Important developments and international trends

All Asian nations are vying for influence in Africa and the Middle East. The US has just squandered trillions of dollars in the Middle East, and done precious little in 8 years to stake a foothold in resource rich Africa, only to find itself increasingly pushed to the side (regional peace negotiations), denied (twice by Fahd for oil), and now needing to shake off the international pariah image (deserved or not). Meanwhile, economic tectonics slowly begin to realign the immediate future.

Here are two articles in two days showing the growing interest in Africa and the Middle East: