US News: Opinion: Can Obama’s Foreign Policy Picks Reboot His Static Africa Policy? – The Obama administration stated in June that its strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa would focus on four areas: “peace and security; the development of democratic institutions; growth; trade and investment.” Many believe that “African nations will necessarily gravitate to those countries that are investing in their economies,” and a new strategy is needed for the US that goes beyond the traditional aid and donor assistance approach. Sen. John Kerry, former senator Chuck Hagel, and John Brennan will be the major determining figures of our approach to Africa during Obama’s second term. (Stephen Hayes)
Devex: A win for ‘smart power’? – The new Senate Foreign Relations Committee will welcome two Democrats, Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, as well as four Republicans: John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The panel is expected to be chaired by Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Maryland Democrat Barbara Mikulski, “a longtime supporter of a robust foreign affairs budget,” will chair the powerful Appropriations Committee. (Rolf Rosenkranz)
VOA: Rainfall, Brain Infection Linked In Uganda – A Ugandan study has found the first major neurological condition linked to climate. Hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid that leads to a swelling of the brain and an enlarged head, infects approximately 100,000 infants in sub-Saharan Africa every year. The amount of rainfall can affect the number of infants who develop this deadly brain infection. Research surrounding this disease must be tailored geographically to account for “the complexities of the environment that infants are exposed to in Africa.” (Joe DeCapua)
FT: Zuma blames global crisis for woes – South African president Jacob Zuma has rejected criticism of his first three years in office, “blaming his country’s economic and social woes on the legacy of apartheid and the global economic crisis.” The past year in South Africa has been one of the most turbulent in the country’s post-apartheid history, “as it has battled poverty, unemployment and violent strikes.” Zuma has been criticized for being a weak leader and soft on corruption as his country’s social and economic pressures mount. (Andrew England)
