Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

Japan on whaling deal: we like the part where you give us concessions

The International Whaling Commission unveiled a new proposal today that would lift the blanket ban on commercial whaling while reducing the number of whales caught each year by Japan, Iceland, and Norway and further regulating the trade . Japan's...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 11:03 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Japan, Environment

Xinjiang disctricts get sister Chinese regions

China's Xinjiang province is known mostly for being a hotbed of separatist violence and government crackdowns on free speech. But not all the news coming from Western China is bad: just days after Beijing ended a controversial 10-month Internet blackout...

Published Thu, Jun 10 2010 2:30 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Human Rights, East Asia, China, Internet, Central Asia, Development

Will Turkey bring Syria and Israel back to the table? Doubtful

Syria is ready to resume peace negotiations with Israel, but only if Turkey acts as the intermediary. Let's see how that works out. AFP reports : Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Sunday that only Turkey can act as an intermediary in any indirect...

Published Mon, Oct 04 2010 11:06 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Middle East, Israel/Palestine, Turkey, Syria

Friday photo: Body of Christ, head of Christ

A crane lifts the head of what will be the world's largest statue of Jesus Christ in Swiebodzin, western Poland, on Nov. 6, 2010. Father Sylwester Zawadzki told AFP that the statue he is constructing will be finished by Nov. 21. 'The statue will...

Published Fri, Nov 12 2010 1:24 PM by FP Passport

Vatican bank investigated for money laundering

In yet another scandal for the Catholic Church, Italian authorities are investigating the Vatican Bank on suspicion of money laundering: The Bank of Italy investigation was prompted by two wire transfers which the Vatican Bank asked Credito Artigiano...

Published Tue, Sep 21 2010 9:52 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Drugs & Crime, Religion, Economics

On Israeli TV News, Scenes of Palestinian Suffering Are Rare

The coverage could be contributing to a perception gap about the war in Gaza. Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 11 2024 1:57 PM by Foreign Policy

This Week at War: Could North Korea be the next Afghanistan? - By Robert Haddick

East Asia on the brink of small war. Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 17 2010 10:36 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Default, Free, Web Exclusive, Small Wars

Cameron goes overboard in Turkey

Earlier today in Ankara, David Cameron was eager to display a facility with the Turkish language: Tabii ki Tuerkiye - "of course, it's Turkey," in English - was the refrain of a speech advocating Turkey's admittance to the EU. Judging...

Published Tue, Jul 27 2010 3:51 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Turkey

Neither rhythm nor rhyme

Public figures are making a habit of lying on their resumes, but (now former) New Zealand military scientist Stephen Wilce has won the prize for most absurd claim . Wilce claimed that he was a member of the British Royal Marines (Wilce was born in Britain...

Published Fri, Sep 10 2010 12:55 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Corruption, Fun Stuff, Pacific

Does Obama’s new HIV/AIDS plan apply to the rest of the world too?

Well goodness. I wish I had been able to see the new White House National HIV/AIDS Strategy a few weeks back, while writing about Barack Obama's international approach to the disease. Unveiled yesterday, the strategy calls for a new emphasis on prevention...

Published Wed, Jul 14 2010 9:41 AM by FP Passport

Mecca's plan to steal Time

Forget the clash of civilizations -- the next grand battle between East and West will be over Time itself. The world's largest clock is currently under construction in the Islamic holy city of Mecca, with the goal of moving Greenwich Mean Time to...

Published Wed, Aug 11 2010 10:45 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Middle East, Islam

Mexican artists pay taxes in art

Last month, FP highlighted five of the weirdest tax laws in the world. One of those five tax laws discussed was Ireland's artist tax exemption , under which rule artists are tax-free to help soften their often meagre earnings. USA Today reports that...

Published Thu, Apr 22 2010 12:50 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: North America, Mexico

Where in the world is Maksim Bakiyev?

While his father's regime was being overthrown back in Kyrgyzstan, Maksim Bakiyev -- who was the head of the country's Agency for Investment and Economic Development -- was on his way to the U.S. for a series of meetings in Washington. The new...

Published Mon, Apr 19 2010 9:55 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Politics, Central Asia

GoDaddy to follow in Google's China footsteps

GoDaddy , the web domain registration company better known for its risque Super Bowl commercials than its political principles, announced today that it will stop registering domains in China in protest against cyber attacks and censorship: "We believe...

Published Wed, Mar 24 2010 2:17 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: China, Internet, Business

How does America's nuclear arsenal stack up against North Korea's?

President Barack Obama has taken some heat over the news that his administration may cut America's nuclear arsenal by " at least a third ," according to FP contributor R. Jeffrey Smith of the Center for Public Integrity. As Republican operative...

Published Wed, Feb 13 2013 7:54 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: North Korea, Obama Administration, Nukes