Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

Sorry, but Delta Is Not Flying Direct to Tehran

Tehran might "welcome" direct flights between the United States and Iran, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen. On Wednesday, Iran's PressTV reported that the country's foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, had told reporters...

Published Thu, Jun 27 2013 3:40 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Middle East, U.S. Foreign Policy, International Relations, Iran, Business

At Davos, Iran Tries to Reopen the Bazaar

DAVOS, Switzerland — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is touting Iran as a prime investment opportunity to the business people and political leaders at Davos. They're definitely willing to take a look, but it's not clear yet that anyone will be...

Published Thu, Jan 23 2014 5:00 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Middle East, Development, Economics, Business, North Africa, Trade, Davos2014

Merry Christmas from Passport

I'm officially shutting down the blog for the rest of the week starting now. We'll have some light posting next week depending on the news and return to full-service blogging and the Morning Brief on Jan. 3. Be sure to check in on the main site...

Published Thu, Dec 23 2010 10:22 AM by FP Passport

Turkey’s Economic Enemies: Corrupt Politicians and the U.S. Fed

Turkey's economy was already in a shaky place, thanks to decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve that could make it harder for Ankara to sell its goods and borrow cash overseas. A widening corruption scandal in Turkey could turn things from bad to worse...

Published Fri, Dec 27 2013 3:19 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Corruption, Middle East, Economics, Finance, Business

Will Afghanistan actually hurt the Democrats?

Tom Ricks shares an interesting theory from researcher Kyle Flynn about why the Obama administration is delaying a decision on a new Afghanistan strategy: Nov. 3, gubernatorial elections in both Virginia and New Jersey. The latter of which is my reasoning...

Published Thu, Oct 29 2009 11:28 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Politics, Elections, Afghanistan, Obama Administration

Jailbreak Season Continues as al Qaeda Issues Threat Against Gitmo

It's officially jailbreak season. In a little over a week, inmates in Iraq, Libya, and now Pakistan have escaped from what were supposed to be secure prisons (the phenomenon has even reached Arkansas ). Just this morning, al Qaeda leader Ayman al...

Published Wed, Jul 31 2013 9:50 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Terrorism, al Qaeda, Pakistan, Taliban, Iraq, Libya, National Security

WikiLeaked: Drone Envy

After you read through enough of these WikiLeaks cables, you realize that most of it is fairly mundane. And then you stumble on a line like this : Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to CENTCOM Commander John Abizaid: "The...

Published Tue, Nov 30 2010 6:45 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Media, Somalia

Chinese Stealth Fighter Takes Off Under Obama’s Nose

Yanukovych Emerges From Hiding and Promptly Makes a Fool of Himself

If Marx, riffing on Hegel , is right that all world-historical persons appear twice -- first as tragedy, again as farce -- then on Friday ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych claimed his place among the world's pantheon of delusional and deranged...

Published Fri, Feb 28 2014 2:54 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Corruption, Politics, Democracy

Chinese Officials Ask Muslim Women to Unveil in the Name of Beauty

In the Chinese region of Xinjiang, home to a large population of the country's Muslim Uighur minority, government workers are encouraging women to cast off their headscarves in the name of good looks. Called "Project Beauty," the government...

Published Tue, Nov 26 2013 2:28 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: East Asia, China, Women, Islam, Race/Ethnicity, Religion

Iraq looks to go nuclear

28 years ago, Israel launched an airstrike against the Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad, terrified by the prospect of an Iraq with nuclear weapons. 19 year ago, the U.N. imposed comprehensive economic sanctions against Iraq, declaring the country's...

Published Wed, Oct 28 2009 8:57 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Middle East, Nukes, Energy, Iraq

Colombian hostage released after 12 years

Pablo Emilio Moncayo, a soldier, was only 19 when he was kidnapped by the leftists Colombian rebel group FARC. Last night, at age 32, he was released. He looks to be in good health, with only a minor parasitic condition . It's pretty unimaginable...

Published Wed, Mar 31 2010 1:50 PM by FP Passport

Morning Brief: Greek crisis worsens after rating downgraded to "junk"

Greek crisis worsens after rating downgraded to "junk" Top news: Stocks are slumping worldwide after news that rating agency Standard & Poor's had downgraded Greece's bond rating to "junk" status, complicating plans for...

Published Wed, Apr 28 2010 5:42 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

Burqa ban finally gives Belgians something to agree on

Belgium's government is barely functional right now , hampered by a decades long power struggle between Flemish and Wallonian politicians. But the two sides do seem to be able to agree on one thing: The lower house of parliament voted on Thursday...

Published Fri, Apr 30 2010 9:18 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Islam

Argentina busts beauty queen drug smuggling ring

This, apparently, actually exists: Colombian model accused of leading a drug-trafficking gang that persuaded pretty young women to smuggle cocaine to Mexico was arrested Wednesday after evading Argentine police for five months. Angie Sanclemente Valencia...

Published Thu, May 27 2010 9:33 AM by FP Passport