Regions

NEW YORK, Sept 26: Pakistan immediately needs $10-to-15 billion to deal with the current economic crisis, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir told a briefing in New York. Mr Bashir, who participated in the inaugural meeting of the Friends of Pakistan group, said the new government was aware of the economic challenges facing the country and was […]

Pakistan sought to reassure Washington on Friday that it remained an ally in fighting terrorism, but it also warned the U.S. to stay out of Pakistani territory while hunting down militants along the volatile border with Afghanistan. Emphasizing that it doesn't need American firepower, a Pakistani general said an offensive along the frontier has killed […]

Autumn is slowly coming to Beirut. For almost two months I kept on complaining about the heat and the humidity. Now I might start with the brief rainfalls. While dining with friends I found out that today is al Quds day and that many Hizballah fans went to the border. It was a no comment […]

  Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine for China, has resigned for failing “to conduct a proper inspection in this case, and Li Changjiang bears responsibility for this. The State Council has accepted his resignation,” as reported by China Central Television. Serving since 2001, the resignation comes one year […]

The Foreign Policy Association has published my latest piece, “A Tale of Two Countries: Change and Crisis in Zimbabwe and South Africa.” Writing commentary on volatile events taking place in real time is always fraught with peril, and in this case I wish I had continued my consistently more pessimistic outlook on Zimbabwe, but on […]

It is neither appropriate nor polite to tell someone that he/she is ugly. Similarly, it is equally offensive to tell someone that he/she is gorgeous, even if the intent is complimentary. So, it was absolutely shocking, no other word to describe it, shocking, to hear Mr. Zardari tell Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate that […]

  [Morgan Tsvangirai, seated, and Robert Mugabe when it seemed an agreement might be at hand. Times of London.]  In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, the Zimbabwe negotiations have fallen apart and just about all of the blame belongs on the shoulders of Robert Mugabe. It was only a matter of time. […]

According to the Governor of the Central Bank, Guillermo Ortiz, Mexico is relatively safe from the unfolding financial crisis in the United States. Mexican Secretary Agustin Carstens, in charge of the Department of the Treasury, agrees. Thus, these key actors suggest that the country will not be seriously affected; only exports, tourism, and remittances are […]

Excellent reading about Hizballah's controlled suburbs. As it looks, Hizballah's Pentagon, as some called dahyeh was not as controlled as many thought. Don't get me wrong, Hizballah is strong, but far from being invincible. NOW Lebanon: The Internal Security Forces (ISF) recently implemented what it has called a "security plan" in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs […]

WASHINGTON ‚ Pakistani and American ground troops exchanged fire along the border with Afghanistan on Thursday after the Pakistanis shot at two American helicopters, ratcheting up tensions as the United States increases its attacks against Qaeda and Taliban militants sheltering in Pakistan's restive tribal areas. The two American OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters were not damaged […]

It appears official. South Africa's Parliament has chosen Kgalema Motlanthe as interim president to replace President Thabo Mbeki. Motlanthe, who spent a decade on Robben Island and who has a background in labor union politics will likely have as his main responsibility the healing of divisions, though the wounds might simply be too deep. The […]

The chaos and violence in Somalia continues to intensify. Dozens died in the shelling of a public market in Mogadishu on Monday and more than 100 in total have been killed in scattered fighting in the capital in what observers are proclaiming to be the worst fighting in Somalia in months as Islamist insurgents seek […]