Tuesday, September 09, 2008

More August backlog!

OK, so here comes a new set of links from my back-log of vacation reading... Apart from my own surfing, usually many friends contribute reading recommendations - I thank you all, but leave you nameless individually.

The war in Georgia again - BBC writes of pipelines and politics. Also the Economist writes of the war in context of pipelines. Aftonbladets editorial writes Olle Svenning writes of the war as a le Carré-drama. BBS talks to Russians reflecting on the war with Georgia.

Expressens Anna Dahlberg lauds foreign minister Carl Bildt on his involvement in Georgia.

Turkish president Abdullah Gul has gone to Yerevan for a football match, reported here by the Economist and by Radio Free Europe. The visit was extremely brave in domestic political terms but also has a regional context for the more regionally active Turkey that the 21st century has seen.

Another development of Turkey's neighbour relations in taking place in Cyprus. Dagens Nyheter here interviews the Greek Cypriot president on future negotiations.

Mercenaries in Iraq and the mixed blessings of oil are also highlighted by the Economist. CSIS has a new report out on Sadr and the Mahdi army.

Princess Haya involves herself in charities and speaks for those suffering of disease such as Aids and TB - published in Swedish by Aftonbladet. Another Dubai princess fights more literally but probably less successfully, at least for Olympic medals, Svenska Dagbladet reports.

Aftonbladet has a follow-up of a piece of news I linked earlier - football player Christian Wilhelmssons girlfriend (!) tells the story of how their move to Saudi-arabia forces her to wear an abaya.

BBC tells the story of British oil companies in Iran and how oil changed Iran forever.

Cecilia Udden tells Swedish radio-listeners of new-fangled street names in Amman, and is offered to choose her own street sign!

Turkish Taksim Trio played in Stockholm.

Richard Schwartz writes on the lack of a Mediterranean middle class...

I've probably paid my last visit to Vilnius for some time personally, but Svenska Dagbladet here (with the help of some friends of mine) encourage Swedes to visit for next year culture capital celebrations and to discover a beautiful city. Another travelogue on a favourite city, now in Dagens Nyheter, is on Ingmar Karlssons Istanbul.

Swedish journalist Jennie Dielemans has written a book on responsible tourism and the consequences of global travel - here interviewed in Svenska Dagbladet and reviewed by Aftonbladet. The topic is really crucial and deserves more attention.

An essay from Svenska Dagbladet on Swedish and European refugee policies in the 30's and 40's and the consequences of Jews in Europe.

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