Multicultural Blogs - update

transatlantic daily NEWS "International Stuff" [Introduction]

Russian Election ▪ Behavior ▪ Kids ▪ Mount Vernon ▪ Books

Iran (Surprise) ▪ Belfast’s Lagan ▪ Chastity ▪ Groove ▪ Ashley Wagner

Iran Issue ▪ Late Night Edutainment ▪ Love Newkirk ▪ Oberstdorf (Allgäu)

Mediterranean Union ▪ US Bankruptcies ▪ Politics & Religion ▪ Fashion

Climate Commitment ▪ LBR ▪ Suppressing Iranian Nuke Intel (NIE)

Creation of a Mediterranean Union - involving European and African nations

dw - The latest bone of contention was Sarkozy's continued push for the creation of a Mediterranean Union involving European and African nations along the Mediterranean rim, which the French president again promoted during his visit to Algeria this week.

Merkel reacted by suggesting that such an affiliation of nations could lead to "a corrosion of the EU in its core area" and "could release explosive powers in the EU."

Such a frankly undiplomatic reaction was unusual under the circumstances, and suggested that Merkel may have reached a point in her relationship with the French president where she felt it necessary to go public with her discontent… more at DW-WORLD.DE

Multicultural Blogs - update

transatlantic daily NEWS "International Stuff" [Introduction]

Mideast Talks (Annapolis) ▪ Moscow Connection & Eateries ▪ Civil Law Notaries

Four Legged (Moscow) ▪ War Funding (USA) ▪ Mexican Saga (Mariachis)

Bambi Award 2007 ▪ Democracy & Law Systems (EU) ▪ Roman Law ▪ Movies

Celebrities (Bambi) ▪ Beauharnais ▪ Stein a.R., Arenenberg, Rothenburg o.d.T.

Bodensee Area (Germany) ▪ Lawyer's Conflict ▪ Miss World ▪ Exotic Art

Russia’s Authoritarian Leader Putin Remains in Control

Though the results of yesterday’s Russian national elections show that President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, as expected, clearly won a strong majority of the votes, the conduct of the elections raises questions about the legitimacy of the outcome and of the party's claim to rightfully govern Russia. This makes it all the more concerning that the Kremlin will likely use the results to reshape Russia's political landscape, allowing Putin to extend his political influence beyond the end of his presidential term next spring… (Wall Street Journal)

Putin is constitutionally prohibited from running for a third consecutive term, but he clearly wants to stay in power. A movement has sprung up in recent weeks to urge him to become a "national leader," though what duties and powers that would entail are unclear… (AP Associated Press)

Multicultural Blogs - update

transatlantic daily NEWS "International Stuff" [Introduction]

German Multimedia Competence ▪ Geo-Strategy ▪ Black Friday (USA)

Russian Wealth vs. Poverty ▪ Energy Speculations ▪ Moscow Millionaire Fair

Saudi Arabia & Pakistan ▪ Russian & US Incomes ▪ Energy ▪ Saga

Irritations (China & Germany) ▪ Notaries ▪ Roller Revival ▪ Monticello

Current Irritations in German Relations with China

In an interview, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier discusses the cooling relations between Berlin and Beijing following Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Invitation to the Chancellery
The chancellor has to have the freedom to decide whom she receives and where. In that regard we won't let anyone interfere with what we do. In terms of the current deep irritations in our relations with China, it is of course regrettable that the dialogue about law-based government that has been painstakingly built up over years, and in which human rights has been placed at the forefront, has now been interrupted. That is also true of the cancellation of (German) Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück's visit (to China).

German industry is also complaining
That may be true. But I certainly would not pit economic interests against human rights. Advocacy of human rights remains a fundamental component of German foreign policy. The question is how we can best do that. Perhaps we as Social Democrats have a more emphatic experience with policies of détente. During the Cold War, we sought to open up channels of communication and build bridges so that exchange was possible between people - despite the systemic conflicts between the states... Complete interview at SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL

Multicultural Blogs - update

"International Stuff" NEWS [Introduction]

New England Tongue ▪ London Cockney ▪ Beyoncé ▪ Victoria Secret's Show

TV Reports (Afghanistan, Russia) ▪ Tandoori ▪ American Music Awards

German Hurdles ▪ Townsend's Resignation ▪ Ipanema ▪ Anselm Kiefer

America's Dangerousness ▪ West Wing Column ▪ Asian Travels ▪ Fashion