Putin's Successor

This weekend, Russians are almost certain to choose as their next leader a man who strikes much of the world as a cipher.

With Russia's opposition silenced and its major media mostly under Kremlin control, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is heavily favored to win Sunday's presidential election. Vladimir Putin, who handpicked Mr. Medvedev to succeed him, is barred by Russia's constitution from running for a third consecutive term. Mr. Medvedev has invited the popular Mr. Putin to stay on as prime minister, the government's second-most-powerful job.

The central mystery of Mr. Medvedev is whether he will call his own shots -- and, if he does, how he will rule.

read the WSJ article

Barring unforeseen events Medvedev will become the next Russian president.

Chapter 6 Vocabulary

Here is the Chapter 6 vocabulary.

Remember the quiz is Friday. Test is Monday.

Cartoon: Castro

Is he dead already?

China Blog

Check out the China Economics Blog

A lot of good links to China news sources and some other things that may be of interest.

Chapter 5 lecture notes

Here are the notes.

The test will be matching and multiple choice. No short answer.

Chapter 5 Key Terms

Here are the key terms for Chapter 5

Kosovo to Become a State

Kosovo's parliament meets Sunday afternoon to officially declare the province's independence from Serbia, a move opposed by Serbia and Russia but supported by many western governments.

CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from the Kosovar capital Pristina, said that the plan is for Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci to read out the independence declaration, which is written in Albanian, Serbian and English, to parliament before lawmakers pass it unanimously.

Vinci added that Kosovo's Albanian population were already singing and dancing in the streets as well as lighting firecrackers ahead of the much anticipated vote. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said.

read the CNN story

Mapmakers are happy.

5 Vocab Quiz Postponed...

Tuesday when we return to school...

Chapter 4: Lecture Notes

Click here for lecture notes.

Update: Know the ways citizens can participate and the 5 ways of legitimate access to the political system, for short answer purposes.

LA Riots

Warning: The videos are somewhat graphic in nature.

Here is the infamous Rodney King beating video.



News Report of the LA Riots

Chapter 4 vocab

Click here for Chapter 4 vocab