I have this great book written by a Japanese thinker, R.G.H. Siu, and he says the following: “Ceremony without ulterior motive is amateur theatre.” Uzbekistan is having presidential elections soon–a year past the deadline. There are six candidates and five political parties. Each of the five political parties is expected to draft a candidate for […]
Mongolia recently received its Millenium Challenge Corporation grant from the United States. There was a ceremony and press conference on October 22 with President Enkhbayar of Mongolia and President Bush of the United States at the White House. These were some of President Enkhbayar's words, which well express the MCC aims of transparency, democracy, and poverty reduction: […]
International Community News: Since The World Bank (the affectionate name for the United Nations’ International Bank for Reconstruction & Development or IBRD) is having their annual meetings this month, there's a lot of development news out there. Central Asian governments who want to access the Bank's programs need to know what priorities the Bank is currently […]
The Mo Ibrahim Prize will go to Joaquim Chissano, the former president of Mozambique who served from 1986 to 2005 and helped to end that country's civil war and oversaw the transition to peace. The list of finalists, in addition to Chissano, included: Benjamin William Mkapa (Tanzania) Domitien Ndayizeye (Burundi) Sam Nujoma (Namibia) El-Hadj Bonfoh Abbass […]
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is gaining international attention for his efforts to improve the quality of life in the city. The Mayor has constructed “urban beaches” and recently removed 15,000 vendors from 87 streets in the city center. He has held outdoor movie screenings and closed major roads to traffic on Sundays in order to make […]
Several times this year I have mentioned the burden that non-collection/non-publication of public health statistics places on neighbor states attempting to wrestle with epidemics. This is true for Central Asia in terms of at least two issues: HIV and Avian H5N1. Both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have been working through big problems with medical care and […]
Yesterday, October 21, 2007, the Kyrgyzstani people went to the polls to vote on a new Constitution–for the fifth time. Previous referendums occurred under President Akaev in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2003–the last one, combined with perceived/gigantic election fraud of 2005, sent Akaev into exile in the Russian Federation. This will be Mr. Bakiev's first […]
The Springboks are the World Champions after defeating England 15-6 in the World Cup finals in Paris. South Africa led 9-3 at the break. The Springboks were led by fullback Percy Motgomery's four kicks. This marks Amobokoboko's second time hoisting the Ellis Cup, as they also won in historic fashion in 1995. Nelson Mandela hands […]
In the Central Asia Beat, I referred to the Akhal-Teke horse, and then I found some video footage. This horse show video shows a lot of the conformation, coloring, and other physical points of the breed–at its first European horse show in June of this year, in Luxembourg. There's no plot per se: it's a […]
I’m afraid the Central Asia Beat was beyond my poor capabilities while in Central America. There just wasn't good enough Internet access to do the research–and frankly, this “Foust Format” takes hours with a good connection. However, it's worth it: you get a really good sense of what's going on, yeah? Hope it's useful to more […]
Well, it's been going on for at least three years: a persistent damaging, punitive group of slights by the West to one of its best friends. This past week it's gone from insulting to abusive, so it's really past time to say something. These are the events: 1. Turkey, continually worried at the conflict pressures on their southern border, is poised to […]
It seems that much of the world is lining up to support the Springboks, or at least to oppose what many, including yours truly, believe to be a somewhat unsightly form of rugby emanating from England. Naturally South Africa has its share of high-profile South African boosters, including Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Perhaps somewhat […]
The Council on Foreign Relations has a fantastic interactive map of Africa's conflict zones and areas of UN/African Union intervention past and presence, as well as an option to see the contours of former colonial rule and influence. This is a first-rate resource for those who want to understand Africa's divisions, particularly for students.
South Africa is gearing up for this weekend's clash between the Springboks and the rejuvenated defending World Champions from England in the finals of the rugby World Cup. South Africa should be the heavy favorites, though Springbok coach Jake White, taking a page from the playbook of coaches the world over, insists his team must be […]
According to Gundogar, that retrieved the news from Associated Press: Turkmenistan allows foreign investors to own companies, property The president adopted legislation allowing foreign investors to create companies and own property in Turkmenistan ‚ moving the natural gas-rich country further from the isolation imposed by his autocratic predecessor. An amended law on foreign investment, adopted […]