Topic: Mauritius

The Monitor's View: Who forced a 'fiscal cliff' deal? Try foreign investors.

Washington is now all too aware that foreign creditors and investors will punish it for any macroeconomic mismanagement. American competitiveness was at stake in the fiscal cliff negotiations.

Modern Parenthood
Olympics 2012: Six ways to celebrate the summer Games at home

Olympics 2012: The Olympics provide parents a chance to teach their kids about different countries, sportsmanship, and motivation. Get in the spirit of the summer Games with six alternative ways to celebrate at home.

Transit of Venus: Early 'tape measure' for size of our solar system (+video)

The next transit of Venus occurs June 5. Astronomers once used the transit of Venus across the sun to come up with the 'astronomical unit' – the distance from Earth to our sun. 

Africa asks itself: Where is the aid money?

African nations pledged five months ago to do more to help each other when famine and disaster strike. But so far, they haven't come up with the promised cash.

Leadership: Handpicking a new generation of African role models

The African Leadership Academy looks for specific traits – such as courage – in picking students who may lead the continent someday.

Progress Watch
Kenya finds cleaner government is just a keystroke away

Kenya is promoting cleaner government by computerizing many of the tasks that used to be handled by bureaucrats – who might seek bribes to expedite requests.

Why Pedro Pires won the $5 million Ibrahim Prize for African governance

Cape Verde's former president Pedro Pires won the $5 million Ibrahim Prize for good governance both for how he eased his nation's indebtedness, and for his willingness to step down from power.

River of Smoke

The Opium Wars bring new trials – and fresh adventures – to the cast of characters introduced in the rollicking "Sea of Poppies."

Global News Blog
Dodo egg claim disputed in South Africa

Efforts to confirm claims about a dodo egg, perhaps the last in the world, are complicated by a dispute over who owns the egg.

Africa Monitor
Seychelles serves up African justice for Somali pirates

The Seychelles convicted 11 Somali pirates Monday and joined other small Indian Ocean countries in asking the European Union to fund a regional naval force to combat piracy. Is this emerging as an African solution?

At last, a court to try Somali pirates

Most navies catch and release Somali pirates. But Kenya's new pirate court, funded by the UN, aims to bring legal clarity to a complex international crime.

Reader recommendation: Sea of Poppies

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.

L'Oréal trial: heiress Bettencourt's tax shelters, gifts alienate belt-tightening French

The trial of a photographer charged with trying to defraud L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt started today, but was suspended to examine secretly made tapes in which Bettencourt discussed tax shelters with an adviser. Disaffection with elite privileges is rising in France.

Global News Blog
Vienna ranked best city in world; Baghdad worst

Mercer's 2010 Quality of Living Survey ranks 221 cities, with Vienna at the top, Baghdad at the bottom, and Honolulu as the best in America. But the list of best places to live arguably values comfort over dynamism.

For Republic Day, India invites ... South Korea?

For its 61st Republic Day Tuesday, India chose as its foreign honoree the president of South Korea – a nod to his country's role in building badly needed infrastructure and to India’s growing trade within Asia.

No $5 million Mo Ibrahim prize: no honest African leaders?

This year, cellphone magnate Mo Ibrahim won't be giving a $5 million prize for good governance. Why not?

Opinion: Obama versus Muslim conspiracy theories

His major speech in Cairo is directed at an audience that often blames difficulties on America and Israel. A bold move might help regain trust.

Modern mariner phones home to Maine schoolhouse

From an oil rig in the Indian Ocean, a seafaring dad offers practical math and tales of pirates as lessons over a Web connection with his kids’ classroom back home.

Sea of Poppies

An absorbing tale of the motley crew assembled aboard a British trading ship.

Chapter & Verse
The Nobel Prize goes to a cosmopolite

African countries improve their governance, study shows

The Mo Ibrahim Index announced this week that 31 of 48 countries are run better.

The House at Sugar Beach

A US journalist tells her story as one of Liberia's fallen elite.

Solving the medal muddle

Frontier markets lure – and reward – hardy investors

Risks have been rewarded by diving into Bangladesh, Ukraine, and other small developing nations.