Call it prudent or cynical, Russia’s decision to abstain from the UN’s resolution against Libya helped expose yet another regime-change crusade masquerading as new internationalism. Naturally, the country’s long-standing military and commercial ties with Qaddafi’s government played an important part in Russia’s regret over the war. However, a look at the security council vote reveals an eerie sense […]
Traces of radiation have been found in milk and spinach near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, as well as in tap water in Tokyo. Tests done on milk found 20 miles from the plant detected small amounts iodine-131 and cesium-137. Iodine has been linked to thyroid cancer, and cesium poses a cancer risk to the […]
Talk about India’s “demographic dividend” is now ubiquitous but as a new study reminds us, another population trend is also underway that will dim the country’s prospects: a rather pronounced deficit of females.
The UN Security Council has imposed a no-fly zone over Libya, and has authorized “all necessary measures” to protect civilians. The Arab league, United States, France, and some European nations have been hard at work, putting together contingency plans to intervene if Gaddafi continues to massacre his own people. Missing in action is the African […]
Military Intervention: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had spoken during the Leaders of Change Summit in Istanbul March 14, 2011 and held out against growing international calls to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, saying such operation would be unhelpful and fraught with risk. “Military intervention by NATO in Libya or any other country would […]
During the last four months, Haiti experienced violent political uprising, a shocking reemergence of an ex dictator, dubious recount of fraudulent votes and a historic debate between candidates Mirlande Manigat and Martelly ahead of their run off elections on March 20. However, none of these events generated as much excitement in Haiti as the second […]
It’s Saturday morning Central European time and the world has changed significantly in the last week. Fukushima has confirmed the worst suspicions of the possibilities of a nuclear meltdown which industry and political experts had been denouncing as outrageously wild for decades. Meanwhile a French proposition to enact – and enforce – a no-fly zone […]
The nuclear crisis following March 11’s earthquake and tsunami is still top news in Japan, but for today’s post, I’ll be taking a look at an important story that fell through the cracks this past week. Tsunehiko Maeda, former Osaka prosecutor, may be facing two years in prison after tampering with evidence in an investigation […]
On Monday Namibia turns 21 years old. A lot has changed since this Southern African country gained its independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Yet, the country faces a high rate of unemployment rate, corruption is on the rise, and the gap between the rich and the poor remains unchallenged. Why? Although the Namibian […]
The somewhat plodding resolution of the Raymond Davis affair last week was good news. Strategic and coordinative relations between the U.S and Pakistan were on the mend. But the recent drone attack that killed nearly 40 people has cut short that much needed re-engagement and amity. Relations have deteriorated so much so that Islamabad […]
Today marks one week since an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale devastated the Tohoku region of Japan and caused a tsunami with 33-foot waves that swept six miles inland. As of this writing, 5,692 deaths have been confirmed, along with 2,409 injuries and 9,522 people missing as a result of the disaster. Tokyo […]
The international community with support from The Arab League have finally decided yesterday to establish a “no-fly zone” over Gadhafi’s forces in Libya. Whether or not any meaningful actions will take place remains to be seen, but it is claimed by Gadhafi’s generals that they will be assaulting the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Sunday. […]
There is a lot of news coming out of the Arctic today, some of it involving countries far to the south of the Arctic Circle, and some of it involving Russia. Germany enters the race for the Arctic Der Spiegel reports that German diplomats are “worried that the five countries bordering the Arctic — Russia, […]
…and other positions of European countries explained through song in this brilliant WSJ post: “EU Politics Explained Through Song“
If in fact the United Nations is prepared to impose a no-fly, no-drive zone on Libya, Andrew Sullivan asks a lot of pointed questions about what he calls an “imminent war.” The ones I am most interested in seeing answered: If we are prepared to do this in Libya, why not in Congo, where the […]