidencies. William Howard Taft lost in 1912, though he might have retained office had not his old friend and former leader Theodore Roosevelt run as a third party Bull Moose candidate and won more votes than Taft. Herbert Hoover failed through no fault of his own. [...] To continue reading this article, click on the headline.