On Thursday evening, embattled and injured Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh made his first TV appearance since the attack on his compound only a few days ago. The speech, which essentially conveyed no specific message other than that he was still very much alive and kicking, ignited an array of feelings amongst his fellow countrymen. […]
Human Rights Watch, which is a leading human rights group, announced that more than a dozen of civilians were killed in the south province of Abyan in Yemen, caught in the fight between alleged al-Qaeda militants and the military. Since a group called “Ansar al Shariah” invaded Zinjibar several weeks ago and advanced on other […]
A month after the attack on his Presidential Palace, embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, addressed his nation in a televised appearance from his hospital room in Saudi Arabia. This is the transcript of his speech: “I would to convey my sincere thanks to all the Yemeni people inside and outside the country, men and […]
With the worst power and fuel crisis of its history, Yemen’s already shaken economy is being pushed towards the edge of a precipice. With the majority of its people living on less than $2 per day, Yemenis are struggling to make do. Over the past few weeks, food prices have skyrocketed, forcing families to […]
A Yemeni General called on the international community to intervene in Yemen, saying that the entire region was about to slip into chaos. As al-Qaeda militants continue to hold on to their positions in Abyan, the government has decided to resume its airstrikes to block their advances. Problems in the south started just around the […]
It all started with the death of an unknown and poor fruit seller in the streets of Tunisia. Little did the world realize that one man’s desperate act of retaliation against a regime that had robbed him from his future and dignity would set ablaze revolutionary sentiments of such intensity that they would bring about […]
Last Thursday the Syrian Presidential Guard, led by President Assad’s brother, approached the Turkish border, causing a brief standoff between the two countries’ armed forces. As hundreds more Syrian refugees crossed the border, Turkey opted to move back its patrols slightly, avoiding direct engagement. The encounter epitomizes the now omnipresent threat that an already tenuous […]
Today the world anxiously waits to see whether or not the Greek government will pass its austerity measures in order to save the Greek economy in the long run, hold off another wave of global recessions and perhaps save the Euro itself. While a Greek meltdown would have an amplified effect on world markets, where […]
Whether foreign investments are flowing into Brazil as a river or as a trickle, Brazil’s reputation as the next large fast growing super economy is being cemented by the attention it has received after 2009 as the BRICS that may become the next China. While China and Brazil are growing in different ways for different […]
While China has won allies across Latin America over the past decade —and access to natural resources to boot—relations between Beijing and Havana remained piecemeal. What gives? Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Cuba provides an opportunity to look at the odd tenor of Sino-Cuban relations. This post is based on an essay […]
Over the last few years Mexico’s drug cartel’s have moved into different markets, one of those being selling stolen fuel which most often is taken from pipelines or trucks from Mexico’s national oil company, PEMEX. PEMEX has a special role in the Mexican economy, traditionally being one of the greatest sources of revenue for the […]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy releases a study today that is unusually stark: “global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world.” It contends the “war on drugs” strategy needs to change by focusing more on demand, while acknowledging that US policy—America is the largest demand-source for […]
Christine Lagarde visited Brazil on Sunday to buoy her candidacy for the IMF’s top post. At a press conference Lagarde stated: “I will ensure that the Fund represents the diversity of all its members.’’ She went on to indicate that a European should not automatically head the IMF. Perhaps this should be the last time? The […]
This is the first of several review pieces on books about Brazil that I’ll be writing in the coming months on the blog. Please participate in the discussion by sharing your views on these books in the comments section. Brazil is at a crucial juncture in its history. Already the undisputed economic leader of Latin […]
Accelerate Brazil on May 26th and 27th is a forum for anyone who is interested in one of the biggest foreign investment projects to exist in Latin America in generations. The Accelerate Brazil Infrastructure and Investment Expo-Forum is an exhibition for foreign investors who wish to learn about what projects and opportunities are open in […]