Links: Sino-Japanese Rapprochement
February 17, 2010 1 min. read

It seems that my interest in Northeast Asian rapprochement is shared with many others. Indeed, since writing a recent post on Japan’s effort to rein in its historical rows with its neighbors, I’ve discovered a number of interesting takes on the issue. Anyone interested in understanding Sino-Japanese relations and the latent historical tensions that affect […]

Read more
Some Thoughts on Dynastic and Military Rule in Bangladesh
February 17, 2010 3 min. read

The New York Times  just published Phillip Bowring’s latest op-ed on politics in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The piece is fine; it takes up general points on the strong dynastic trend in political leadership in the region.  As he writes, “Bangladesh has Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the murdered first prime minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” […]

Read more
Royal Bengal Tigers Projected to Become Extinct
February 17, 2010 2 min. read

2010 is the Year of the Tiger.  But according to the World Wildlife Fund “one of the world’s largest tiger populations could be wiped out this century as rising seas threaten to engulf their dwindling habitat in the coastal mangrove forests ofBangladesh, researchers said on Jan. 20. A projected sea-level rise of 11 inches (28 […]

Read more
IMF Says Bangladesh Financial Sector is Doing Better, But Wariness Warranted
February 17, 2010 2 min. read

The Joint World Bank and IMF Financial Stability Assessment Program (FSAP) has just published its latest report on Bangladesh’s financial sector.  Since 2003, when the last FSAP was published, Bangladesh’s financial sector has been improving steadily.  Non-performing loans have decreased steadily throughout that time, while the total assets of banks doubled and credit given to […]

Read more
The Rightist Judicio-Politico Mafia
February 15, 2010 6 min. read

Nawaz Sharif present flowers to Justice Khawaja – daylife Saturday February 13 – The Chief Justice of Pakistan defied Presidential orders through a suo moto action against the Presidential notification for appointment of certain judges. Chief Justice, in a rare nightly emergency session, formed a three members bench that suspended two recommendations for judges’ appointment […]

Read more
Terrorists strike in Pune
February 14, 2010 2 min. read

In a first for the city, Pune was struck by a terrorist attack that killed nine and injured 45 peoplelast night. A few foreigners are among those killed. An explosive left behind in a backpack at the German Bakery in Pune’s Koregaon Park area exploded at around 7.15 pm. The Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a […]

Read more
Why is Iftikhar Chaudhry destroying Pakistan?
February 14, 2010 4 min. read

Every objective analyst who follows Pakistan has come to the same conclusion – Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is becoming a serious threat not only to the country, but also to the entire democratic system that is already under tremendous stress. In fact, it is pretty much established that some behind the scene players in Pakistan […]

Read more
BNP Credibly Threatens Government Ouster Movement
February 13, 2010 2 min. read

The BNP is taking an increasingly strident and unyielding line against the governing Awami League. Quite apart from boycotting Parliament and thereby refusing to participate in governance, the opposition BNP is threatening an oust-government movement. This move comes after an the assassination of a leader of the youth group affiliated with the BNP.  Though, the […]

Read more
Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore News Update
February 13, 2010 3 min. read

Vietnam:  The Vietnamese government is trying to gather international support to bolster itself in it’s long-standing territorial disputes with China over the Paracel Islands.  China has held military control over the majority of the islands for 30 years, and this year has announced its desire to set up tourism facilities in the archipelago.  In response, […]

Read more
Biden's Biggest Concern
February 13, 2010 3 min. read

Zainab Jeewanjee discusses Vice President Joseph Biden’s recent interview on Larry King. Biden named Pakistan as a bigger “concern” than Afghanistan and Jeewanjee discusses his rationale.

Read more
The Silk Road is Alive and Well
February 12, 2010 3 min. read

Recent events in Iran have brought its relationship with China into sharp focus. Yesterday’s crackdown on protesters commemorating the revolution in Iran elicited numerous comparisons to Tiananmen Square (though not nearly on the scale of the comparisons made in the aftermath of the June 12th protests). The government’s crackdown on internet activity smacked of the […]

Read more
India & Paksitan – Peace Process
February 12, 2010 2 min. read

It is heartwarming to see India and Pakistan start talking, again. For years, both sides have realized that they have to deal with each other, but domestic political pressure forces leadership in both countries to instead engage in bravado, which is obviously pleasing the hawks on both sides of the border. However, this hypocritical attitude […]

Read more

Popular from Press