Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
Forgotten World (99): Abkhazia
August 30th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
The break-up of the former Soviet Union has led not just to 15 new independent states but to a host of territorial disputes and conflicts, some of which – like Chechnia – are well-known and others of which – such as Abkhazia – are virtually unknown. Now Abkhazia may be formally part of Georgia and […]
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Forgotten World (98): Sierra Leone
August 29th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Sierra Leone was a British colony until 1961 and the location of one of the most brutal civil wars in Africa’s history from 1991-2002 when some 50,000 died and many had limbs hacked off. More than 17,000 British and UN troops helped to stop the conflict. However, most of the problems that existed before the […]
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Forgotten World (97): Taiwan
August 28th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
When is a country not a country? perhaps when it is the island of Taiwan. Legally Taiwan – which formally calls itself the Republic of China (ROC) – is a province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and most nations – and the United Nations – acknowledge the position of the Chinese government that […]
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Forgotten World (96): Ghana
August 27th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
On 19 occasions now, I’ve had a week-long feature devoted to parts of the world that tend to be under-reported or even forgotten. You can check out the previous 95 entries here. This week, I am going to run another series of postings on this theme. Ghana was the first former British colony in Africa […]
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The break up of Pakistan
August 15th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Today the world notes the 60th anniversary celebrations of the creation of India and Pakistan in 1947. In fact, what we now call simply Pakistan was in fact Western Pakistan in 1947. There was an Eastern Pakistan until it broke away in 1971 to become an independent state called Bangladesh. Really these anniversary celebrations ought […]
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The Indian political system
August 15th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Today sees the 60th anniversary of the independence of India from Britain in 1947. To mark the occasion, I have added to my web site a new essay entitled “A Short Guide To The Indian Political System”. Four years ago, Vee and I had a fascinating holiday in India and you’ll find a detailed account […]
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Is this the way to bring peace in the Middle East?
August 14th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
You be the judge … This is a kindergarden graduation ceremony held in 2001 which was attended by 1,650 children of the “Islamic society” kindergartens along with thousands of guests, including their mothers. The ceremony took place at the “Islamic society” centre in the al-Shati refugee camp, Gaza strip.
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Fall in life expectancy for Americans
August 13th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Arguably the thing that citizens most seek from their country and their way of life is life itself – that is. a good level of life expectancy. By that fundamental test then, the United States is failing its citizens. Despite being one of the richest countries in the world, in the world rankings of life […]
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Should we be worried by the American sub-prime mortgage crisis?
August 12th, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Wall Street commentator Jim Cramer is …. This is “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer making a passionate plea to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to consider cutting interest rates and, in turn, help the market and the people who are losing their jobs on Wall Street.
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Forgotten World (95): Finland
August 3rd, 2007 by Roger Darlington
Finland experienced hundreds of years of Swedish rule, followed by a further century of Russian control, before Independence was achieved in 1917. However, so long as the Soviet Union existed, Finland had to handle a difficult relationship with its giant eastern neighbour and indeed the Soviet Union invaded in 1939. The collapse of the Soviet […]
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