obama romney debate Courtesy: Rusty Darbonne/Austen Hufford
4 October 2012

Romney wins round one

The biggest change in the first U.S. presidential debate for 2012 was the way both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney moderated differences about government and the private sector. Foreign policy came up only briefly, but it will be a theme during the next round of debates later this month.

green africa Courtesy: trendscout::/Flickr
4 October 2012

A Green Agenda for Africa

All the major economic forces in the world have come together in Africa in a new version of the Great Game. The competition for the continent’s resources will ultimately harm Africa unless Africa uses this opportunity to its advantage and to address its own serious problems.

Gandhi spinning Courtesy: gandhiserve.org
2 October 2012

Replacing Keynes with Gandhi

Gandhi’s little-known work on what it means to be truly civilized may be crucial to the future of our species. There seems to be an absence of a moral framework that serves as the basis of our pursuit of wealth & pleasure. Can such a framework guide us through contemporary economic and identity-related conflicts?

obama romney Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
26 September 2012

Romney and Obama’s international credentials

In the wake of the rapidly changing dynamics in the Arab world, and the fast-approaching U.S. presidential elections, there’s one question that dominates everyone’s mind: What kind of international leaders would a first-term Romney or a second-term Obama be as presidents?

stockexchange 3 Courtesy: Clipgame/Wikimedia Commons
10 September 2012

Bourse Africa: A sparkling opportunity?

This October, Bourse Africa, the first Pan-African stock exchange is set to begin its operations. Apart from integrating all the African economies and boosting their engagements with international markets, it also aims to commodify diamonds. What does this mean for the future of commerce in Africa?

Pakistan: Supreme Court vs. Democracy Courtesy: Kashiff/Flickr
6 September 2012

Pakistan: Supreme Court vs. Democracy

The ongoing political chaos in Pakistan indicates that the Supreme Court is bent on weakening civilian authority and strengthening Army control in the country – which is unfavourable for Pakistan and its neighbours alike.

zenawi Courtesy: World Economic Forum/Flickr
5 September 2012

Time to overhaul African healthcare

The propensity of Africa’s leaders to seek medical treatment abroad illustrates the little faith they have in their own healthcare systems. Given how countless Africans don’t have the resources to follow their leaders’ steps, there should be increased political will to make affordable healthcare available at home.

angre2 Courtesy: Columbia/WikimediaCommons
4 September 2012

Kanhoji Angre: India’s first naval commander

In the 1700s, one man antagonized the European powers, and insisted on the Maratha Empire’s rights to taxation and sovereignty over Maharashtra’s coast. He was Kanhoji Angre, the head of the Maratha navy. How did he, 283 years ago, set an important precedent for the Subcontinent’s local powers?

obama romney Courtesy: Austen Hufford/Muhammad/Flickr
31 August 2012

A crucial choice: Romney or Obama?

Partly due to support from undecided voters, women and African Americans, incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama seems to be ahead in the polls. However, much will rest on which candidate can win over the country’s middle class. Whatever the result, it will have repercussions on markets and deregulation.

Courtesy: oxyman/WikimediaCommons
31 August 2012

Coal scandal tests India’s democracy

It is estimated that up to 20% of India’s power capacity lies idle due to the lack of coal available in the country. The recent $33 billion scam on the allocation of coal blocks reflects the apathy among the Indian leadership towards effective policy-making.