The results are in. I will be following up my preview of the South African elections with an analysis of the outcomes later this week, but here is the shorthand view each party should take away from an election that saw massive voter turnout: The African National Congress: (Almost 11.7 million votes, 65.9%) Still the […]
For the fifth year running, Fortune China has published its “25 Most Influential Business Leaders in China 2008” list, the feature article in the April issue. As in the past, selection was based on “leading executives influential within their corporation and industry, and capable of changing things on a wide scale,” both in China and […]
Top Central Banker optimistic about China’s economic performance China’s overall economic performance is better than expected, according to Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China. Beijing’s top central banker expressed his optimism about domestic demand and financial stability in China at the International Monetary and Financial Meeting held in Washington. Mr. Zhou praised […]
The transition from Memorial Day directly into Israeli Independence Day remains analogous to the historical evolution of the country. Tonight, Israelis gather across the state, paying homage to the sacrifices of fallen soldiers in defense of the country during multiple wars over the last 61 years. Tomorrow, the entire demeanor of the country changes, with […]
Mikhail Saakashvili is a politician known for following his gut, both figuratively and literally, as when he devoured his tie during a live BBC interview. Could this crucial organ also be his Achille’s heel? Today, Tbilisi is a city under siege: the BBC reports that “usually the main roads in the city centre are full […]
Here is a translation I did of a March 2009 article by Salaama Ahmed Salaama (of Al-Ahram fame, now at Al-Shorouk) about recent US policy in the Middle East and America’s relationship with the Israel lobby. It’s no surprise here that despite Salaama’s comfortable relationship with the Egyptian government, he is disappointed with Egyptian policy […]
Palestinian unity talks between Fatah and Hamas scheduled for today were delayed again pending additional internal consultations. The two groups indicated that negotiations in Cairo would potentially resume tomorrow, with both sides adamant that they seek a reconciliation. In the event that Hamas joins the Fatah-led government, Congress could complicate aid to the Palestinians due […]
Tonight at 10 PM, MSNBC will air the first installment of a four-part series on the environment, called “Future Earth.” Tonight’s episode, “Journey to the End of the World,” focuses on global warming’s effect on the Arctic. Most of the show is spent following the journey of an Arctic expedition onboard the ship Tara. The […]
Imagine closing all schools in a metropolitan area three times the size of New York City. Such an order was just the beginning of an aggressive government initiative to stop an outbreak of influenza in Mexico City. The federal government has closed public buildings and suspended public events. Additional orders include a massive vaccination campaign […]
Check out Matthew, Nathan’s, and my interview on Egypt with the FPA here. You can also check out the FPA Great Decisions video, “From Pharaos to Facebook: Egypt Today” here.
With six weeks to go before the Lebanese parliamentary elections, The New York Times is reporting a significant amount of money being spent on vote-buying. The June election is seen as a battle between factions allied with the West, like the March 14th Coalition, and factions allied with Iran and Syria, such as Hizballah and […]
Just a few weeks ago, the Russian National Security Council announced its Arctic strategy for the next decade. A good portion of the policy plan is dedicated to the need to facilitate sea transportation via the integration of the Northern Sea Route. Absent from the document, however, was a plan for rebuilding Russia’s ailing sea […]
A pretty good case can be made for the eastern districts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) being the most anarchic and unstable in the world. Perhaps Somalia can stake a similar claim, and stretches along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, but the list of contenders is, in any case, a roster of wretchedness. Rwanda shares part […]
The people of Afghanistan celebrated Earth Day by declaring Band-e-Amir its first conservation area, basically making it the country’s first national park. Band-e-Amir, which features a series of exceedingly deep-blue lakes and natural dams not seen anywhere else in the world, has suffered great neglect and damage from the state’s 30 years of warfare. Though […]
Testifying yesterday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated an increased effort to conduct oversight on funds delivered to Palestinians. Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century, funds provided to the Palestinians often went unchecked, leading to corruption, mismanagement, and embezzlement of economic support. […]