The Afghan election was conducted in relative clam and over 7 million Afghans voted, a number far surpassing previous elections. The robust election is a victory for the Afghan government and has to be interpreted as a loss for the Taliban who had vowed to disrupt the election. At this point it’s unknown who won the election and it seems unlikely that any single candidate for president received a majority of votes. So there will likely be a runoff election. But the results of the preliminary election are highly encouraging.
Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera has issued an order for Japanese anti-missile systems to destroy any North Korean missiles that threaten Japan. Additionally, South Korea has announced its intentions to expand the range of its anti-missile systems. The moves come as North Korea has begun to test new missiles and has responded more belligerently than normal to US-South Korean military maneuvers. The moves suggest a deepening of tensions in East Asia.
The outbreak of Ebola fever continues in West Africa. It is a devastating disease with an untreated mortality rate of about 90%. It is only transmissible through direct contact, so, with proper procedures, the outbreaks can be contained (unlike the varieties of influenzas that continue to pop up globally). Nonetheless, the weak medical infrastructure in African states make any outbreak potentially dangerous. The only group that appears to be helping substantially is Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), a group that proves the incredible value of non-governmental organizations in world politics.
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