Politics and Diplomacy
Maliki’s 100-day Deadline Expires: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s self-imposed 100-day deadline for progress on improvements in public service provision expired on June 7. As part of its efforts to meet this deadline, the Government of Iraq has shifted funding towards food for the poor and has started projects such as roadwork to repair potholes, building houses, and reserved $400 million to help pay for generator fuel to alleviate electricity shortages. But, experts say, little long-term change has been effected, and even short-term improvements in basic infrastructure may be inadequate to prevent future protests. (NEA-I-IPOG, AFP)