Remittance Payments, Development and Economics in Bangladesh
May 3, 2010 3 min. read

Anyone who’s been following the politics and political economy of Bangladesh knows that remittances are a strong and important driver of the domestic economy.   Over the last 30 years, the rate of annual growth of remittances has averaged about 19%.  This is an impressive rate of growth and as such, it is  engine of […]

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US-EU relations: Different President same issues
May 3, 2010 4 min. read

Europeans have had a tendency to consider the problems in the transatlantic relationship stemming from the US being governed by the “wrong” president. Despite Obama’s popularity in Europe, events have demonstrated that the new administration has not provided the EU with a strengthened avenue of influence. In some respects, the multilateralism of the new administration […]

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Jewish Heritage Month
April 30, 2010 3 min. read

See. As I said yesterday, I told you the administration loves us. President Obama proclaimed that May is Jewish Heritage Month. Oddly enough, he also proclaimed that May 1 is both Law Day (yes, there is that stereotype about Jews) and Loyalty Day (and yes, there is the bigoted dual-allegiance claim about Jewish-Americans that resurfaces […]

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The NAFTA Fix to Arizona's Immigration Law
April 30, 2010 2 min. read

Shakira headed to Phoenix yesterday to express her dismay to the mayor and police chief. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles today said he supports a travel ban on Arizona, also calling the new law “unpatriotic and unconstitutional.” And the Obama administration clearly isn’t thrilled, no doubt because it places a greater burden on Washington […]

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Chavez Takes Up Twitter
April 30, 2010 2 min. read

This blog does not purport to cover all relevant news that takes place in Venezuela, but instead provides some insight into major issues. Now, however, if you wish to get the latest update straight from President Hugo Chávez you can do so by following his Twitter feed @chavezcandanga. The move appears to be an effort […]

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Putin's Arctic Visit: Polar Bears, Pollution, and (Border) Protection
April 30, 2010 3 min. read

Putin certainly has a penchant for megafauna. Over the past few years, he has been photographed with horses and tigers in a variety of poses and has stopped the baby seal slaughter in Russia. Now, he is off to the Arctic to save the polar bear.  Just one day after Russia and Norway signed the […]

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NPR's Grand Adventure
April 30, 2010 2 min. read

NPR takes a road trip along the Grand Trunk Road

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Calls for a post-sect Lebanon
April 30, 2010 8 min. read

There have been at least two odd scenes in Beirut over  the last couple of weeks. The first was a soccer game played by MPs which was supposed to demonstrate cross-sectarian cooperation, and the second was a fairly large march & rally whose participants called for a more secular Lebanon. Both events reflect the sentiment […]

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Two States, And a Change In Demeanor?
April 29, 2010 4 min. read

A group of Democratic congressmen are circulating a letter on Capitol Hill for signatures in support of the two-state solution, expressing support for the White Houses efforts and egged on President Barack Obama to continue seeking resolution to the decades-old conflict. The effort is led by Reps. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Ron Kind (D-WI), David Price […]

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Kenya's Thriving Newspapers
April 29, 2010 1 min. read

Unlike in the United States, where newspapers seem to be a dying industry, in Kenya print media appears to be thriving. I am no luddite, and I certainly embrace technology and what it can do for us. But one of my great pleasures in life is being able to read a good newspaper. this is […]

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Crisis 2.0?
April 29, 2010 2 min. read

At a press conference in Berlin, following an effort by IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn and European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet to persuade German MP’s of the necessity for a financial rescue plan, Strauss-Kahn stressed that swift action was necessary and warned of the ripple effect of failing European economies. Greek economy crisis prompts shockwave […]

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Stats on Israel
April 29, 2010 1 min. read

Not to spread blatant propaganda, but I criticize Israel enough that during the month of Independence day I can be civil. Israel has defied all odds. Israel turned a desert and swamp into a thriving democracy, a leader in science and an economic hub in a region largely dominated by non-democratic regimes that suppress human […]

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