Kester Kenn Klomegah

Stories written by Kester Kenn Klomegah
Kester Kenn Klomegah is the IPS Moscow correspondent. He covers politics, human rights issues, foreign policy and ethnic minority problems. His research interests include Russian area studies and Russian culture. Kester has worked for several years with the Moscow Times. He has studied social philosophy and religion and spent a year at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He is co-author of ‘AIDS/HIV and Men: Taking Risk or Taking Responsibility’ published by the London-based Panos Institute. In 2004, he was awarded the Golden Word Prize for excellence in journalism by the Russian Media Union, a non-governmental media organisation in Moscow.

AFRICA: G8 Has Yet to Deliver on Aid Promises – World Bank

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

The industrialised nations of the Group of Eight are failing on the promises made in their previous summits to help Africa's economic development and to push for poverty alleviation for those struggling to survive on less than a dollar per day, say World Bank experts and development activists.

RUSSIA: Putin to Stand Firm at G8 Summit

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to reaffirm his disagreement with Washington's view of Russian democracy, reiterate objections to the proposed U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe and give more meaningful explanations on the rules of the international community at the Group of Eight (G8) summit under way in Germany this week, analysts say.

RUSSIA-AFRICA: Debt Write-Off Boosts Closer Trade Ties

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Long seen as funding the continent's wars and doing little other than seeking out petroleum and mineral resources, Russia is now looking to kick-start better trade relations with Africa, and has made its first move by writing off the majority of the continent's debt.

HEALTH-RUSSIA: More Funding, But HIV/AIDS on the Rise

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Russia's HIV infection rate continues to rise - most notably in the heterosexual and non-drug-using populations - despite steady increases in funds to fight the disease. Experts and medical researchers say dramatic changes in sexual attitudes and behaviour are essential if the trend is to be reversed.

RIGHTS-RUSSIA: NGOs Under Putin Scanner on Estonia Events

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Leading non profitable organisations and civil society have vehemently rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's accusation last week that they did not take collective action when Estonian authorities removed Soviet war monuments from the city centre to an obscure location.

RUSSIA: Warm Words Don’t Clear the Ice

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

After extensive talks over two days with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other Russian government and civil society leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appears to have made some limited headway through sharp differences on strategic and geopolitical matters.