Obscure World News

Update: Saudi Child Brides

2010-02-02T15:22:00.002-05:00

The case of a 12-year old child bride in Saudi Arabia, which had prompted talk of an overhaul of marriage laws in the country (see Jan. 27 post on this blog), has taken an unexpected turn: the child's mother dropped the suit and the young wife now claims her marriage to an 80-year old man was consensual. For details, consult the pieces below. According to the Associated Press, the dropped suit coincides with a reconciliation between the child's mother and her husband, who arranged his daughter's marriage.

It remains unclear what, if any, effects this new development will have on the Saudi government's reform plans.

http://www.startribune.com/world/83365772.html

http://203.197.197.71/presentation/leftnavigation/news/international/12-year-old-saudi-girl-revokes-divorce-plea.aspx

Burma: Son returned to mother after media appeal

2010-02-01T13:39:00.003-05:00

The Burmese army returned a 14-year old boy to his mother after she had pleaded for his release on BBC and Radio Free Asia. The boy had been forcibly recruited after a soldier lured him away from his mother, offering him alcohol. This recruiting practice is common in Burma, according to this BBC piece.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8491376.stm

Guinea: Hope for Stability?

2010-01-29T17:56:00.003-05:00

Guinea is located in West Africa, bordering Mali and Liberia among other countries.

The country has long been haunted by political instability. In December 2008, Moussa Dadis Camara, a local military leader, seized control in a coup. After a brutal crackdown on protesters which claimed 150 victims, Camara was badly wounded in an assassination attempt. Now, a new civilian prime minister offers the prospect of free elections in the near future.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/01/2010126203819945322.html

Saudi Arabia: A major overhaul of the judicial system?

2010-01-27T16:21:00.002-05:00

This article from Gulf News suggests that Saudi Arabia is about to overhaul its justice system. The country plans to adopt "many provisions" from judicial systems in the Western world, although with the caveat that any reforms must still be in line with Shariah law.

The article has few details, so it is hard to tell just what the extent of the planned reforms will be at this point. However, the piece also hints that the government will soon announce a new law to curb underage marriages, a major problem in the country and in neighboring Yemen. Stay tuned for more details.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-to-enact-law-on-underage-marriages-1.574578

Burma: Sen. Jim Webb to meet military leaders

2009-08-13T15:20:00.002-04:00

Sen. Jim Webb is due to embark on a diplomatic mission this weekend which is reminiscent of Bill Clinton's recent stint in North Korea. Webb has an appointment to meet Than Shwe, the country's military ruler. He is also expected to request visits with famed democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and John Yettaw, an American who recently swam to Suu Kyi's home and was sentenced to seven years of hard labor earlier this week. While Yettaw is unlikely to be released immediately, Webb's visit is being watched closely for signs of change in the US government's attitude towards Burma's military dictatorship.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6794748.ece

Brazil: Murder to boost TV ratings?

2009-08-12T09:26:00.002-04:00

Wallace Souza, state legislator for Brazil's Amazon region, is already charged with several crimes, including drug trafficking and gang formation. Due to legislative immunity, Souza has not been jailed. Now, new allegations are entering the fray: Souza is suspected of having commissioned several murders to eliminate drug trafficking rivals and boost ratings for his real crime TV show.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-08/12/content_8557961.htm

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5idUVrpqMbnY0Jrp_U1UbCGuiKebgD9A100N80

Cyprus: Remains of missing Greek soldiers found

2009-08-11T10:31:00.002-04:00

The Greek Cypriot population expressed outrage yesterday after the remains of five missing Greek soldiers were found in an abandoned well. The well is situated in Northern Cyprus, claimed by Turkey after its 1974 invasion of the island. The issue of the island's division has been among potential obstacles to Turkey's bid for EU membership, and tensions over Cyprus continue to flare up between Turkey and Greece. The internationally recognized Southern part of the Cypriot nation, inhabited mostly by Greeks, gained EU membership in 2004.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1179789.html

Botswana: The Bushmen dilemma

2009-08-10T15:51:00.004-04:00

Botswana, among the most prosperous and best-developed sub-Saharan nations, provides a fascinating study as other countries follow suit: How do countries improve their citizens' lots and present an image of prosperity to potential trading partners, while still allowing rural tribes to pursue their traditional way of life? Botswana's way, thus far, is unlikely to please anyone: The Bushmen's right to live in their territory has been affirmed by the courts, as has their right to hunt there. Yet, the government has failed to issue hunting permits, turning the country's Bushmen into de facto outlaws as they pursue their livelihoods.

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14183069

Guatemala: Fighting "Femicide"

2009-08-06T14:48:00.000-04:00

Guatemala's pattern of brutal violence against women has been making negative headlines for several years. This Al Jazeera article mentions a recent law designed specifically to punish what has been termed "femicide." The piece describes Guatemalan society's paternalistic structure as the underlying evil and argues that much work remains to be done to address violence against women in a country whose most famous citizen, indigenous rights activist Rigoberta Menchu, is female.

Warning: The article contains graphic descriptions of violence.
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/08/200984134334229388.html

China: A new poll reveals mistrust of party cadres - or does it?

2009-08-05T14:59:00.002-04:00

The Irish Times reports that a new online poll of 3,000 Chinese citizens shows sex workers and students, among others, enjoy higher levels of trust in the population than do party cadres. However, the methodology of the poll remains unclear, and doubts remain as to whether a poll of a random sample of internet users can be representative of the Chinese population. For your consideration: Internet users in China still tend to be relatively wealthy, well-educated city dwellers.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0805/1224252011160.html

Trinidad and Tobago: British tourists hospitalized after machete attack

2009-08-04T15:38:00.004-04:00

A second serious attack on European tourists occurred in the Caribbean island nation after October's killing of a Swedish couple.
Trinidad and Tobago are two islands off the coast of Venezuela. Formerly British colonies, the islands became an independent nation in 1962.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/britons-attacked-with-machete-in-tobago-1767154.html

Kenya: All death sentences commuted to life in prison

2009-08-03T15:49:00.002-04:00

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki announced today that all 4,000 death row inmates in the country will have their sentences commuted to life in prison. Kibaki cited the fact that no death sentence has been carried out in 22 years, as well as the "undue mental anguish" associated with life on death row.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1169152.html

Zimbabwe: MP arrested for allegedly stealing cell phone

2009-07-30T15:53:00.003-04:00

Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, continue what Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC describes as a campaign of intimidation: The latests MDC MP to be arrested, Zanu-PF alleges, stole a 15-year old cell phone from Mugabe ally Joseph Chinotimba while Chinotimba wasn't looking.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6732466.ece

China: CCTV to launch Arabic channel

2009-07-29T09:18:00.003-04:00

China's state broadcaster, CCTV, seems to plan on becoming a global media presence to rival the BBC. Having already launched international channels in English, Spanish, and French, CCTV now aims to bring "the real China" to Arabic-speaking populations in North Africa and the Middle East. Africa and the Middle East have already seen considerable economic investment come their way from the Middle Kingdom in recent years. This fall, CCTV is set to begin broadcasting in Russian.
Ostensibly, CCTV wishes to counter what it describes as the 'distorted views' of China presented by foreign media.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8166486.stm

Cambodia: Sex workers seek to help take on human trafficking

2009-07-28T15:39:00.000-04:00

Like other Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia is home to an extensive sex industry. While some women choose to become sex workers for financial or other reasons, many others are victims of human trafficking. Cambodia's sex workers are now asking NGOs and law enforcement to let them have a say in programs to prevent human trafficking and educate at-risk populations on HIV.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009072827405/National-news/sex-workers-seek-policy-partners.html

Cambodia's government has lately faced international protests over its policy of isolating HIV-positive citizens, many of them sex workers, in a special HIV colony. Colony residents lack clean water and are far removed from jobs, adequate health care, etc.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/28/cambodia.hiv/index.html

Turkey: The balancing act that is current Turkish diplomacy

2009-07-27T15:13:00.000-04:00

A popular saying proclaims that Russia has two heads: one facing west, the other facing east. The same is true of Turkey, which has somehow managed to maintain good relations with both Iran and Israel; tout its European mindset to win EU membership; and assert itself as a major power in western and central Asia. This article from The Economist illustrates comprehensively the many issues facing Turkish diplomacy at this moment in history.

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14098427

Kyrgyzstan: Former beacon of democracy now on the verge of authoritarianism?

2009-07-22T14:09:00.001-04:00

Kyrgyzstan is a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, and was once hailed as a stronghold of democracy in a region where dictatorships abound.
The incumbent president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, came to power in 2005's Tulip Revolution. The Tulip Revolution took the form of a nonviolent coup against then-President Askar Akayev, who was perceived to have gone down the path of authoritarianism. The article below suggests that Bakiyev himself may now be turning his back on democracy.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/07/22/kyrgyzstan_to_hold_presidential_election/

Syria: A step forward on honor killings?

2009-07-21T12:31:00.002-04:00

Syria is nominally a republic, but has been ruled by the Baath Party for nearly 40 years. The current president, Bashar al-Assad, took office after his father and predecessor as president died in 2000.
Syria is a major regional power and often suspected of subversive activities in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. It has also been at odds with Israel since that country captured Syrian's Golan Heights territory in the 1967 war.

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14045284

Tuvalu: All energy renewable by 2020

2009-07-20T10:52:00.001-04:00

Tuvalu is a tiny island in the Pacific which counts roughly 12,000 inhabitants. While Tuvaluans, a Polynesian people, have a language of their own, English is also an official language, and Queen Elizabeth II is Tuvalu's head of state.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8616500

Israel: Jerusalem's Hasidic community riots over woman's arrest

2009-07-17T14:23:00.002-04:00

Jerusalem's Hasidic Jews, a particularly reclusive, ultra-Orthodox community are resorting to violence to protest the arrest of a female member. Authorities arrested the woman after it was alleged that she was starving her child.
Latest reports suggest rioting continues in spite of the compromise referred to in this AP article:

http://www.dailypress.com/news/world/sns-ap-ml-israel-protests,0,5705469.story

Republic of the Congo: Strongman's reelection provokes opposition protests

2009-07-16T15:35:00.001-04:00

The Republic of the Congo is also known as Congo-Brazzaville to prevent confusion with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose capital is Kinshasa.
Denis Sassou Nguesso has been the country's president since 1979, with a short interruption between 1992 and 1997. His reelection has provoked protest from a deeply fractured opposition. According to Voice of America, the case of the Congo demonstrates that strongmen are likely to remain a dominant feature of African politics in the foreseeable future.

http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-07-16-voa2.cfm

United Arab Emirates: Recession sheds new light on politics and business

2009-07-15T13:53:00.001-04:00

Opaque politics and business practices seem to contribute to the recession's grave impact on Dubai, the Middle East's development wonderland.
While neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi is no more transparent economically or politically, the Economist argues it may soon be forced to bail out Dubai and the other members of the United Arab Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah.

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13988540

Turkmenistan: A new gas pipeline for Iran

2009-07-14T17:15:00.002-04:00

As Iran becomes increasingly isolated internationally, this pipeline deal could mean it is set to strengthen relations with authoritarian governments in Central Asia. The deal also provides an indication that Russia's status as the dominant trade and political power in Central Asia is slipping.
Turkmenistan is a former Soviet Republic, and continues to be ruled by the Communist Party. The country is predominantly Muslim, and famous for the cult-like reverence accorded to President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the country from 1985 until his death in 2006.

http://www.syracuse.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/business-23/124742408380150.xml&storylist=business

The Caribbean: A regional perspective on Hugo Chavez

2009-07-13T16:56:00.002-04:00

Leaders of a coalition of mostly English-speaking island states off the coast of Venezuela are growing increasingly uneasy over Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's influence on their region:

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/1131892.html

Peru: Inadequate prenatal care for indigenous women

2009-07-10T11:22:00.002-04:00

Peru is a country on the west coast of South America. It was home to the famous Inca civilization, and the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu were named one of the new seven wonders of the world.
As in most Latin American countries, the indigenous population is much more likely to live in poverty than the population of European or mixed ancestry.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/tacoma/24hour/world/story/805084.html

Guinea-Bissau: A troubled country looks to elections for stability

2009-07-09T17:27:00.000-04:00

Guinea-Bissau is a former Portuguese colony in West Africa. Its capital is Bissau, which is referred to in the country's name to prevent confusion with two other sub-Saharan countries, the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-25-voa17.cfm

Kosovo: Government resorts to "blackmail" to curb media criticism

2009-07-08T16:51:00.000-04:00

The world's youngest nation, the Republic of Kosovo, declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. Most Kosovars are ethnic Albanians, but there are still sizable Serbian enclaves within Kosovo's territory. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13956146

Liberia: Will President Johnson-Sirleaf be forced from office?

2009-07-07T16:43:00.000-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8138046.stm

Background:

Liberia's history is unique among African countries: It was colonized in the 19th century by freed American slaves. Its capital, Monrovia, is named after then-US President James Monroe.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected president in 2005, promising to rebuild the country and rid it of corruption after two debilitating civil wars. Now, Johnson-Sirleaf may be forced from office after admitting she once supported Charles Taylor, an infamous warlord now on trial at The Hague.

BBC also posted comments on the development from inside and outside Liberia:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8138144.stm

Mission Statement

2009-07-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

if you are looking for the news that don't make the headlines, you've come to the right place. Sadly, space, time, and financial constraints force many news outlets to limit their world news coverage to a minimum. For that reason, my aim at Obscure World News is to bring the world's news to you - this blog will be an aggregator of news from places you don't usually hear about -be it Liberia, Kazakhstan or Laos.

In addition to posting news articles, I will occasionally comment on the news. I pledge to keep this comment feature clearly separated from the news section of the blog.

Please feel free to comment on any post - I am always open to suggestions on how I can improve Obscure World News in the future.

Enjoy!

Tina