Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

Local Russian election result overturned by court

In an unusual turn of events, a Russian court has overturned the result of a mayoral election in the city of Derbent. Reportedly, riot police used tear gas and shot at voters, preventing them from entering polling stations. Threats were made to local...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 3:06 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Corruption, Russia, Politics, Eastern Europe, Elections

630 members of Japan's ruling party headed to China this week

The Democratic Party of Japan apparently doesn't travel light. Mainichi Shimbun reports: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa won't be lonely when he heads to China and South Korea on Thursday, as he's taking an entourage...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 10:34 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Japan, East Asia, China

Brazilians explore banning "offensive" and violent videogames

New reports of 11,000 people killed by Brazilian police over the past six years are perhaps one indication that violence in the super-star Amazon country has gotten a wee bit out of hand. Never fear, there is a long term solution already under consideration...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 9:54 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Science & Technology, Drugs & Crime, South America

Sarkozy and Kouchner still not on the same page

French President Nicolas Sarkozy took to the pages of Le Monde yesterday with a partial defense of the Swiss minaret ban: "How can you not be amazed at the reaction that this decision has produced in certain media and political circles in our own...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 8:51 AM by FP Passport

Sarah Palin in the Washington Post

Our parent publication, the Washington Post , today published an opinion piece from Sarah Palin -- former governor of Alaska, former running mate of Sen. John McCain, and foreign-policy interest of mine -- on the subject of the international climate change...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 8:31 AM by FP Passport

Morning Brief: Rich and poor countries squabble in Copenhagen

Rich and poor countries squabble in Copenhagen Top story: While critics outside the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen continue to attack the science of climate change, within the convention hall, the main debate is between rich and poor countries...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 6:12 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

Is Tamiful worth it?

Research published in the British Medical Journal says there is no public evidence that Tamiflu reduces complications associated with influenza. Researchers attempting to review data about the Roche produced drug -- dubbed " our best line of defence...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 3:27 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Public Health

Pirates' consumption patterns unchanged over the centuries

The New York Times reports over the past two years a piece of land in Bossaso increased in price 66 percent, a pair of men's shoes is up 150 percent. The reason? Pirates. It appears the massive amount of booty being swashbuckled by Somali pirates...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 3:05 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Pirates, Africa, Economics

Brazilian thieves use soccer to pull off heist

Thieves in Brazil made off with nearly $6 million in a heist that demonstrated the unbelievable distracting power of soccer in the country. The looters rented a house near a cash delivery firm, put up Christmas decorations to make the operation look legitimate...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 12:02 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Drugs & Crime, South America

John Kerry: End the Cuba travel ban

In a St. Petersburg Times op-ed today, Sen. John Kerry criticizes the U.S. embargo on Cuba, saying it has "manifestly failed for over 50 years" and announces his support for a bil that would lift the ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba: I...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 10:49 AM by FP Passport

Israel to Sweden: the peace process is not like Ikea furniture

It hasn't been a great year for Israeli-Swedish relations. First there was the controversy over an anti-Semitic article about Israelis stealing organs in a Swedish tabloid which both governments blew up into a much bigger issue than it needed to be...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 10:26 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Middle East, Israel/Palestine

A Copenhagen draft leaks

An early draft of the Copenhagen climate change agreement, which is being called the "Danish Text" and was prepared by a group of countries including the U.S., U.K. and Denmark, has been leaked to the Guardian and has perturbed delegates from...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 7:42 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Environment

Last chance to vote in the Global Thinkers survey

We're going to be closing voting on our Top Global Thinkers Survey tomorrow at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. So if you haven't taken the time yet, head over and share your thoughts on the state of the global economy, the world's top security threats...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 7:16 AM by FP Passport

Afghanistan hearing day

Today marks the start of a grueling set of four congressional hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and Gen. Stanley McChrystal: Tuesday 9:30 a.m., House Armed Services Committee ( HASC ), Chaired by Rep. Ike Skelton Tuesday 1:30...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 6:28 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Afghanistan, Central Asia, Obama Administration, U.S. Foreign Policy, Military, U.S. Congress

Morning Brief: Central Baghdad hit by string of bombings

Central Baghdad hit by string of bombings Top story: A series of at least six bombings this morning killed at least 112 people and wounded hundreds more. The targets included a police patrol, an outdoor market, the interior ministry and two universities...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 6:00 AM by FP Passport