Archive for December, 2017

Hungary’s richly spiced international cuisine

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Hungary’s richly spiced international cuisine

Understanding the cuisine of Hungary, a landlocked country in central Europe, requires a look back at its history. Although it’s been the territory of the Romans, Celts, Vandals, Huns and Avars at one time or another over the centuries, the first true inhabitants of present-day Hungary where the Magyars — nomads who presumably originated east […]

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Vietnam ‘snow job,’ Lawrence of Arabia and Pol Pot

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Vietnam ‘snow job,’ Lawrence of Arabia and Pol Pot

At about the midway point between Pearl Harbor and the collapse of the Twin Towers, the United States was the victim of another giant surprise attack. The pummelling assault on Hué, the old imperial capital of Vietnam, close to the sea, south of the Demilitarized Zone, was the work of communist Viet Cong guerrillas and […]

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CETA: Getting to ‘yes’

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
CETA: Getting to ‘yes’

In the summer of 2016, the world watched in awe as Britain voted to exit the European Union. An isolationist fever gripped the European continent, throwing it into uncertainty and threatening the future of the most modern trade agreement in the world — the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Today, much of that […]

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Asian nations’ hotlines with China

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Asian nations’ hotlines with China

In December 2015, China and South Korea established a telephone hotline between their national defence ministries. Mainland China and South Korea share a maritime border in the Yellow Sea as well as bordering Air Defence Identification Zones. While there are some maritime and fisheries issues between them, the two countries enjoy generally peaceful relations. According […]

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Europe’s outlook 2018: Anybody’s guess

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Europe’s outlook 2018: Anybody’s guess

There are two factors shaping Europe’s outlook for the coming year: what comes out of the Trump world and what comes out of, or into, Europe. Which of the exogenous variables will be the most defining is anyone’s guess. Migrants, Brexit and regional separatism will all play into the unfolding drama of 2018. To that […]

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Latin America: An economic recovery in sight

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Latin America: An economic recovery in sight

Latin America will enter 2018 on the path to economic recovery from a long recession after the end of the commodities boom of the early 2000s. The region is still smarting under pressures brought to bear by U.S. President Donald Trump on undocumented migrants and especially on Mexico, thanks to his stated aim to renegotiate […]

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Russia and Eurasia: Limited advances in 2018

Russia and Eurasia: Limited advances in 2018

In 2018, Russia will retain its renewed prominent place on the world stage. Vladimir Putin’s vision and military spending have made his country a major player in Syria and the Middle East. In Europe, involvement in Ukraine and the absorption of Crimea continue despite western sanctions, and, across the continent, Russian support fuels nationalist politicians who are […]

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Africa: Not much reason for optimism

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Africa: Not much reason for optimism

Terrorism, civil conflict, global warming, population growth, urbanization, education, economic sustainability, managing China, strengthening leadership and improving governance are Africa’s 10 most pressing problems as 2018 unfolds. None of these acute challenges is new, but 2018 will see each of them become more central to Africa’s ability to improve the standards of living and social […]

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Indonesia: A world of wonder waiting for you

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Indonesia: A world of wonder waiting for you

When you work hard, you need to play harder. So why not recharge your batteries by travelling to Indonesia? It’s a place to relax your mind, reset your psyche and reconnect with your inner self. Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world; it will take you 37 years if you visit one island a […]

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Canada and the U.S.: Trade tremours

| December 18, 2017 | 0 Comments
Canada and the U.S.: Trade tremours

Looking ahead at what to expect from the U.S. and Canada in 2018 means thinking about the concepts of “disconnect” and attempts to make connections. For the U.S., a disconnect is likely to continue between political institutions and constituents. That disconnect will also continue with Canada bilaterally and with many countries — thanks to American […]

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