North Korean's today celebrated, albeit forcedly, the birthday of "the great leader" Kim Jong Il. The country is garnering alot of coverage here in the media in Asia, given recent developments around nuclear dismantlement. I was reading an old issue of Time Asia, and happened upon this fascinating article on the Underground Railroad - the arduous journey of North Korean defectors. The plight of North Korean refugees is not something I've come across much coverage on.

here's a film that sounds really interesting: Bamako

$5 million: amount to be awarded to the winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, created by the Sudanese born business tycoon to honor corruption free African leaders. This prize is now the world's highest, eclipsing the Nobel's $1.4 million award.

$148 billion: estimated annual cost of corruption in the African continent, which is 25% of the continent's GDP.

The latest issue of Forced Migration Review is on a topic of great interest to me: "Sexual violence: weapon of war, impediment to peace". The issue explores the challenges and opportunities for combating sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict and development recovery contexts. Practice-oriented submissions from 40 specialists from a wide range of humanitarian agencies highlight key issues and challenges, best practices, innovative programmes and recommendations. In addition, there are 13 non-theme articles, including on Iraq, Somalia, Kosovo, Colombia, Uganda and Western Sahara. This issue of FMR is complemented by a June 2006 International Symposiumon Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond.

Just as the 10 year civil war drew to a close in Nepal, and stability seemed to be on the horizon, another conflict is yet again proving problematic. Madhesis, a ethnic minority, have been rioting in parts of Southern Nepal. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala promised Jan. 31 to turn Nepal into a federal state after this year's constituent assembly elections, a move to stem protests by ethnic Madhesi people in which 11 people have died. He also vowed to redraw constituencies for the planned vote, the first in eight years, on the basis of population and geography to raise the representation of different groups, including the Madhesi people, in the assembly.