Archives

Africa: Slow progress, if any, in Kenya, where reports from the talks between bitter rivals seems to fluctuate between positive and negative on a daily basis. Today is a negative day, with Kofi Annan suspending negotiations. In Nigeria, efforts to overturn the results of last year's presidential vote, the fairness of which was questionable, were rejected. Robert Mugabe looks to win another term in ruined Zimbabwe, thanks to an effective campaign of intimidation against anyone smarter than him, which is pretty much everyone. Sokwanele, one of the Why Democracy guest bloggers last year, offers the latest in an ongoing analysis.

Asia: It seems weird, but since North Korea is a weird place anyway, maybe sending the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to North Korea will improve negotiations. The IOC, predictably, claims the Olympic Games will improve human rights in China. Condolleeza Rice, meanwhile, urged China to push North Korea on nuclear disarmament. 

Europe: Police teargas Bosnian Serb protesters trying to approach a US Consulate. The Kosovo declaration of independence prompts this list from Foreign Policy on how to start your own country.

Europe: The implications of Kosovo's declaration of independence unfold, with tensions developing in Northern Kosovo, and Serbia saying the declaration amounts to a "toolkit for separatists".

Africa: An International Crisis Group report expresses fears of new violence in Kenya.

Asia: Benazir Bhutto's widower rejects the role of prime minister. Unsurprisingly, Burma's draft constitution hasn't won it many fans on the international scene. The Armenian PM wins that country's presidential vote.

Europe: Britain plans more rigorous citizenship tests. 

North America: What now after Fidel Castro's retirement? Continued socialism? Continued Castro infiuence? Pressure from the large neighbour to the west?

Asia: Will Pakistan's elections be anything close to fair? Many observers and journalists seemed to suggest it was doubtful, and violence in the days leading up to today's vote backed that analysis. Although the opposition is claiming victory, there is concern that the results will only lead to more political uncertainty. See also Pakistani newspaper Dawn's blog.

Europe: Though many are celebrating, Kosovo's declaration of independence has, as predicted, created rifts in the Balkans, former Soviet states, and in the international community. The United States' recognition of Kosovo prompted Serbia to recall its ambassador. 

Africa: Condoleeza Rice adds her name to the list of those pushing for a solution of Kenya's crisis. The opposition proposes a solution, a former ethics official in the Kenyan government delivers his analysis, and speculation that a more powerful prime ministership may result from negotiations.

North America: A whistleblower website that allowed people to anonymously post potentially incriminating documents, was ordered taken offline by a US court. 

Further Reading: The Economist on e-democracy. Filmmaker Errol Morris turns his attention to Abu Ghraib prison.

Asia: Burma's military junta plans a constitutional referendum in May and democratic elections in 2010 -- doubts have emerged almost immediately about the legitimacy of both. Rebels wounded East Timor's president in an attack at his home. Japan considers a moratorium on the death penalty (for people, not for whales). Lawyers, writers and academics rally to prevent an exiled Bangladeshi writer from being expelled from India.

Africa: The UN envoy visits Kenya's violence-ravaged regions and talks between the two sides of the post-election political impasse may be on the verge of a breakthrough. Attacks in Darfur continue -- and it's literally years after the genocide there made the news -- with thousands of new refugees fleeing to Chad. Critics worry that South African President Thabo Mbeki is legitimizing Zimbabwe's elections before they happen.

North America: Barack Obama wins the latest round of primaries, prompting pundits to crunch various numbers in order to make (probably utterly random) predictions about whether he or Hillary Clinton has the momentum to win the Democratic nomination.

Australia: The first order of parliament when it returns to session this week will be an apology to the Stolen Generation, indigenous Australians forcibly taken from their families, which the PM calls a "blight on the nation's soul". 

Back after a short hiatus, with lots to catch up on.

Africa: News reports suggest Kenya's situation has stabilized as diplomats and politicians continue to seek a mediated agreement that will end post-election violence. Kenyan Pundit offers a long list of recent news and information.

Asia: China cracks down on dissent only months before the Olympics, Human Rights Watch observes. Expect token concern from Olympics organizers and Western nations. The speaker of the Phillipines' House of Representatives was ousted in a bribery scandal that could have further repercussions.

Europe: A planned agreement between the EU and Serbia, where an election was recently held, has been delayed amid political disputes over the future of Kosovo. Kosovo is expected to declare independence within weeks. Italy will hold an election in April after its unstable parliament was dissolved. Turkey is voting on allowing headscarves in universities, a move that freaks out the country's secular demographic.

North America: A good analysis of the US presidential race, post Super Tuesday, from the NYT. Talking Points Memo on the US Administration's latest stance on torture -- admitting it used to happen, and not ruling it out for the future.

Further reading: A profile of France's foreign minister (who also founded Medecins sans frontieres). A graph of privacy levels, by country. Foreign Policy on the final four US presidential candidates.