Russia's Potemkin Modernisation
May 12, 2011 2 min. read

This is Russia’s timeless, quintessential paradox: the country has no problem building a state of the art stadium in Chechnya and bringing over international football legends Maradona, Figo and Steve McManaman all the way to Grozny for the inaugural exhibition match, but can’t manage the simple task of delivering an Amazon shipment to ordinary people trying […]

Read more
Ramayana, On the Streets of New York
May 12, 2011 3 min. read

History seemingly repeated itself as a mini-Ramayana played out this week – except of course, Rama was a steely Indian-born prosecutor, the location was a Manhattan courtroom, and the charges against the Sri-Lankan born defendant – a.k.a Ravana – were more serious than an abducted wife: he was accused of orchestrating “the largest hedge fund insider trading scheme in history.”

Read more
Quebec's Plan Nord officially unveiled
May 12, 2011 8 min. read

On Tuesday, Quebec’s Prime Minister Jean Charest officially launched the Plan Nord, or Northern Plan. It is a grand, 25-year, CAN $88 billion plan for economic and social development in a region rich in natural resources. Northern Quebec comprises the 72% of the province which lies north of the 49th parallel. It’s home to 120,000 […]

Read more
Blood Flows in the Streets of Yemen
May 12, 2011 5 min. read

The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for Foreign Policy Association (FPA) and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous. After weeks of failed negotiations among members of the Yemeni political coalition: the JMP and the government, Yemenis have decided to take matters in their own hands. So far and despite […]

Read more
Consuming foreign: A paradox in modern Japan
May 12, 2011 2 min. read

Rather than give my take on something in the headlines today, I will take a moment to explain an apparent contradiction that baffles many visitors to Japan. One paradox in modern Japan that often baffles foreigners is how a country that is decidedly xenophobic so quickly embraces fashion and pop culture from outside. A first-time […]

Read more
The Sinking Ship
May 11, 2011 3 min. read

This week has seen the chances of success for the Syrian opposition go from slim to none. The revolutionary moment has passed and the Assad regime is no longer in immediate danger of being deposed by the Syrian protest movement. Protests will continue in pockets of ongoing resistance, however, the regime has succeeded in isolating […]

Read more
One Can Only Say: "Wow!"
May 11, 2011 1 min. read

Sometimes someone writes something so crazy, so god-awful, so devoid of logic and sloppy and factually remiss that it stands as a testament of grandeur of an almost platonic form of awfulness. This post from The Mail & Guardian’s “Thought Leader” is such a piece.

Read more
This, too, is Africa
May 11, 2011 1 min. read

The other Africa that you hardly see or hear in the news…a modern Africa with burgeoning middle class. They are entrepreneurs, aspiring minds, and achievement-oriented professionals. Follow the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13332507

Read more
Must See Documentary "Bhutto" Airs Tonight on PBS
May 11, 2011 1 min. read

I urge all our readers who live on the East Coast of the United States to tune into PBS stations at 10pm for “Bhutto”, a two hour investigative documentary on Benazir Bhutto, the assassinated former Prime Minister and PPP leader.  An examination of the life and politics of Benazir Bhutto -once popular leader, assassinated in […]

Read more
China’s Innovation Policies – The Real Danger for the U.S Economy???
May 10, 2011 8 min. read

U.S. experts and politicians are starting to hone into the ‘dangers’ of R&D and technology transfers to China, as the most serious long-term threat to the U.S. economy and national security.  U.S. comparative advantage (innovation and new technologies) is being undermined by outsourcing of manufacturing to China, the relocation of R&D facilities to Chinese tech-parks, […]

Read more
Egypt and Gilad Schalit
May 10, 2011 3 min. read

As I stated in my last article, Egypt is trying to showcase its apparently rejuvenated power and strength by facilitating Palestinian reconciliation.  I personally believe it is a PR move.  However, if Egypt wants to prove its might is legitimate, it should find a way to return Gilad Schalit to Israel.  No individual, political party, […]

Read more
Bin Laden Unites Pakistan
May 10, 2011 8 min. read

Decades have passed since Pakistan’s  elected government, the opposition, the military and the media spoke the same language on one issue. The last time when one saw overwhelming consensus among all these segments of society was perhaps the war with India in 1965. The killing of Al-Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in  a […]

Read more

Popular from Press