Azerbaijani courts have convicted and sentenced seven defendants in cases relating to protests in April of this year and the parliamentary elections last November. Six defendants (Babek Hasanov, Zulfugar Eyvazov, Elshan Hasanov, Arif Alishli, Elnur Israfilov and Sahib Karimov) in Baku were convicted of charges of “organizing actions resulting in the violation of public order […]
The recent election of Noda Yoshihiko as president of the Democratic Party of Japan, and thus Prime Minister, has set off a flurry of commentary on the foreign policy implications of the new party leadership, particularly as it relates to the reception of the leadership change in China and South Korea. Though little is available yet […]
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan chose a new president, and in effect, a new prime minister, today. Japan’s newest prime minister, the sixth in five years, is Yoshihiko Noda. The former finance minister was chosen over other top runners, including former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Trade Minister Banri Kaieda. The new prime minister […]
Do I see a little bit of an irony here? Let’s do a count: how many of the current AU member countries have inclusive governments? How many of the current AU member governments came to power through coups? Until now, the sad truth is that, all along, the AU (and its predecessor the OAU) did […]
This year’s extent of Arctic sea ice could be the second smallest ever, making the Northwest Passage and Northern Sea Route ever more navigable. But in and around the Bering Strait, the amount of ice wouldn’t matter if the plans to build an underwater tunnel between Russia and Alaska are realized. Though the idea was […]
Mexican commandos are organizing raids against drug cartels from U.S. territory, according to Obama administration officials. These so-called boomerang operations allow the Mexicans to plan operations with the DEA, and may allow the Mexicans access to advanced U.S. equipment. Crucially, the operations also skirt venal state and local police in northern Mexico—thought to be lookouts […]
Yesterday’s bombing of the UN compound in Abuja, Nigeria by the radical-Islamist sect Boko Haram is finally setting off alarm bells throughout the Nigerian Government and the global anti-terrorism establishment. And well it should. Boko Haram– the nickname for the group which is largely composed of disaffected, unemployed youth and university students from the predominantly […]
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan stepped down today under pressure from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, factions within his own Democratic Party of Japan, and low approval ratings. In announcing his resignation in a televised speech, Kan said: “Under the severe circumstances, I feel I’ve done everything that I had to do. Now I would […]
A son of Salmaan Taseer, the liberal governor of the country’s powerful Punjab province who was shot dead by his own security guard in Islamabad in January, has been kidnapped by masked gunmen in Lahore. Taseer’s loss did not end the family’s miseries nor did the tragedy dissuade them to speak up for liberal values […]
Civil society in Cambodia is typically a very contentious issue. A few months ago, I attempted to dichotomize the diverging opinions on this subject by highlighting the urgent need for NGOs in the developing world whilst pointing out that many of these institutions are fatalities of their own benevolence. The problem, of course, is rooted […]
Was the August Coup the blueprint for the Arab Spring? Sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky says no. “The only thing the Arab Spring and the end of the USSR have in common is that they happened to involve large crowds. It’s like comparing a political rally with a football match, or the French Revolution with a rock […]
This week Canadians of all political views are mourning the death of New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton. Mr. Layton ran a historic campaign only a few short months ago, bringing the Orange of the NDP party and support for social democratic values into every region of the country. Mr. Layton did not only get […]
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