Earlier this month, South African President Jacob Zuma survived the eighth attempt by the National Assembly to remove him from power. As head of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that led the country away from apartheid, Zuma was able to win election in both 2009 and 2014. His tenure has been increasingly afflicted with allegations of corruption and criminal investigations. The motion of no confidence in President Zuma, was defeated in the National Assembly of South Africa by 198 votes […]
Elections in Kenya: Tribalism And Violence Continues To Undermine Democracy
This will be the 6th presidential election for Kenya, since the end of the one party state in 1991. The electorate will also be deciding on a new parliament. The voting results will have a major impact not just domestically, but throughout the region. The country remains both an economic and political leader for East Africa. Kenya possesses the second largest economy in the region, after Ethiopia. Any political unrest in Kenya, will further destabilize an entire geographic area, already facing major […]
Political Gridlock In The United States Over ObamaCare: Signals The End Of American Financial Supremacy
The inability of the political system in the United States to enact needed reforms in entitlements, is an indication how dire the issue of governmental debt, has become for Americans. The present trajectory in the cost of popular social programs is simply unsustainable, yet political gridlock has become the mainstay of the national government. It is a clear signal that American economic and financial supremacy, is nearing the end, after nearly three quarters of a century. The latest example, was the failure […]
Wealthy Qatar Remains Defiant In The Face Of Arab Sanctions
In the beginning of June, the nations of Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates collectively imposed a trade and travel boycott against their neighbor Qatar. Nearly two months later, Qatar remains defiant, in the face of sanctions and has refused to comply to 13 demands, of fellow Arab nations. The emirate had also been asked to shut down Al Jazeera and other Qatar-funded news outlets. Later, Qatar was told it needed to agree to six principles […]
Montenegro Joins The Western Military Alliance Of NATO Despite Controversy
The last piece of real estate on the Adriatic and the only northern part of the Mediterranean Sea, that did not belong to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was Montenegro. On June 5th, the former Balkan republic of Yugoslavia, became the 29th member of the Western military alliance, over Russian objections and internal political controversy. Montenegro is still the most current, newest fully recognized country in the world. Independence came in June 2006, after a referendum the preceding month. The nation was […]
The United States Federal Budget Not Based On Reality Under Both Presidents Obama And Trump
The United States has been accumulating debt at an enormous rate. The federal debt effectively doubled during the Obama Administration. The interest on the debt in the federal budget, is one of the fastest growing allocations, despite historically low interest rates. It already consumes $266 billion USD (United States Dollar) annually. The federal deficit for the fiscal year 2018 is $440 billion USD. This will cover the period October 01 2017, to September 30, 2018. Despite tremendous revenues and tax receipts of $3.654 […]
Hungary Under Orban Continues To Assert Sovereign Rights Within European Union
Viktor Orban the Prime Minister of Hungary, has been in power since 2010. He had previously held the post from 1998 to 2002. As leader of the far-right, anti-immigrant Fidesz party, he continues to offer a vision for his country, that is contrary to most European Union leaders. His long tenure is no accident, he enjoys widespread support throughout many areas of Hungary. Prime Minister Orban claims he is promoting a cultural counter revolution. For Hungary and Europe at large, he says […]
Protests In French Guiana Highlight Economic Inequality And Lack Of Growth
The independence movements that swept Africa, Asia and Latin America after World War II failed to inspire the people of French Guiana toward similar action. Even when neighboring Guyana separated from the United Kingdom in 1966 and Suriname became independent of the Netherlands in 1975, French Guiana elected to stay as part of France. In a 2010 referendum, the people of French Guiana once again voted against further autonomy. Yet, French Guiana has been dealing with tensions that have erupted between various […]
China’s New Economic Silk Road: The Belt And Road Initiative
For the 21st century President Xi Jinping of China has proposed a new economic Silk Road, that will reconnect his country with Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Dubbed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it will have an economic impact on three billion people and will create the biggest global market. This new trade enterprise started in 2013, has become the cornerstone of China’s foreign economic policy. President Xi considers the endeavor as having unparalleled potential. As the most powerful Chinese […]
Portugal: Economic Recovery But Massive Debt And A Fragile Banking System Remain
In November of 2015, Antonio Costa the incoming Socialist Prime Minister of Portugal, was able put together a government, by aligning himself with the far left. There were many who felt this political coalition would be short-lived, since it seemed unworkable. His campaign pledge had been to reverse the punishing austerity measures but, to also meet quite challenging fiscal targets. Due to an improving economy and fiscal discipline, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Costa, was able to reduce the […]