Worldbeaters

Does Africa any longer need Bob Geldof as its champion? After Live 8 many people are saying no.

The NI predicted his ascent in this section back in September 2000 and now ‘God’s Rottweiler’ has become Pope Benedict XVI.

Filed in: Catholicism Christianity

A Pontius Pilate for our age: Samuel P Huntington.

Filed in: United States

His idea is simple, but it is wowing governments, bankers and aid agencies the world over: legalize the shadow economy and you’ll save the poor. But the free market rarely pulls off this magic trick, whatever Hernando de Soto may claim.

Tactically brutal, pragmatically treacherous: Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Iran’s new breed of neo-conservatives brook no dissent. They include Saeed Mortazavi, implicated in the beating to death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazami in 2003.

Filed in: Iran Islam

Bully-boy monopolist turned mega-philanthropist: Bill Gates looks down on the world from Olympian heights of wealth. But the Vista before him is looking ever more troubled.

A profile of the former guerilla leader turned tyrant, Ethiopian Prime Minister Zenawi, who died today after 21 years in power.

Filed in: Ethiopia

All bow down before the glorious rule of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov.

Filed in: Uzbekistan

Yet another idealistic comrade turned brutal dictator: Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki.

Filed in: Eritrea

One-man wrecking crew in a Canadian one-party state: Ralph Klein.