Canada's Conservative Party has its first majority government, meaning it can focus on the policy issues it deems important without catering to the opposition.
Incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is under increasing pressure as forces loyal to the opposition close in on his main support base. (With STRATFOR map)
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's consolidation of power has made his country strong and stable, but a looming succession has sparked infighting and a possible crisis.
China recorded its largest deficit in February since 2004. Though nothing suggests China is inevitably on the path toward consecutive deficits, such a development would be quite significant.
