The Americas

The Caribbean — Hurricane Earl has now risen to category four, passing by Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Meteorologists have indicated that Earl may be heading towards the eastern seaboard of the US. Travelling with winds up to 215km/h, the effects could be disastrous if Earl hits land.

Mexico City, Mexico — Mexican authorities have arrested Edgar Valdez, an alleged drug trafficker. Valdez, whose aliases included “El Guero” and “Barbie”, had been affiliated with the Beltran Leyva...

KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA – As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic continues to deplete much of South Africa’s struggling healthcare system, a new trend of home care-giving has become popularized in the rural areas of the country that blends community development and increased education together with medical assistance.

World Health Organization (WHO) research has concluded that between 70 and 90 per cent of illness care takes place within the home, making home care-giving an important component of the healthcare process.

Deadly floods in Pakistan mark the worst natural disaster in UN history

It has been called the worst flood in Pakistan’s history. Approximately 3.5 million survivors only have contaminated water to drink. With little food and clean water to hand out, recovery is estimated to take at least three years.

In addition to these figures, one fifth...

“Actions by one country are irrelevant unless other countries are doing something similar,” explained Barry Smit, Canadian research chair in global environmental change.

While a global effort is necessary in combating the effects of climate change and maintaining resource sustainability, the success of the current model of conventions, panels and agreements is questionable.

On Aug. 9, the United Nations (UN) announced its formation of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP).

The panel, co-chaired by South African President Jacob...

The conclusion of the FIFA World Cup brings about great change for South Africa, on the soccer pitch and beyond. A stronger infrastructure, renewed civic unity, a new image on the world stage – but for how long?

BP has released statements concerning the successful installation of a sealing cap that will help capture leaking oil and ultimately stop the flow. Pressure tests will be conducted throughout the day to ensure that the cap is performing well. While this marks the first seemingly successful attempt at capping the leak, BP states that the system has never been implemented at such depths. The temporary solution will prove vital in mitigating the damage that has left southern US states in...

The mission in Afghanistan has taken an unexpected turn with the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal. This sudden shift in leadership has been linked to McChrystal’s embarrassing comments in an article for Rolling Stone magazine.

The article, which hit newsstands on June 25, exhibits McChrystal and his staff openly criticizing senior civilian officials and Whitehouse staff. Among the many include Vice-President Joe Biden and Richard Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. While the article does not reveal McChrystal...

It is a rare occurrence that the average citizen can identify important issues outside of regular media coverage. When asked about conflicts currently occurring around the globe, most people could name the most popular of issues.

The conflict in Israel-Palestine and the War on Terror are reported on frequently by the media. The current civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or issues within Thailand and Somalia are reported on regularly.

But few people would be able to...

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) hosts a discussion on the necessity of foreign correspondents

“Foreign correspondence is the best type of journalism,” said Martin Regg Cohn, the Toronto Star’s editorial page editor, at a panel discussion entitled “Danger, Disaster and Deadlines.”

The discussion, hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the Canadian International Council (CIC), featured...

While the Kyrgyz Health Ministry tally casualties close to 200, Interim President Roza Otunbayeva said there may be ten times as many dead; UN estimates 400,000 displaced as a result of the fighting

Intense fighting ended in tragedy in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgysztan as many endure continued violence between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. The instability between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Osh and other southern cities has prompted the military to instate a rigid curfew to ensure...

It has been 64 days since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil gushes out of the Macando well at a rate of approximately 795,000 litres per day at best.

The leak has become the biggest environmental disaster in United States history.

On April 20, millions of litres of oil began pouring into the Gulf of Mexico due to a blast on the rig Deepwater Horizon, just off the coast of Louisiana. The blast killed 11 BP...

Optimism is running short in Greece’s capital where thousands have taken to the streets following the third general strike after months of civil unrest.

The insurrections were inspired by the growing distaste for the government’s austerity measures – the planned wage cuts in the public and private sectors and the increase of taxes to help manage the financial bailout prepared by the Eurozone nations.

The level of anger and ferocity among citizens has not been seen in Greece for a...

United Nations ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala presented a humanist approach to the topic of Nuclear disarmament, reminding us that 8,000 nuclear weapons could destroy the world in a moment’s notice.

His lecture on May 12 at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) was entitled “Global Nuclear Challenges and Multilateral Responses.”

Two motifs that were present throughout the lecture were United States President Barack Obama’s stance on nuclear weapons and the odds of sheer luck.

In the struggle towards disarmament, Dhanapala...

Expo 2010 Shanghai China, which launched on May 1, aims to be a grand international gathering with an emphasis on innovation and interaction, though there are downsides to these expositions.

“[It can be hard to] look past the national branding that goes on in these fairs to get at the substantive content,” said Alex Latta, assistant professor of global studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Latta believes that the expo’s theme of “Better City, Better Life” can also be read as...