Stories Eastern & Central Europe

Global: The dust settles on the Biden pick

  August 25, 2008

It’s morning in America. After the initial shock, the dust seems to have settled. The United States -- and the rest of the world -- has come to terms with the fact that presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama has named Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. The Obama-Biden ticket will now face presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and his as-yet-unnamed sidekick to see who will become the next President of the United States. Bloggers of all stripes have moved passed their initial gut reactions on the freshly minted Democratic ticket and have started to formulate more solid opinions based on fact. That’s what covering politics is all about, isn’t it?

Global: What does the Obama-Biden Ticket mean?

  August 24, 2008

First, there was a lot of speculation. Then the world got its answer in 3am SMS text messages this morning. Barack Obama has selected Joe Biden, the Delaware Senator, as his running mate in the race to the White House. Here's a quick review of what bloggers from around the world have to say about the selection - and how it will impact their countries' relations with the US should the pair make it to the Oval Office.

Global: The art of gaining votes

  August 18, 2008

The War on Terror, the U.S. recession, health care and theories of global warming are just some of the issues that will play a factor in who becomes the 44th U.S. president. But, as the campaign plays out, will decisions be made on how the candidates treat or see each other?

Georgia, Russia and the U.S. Presidential Election

  August 11, 2008

With the massive deployment of Russian forces in Georgia, the small South Caucasus country's conflict with Moscow over the breakaway region of South Ossetia has obvious political ramifications thousands of miles away in the United States where presidential elections will be held on 4 November. With some alleging that the crisis reflects a struggle between the West and Russia, where the U.S. Presidential candidates stand on the matter is fast becoming a significant campaign issue.

Did New Yorker Obama cartoon cross the line?

  July 22, 2008

A cartoon on the cover of the U.S.-based publication the New Yorker stirred passions throughout the blogosphere. The cartoon, displayed on the front of the July 21, 2008 edition of the weekly news and culture magazine, depicted Obama in traditional African muslim dress and head wrap giving a “knuckle tap”...

Campaigning Abroad: A welcome change or an exercise in futility?

  July 21, 2008

With both candidates spending some time abroad to explain their foreign affairs strategies (Obama currently in Afghanistan and soon in Europe, McCain in Mexico and Colombia) the rest of the world wonders whether they should celebrate this new emphasis on international relations or expect a potential backlash for either candidates.

China: Is the West afraid of our patriotism?

  June 20, 2008

Are there factors informing your perception of China circa 2008? Novelist-blogger and researcher of worldly affairs Yang Hengjun moves on from "How did America cover up the truth of the bombing of our embassy in Yugoslavia?" to his post last week, "Are Western countries afraid of the Chinese people's patriotic fervor?"

Global: The World Has a Say!

  June 9, 2008

A number of websites to poll readers from around the world on their choice of who the next president of the US should be have popped up recently. And while non-Americans do not have a vote in the elections, they are still having their say online.

Global: Obama Closes the Deal?

  May 7, 2008

They call it a “big step.” That’s what Barack Obama took Tuesday when he won the North Carolina Democratic Primary hands down and was narrowly defeated in Indiana by Senator Hillary Clinton. John Liebhardt brings us the reactions of bloggers around the world commenting early on the two primaries, who say that the show for the Democratic race is nearly over.

Japanese Bloggers on Super Tuesday

  February 6, 2008

While Super Tuesday has come and gone in the U.S., conversations carry on in its wake among bloggers in the booming Japanese blogosphere. What do bloggers in the world's second largest economy think of the presidential elections of their major trading partner? In this post: Japanese views on Clinton, Obama, Edwards, McCain and Ron Paul.