First Past the Post: March 11

falklands

East and South Asia

Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai has harsh words for both the Taliban and the United States.

The People’s Republic of China announces a new government reorganization plan.

One of the alleged assailants in India’s infamous gang rape case has either committed suicide or has been murdered in prison.

A battle of the ports in the growing China-India rivalry.

Anti-nuclear activists protest Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe.

Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo returns to South Korea today.

North America

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is the frontrunner to become the Obama administration’s national security advisor.

A new book from Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argues that the rise of Canada’s west and the proliferation of immigrants is changing the nature of the Canadian elite — in part by making it more conservative (h/t Tyler Cowen).

Trouble for Canada’s economy?

Latin America / Caribbean

Residents of the Falklands Islands (pictured above) go to the polls today for a new status referendum that’s widely expected to result in a local victory to remain a British overseas territory.

Henrique Capriles, the runner-up in the October 2012 presidential election to the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, will run against his hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro, in the snap April 14 Venezuelan election.

Caracas Chronicles live-blogs the Capriles announcement.

Megan McArdle last week provides a very thoughtful indictment of the Chávez era.

Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto marks his first 100 days in office.

Sub-Saharan Africa

For the avoidance of doubt, Jubilee alliance candidate Uhuru Kenyatta officially won election as Kenya’s fourth president Saturday morning with 50.07% of the vote.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, which backed Raila Odinga for president, will present a petition in court on Monday challenging the result.

Kenyatta has tough choices in selecting a new cabinet.

Outgoing Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki is set to turn over power to Kenyatta.

Looking at the relatively improved political fortunes of Zimbabwe’s longtime president Robert Mugabe since 2008.

Lessons for Zimbabwe’s March 16 constitutional referendum from Kenya.

Europe

Malta’s Labour Party has triumphed by a landslide 55.1% to 43.1% margin against the long-ruling Nationalist Party in Saturday’s parliamentary elections. (with Labour leader Joseph Muscat set to become Malta’s next prime minister).

Edward Hugh considers the long-term demographic and economic trends for Portugal.

Free Democratic Party leader Philipp Rösler criticizes his coalition partner, German chancellor Angela Merkel over citizenship rights and same-sex marriage.

Another week, another conviction for former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, this time for illegal wiretapping.

European Union leaders are criticizing a planned constitutional vote in the Hungarian parliament.

Russia and Former Soviet Union

DW interviews Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite.

Armenian presidential runner-up Raffi Hovannisian has gone on a hunger strike in opposition to the alleged fraud in the reelection of his rival, incumbent Serzh Sargsyan.

Middle East and North Africa

Saudi Arabia has jailed two political activists.

Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda party is moving closer to a new government under prime minister-designate Ali Larayedh.

Israel is likely to get a new government this week under prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Yair Lapid getting the finance ministry.

Libya’s parliament is temporarily suspending activity.

Bassem Sabry on the Egyptian judiciary decision to overturn planned parliamentary elections.

Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi is considering the dismissal of prime minister Hisham Qandil.

Australia and Oceania

Liberal premier Colin Barnett won reelection in Western Australia in state elections Saturday, further adding to Labor prime minister Julia Gillard’s woes.

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