Colombo is frustrating national reconciliation.
The biggest obstacle to that reconciliation has become the fate of some 250,000 Tamils displaced by the war and now herded into camps. Their conditions are abject: crowded, short of drinking water and with poor sanitation. Many have been displaced several times and have lost everything. Tempers are running short and confrontations with guards more frequent. Continue reading
Just how desperate is Russia to remain relevant, as Vladimir Putin seemingly signs promises he can’t keep?
The bottom line is whether Russia is capable of building such costly pipelines as Nord Stream, South Stream and a second string of Blue Stream; while at the same developing the Yamal peninsula into a major gas producing center and finishing the Shtokman project? These projects, and others too numerous to mention, are projected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars which Russia does not have and which Western companies might not want to spend given the shaky business reputation of Gazprom and its management.
Another sign of desperation about its economic future: did Putin leave President Medvedev the task of dealing with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton?
K. Santhanam is only one crackpot voice in the wilderness, but Indian corporate cash could do far worse with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
At its heart, the U.S.-India deal is really about big business, which has boomed since the agreement entered into force. Continue reading
