Is Pakistan sinking?
The question of Pakistan’s viability as a state is at least as old as the country itself. Recently a sobering article written by a former American ambassador to Pakistan has…
‘A harmful trend in banking sector’
Apropos editorial 'A harmful trend in banking sector', I find it necessary to highlight some of the important and relevant missing links that need more attention and clarity. It seems…
France runs into German wall on EU growth drive
State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) latest Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) reflects a realisation that cutting interest rate can't compensate for the rise in a variety of other costs of doing…
Everything’s almost free in Spain’s parallel barter economy
It can be argued that extra-judicial interventions first by Ghulam Mohammad as Governor General in 1951 and later by military regimes and disregard of the Constitution - facilitated by either…
Cyprus bailout request another hurdle for eurozone
With empty state coffers, ailing banks and badly in need of a multi-billion-euro loan, the small island of Cyprus is like a drifting ship quickly running out of fuel. When…
Agenda for the nation: 2013 and beyond – I
The next government, which is expected to be in power sometime this year, shall have to formulate a national agenda for the next five years in the context of global,…
Latvia presses for euro despite unease among population
Latvia is looking to exchange its lats for euros starting in 2014 as the small Baltic nation last week officially submitted its bid to become the 18th member of the…
Texas grid braces for possible power company restructuring
The Texas power grid, already struggling to attract new generation to avoid rolling outages as demand grows, now may have to cope with a potential restructuring of the largest owner…
Obama’s weasel words
For those still hopeful for American support for an equitable solution to the Palestinian problem, Obama’s visit to the region would have been a big disappointment. At a press conference…
Musharraf’s mirage
The Pakistan, general is back, and this time not on horseback. Since he has offered to take us back to the Pakistan that he left behind, perhaps it’s a good…
