August 2012 - Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

The watercolor paintings of L. Paul Bremer III

Who says there are no second acts in American life? You may remember L. Paul Bremer III as the administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) immediately following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Astute readers may also recall that he presided...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2012 9:03 AM by FP Passport

So what's so great about Israeli culture anyway?

Mitt Romney has followed up his controversial comments on the link between Israel's economic success and its culture (See Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson for a rebuttal to the argument.) with a short piece in the National Review arguing that the...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2012 8:56 AM by FP Passport

Is Ethiopia’s PM dead, sick, or just on holiday?

In an echo of death rumors that have periodically surrounded former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe this year, there's increasing speculation about the whereabouts of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2012 7:42 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Africa, Democracy

Morning Brief: Panetta, in Israel, urges patience with Iran sanctions

Panetta, in Israel, urges patience with Iran sanctions Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Top news: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2012 5:41 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

India's blackout, seen from China

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE India suffered its worst blackout in history this week, leaving more than 600 million people without power. To authoritarian and mostly stable China, chaotic, democratic India has long been exhibit A in the...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 11:36 AM by FP Passport

Bad press for China at the Olympics

David Yang writes today that Chinese viewers have been surprisingly impressed by China's less audacious, somewhat quirkier Olympic games. ( Exhibit A ) But while China is currently tied for the U.S. team in the medal count, the media coverage the...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 11:13 AM by FP Passport

Darling animals and their deadly diseases

News of a new "seal flu" has many fearing a repeat of the 2009 swine flu outbreak that infected more than 5.7 million in the United States before peaking as a level 5 on the WHO's 6-point pandemic alert . The H3N8 flu virus was discovered...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 10:39 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Environment, Public Health, Health, Bird Flu

Cinnabon comes to Libya

On July 2, Cinnabon made history, becoming the first American franchise to open a location in Libya. The 7,500 square-foot bakery-cafe in downtown Tripoli also sells Carvel ice cream, and is the first of at least 10 locations franchisees Arief and Ahmed...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 9:13 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Fun Stuff, North Africa, Libya, Trade

Putin: NATO should stay in Afghanistan

Some unsolicited advice from Russia's president: NATO forces should stay in Afghanistan until their job is done, Russia President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, suggesting they should stay beyond a planned withdrawal of most combat troops in 2014...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 7:55 AM by FP Passport

Panetta warns Iran U.S. military 'prepared' to prevent nukes

ASHKELON, Israel — In some of his most hawkish language to date, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Iran not to seek nuclear weapons and indicated that the U.S. was prepared to use a military attack to stop Tehran. "They have a choice to make...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 5:56 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Middle East, International Relations, Iran, Mitt Romney

Morning Brief: Power returns to India

Power returns to India Top news: The lights are back on in India on Wednesday after the largest blackout in history left an area of about 670 million people -- 10 percent of the world's population -- without electricity. The states of Punjab, Haryana...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2012 5:28 AM by FP Passport