Author Archives: Shada Islam
22nd December, 2012
The year gone by
AS another frantic year comes to an end, I want to know who pushed the fast-forward button. Why is it that life seems to speed up as you get older? 2012 seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye as months,
AS another frantic year comes to an end, I want to know who pushed the fast-forward button. Why is it that life seems to speed up as you get older? 2012 seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye as months,
15th December, 2012
An uncertain peace
EMBATTLED European Union leaders took time off from their daily eurozone woes to collect the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last week — but the bloc’s 500 million citizens are not celebrating.
EMBATTLED European Union leaders took time off from their daily eurozone woes to collect the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last week — but the bloc’s 500 million citizens are not celebrating.
8th December, 2012
Policy changes required
PAKISTAN has clearly decided that it needs to craft a new image — at least in Europe — of a ‘good’ country which wants peace and stability in its neighbourhood, does not interfere in the affairs of others and is the
PAKISTAN has clearly decided that it needs to craft a new image — at least in Europe — of a ‘good’ country which wants peace and stability in its neighbourhood, does not interfere in the affairs of others and is the
5th December, 2012
Khar, Kayani in Brussels: Pakistan wins praise, but is it enough?
Nato has no doubts that Islamabad cannot be ignored in the run-up to 2014 and the drawdown of foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Nato has no doubts that Islamabad cannot be ignored in the run-up to 2014 and the drawdown of foreign troops in Afghanistan.
1st December, 2012
A changing Africa
DESPITE the wars and ethnic strife, there is a marked change in global perceptions of Africa.
DESPITE the wars and ethnic strife, there is a marked change in global perceptions of Africa.
24th November, 2012
Tensions over Chinese role
WORLD attention is understandably focused on the violence in the Middle East but it is also important to take a closer look at President Barack Obama’s re-engagement with Asia and the Sino-American jostling for power
WORLD attention is understandably focused on the violence in the Middle East but it is also important to take a closer look at President Barack Obama’s re-engagement with Asia and the Sino-American jostling for power
17th November, 2012
The challenge ahead
UNLIKE the cliffhanger US elections on Nov 6, the leadership change in China this week was hardly an exercise in suspense — or democracy.
UNLIKE the cliffhanger US elections on Nov 6, the leadership change in China this week was hardly an exercise in suspense — or democracy.
10th November, 2012
Not an easy ride
PAKISTAN and Israel may share the dubious honour of being the only two countries in the world which would have preferred Republican candidate Mitt Romney to win the US elections but here in Europe, Barack Obama’s victory in the polls is cause for celebration
PAKISTAN and Israel may share the dubious honour of being the only two countries in the world which would have preferred Republican candidate Mitt Romney to win the US elections but here in Europe, Barack Obama’s victory in the polls is cause for celebration
3rd November, 2012
EU, Asia take steady steps
IT’S probably a talk shop par excellence but the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) in Vientiane, Laos, on Nov 5-6, is slowly but steadily helping to forge stronger bonds between the two regions.
IT’S probably a talk shop par excellence but the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) in Vientiane, Laos, on Nov 5-6, is slowly but steadily helping to forge stronger bonds between the two regions.
27th October, 2012
Place of women in EU
WHEN you read the World Economic Forum’s seventh annual Global Gender Gap Report it’s clear that European women are slowly but surely taking their rightful place in politics, business and as regards access to
WHEN you read the World Economic Forum’s seventh annual Global Gender Gap Report it’s clear that European women are slowly but surely taking their rightful place in politics, business and as regards access to
20th October, 2012
A controversial choice
A DAY before the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the bloc’s leaders were at a ‘State of Europe’ conference bemoaning Europe’s crisis of confidence and inability to compete effectively with
A DAY before the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the bloc’s leaders were at a ‘State of Europe’ conference bemoaning Europe’s crisis of confidence and inability to compete effectively with
13th October, 2012
Concerns of the girl child
THE almost-fatal attack on Malala Yousufzai and her two classmates took place only two days before the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child on Oct 11. The outpouring of grief and rage across the country over the attempted killing of the young girl and Pakistan’s slide into extremism and intolerance is
THE almost-fatal attack on Malala Yousufzai and her two classmates took place only two days before the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child on Oct 11. The outpouring of grief and rage across the country over the attempted killing of the young girl and Pakistan’s slide into extremism and intolerance is
6th October, 2012
Uncomfortable union
VISIT London and there is no doubt about the city’s global credentials. The mix of languages, ethnicities, food and music is more vivid, more proudly visible than in any other European city.
VISIT London and there is no doubt about the city’s global credentials. The mix of languages, ethnicities, food and music is more vivid, more proudly visible than in any other European city.
29th September, 2012
Hope amidst the madness
IT doesn’t happen often enough but once in a while a politician stands out in a crowd. Mostly it is for the wrong reason: the man or woman makes a gaffe or does something outrageous. But every now and then, a
IT doesn’t happen often enough but once in a while a politician stands out in a crowd. Mostly it is for the wrong reason: the man or woman makes a gaffe or does something outrageous. But every now and then, a
22nd September, 2012
Power of passion
ANOTHER week, another headline-grabbing attempt to offend and rile millions of Muslims. In fact, a very successful attempt, since violent protests in Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere against an
ANOTHER week, another headline-grabbing attempt to offend and rile millions of Muslims. In fact, a very successful attempt, since violent protests in Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere against an
15th September, 2012
Glimmer of hope
IF you sit quietly for a moment, you can probably hear the sighs of relief from Europe. It’s been a long time coming but over the last few days, signs have emerged that the euro crisis may be slowly but surely coming to
IF you sit quietly for a moment, you can probably hear the sighs of relief from Europe. It’s been a long time coming but over the last few days, signs have emerged that the euro crisis may be slowly but surely coming to
8th September, 2012
EU’s changed view of China
EUROPE’S love-hate relationship with China continues to unfold. Last week I wrote about Germany’s expanding ties with China and the envy this has triggered in Brussels and other EU capitals. This week, the
EUROPE’S love-hate relationship with China continues to unfold. Last week I wrote about Germany’s expanding ties with China and the envy this has triggered in Brussels and other EU capitals. This week, the
1st September, 2012
Courting China
ON the face of it, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Egypt’s new President Mohammed Morsi have little in common. True, both are leaders of key regional powers.
ON the face of it, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Egypt’s new President Mohammed Morsi have little in common. True, both are leaders of key regional powers.
28th July, 2012
Battling the bulge
THE current Olympic games in London may be all about identifying winners and losers, making more money for big business and enticing even more tourists to Britain, but the world’s most-watched sporting event is
THE current Olympic games in London may be all about identifying winners and losers, making more money for big business and enticing even more tourists to Britain, but the world’s most-watched sporting event is
21st July, 2012
Managing the Mekong
HERE I am in what the guidebooks describe as Asia’s ‘most laid-back’ city. And certainly compared to the hectic, frenetic urban centres in other parts of Southeast Asia, Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is small (less than one million people), less prosperous and, perhaps as a result, more modest.
HERE I am in what the guidebooks describe as Asia’s ‘most laid-back’ city. And certainly compared to the hectic, frenetic urban centres in other parts of Southeast Asia, Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is small (less than one million people), less prosperous and, perhaps as a result, more modest.
