Regions

Most South Africans, and indeed observers the world over, have been left scratching their heads over the recent events that with dizzying speed led to Thabo Mbeki's looming resignation and the biggest political crisis in South Africa since the period prior to 1994. Not all are thrilled with the decision and others are worried about the ramifications. […]

Twelve hours after the blasting of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, the flames had still not been doused. The medium-sized Shehzore truck, packed with 600 kg of RDX explosives, drove up to the hotel barrier and exploded, setting the hotel on fire. It is more than likely that, just as he was "pleasantly" surprised by […]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The deadly suicide truck bomb attack on Marriott Hotel in the heart of the capital highlights security inadequacies and the urgent need to rethink strategy to combat surging militant violence, analysts said on Sunday. Four foreigners were among those killed, including the Czech ambassador, with more than 270 people wounded in the worst […]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conveyed its concerns on airstrikes and violation of the country's territorial integrity to the US, Adviser on National Security Mahmud Ali Durrani said on Sunday. Durrani told a private TV channel that Pakistan had made it clear to the US that violation of its territorial integrity would not be tolerated. "The bottom […]

PESHAWAR,PAKISTAN: The NWFP government is unlikely to enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulations 2008 on the 27th of Ramazan owing to delays in the consultation process and a lack of response from the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM). Officials said the draft was forwarded to the TNSM a few days back, but the Dir-based group had not responded as yet. […]

WASHINGTON: While Pakistan was credited with have taken "some steps' to improve the treatment of religious minorities, the International Religious Freedom Report, released at the weekend, described the general situation on this front in pretty negative terms. The report, covering 2007, said, "The government took some steps to improve its treatment of religious minorities during […]

Efforts are underway to reach a Christian-Christian reconciliation between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and al-Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh. Reconciliation efforts intensified after two people were killed and three wounded in clashes Wednesday between the LF and Marada in the town of Bsarma in the northern Lebanese province of Koura. [Naharnet] In the upcoming […]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ‚ A huge truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening, killing at least 40 people and wounding more than 150, the police said. The blast, one of the worst acts of terrorism in Pakistan's history, went off just a few hundred yards from the prime […]

The World Health Organization's Global Malaria Programme has issued its World Malaria Report 2008. The gist of the argument is as follows: Things cotinue to improve. they need to improve more. The number of nets to protect people from malarial mosquitoes has risen impressively. It needs to rise more. the number of people with access […]

Details are sketchy, but it appears that Thabo Mbeki has agreed to resign after the ANC's National Executive Committee asked President Thabo Mbeki and several of his sympathizers in government to step down. The NEC took a long time in coming to this solution and appears to have been deeply divided. I am surprised Mbeki […]

Cautious optimism seems to prevail in Zimbabwe, with an emphasis on the “cautious” part. And why not? For the moment relative calm prevails and the worst of the country's political deadlock appears to have been resolved. But Robert Mugabe still has his hands on, or at least near, the reins of power, talks have been […]

The violence in Mexico is becoming one of the highest rates worldwide, with more kidnappings this year than in Colombia or Iraq.   Increasingly, the environment of violence is penetrating Mexican society.  In part this process began with the arrival of President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa in 2006. In the Mexican system, the President has six […]