DD paper cover Courtesy: Spenta Multimedia
10 October 2014

Taking Doordarshan global

News channels like China’s CCTV, Russia Today and Al-Jazeera have become definitive voices for their nations and for international views. Now, with the Modi government on a public messaging and public realations spree, it is the right time to re-configure our public broadcaster, Doordarshan, to showcase India’s growing global ties and the success of its democracy to the world.

Hong Kongers Courtesy: eurosouth-hub.net
10 October 2014

Hong Kong’s identity crisis

China’s rise as an economic power has meant that Hong Kong has lost its edge as the East’s international centre for business. This decline combined with Beijing’s efforts to cement control over the city has led to protests that have an underlying theme of Hong Kong wanting to chart its own path under the “one country two-systems” policy

brazilelections Courtesy: Wikimedia
10 October 2014

Brazil elections: turning left or right?

Since none of the candidates won the required 50% majority in the Brazilian presidential elections held October 5, there will be a second round on October 26 between the centre-left President Dilma Rouseff and centre-right Aecio Neves. As of now, polls predict a Rouseff win - but like India, the Brazilian electorate is known for throwing up surprises

Sustainable gardening Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
10 October 2014

The UN and sustainability

The UN and the global finance industry are making gradual but concerted efforts to align business interests and ecological sustainability. A growing number of companies are combining profit-making with social responsibility. There is still a long way to go, but the UN system has created useful mechanisms of change

madison Courtesy: daverugby83
21 September 2014

Indian Americans and the mother country

The sold-out rally at Madison Square Garden shows that PM Narendra Modi’s trip to the U.S. has generated incredible excitement among the Indian-origin diaspora. Will the educated and well-placed Indian American community be able to come together as a power group that influences the U.S. Congress and the White House to adopt pro-India policies?

Nalanda_University_India_ruins Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
19 September 2014

The long road to Nalanda

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to inaugurate the new avatar of the ancient Nalanda University on September 19. The opening is a significant event as the international university is India's attempt at projecting its soft power. However, much more needs to be done to make it an international center in the true sense of the word

IS Courtesy: U.S. Staff Sergeant Aaron Allmon
16 September 2014

Modi, Obama and the Islamic State

Obama’s strategy to target the IS in Syria within the framework of a U.S.-led international coalition has met with a tepid response. There are reports that the U.S may offer India a non-NATO ally status during Modi’s upcoming visit in a bid to seek greater support – a gesture that India will do well to disregard.

singapore Courtesy:
11 September 2014

Lessons from Singapore

By using information and communication technology innovatively, Singapore has overcome the challenges of limited size and resources. There are many lessons here for India which is collaborating with Singapore on the Smart Cities project – especially when it comes to affordable housing and transport planning.

marina silva Courtesy: wikimedia commons
10 September 2014

The rise of Marina Silva

Brazilian president Dilma Rouseff's bid for re-election has been ambushed in just two weeks by activist Marina Silva who is now predicted to win the October elections. If elected, Marina is likely to continue with the pro-poor policies of the current government, and she has already shown a keen interest in foreign policy. PM Modi will find Marina more proactive and forthcoming than Rouseff