Israeli air strikes in the Gaza strip have brought a dismal end to peace efforts in the Middle East in 2008. It seemed as though potentials for peace in what many consider to be the epicentre of the region had taken a hard enough blow with: the collapse of Hamas-Fatah peace talks in Cairo, a break down of a six month cease fire between Israel and Hamas, rioting by Israeli settlers in Hebron, a humanitarian crisis due to the blockade on residents of the Gaza strip and to top it all off, constant fire of Qassam rockets into Southern Israel. But just when we thought that it couldn�€™t get any worse before the year�€™s end, we are now confronted with a shocking death toll of over 360, more pain, more suffering, more innocent deaths and - most damaging to any hope for peace - more anger.

The 10th of December is celebrated as World Human Rights Day internationally. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in 1948. That makes this year's December 10th all the more special, it is the 60th anniversary of the event. However, most of the attempts, in the media or otherwise, to commemorate the occasion brought into sharp focus the failure of the Declaration, for that matter the international community, with respect to ensuring basic rights for everyone across the globe. In South and West Asia, a region mostly populated by Islamic countries, the situation is seemingly more serious than most other places. An obvious reason for this is the fact that much of the region in mired in one or more of several regional and international conflicts. With the new incoming American administration, is there a chance to effect significant change?

After the events of November 26th, 27th and 28th, Israel and India both found themselves victim to horrific acts of terror. The indiscriminate massacre of Indians and the capture and murder of Israelis by the terrorists in the Chabad house has brought about a common sense of purpose between these two rising state actors.

The election of Barack Obama is a victory for the underdog. It is a victory for democracy. It is a victory for the United States of America. It is a victory for the world. But, most important, it is a victory for the concept of hope.

If ever there was a need to remind ourselves of how rapidly the world is �€˜shrinking�€™, one needed to look no further than the pictures being splashed across every news channel on every continent, of people rejoicing at the historic election victory of the 44th President of the United States of America. 

Central Africa is in conflict once again. Since August 2008, the 10,000-strong rebel force of General Laurent Nkunda, known as the CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the Nation) is battling the Congolese national army. This battle rages in the east of Congo, near the city of Goma, in the North Kivu province. The UN estimates that since September, approximately 250,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting. The casualty figures are not clear yet but Human Rights Watch says that 100 civilians have been killed so far and more than 200 others have been injured. 

Dear Mr. Obama,

I would like to begin this letter by congratulating you on your victory. I think I can comfortably speak for much of the youth in my country, that as a generation of people in our 20�€™s, we are glad that you will usher in a change in the coming decade. 

There are currently three main obstacles in the way of an Israel-Palestine roadmap to peace �€“ A factional split within the Palestinian administration, the instability currently plaguing Israeli politics and the uncertainty of the future U.S. administration�€™s stance on what many consider to be the central tenet of Mid-East peace. The last few weeks have witnessed some disappointing developments in all three of these areas, leading to a rather moribund picture of future peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian entity.