OPINION

"Flip-flop diplomacy" at its best: Barack Obama meets Dalai Lama despite objections from China

20.02.2010

U.S. President Barack Obama received the Dalai Lama at the White House Thursday despite objections from China. During the talks, Obama expressed his support for Tibetan rights. China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist, called the meeting a "violation of US policy on Tibet". Although the White House downplayed China's concerns, it organized a low-key meeting in the Map Room avoiding the symbolic power of the Oval Office.

Analysis: House dissolution, civil war, coup most feared in Thailand Nophakhun Limsamarnphun AsiaOne 15.02.2010	HIKING THE RANKINGS: Thailand's quest to establish world-class universities RATTANA LAO The Nation 15.02.2010
A House dissolution, civil war and a coup top the list of investment risks facing businesses ahead of the February 26 landmark verdict on the Bt76-billion assets foreclosure trial.	IN RECENT YEARS universities across the world have been going through enormous pressures to transform. From the United Kingdom to the United States, from South Korea to Singapore, the call to become a "World-Class University" is loud and clear.
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Stop 'zero fare tours' before they start in Phuket Phuket Gazette 08.02.2010	Amid coup buzz, Thai army chief heads to Pentagon Patrick Winn Global Post 08.02.2010
Plans by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and three tourism business associations to stop ‘zero tour fare’ operators from setting up in Phuket are laudable, especially given the damage such outfits have already done to the inbound Chinese market in places like Chiang Mai and Pattaya.	BANGKOK, Thailand — When Thai political crises heat up, it begins: a nationwide game of hushed speculation revolving around one question. Will the military stage yet another coup? For now, the man with the answers is on the opposite side of the world.
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Analysis: Temasek and Thaksin lost in space Peter Brown Asia Times 03.02.2010	Analysis: Coup debate refuses to die THANONG KHANTHONG The Nation 01.02.2010
When Singapore's state-run investment arm Temasek Holdings bought Thailand's Shin Corp telecommunications conglomerate in 2006, its 73 billion baht (US$2.2 billion) acquisition of Shin Satellite was a strategic afterthought.	The military has repeatedly denied it, Democrats apparently aren't worried about it. Yet, a coup remains a compelling prospect for many. Here are the caes for and against the possibility of it happening.
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Greed in Green Nate-tra Dhevabanchachai 19.11.2009	Nobel Peace prize may weigh heavily on Obama Greg Miller Los Angeles Times 10.10.2009
As global warming has been an issue worldwide, many green projects are coming up like mushrooms; no matter if they are real true green projects.	Washington - The gold medallion given to recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't come with a ribbon, but the award could still end up being a weight around President Obama's neck.
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