Courtesy: 一大抄/Wikipedia
The annual meeting of the National People’s Congress in Beijing in March covered wide and significant ground, including President Xi’s vision of deepening reform and law-based governance. The meeting also emphasised environmental protection and enforcement of IPR. But the outcome of these plans remains to be seen
Courtesy: Reuters
The proxy battle for supremacy between Saudis and Iranians is highlighted by Saudi Arabia bombing Yemen this week. These distorted wars can pull Pakistan into a West Asian identity, amid blood and tears
Courtesy: Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
The Thein Sein government’s initial successes in Myanmar have eroded, as it vacillates between reform and a return to an authoritarian past. The violent suppression of student protestors this month will further impact the president’s re-election later this year. But will a new government continue the reforms and honour peace agreements with ethnic groups?
Courtesy: YouTube
In the past week two documentaries that went viral in China and India were banned. In China, a documentary about pollution. In India, a documentary about the Nirbhaya rape incident in 2012. India's decision to ban the film suggests that the government's approach to censorship is starting to look more like China's
Courtesy: NPR
Mexican director Alejendra Inarritu’s Oscar for his work on Birdman comes after his compatriot won the same category award in 2014. This is a matter of pride for the Mexican film industry which is undergoing a renaissance in the last fifteen years. Although Indian cinema dwarfs the Mexican film industry, Mexico’s success in Hollywood should hold as inspiration for Bollywood
Courtesy: Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The story of Darah Shikoh, heir-apparent to the Mughal throne in the mid-17th century , enacted by the National Theatre in London, offers insights on how to get beyond the increasingly polarising global discourse on faith, reason and Islam
Courtesy:
The nature of the sweeping victory of AAP and Kejriwal may be unprecedented in India but not in Latin America. In Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, there are lessons for AAP and Arvind Kejriwal as they assume power in New Delhi – and also for the Congress Party as well as the BJP
Courtesy: Wikipedia.org
Incumbent Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa lost to his opponent Maithripala Sirisena in the recent elections. The reasons have been attributed to nepotism and dwindling support from the Sinhala community. With considerable challenges awaiting the new government, it would be wise to not rule out a return of Mahinda
Courtesy: globalsherpa.org
The Indian government has undertaken a massive financial inclusion scheme to bring bank accounts to the poor. But poverty alleviation needs to be addressed at multiple levels for which the Latin American example of using targeted and customised conditional cash transfer programmes can help India