海角大神

El Universal / Mexico City
Cooperation is the only solution to curbing rising violence

The disappearance of 43 students and the rising violence in Mexico proves 鈥渢hat military or forceful actions, by themselves, do little or nothing to help eradicate the violence from organized crime. This is why an integral approach is needed, beginning with a good intelligence work in order to get useful information so the criminal organizations can be truly hit...,鈥� . 鈥淸The political] campaign to combat insecurity from a state perspective has failed in the country.... That is why a serious national agreement on the subject [of violence] is urgent.... It is unacceptable that some areas of the country are in the hands of criminals. We are reaching a point of no return and we need Mexico to be safe.鈥�

The Guardian / London
Burkina Faso points to a new democratic future in Africa

鈥淎fter 27 years as the ruler of Burkina Faso, President Blaise Compaor茅 had completely run out of political capital. His manipulation of the constitutional court, the electoral system and the national assembly in order to legitimise his continued rule had had the opposite effect. Much of the middle class ... could no longer see in him ... any kind of key to the future...,鈥� . 鈥淭he army coup is an old idea that no longer works, because African populations are wiser than they were, and less starry-eyed about the capacities and virtues of soldiers.... The country is both poor and angry, a dangerous combination. But the chances are still fair for a reasonable outcome that would be good for Burkina Faso itself and could also have an exemplary effect on the numerous other African countries where leaders may be craftily musing on the possibility of manipulating term limits. The strong message from Burkina Faso is: 鈥楧on鈥檛 overstay your welcome.鈥� 鈥�

The Star / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Inching toward an Islamic state

鈥淭he [Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party鈥檚] plan to implement [a law that would ban non-Muslims from saying 鈥楢llah鈥橾 is going full steam ahead despite opposition from its political partners and critics outside the state [of Kelantan闭...,鈥� . 鈥淸T]here is no denying that the average Kelantanese has no objection to life under [the 鈥楪od law鈥橾.... Whatever people outside of Kelantan may think or say, the fact is that the Kelantanese have been slowly but surely inching towards an Islamic state.鈥�

China Daily / Beijing
China invests in the future of Afghanistan

鈥淲hile speculation about US-China geopolitical gaming in the war-torn country has little foothold in reality, Chinese interest in a peaceful and stable neighbor is real and unmistakable...,鈥� . China has pledged $330 million in aid to Afghanistan over three years. 鈥淲e must assist Afghanistan not only because we have been on good terms historically, dating back to the Silk Road at least. Or because we have a moral obligation as a regional player. Or for the business opportunities Afghan reconstruction promises. But because we have very real interests in preventing the spillover of terrorist threats from across shared borders.... Helping Afghanistan [to broker peace] is helping ourselves....鈥�

The Namibian / Windhoek, Namibia
Building shopping malls doesn鈥檛 constitute economic development

鈥淭he excitement about shopping in this country has reached worrying proportions.... This month alone, at least two multi-million dollar shopping malls ... were opened to the public. It is a trend that has been going on for the past decade or so...,鈥� . 鈥淥ur leaders ... [give] the impression that every time a shopping centre is built they rush to announce that 鈥榙evelopment鈥� has been taken to the people. Any survey will show that the shops in those centres are mainly South African-owned and perhaps managed, with most Namibians providing only scab labour.... Hardly any money that Namibians make gets time to circulate in the country and build the economy.... We all have a challenge to start reinventing what we regard as development.鈥澛�