The United Nations Population Fund speculates that the urban population of Africa will more than double in the next quarter century. Obviously the ripple effects of this would be serious. It's probably worth pointing out that dire population predictions have something of a mixed history, but the UNPF report indicates that 80% of the world's […]
No drugs, no gala pageants, more military reform, and no Trust of Saparmurat Niyazov: This is a thrilling article for those of us who have been watching Turkmenistan over the years. Mr. Berdymuhammedov is making several initiatives that indeed have been crying out to be made: The article says it all and it's short. Check it out!
I received an e-mail from the Eurasian Transition Group that a newpaper interview between Dr. Rakhat Aliev and Vremya newspaper on June 16 is actually a fictional account. Confirmation that the interview was comes from RFE/RL Newsline of June 19. Several of us in the Central Asia blogosphere have reported on this interview, but unfortunately, it's just not good information. […]
Last month, the World Bank approved a USD 2.96 million loan to help Uzbekistan address the problems of Avian Influenza. Though most of the other states of the Caspian region have reported bird flu incidence, Uzbekistan has had no recorded cases. This could either be good luck or a lack of reporting. With this loan, […]
A recent LA Times article examines the alleged judicial activism of the Mexican Supreme Court, which has recently created a committee to investigate the political violence in Oaxaca. The Court made news earlier this month for overturning the anti-competitive “Televisa Law,” impacting Mexico's two leading media conglomerates. Next on the docket is the eagerly-anticipated case […]
The Gods of sport can be cruel; they surely have a well-developed sense of timing. A week after South Africa came from behind to beat a surprisingly game Australia team in their first meeting in this year's rugby Tri-Nations competition, the Springboks succumbed to a resilient New Zealand All Blacks squad, which scored two tries […]
You can collect stamps from all over the world, of course, so why not the stamps of Central Asia? It's a great way to discover aspects of national culture. First, there are national symbols: flags, Great Seals, and historic heroes. There are the nation's significant crops, native animals, and national leaders. Another thing to note: […]
U.S. Foreign Aid News: June 5: According to the Wall Street Journal, The House Appropriations Committee is planning to reduce Bush's Foreign aid budget by about USD 700 million. The bill would still be an increase over last year. Congressional changes that might impact Central Asia: reduction of restrictions of family planning aid; less money […]
A couple of stories worth following as your faithful scribe continues his honeymoon on the west coast of British Columbia: A recent UN report indicates that human trafficking is on the rise in East Africa. Hopes for peace in Sudan ebb and flow, wax and wane. Right now they flow and wax. Not to be pessimistic, […]
First South African workers become embroiled in a general strike the end of which is not in sight. Now it appears that Nigerian workers are set to embark on their own general strike. The Nigerian strikes will be the result of rising fuel costs, an increase in Value Added Taxes, and the sale of government-owned […]
South African rugby coach Jake White leads South African optimism about this weekend's Tri-Nations clash with their biggest rivals, the All Blacks of New Zealand, arguing that his team respects but does not fear their haka-dancing foes. In terms of their preparations the Springboks are treating this weekend like the World Cup Finals. As a […]
This week BP released the new annual report: The Statistical Review of World Energy 2007. This report is considered the standard for those who work in the energy field and those who write about it. Since BP has international connections and relationships, its finding are much less politically biased than say, country reports from domestic […]
Well, Mark Seidenfeld's trial did indeed begin (at last) on Friday June 15th. The judge ordered that the initial complainant, Mr. Zhunssov, be present on Monday, June 18th, the second day of the new trial. On Monday, Mr. Zhunussov, the complainant, was nowhere in court. Instead, he was in China, running in a Marathon. Marathon No. […]
On June 12, Lukoil cemented a contract with Turkmenistan to develop three offshore fields . LUKOil joins the UAE's Dragon Oil PLC and Malaysia's Petronas as foreign direct investors in Turkmenistan's petrochemical industry. LUKoil currently produces 19% of Russia's crude oil, and operates in 25 other states besides the Russian Federation. Last month, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Russia developed a […]
Kazakhstan’s President has announced a new phase of pipeline construction for oil shipments to China. The previously-constructed Atasu-Alashankou pipeline will be extended to the Caspian. Atasu is in Central Kazakhstan. The existing phase of transit was certified in July of last year, and shipped 1.1 million tons of oil to China in the first quarter of this year. (88,000 […]