François Hollande’s triumphant visit to Timbuktu — and next steps for Mali

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Kevin Lees

Earlier this weekend, French president François Hollande flew to Timbuktu in Mali, where French forces have only in the last week cleared the historic city of Islamist control. I was quick to argue that the intervention in Mali wasn’t some neocolonial retreat to Françafrique, and for a three-week military campaign, I’ll be the first to [...]

Filed under: France, Mali | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Lombardy looks to post-Formigoni era in toss-up regional elections

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Kevin Lees

Although Italy will hold national elections on February 24 and 25, three regions will hold elections as well — Lombardy, Lazio and Molise. None of those will be more important than those in Lombardy (or Lombardia in Italian), the most populous region of Italy and, as home to Milan, Italy’s financial and fashion capital, also its [...]

Filed under: Italy, Lombardia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

A public interest theory of the continued U.S. embargo on Cuba

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Kevin Lees

The New York Times recently examined the U.S. embargo on Cuba, noting that the opening of the Cuban private market, through Cuban president Raúl Castro’s push for privatization of parts of the state-run economy and other reforms, is giving a new rationale to lifting the embargo: With Cuba cautiously introducing free-market changes that have legalized hundreds [...]

Filed under: Cuba, United States | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

First Past the Post: February 4

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Kevin Lees

East and South Asia Bhutan booming. Indian president Pranab Mukherjee will back tougher laws against sexual assault and rape. Why India doesn’t need a new rape law. The Philippine economy may have grown at 6.5% in 2012. Japanese finance minister Tarō Asō is looking to the 1930s in the United States as precedent for fiscal stimulus. Japan’s government [...]

Filed under: Assorted Links | Leave a Comment »