Zimbabwe’s economic crisis prompts protests and repression
ON JANUARY 16TH Zimbabweans awoke to a text message from Econet, the country’s main internet provider. Citing a warrant from…
An Iranian pop star challenges the regime
print-edition icon Print edition | Middle East and Africa Jan 17th 2019 THE POP star Mehdi Yarrahi was once a favourite of Iran’s…
Indonesia’s economic growth is being held back by populism
AT A CONFERENCE in Singapore on January 15th, Indonesian officials were out in force. Four senior ministers, the bosses of three…
Another terrorist outrage in Nairobi
KENYA HAS a reputation, often deserved, of being among Africa’s most successful states. Yet its vulnerability to terrorism has…
Mike Pompeo goes to Egypt
TEN YEARS and four Egyptian regimes have passed since Barack Obama delivered his grandiose address to the Muslim world in Cairo….
Malaysia’s sultans must pick a new king
print-edition icon Print edition | Asia Jan 10th 2019 THE ANNOUNCEMENT was unexpected and unexplained. On January 6th Sultan Muhammad…
Even as Taiwan perfects its democracy, China is sabotaging it
“POWER TO THE people” read the words newly emblazoned across the floor of the grandest old building in Taipei. The slogan…
Unlikely new residents are reviving Australian country towns
FIRST CAME THE Burmese, then the Afghans and the Africans. Since 2016, 400-odd Yazidis have washed up in Wagga Wagga, a regional…
Japan tries to keep the elderly out of hospital
IN A SUNNY room in a small apartment in the Tokyo satellite town of Kunitachi lies Yasuyuki Ibaraki, eyes closed and breathing…