The opening act in stand-up comedy or music concerts is arguably the hardest as it involves warming up a “cold” audience. To some degree, President Pranab Mukherjee faced this thankless task by becoming the first Indian president to visit Israel. Traditionally, presidential visits don’t attract much attention. But the six-day tour of Jordan, Palestine and […]
An oft-overlooked aspect of Pakistan’s debt situation is the political economy. There is an inherent asymmetry between the ‘benefits’ derived from new debt undertaken, and the burden of its repayment. There are two facets worth considering. First, those segments who tend to ‘benefit’ from the debt contracted (the elite) are usually different from those who […]
With China set to announce its third-quarter gross domestic product report on Monday, skepticism over its economic data is arising anew. Recall that Bill Gross has described China as “the mystery meat of emerging-market countries.” Premier Li Keqiang, before taking that post, said he didn’t rely on official statistics. He preferred things like rail freight and […]
It was nearly dormant for months, but recent weeks have seen the return of Germany’s Islamophobic, anti-refugee Pegida movement. More confident and aggressive than ever, officials worry the hatred could spread to the mainstream. Read Here – Der Spiegel
President Xi Jinping is to pay his first state visit to the United Kingdom from Oct. 19 to 23. Observers believe this UK trip, the first by a Chinese president in a decade, will usher in a “golden era” in China-Britain relations and lay a more solid foundation for China-EU ties. Read Here – Xinhua
In July 1984, U.S. customs agents arrested a Pakistani national, Nazir Ahmed Vaid, at Houston International Airport for trying to purchase krytrons–useful for triggering nuclear weapons–and smuggle them out of the United States Some months later, Vaid was found guilty of violating export control laws, but a plea bargain produced a light penalty: deportation. Months […]
Certainly, the English didn’t arrive on Indian shores as long-lost parents, but as traders from a poorer nation. If they then became parent-like, authoritarian and wealthy, they also left their progeny destitute upon their departure on 1947: so the middle-aged offspring might have some reason for complaint. Read Here – The Guardian
After deploying its ground and air assets across Syria, Russia entered into an agreement with the Shiite leaders of Iran and Iraq to coordinate military efforts. At the podium of the United Nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin looked as if he had pulled off a masterful power play in the Middle East. But Putin seems […]
For weeks, Germany’s debate over the refugee crisis focused on the logistics of housing and feeding the thousands arriving at the border every day. With more than 1 million refugees expected this year alone, the foremost question was whether Germans, as Chancellor Angela Merkel keeps insisting, can really “manage it.” Read Here – Politico
A COUNTRY which was clocking a growth rate a shade above 5pc per annum for most of its history is now finding that this rate has dropped to below 4pc. It gives the impression that this is the new equilibrium rate that we may have to live with for some time. What explains this lacklustre […]
looking beyond borders 