IMF no solution?
Pakistan will be entering the new calendar year with inflation and interest rates in double digit; growth rates both in agriculture and manufacturing declining, in fact the large scale manufacturing…
Indian navy & Gulf
IT is unfair to draw lessons from the fate of a bankrupt Egypt in the 19th century and relate it to today’s economically vibrant Gulf states. Nevertheless one can detect…
Unchecked
Just recently read an article by an accomplished senior journalist, a good friend, who had looked at the economic situation of the common man with a different microscope; apparently, he…
Arab Spring 2.0
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the long-time ruler of Algeria has been ousted by a mass movement. Millions of students, peasants, workers, women and impoverished showed courage, determination and revolutionary zeal to face…
Protests in Sudan
The International Criminal Court issued two arrest warrants in 2009 and 2010, respectively, against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, accusing him of war crimes, genocide and other grave human rights abuses…
Lessons from the past
There was a time when ancient civilisations either disappeared or were buried along with their grandeur and achievements. Credit ought to be given to archaeologists who excavated artefacts and sites…
Fahmida Riaz in prose
When Fahmida Riaz died in Lahore on November 21 at the age of 73, most TV channels in Pakistan portrayed her as an outstanding and prominent poet. Hardly any media…
Culture Pop: A Saudi dressing-down
This week, in the deserted lanes of a heritage site in the tribal backwaters of Najd, a 100 miles from Riyadh, a young Saudi woman caused a conservative sandstorm. A…
No sign of spring in Egypt
Presidential elections are currently being held in Egypt (between March 26 and March 28). However, Egyptian nationals who live abroad have already voted (between March 16 and March 18). As…
No tears for Indian Muslims
A senior friend of mine who spends much of his time online, passionately airing his strongly-held views on the issues and challenges facing India, its Muslims in particular, is surprisingly…
