An Israeli at the IMF?
June 16, 2011 3 min. read

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently posted a job opening, that of chief managing director. Their outgoing chief left in a hurry and a search is currently underway to replace him. Several names have been tossed around in consideration of the position, including the head of Israel’s central bank, Stanley Fischer. Despite his high qualifications, […]

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Two Week Hiatus
June 16, 2011 1 min. read

I will be traveling in Iceland for the next two weeks (the closest I’ll have ever been to the Arctic), so there won’t be any updates until July 1. In the meantime, you can check out the some of the links on the right-hand side for other Arctic news. Happy summer solstice!

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Throne Speech outlines Conservatives' plans for Northern Canada
June 16, 2011 4 min. read

On June 3, Canada’s Governor General, David Johnston, laid out the Conservatives’ plans for Canada in the Throne Speech to the Senate. As the Conservatives have finally secured a majority in Parliament, they will likely have more success in realizing their vision. In one paragraph, Johnston summarized his government’s plans for the North. “Our Government […]

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Missing Links in India's "Fast-Track" Approach
June 15, 2011 5 min. read

Much has been written and discussed about the recent ‘civil society’ protests against corruption in India. Social activist Anna Hazare’s four day fast in April compelled the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to re-consider the Lokpal Bill through a joint committee involving ministers and members of civil society. Yoga guru, christened as ‘Baba’ Ramdev, launched his […]

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Land Reform: South Africa's Burdensome Evergreen
June 15, 2011 3 min. read

Land reform South Africa is and will continue to be one of those evergreen issues that pops up regularly until someone (in other words: The ANC) actually does something about it. Land reform is also one of those frustrating policy issues that everyone knows needs to be addressed but no one really has a coherent […]

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Stumping in Thailand's Muslim South
June 15, 2011 2 min. read

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Pheu Thai leaders. As the campaigns for both major parties ratchet up in anticipation of the July 3rd vote, Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai’s very likely candidate for the premiership and sister to ousted ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, received a huge boost after stumping in Yala province […]

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Mosimane's Bafana
June 15, 2011 1 min. read

Independent Online has a nice update on Pitso Mosimane’s successes since taking over as the head man for Bafana Bafana. South Africa leads Group G qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations and Mosimane’s Bafana squad has only dropped one match (to the United States).

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Chechnya: Gullit Faces the Axe (hopefully not literally!)
June 14, 2011 3 min. read

If there’s one man on Earth whom you never, ever want to cross, it’s Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. So, imagine how Dutch soccer superstar Ruud Gullit, the recently anointed £4 million a year coach of Grozny’s provincial soccer team, felt after receiving this little memo from the man who, whenever he even hears the word […]

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DPJ suspends Ozawa's membership
June 13, 2011 1 min. read

The Democratic Party of Japan handed former chief and DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa a three-month suspension for abstaining to vote on DPJ Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s no-confidence motion. Seven other members were suspended alongside Ozawa and five rookie members received warnings. Two who voted for the no-confidence motion were expelled from the party. Ozawa is […]

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Agents of Change?
June 13, 2011 5 min. read

As with so much about contemporary India, the political trajectory and ultimate impact of its expanding middle class is a moving target. Change is indeed happening, though a healthy skepticism about its exact contours and meaning is not out of place.

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General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar’s Views on Yemen
June 13, 2011 3 min. read

The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous. Brigadier General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar was before he defected last April a powerful ally and close relative of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. For over 30 years, General Mohsen has been […]

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FBI Investigates the Attack against President Saleh
June 13, 2011 3 min. read

The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous. About a week ago, President Saleh was the victim of an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded within the Presidential compound. As a result of his injuries, Ali Abdullah Saleh […]

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