Archive for April, 2015
Country by country
Press freedom worldwide has seen some significant declines in the past year. While there were some good news stories — take a bow, Scandinavia — two thirds of those examined slipped in their rankings from the previous year. Criteria for the rankings include media pluralism, respect for journalists and positive environments within which they operate. […]
Drastic decline
The Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index ranks the performance of 180 countries according to a range of criteria that include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists, and the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the media operate. Top of the list, as so often, are three […]
From autocracy to awakening?
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has captured the world’s attention in the 21st Century. The Arab Spring of 2011 illustrated how dynamic, grass-roots political movements, ignited by discontent and fuelled by social media, can completely transform societies in the blink of an eye. These events (resulting in revolutionary political shifts in places […]
10 dangerous men
What is terrorism? James D. Kiras, an American expert on asymmetrical warfare, describes the term as a “complex phenomenon open to subjective interpretation.” His ambivalent interpretation of the word “terrorism” could be applied to an actor such as Iran and Syria-backed Hezbollah, a militia and political party representing Shia interests in Lebanon. According to the […]
Mobile phones propelling Africa’s renaissance
Africa’s latest renaissance is propelled in substantial part by the remarkable indigenous technological transformation of a hand-held computerized gadget — the mundane mobile telephone — into a powerful instrument for human advancement. Africa pioneered gathering and transmitting merchandizing and market information. More recently, it invented and popularized banking and financial transmission by mobile device. Now […]
Colombia has a plan: How we negotiate with FARC
After many years of bad publicity, the news from Colombia in the international media is being framed in a much more positive light. At a time during which uncertainty and international crises abound, Colombia is, uncharacteristically, attracting good reviews. A strong economy, along with a dramatic reduction in the violence and insecurity that were present […]
The U.S.’s open invitation to Canadian investors
The United States has never been more open for business and this is particularly good news for Canadian companies and investors. Our existing, vibrant economic and trade relationship — the largest in the world — and our geographic proximity make Canada uniquely poised to take advantage of investment opportunities in the United States. Our investments […]
Slovakia and Canada: Bilateral trade benefits both
The Slovak Republic and Canada are close allies and partners. Despite the geographical distance, our countries have a lot in common. Our relations are built on common values and our two countries co-operate closely on many issues of mutual interest, bilaterally and multilaterally. As members of NATO and other international organizations, our co-operation in the […]
Afghanistan: Opportunities for investment abound
Afghanistan occupies a key strategic location, linking Central Asia with South Asia and providing China and the Far East with a direct trade route to the Middle East and Europe. Due to its strategic location as a “land bridge,” our government believes strengthening regional co-operation will contribute to stability and prosperity. To that end, Afghanistan […]
Spouses band together to raise money for autism
When Florence Saint-Leger, president of the Heads of Mission Spouses’ Association’s (HOMSA), kicked off the group’s annual fundraising event, she imparted some conventional wisdom: “It is more fun to give than to receive,” Ms Saint-Leger, wife of the Haitian ambassador, told the group. The event, hosted by Eleanore Wnendt-Juber, wife of the German ambassador, was […]
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