The news of India’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council was reported with a sense of elation by the national media. Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna referred to it as a “chance to prove worth” for the big throne indicating India’s claim for permanent membership of the Security Council. The South […]
The Iranian president is conducting a tour through Lebanon, in hopes of shoring up support for Iran, and likely as a show of “strength” to his western adversaries. What’s surprising here is Ahmadinejad was invited by the Lebanese prime minister who heads a “pro-western” coalition, knowing how much controversy this visit would spark. Ahmanidejad had […]
Earlier this year the government began to formulate plans to set up a separate police force to monitor the four separate industrial zones in Bangladesh. The plan was put into play this month with somber fanfare. The Industrial police force, (an unfortunately titled cadre of security officers; one imagines police officers kitted out in metallic […]
An important thing to look back on, to catch up with: The Government of Bangladesh has cooked up a new industrial policy to spur on industrialization and growth. That’s a fair enough project. But the right and the left is stirring the pot, upon this news, in a move to win their own battles. The […]
Since China’s border issues are a hot topic of late, I wanted to post an article by myself, that was previously published at Brooks Review Background The Chinese government declared 2006, The “Year of Russia”; and in turn, Russia celebrated 2007 as “The Year of China.” These mutual pronouncements were part of a decade long […]
For all those interested, watch Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat during the briefing last week where he described his vision for the city, reforms over the last two years and his view that Israel’s capital must stay undivided. You can watch it here. Also, see my previous post for some analysis.
The following piece was written by David Levine, an armchair human rights activist focused on Iranian human rights issues. Mr. Levine, based in Santa Monica California, is a firm believer in the freedom of expression and fights for the right to the freedom of expression. Arrested almost 2 years ago, Hossein Derakhshan, a controversial Canadian- Iranian […]
It’s not often that I write good things about Bangladesh – its politics and economics. You see, the news cycle turn on the following dictum: “if it bleeds it leads.” I regret to admit that political analysis, commentary, is no different. Blood runs thicker with blood spilt. So I write analyses of terrible things, sometimes […]
One thing that bothered me about Kenya’s new constitution was that the US government lobbied heavily and spent $23 million (including funding NGOs) to bring about a “yes” vote. Vice President Biden, who personally traveled to Kenya, was quoted in the media saying that Kenya’s new constitution would “allow money to flow” from the US foreign […]
“The conviction therefore that our past tells us that the time for Africa’s Renaissance has come, is fundamental to the very conceptualization of this Renaissance and the answer to the question: Whence this confidence? Unless we are able to answer the question “Who were we?” we will not be able to answer the question “What […]
Ata-Jurt leader Kamchybek Tashiev Yesterday, on October 10, Kyrgyz voters cast their ballots for a new parliament. Overall, there were not a lot of new faces chosen, casting doubt on a fresh start after June’s riots and killings, when over 400 people reportedly died and more than 400,000 were forced out of their homes. On the other […]
On September 17, the Canadian Ice Service began tracking the 280-square kilometer ice island which fractured off of Petermann Glacier in western Greenland in early August, the Montreal Gazette reports. The ice floe, or more technically, the large tabular (meaning flat-topped) iceberg, split into two after ramming into Joe Island, where the Petermann Fjord meets […]
(Mandela with Conversations With Myself, Mail & Guardian.) Nelson Mandela’s new book, Conversations with Myself, which contains excerpts of his private journals, letters and personal notes, was released today across the globe. Barack Obama wrote the book’s foreword.
The top tier of Ayad Allawi’s secular Iraqiya slate met with Saudi leadership in Riyadh today, including King Abdullah to discuss Iran’s meddlesome role in Iraq’s domestic affairs.
Three countries, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Morocco, have placed bids to host the 2015 and 2017 African Cup of Nations. South Africa just successfully hosted the World Cup. Morocco was a finalist to host that event before South Africa emerged victorious. Even the romantics in the CAF cannot possibly think rewarding […]