One Week Later...

Rudd takes control

In Rudd wields hope, we wrote that Australian Prime Minister John Howard's Liberal-National coalition, which has held power since March 1996, looked stale and out of touch on modern issues.

• The Liberal-National coalition was heavily defeated in last Saturday’s federal election.
• Kevin Rudd, the newly elected Australian prime minister, unveiled his cabinet on Thursday.
• The new executive will be sworn in on Monday, and can be expected to push rapidly ahead on policy on the environment, industrial relations and education.

Putin galvanises electorate

In Intrigue in Russia, we wrote that Vladimir Putin's plan to hold onto power depends on pro-Kremlin United Russia's performance in parliamentary elections this Sunday.

• Last week, Putin warned Russians to vote for his party (see below) in elections or face a return to 'humiliation' as a prominent critic accused him of leading Russia toward dictatorship.
• Polls published last month suggest that United Russia's popularity is waning, but Putin's support for the party could galvanise the electorate. 

Pessimism over Annapolis

In Is Annapolis just a 'photo opportunity'? we wrote that it would pay to be pessimistic about prospects for a Palestinian state.

• Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas committed themselves to a negotiating process designed to yield a peace treaty by the end of 2008.
• Abbas and Olmert will be challenged to sell concessions domestically, and face the necessity to bring Hamas and Gaza into the frame.

EU reassured by Beijing

In The EU goes east, we wrote that the EU-China Summit was due to get underway in Beijing with a long list of European demands and few expected Chinese offerings.

• EU officials said last week they were reassured that Chinese leaders had promised to take steps to ease trade imbalances and open the nation's markets.
• More rapid easing of China's exchange rate regime should be expected over coming months.

Political Masterstroke

The World Next Week Political Masterstroke award goes to Vladimir Putin. Garry Kasparov may be a chess grandmaster, but as a strategist he is no match for the Russian president. Last week, Putin demonised foreigners and opposition, imprisoned Kasparov and has likely ensured a huge majority for United Russia in the State Duma lower house of parliament.

Analytica™

Worthy of note, and news to us.

Arroyo talks tough

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has promised the full force of the law will be brought to bear against renegades who launched an attempted coup.

Uranium haul

Uranium seized in Slovakia last week was sufficiently enriched for use in a 'dirty bomb.'.

And finally…

The Indian government has pledged to protect Bangladeshi feminist writer Taslima Nasreen.