On 4 March 2009, after more than seven months of examining evidence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Darfur region. President al-Bashir was indicted on two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity for intentionally directing unlawful attacks against civilians. He is the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC.

The warrant for President al-Bashir's arrest was immediately denounced by Sudanese officials, such as Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalahaleem, who said, "We strongly condemn this criminal move…It amounts to an attempt at regime change. We are not going to be bound by it. We are not going to respect it." Read More...

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started her first overseas trip to Asia. The goal was to "convey that America's relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century" (Japan Times). She visited Japan, China, North Korea, and Indonesia. Her main purpose in Japan was to assure the nation that Japan is a key ally to the United States. As a part of her taut one-day itinerary in Japan, Clinton renegotiated troop alignments in the region to "ensure defense of Japan against attack." She left China with promises from its leaders to work for a solution to the global economic crisis and environmental issues. Clinton's visit to Indonesia assured the government that it was coming out of its "diplomatic isolation." She also put Indonesia forward as an example of the ideal moderate Muslim nation. In North Korea, she assured the administration that the U.S. is willing to have better diplomatic ties with the nation. From 1-7 March, she travels to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Belgium, Switzerland, and Turkey. Read More...

PEACEBUILDING IN SIERRA LEONE: On 9 February 2009, Executive Representative for the U.N. Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone Michael von der Schulenburg briefed the U.N. Security Council on the progress of peacebuilding efforts in Sierra Leone. After the briefing, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice spoke to the reporters and said that the U.N. and the government of Sierra Leone have made remarkable progress since the end of more than a decade of civil war in January 2002.
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NUCLEAR POWER REVIVAL IN ITALY: On 24 February, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed a deal to build new nuclear plants in Italy. As part of an accord on civilian nuclear cooperation between the countries, Italian and French energy giants Enel and EDF will build at least four nuclear plants in Italy, the intention being to have the first one up and running by 2020. The agreement between the companies gives Enel a majority stake in the plants and allows them to lead their operation.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: On 25 February, reports indicate that Foreign Minister Tony debrum received a letter from President Litokwa Tomeing "revoking" his status as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Three weeks prior to the issuance of the letter, Minister deBrum publicly criticized President Tomeing's administration at the Nitijela (Parliament) meeting.

VENEZUELA: On 15 February 2009- Venezuelan President Hugo Chàvez gained a substantial victory when 54.4% of voters elected to reform five articles of the constitution, removing term limits for all popularly elected officials. Crowds cheered their support as Chàvez announced that, "this soldier is a pre candidate for the presidency, for the period 2013-19."

CUBA: During the week of 2-6 March, the two most recent successors of the Castro legacy, 43-year-old Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and 57-year-old Vice President Carlos Lage, were both demoted in a reshuffle of the Cabinet. Potential key players are now considered to be 67-year-old Gen. Ulises Rosales del Toro, 76 year old Ramiro Valdez, and Raul Castro's son Alejandro. Regardless of who end up in line for succession, the military will play a larger role.