Well, Cecil John Rhodes’ vision is about to come to fruition! Sort of. Rhodes, the quintessential settler imperialist long dreamed of a railway that would connect Africa from the Cape to Cairo. Doing so would serve his purposes of extracting resources and of connecting the various markets (and the various resources within those markets) across […]
Israelis often pride themselves as being the only democracy in the Middle East. Israelis compare their actions to those of their neighbors, often using the clause, “Well, Hamas did worse” as rationale for an Israeli action. For Israel to take the high ground, the Jewish state must act like it by actually being more democratic, […]
One of the key resolutions of 16th SAARC Summit held in Thimpu, Bhutan, in April 2010 was about the establishment of a South Asia Forum (SAF) consisting of diverse stakeholders from all member-countries, to generate ideas to further links. Pioneered by India, which emphasized the need to develop a ‘Vision Statement’, the member states of […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently posted a job opening, that of chief managing director. Their outgoing chief left in a hurry and a search is currently underway to replace him. Several names have been tossed around in consideration of the position, including the head of Israel’s central bank, Stanley Fischer. Despite his high qualifications, […]
I will be traveling in Iceland for the next two weeks (the closest I’ll have ever been to the Arctic), so there won’t be any updates until July 1. In the meantime, you can check out the some of the links on the right-hand side for other Arctic news. Happy summer solstice!
On June 3, Canada’s Governor General, David Johnston, laid out the Conservatives’ plans for Canada in the Throne Speech to the Senate. As the Conservatives have finally secured a majority in Parliament, they will likely have more success in realizing their vision. In one paragraph, Johnston summarized his government’s plans for the North. “Our Government […]
Much has been written and discussed about the recent ‘civil society’ protests against corruption in India. Social activist Anna Hazare’s four day fast in April compelled the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to re-consider the Lokpal Bill through a joint committee involving ministers and members of civil society. Yoga guru, christened as ‘Baba’ Ramdev, launched his […]
Land reform South Africa is and will continue to be one of those evergreen issues that pops up regularly until someone (in other words: The ANC) actually does something about it. Land reform is also one of those frustrating policy issues that everyone knows needs to be addressed but no one really has a coherent […]
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Pheu Thai leaders. As the campaigns for both major parties ratchet up in anticipation of the July 3rd vote, Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai’s very likely candidate for the premiership and sister to ousted ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, received a huge boost after stumping in Yala province […]
Independent Online has a nice update on Pitso Mosimane’s successes since taking over as the head man for Bafana Bafana. South Africa leads Group G qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations and Mosimane’s Bafana squad has only dropped one match (to the United States).
If there’s one man on Earth whom you never, ever want to cross, it’s Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. So, imagine how Dutch soccer superstar Ruud Gullit, the recently anointed £4 million a year coach of Grozny’s provincial soccer team, felt after receiving this little memo from the man who, whenever he even hears the word […]
The Democratic Party of Japan handed former chief and DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa a three-month suspension for abstaining to vote on DPJ Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s no-confidence motion. Seven other members were suspended alongside Ozawa and five rookie members received warnings. Two who voted for the no-confidence motion were expelled from the party. Ozawa is […]
As with so much about contemporary India, the political trajectory and ultimate impact of its expanding middle class is a moving target. Change is indeed happening, though a healthy skepticism about its exact contours and meaning is not out of place.
The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous. Brigadier General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar was before he defected last April a powerful ally and close relative of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. For over 30 years, General Mohsen has been […]
The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous. About a week ago, President Saleh was the victim of an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded within the Presidential compound. As a result of his injuries, Ali Abdullah Saleh […]