which have done as much to hurt development as colonialism ever did. That's why after four decades and billions of dollars in aid from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the nations of sub-Saharan Africa remain among the world's poorest. ...more

July 5, 2008

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev on Wednesday urged the creation of a national museum and memorial to honor victims of Soviet-era repression and to document their demise. ...more

June 5, 2008

The world's last Hindu kingdom became its newest secular republic Wednesday as Nepal's lawmakers, led by former communist insurgents, abolished the monarchy that had reigned over this Himalayan land for 239 years. ...more

May 29, 2008

My recent Venezuela column in The Tampa Tribune prompted a prominent response from a local Venezuelan activist who took exception to some points I made. Fair enough. On this subject, I'm not an expert on anything but my own first-hand impressions based on what I saw -- from health clinics to brazen street crime -- and to whom I spoke -- from Chavez acolytes to scornful opposition. ...more

May 22, 2008

Violent protests rocked Serb-dominated northern Kosovo on Friday, as mobs chanting "Kosovo is ours!" hurled stones, bottles and firecrackers at U.N. police guarding a bridge that divides Serbs from ethnic Albanians. ...more

February 23, 2008