dilma Courtesy: Ministério da Saúde/Flickr
17 October 2013

Brazil’s new global agenda for the internet

After revelations that the U.S.’s NSA spied on her, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has ordered a series of measures to ensure online independence and called for an equitable global internet infrastructure. India can follow Brazil’s lead and make its communication systems less vulnerable

maldives flag Paolo Rosa flickr Courtesy: Paolo Rosa/Flickr
4 October 2013

The Maldives: Awaiting another election

The September 28 run-off presidential election in the Maldives was postponed indefinitely by the country’s Supreme Court after allegations of ballot-rigging. However, national and international observers have said the elections were fair. Settling the political crisis in the Maldives may now require more than an election

UNSC Syria UNSC Courtesy: United Nations
4 October 2013

Decoding the UNSC Resolution on Syria

The recent UNSC Resolution, which mandates the complete destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, demonstrates that after more than a year, a degree of international agreement on the Syrian issue has been possible. In the evolving situation, Russia will now emerge as a major player

bombay for sifra guy_incognito flickr Courtesy: guy_incognito/Flickr
3 October 2013

Raghuraman Rajan: Making Mumbai great again

Earlier in September, Raghuram Rajan took over as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for three years. While his entry has indeed alleviated the gloomy market environment in Mumbai, there’s more that needs to be done. How can Mumbai reclaim the natural cosmopolitan and intellectual legacy it once boasted of?

merkel cdu www.GlynLowe.com flickr Courtesy: www.GlynLowe.com/Flickr
27 September 2013

Germany after elections: Similar but not the same

It may take Chancellor Angela Merkel weeks to negotiate a new coalition, but the vote for stability means that change will only be at the margins of current domestic and foreign policy. Still, the fallout of the election in the EU and beyond, including in India, should not be underestimated

bob obama Courtesy: Systemman/WikimediaCommons
10 September 2013

Obama: Syria, spying and sellouts

Twelve years since the Taliban attacked the country, U.S. President Barack Obama is preparing for yet another war with a country in West Asia, for breaching a ‘red line’ he had drawn. However, the red line he needs to draw is about where the moral fiber of his presidency lies in the waning months of his tenure.

merkey steinbruck Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
6 September 2013

What does Germany want?

German foreign policy can be described as one anchored in the European and NATO alliance while being the economic centre of Europe. Yet, any government that comes in after the September 22 elections will be challenged by rapid developments in West Asia and elsewhere in a politically and economically turbulent world