February 2010 - Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

Ramzan Kadyrov listens to his mother

The wrong side of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov is generally not the safest place to be , but apparently helps if his mom takes your side: Kadyrov had filed libel suits against Lyudmila Alexeyeva , head of the Moscow Helsinki Group , Oleg Orlov , head...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 11:36 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Russia

About that deadly "My Way" karaoke

Over the weekend, the New York Times ran a great story on the "My Way" murders in the karaoke-obsessed Philippines. The Times story noted that over the past decade, at least half a dozen people have died just after (or while!) performing the...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 10:46 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Drugs & Crime, East Asia, Culture, globalization

Goodluck, Jonathan

Nigeria has a new acting president today, after the country's parliament finally voted that the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, should stand in for Umaru Yar'Adua. The latter has been missing in action -- rumored dead or worse -- for several...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 10:14 AM by FP Passport

Dead or alive list updates

Some of the ambiguity has been resolved for two of the names on our list of world leaders who may or may not be dead. One of them is now almost certainly dead. One is no longer a leader. Pakistani Taliban sources have n ow confirmed that their leader...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 10:12 AM by FP Passport

China is now Iran's top trading partner

Still think China's going to sign on to a new round of tough sanctions against Iran? Think again. China has most likely already passed the European Union to become Iran's No. 1 trading partner, the Financial Times reports : Official figures say...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 7:36 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: China, Oil, Iran

Morning Brief: Tymoshenko challenges Ukraine election result

Tymoshenko challenges Ukraine election result Top story: Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is planning to contest the results of Sunday's Presidential election, which awarded a slim victory to her rival, Viktor Yanukovych. The Tymoshenko Bloc...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 5:30 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

The underpants bomber didn't hurt Obama

For all the criticism Barack Obama has received for his administration's handling of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Flight 253, it doesn't seem like the American public is too concerned. A new Gallup poll finds that the U.S. president's...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 3:53 PM by FP Passport

Will Tymoshenko concede?

With more than 99 percent of the vote counted, there seems to be little doubt left and that Viktor Yanukovych has defeated his one-time Orange Revolution foe Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine's presidential election. But, never one to avoid drama, Tymoshenko...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 3:48 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Eastern Europe, Elections

Was Murtha good for Johnstown?

I'm sad to see that John Murtha, the Pennsylvania congressman and defense spending cardinal, has died after a long and productive life in government. Whatever your views on Murtha -- and as someone who grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, I certainly...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 1:44 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: U.S. Congress

Mexico is not descending into chaos

The frequent stories of grusome beheadings and seemingly rand mass-murders coming out of Mexico's drug war can make the country sound like its on the brink of anarchy. But as Alexandra Olson points out, by regional and historical standards, the country's...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 11:11 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Drugs & Crime, Latin America, Mexico

Sri Lanka opposition leader arrested

Things seem to be going from bad to worse in Sri Lanka, as president Mahinda Rajapaksa continues to crack down following his disputed election victory last month: General Fonseka, a retired four-star general who lost to President Mahinda Rajapakse in...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 10:05 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: South Asia

Morning Brief: Yanukovych Wins Ukraine Election

Yanukovych Wins Ukraine Election Top Story: Viktor Yanukovych has appeared to beat his rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, in Ukraine's run-off presidential election held this weekend. His lead is now just 2.4 points, with 96 percent of votes...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 6:03 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

Friday Photo: Genuine Parts

The Toyota logo is displayed on a box of auto parts at City Toyota February 5, 2010 in Daly City, California. Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda issued an apology today for saftey issues that have prompted the recall of nearly 4 million Toyota cars...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 2:26 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: North America, East Asia, Fun Stuff, Business

China flexes its muscles in Munich

China wasted no time in heating up the 46th Munich Security Conference. In the opening address Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi strongly asserted Chinese policy, and took more than a few swipes at the United States. Yang is the first Chinese...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 2:15 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: China

Requiem for Le Journal Hebdomadaire

The slow death of one of Morocco's sole independent publications, Le Journal Hebdomadaire , came to its inevitable conclusion this past week. The proximate cause for the magazine's closure was financial: A Moroccan court declared the magazine's...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 1:00 PM by FP Passport