On Christmas Eve, a massive, Chinese-made maritime oil rig, the Scarabeo 9, arrived at Trinidad and Tobago for inspection. The Spanish oil company Repsol YPF, which keeps regional headquarters in Trinidad, ferried it to the …
Sudan: Kidnapping of Workers Highlights Risk for Chinese Businesses Abroad
The capture of Chinese workers by rebel troops in Sudan is putting added pressure on Beijing to protect its citizens and investments abroad. China’s Foreign Ministry says that a Chinese company operating in South Kordofan, the province that borders newly independent South Sudan, was attacked on Jan. 28. While some Chinese employees …
Must Reads from Around the World: Jan. 30, 2012
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‘Mission Accomplished’ in Libya? Not So Fast
In his State of the Union Address last week President Barack Obama seemed to link the fate of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad with that of Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. “A year ago, Gaddafi was one of the world’s …
“The People Are Suffocating”: West Bank Economy Struggles Under Pressure From U.S. Congress
“Does this look like the city of Ramallah?” asks Jawad Tamimi, in the doorway of his store on the main street of downtown Ramallah. The scene is very nearly normal: Sidewalks crowded with pedestrians. The aroma of roasting …
“We're a counterbalance to China. That's what we heard from the leaders in these countries.”
Sarkozy Unexpectedly Calls Earlier French Troop Exit From Afghanistan
So it turns out France is indeed leaving Afghanistan earlier than planned, and will seek to bring the last of its current 3,900 troops home by the end of 2013. Despite signs earlier in the week from French government officials …
An Atomic Shadow: Life Inside a Japanese Nuclear Village
Earlier this week, I was on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Hokkaido is home to some of the best dairy you will find anywhere in the world. It’s home to the capital’s eponymous beer, Sapporo, to world-famous …
Border Violence Tests Fragile Peace on India-Bangladesh Frontier
A video clip showing a Bangladeshi man being beaten by Indian guards is testing the fragile peace on what has been called one of the world’s bloodiest borders. The footage, which was released on YouTube, shows an alleged cow …
![U.S. and Philippine Marines \](https://world.time.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2012/01/a2012-01-26t182827z_44585564.jpg?w=480&h=320&crop=1 "U.S. and Philippine Marines \")
TIME Exclusive: President Benigno Aquino on U.S.-Philippine Military Ties
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Must Reads from Around the World: Jan. 27, 2012
Geopolitics – Foreign Policy takes an astute look at how Iran – contrary to its own initial hopes and others’ fears – has failed to benefit from the Arab Spring. “In fact, Iran’s regional position has taken a big hit,” Colin H. …