The next nine months could very well determine Egypt’s political trajectory for years to come, as the ongoing power struggle over who will take over from President Hosni Mubarak gathers steam. Given the president’s faltering health, the lack of a clear successor, widespread opposition (both within government and the population at large) to a transfer… [Read more]
Germany’s general elections on Sunday produced a victory for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which now looks set to form a coalition with the centre-right Free Democrats (FDP). The two parties would have a parliamentary majority of 42. This will bring to an end four years of the ‘Grand Coalition’ between the CDU and the… [Read more]
Among the less noticed business news stories to have emerged over the past 48 hours were reports that North Korea recently opened its first American-style fast food restaurant, Samtaeseong, in Pyongyang, and plans to open further branches in future. If this had happened in any other country, it would probably not merit any attention. But… [Read more]