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Zimbabwe’s new colonial master

It looks increasingly as though Zimbabwe’s peasant farmers have simply exchanged colonial masters, writes International Affairs columnist Jonathan Manthorpe. An excerpt of his new column, China accepts tribute from its vassal, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe: That significance is likely to grow early next year, when Mugabe is the odds-on favourite to be selected leader of the 54-member African Union (AU). The stage was set for Mugabe to be given this accolade last week when he was chosen unanimously to be chair of the 15-member Southern African Development Community. Next year is southern Africa’s turn to provide the AU leadership, and Mugabe’s anti-colonial, freedom

The week on F&O

Within our site you’ll find a trove of free stories at no charge, but to support F&O, or access the original work behind our paywall, please use the links on the top right of each page to LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE. A day pass to the entire site is $1. Subscriptions range from $2.95 monthly to $19.95 annually. F&O carries no advertising and does not solicit donations from non-journalism organizations. We rely entirely on reader subscriptions. Thank you for your interest and support. The headlines of our week at F&O: In Dispatches: Heart disease and stroke remain major killers; cancer catches

UN Security Council and journalists at risk

A legal expert wonders if it’s time for the United Nations Security Council to become pro-active in protecting journalism. “Statistics suggest that many states are unwilling or unable to deter crimes against journalists by ensuring that the perpetrators are held to account,” writes Carmen Draghici. “The culture of impunity not only infringes the victims’ right to life, personal security and free speech, but also has a chilling effect on the media in general, as well as affecting the public’s right to information.” An excerpt of Draghici’s essay in Dispatches/Publica: The vicious execution of US journalist James Foley by militants of the Islamic State

The Return of Doctor Who

The Doctor returns on Saturday. Doctor Who? Yes. Oh. Why, that would be Peter Capaldi, the latest actor to play the science fiction character Doctor Who. He is apparently loved by nerds, muggles and regular folk alike as he and his companions “travel through time and space in a miraculous police box called the TARDIS.” That’s the description by Netflix on one of the many Doctor Who series it offers. The new series can be seen in many countries on television, for those who still have one of those antiquated devices, or live-streaming: this fan site, Dr. Who.com, lists the channels, most

Patrick Stewart leads the Ice Bucket Challenge

I was doing just fine ignoring the ice bucket trend, until actor Patrick Stewart wowed the world with his response to the challenge and made me look.  It seems silly, but it turns out that silly — here, asking people to dump icy water over their heads — is a terrific way to fund-raise. Due to its ice bucket challenge, the American ALS Association said today it’s received $53.3 (U.S.) million in donations, compared to $2.2 million during the same time period last year. The challenge allowed Canada’s ALS charity to boost its fundraising goal from a paltry $10,000 (Canadian) to

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