Here are a few interesting stories from around the world:
1) Chad: “At least 100 civilians were killed in last weekend’s fighting between rebels and government forces in Chad, according to aid agencies.”
[The rebels seem to have agreed to a cease-fire, but there could now be a major refugee crisis.]
2) Tajikistan: “Tajikistan is in the grip of emergency food shortages, the UN’s World Food Programme is warning… Some humanitarian agencies claim Central Asia’s poorest nation is heading towards catastrophe.”
[Note: Tajikistan is ruled by a “democratic” despot, Emomalii Rahmon. He “won” re-election in 2006, but that election is widely held to have been corrupt — at the very least, Rahmon had no serious opposition. A 2003 referendum, also corrupt, could enable him to remain in power until at least 2020. He has nine children. No word on whether they are suffering food shortages, but I’m sure they’re doing just fine.]
3) Pakistan: “Taliban militants declared a ceasefire today in fighting with Pakistani forces. The Pakistani government, meanwhile, says its is preparing for peace talks with the Al Qaeda-linked extremists in the lawless tribal area near the border with Afghanistan.”
[Shouldn’t this story be getting a lot more attention?]
4) Italy: “President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved Italy’s Parliament on Wednesday, and the cabinet scheduled national elections for April 13. Mr. Napolitano’s move followed the failure of Italy’s political factions to agree on a plan to revise the country’s flawed electoral law before a new vote.”
[Yet more electoral instability in the country that has perfected it.]
5) Serbia: “Serbia’s nationalist prime minister yesterday blocked the signing of a landmark pact between Belgrade and the EU in an attempt to delay the secession of Kosovo.”
[Thankfully, the pro-European incumbent, Boris Tadic, narrowly beat a right-wing nationalist in the second round of the recent presidential election.]
And on a lighter note:
6) France: “Nicolas Sarkozy, who less than three months ago became the first French president to divorce while in office, is now reported to be on the verge of becoming the first one to wed while occupying the Elysee Palace.”
[The lucky (?) lady is singer-supermodel Carla Bruni. “I have tried to lift France out of the mud,” de Gaulle once said. “But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French.” Not that I really care about Sarkozy’s personal life. It is what it is, and his politics are worse.]