ViewsWeek Views from around the world
The recent interim nuclear agreement between Iran and the so-called P5+1 countries, led by the United States, has provoked unprecedented criticism of US policy from two of its strongest Middle East allies: Israel and Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has called on his ministers and his supporters in the US to lobby Congress to oppose the agreement. …
December, 2013
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15 December
The Different Immigration Reform Visions
Five months ago, the Senate took a historic step toward enacting immigration reform with a path to citizenship by passing S.744 — the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act — with a bipartisan supermajority. Unfortunately, the House has still not brought immigration legislation to the floor. But while many have rushed to pronounce immigration reform “dead,” House leadership …
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14 December
An Indian View on Legacy of Pakistan’s Retiring Chief Justice
Ifthikar Chaudhary, who stepped down as Chief Justice of Pakistan on December 11, will go down in history as the first judge to challenge a military ruler successfully, and then to have spoilt it all by his relentless onslaught against a fledgling democratic government, its President and Prime Minister. Mr. Chaudhary’s epic term in office, which included more than …
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13 December
Bangladesh Hangs Opposition Politician Ahead of Elections
Bangladesh has executed opposition leader Abdul Quader Molla for war crimes during in 1971 war, after a shady trial. Molla is the first person to be sent to gallows on war crime charges during the country’s bloody 1971 war of independence. Molla, 65, who was also assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, was hanged hours after he refused …
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13 December
Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Track it, Stop it, Get it
The figures are staggering: between $1.2 trillion and $1.4 trillion has left Africa in illicit financial flows between 1980 and 2009 — roughly equal to Africa’s current gross domestic product, and surpassing by far the money it received from outside over the same period. Illicit financial flows are money earned illegally and transferred for use elsewhere. The money is usually …
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13 December
The End of the Internet As We Know It
The Internet is the world’s largest shopping mall, library, video store, post office and town square. When you turn on your computer, you’re in the driver’s seat, choosing what you want to read, watch, and hear. We owe everything we love about the Web to net neutrality, the principle that the Internet is an open platform and service providers …
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12 December
Extremism: Changing the Mindset in Pakistan
A mindset is a set of assumptions that everyone develops throughout their lives and become so established that people or groups continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices, or tools of those within the same mindset without questions. As an incident of a person’s philosophy of life mindset can be powerful, having the ability to control, persuade and even hold us …
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12 December
US Budget Deal: An Imperfect Step in The Right Direction
Budgets are about choices. The budget agreement announced by Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) makes plenty of choices — many of them good, others less so — but the sum total of their choices results in a package that moves the country in a positive direction. The Murray-Ryan deal would, for the …
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12 December
Why Renewable Fuel Standard Is Good for the Climate
Eight years have passed since the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, was first enacted; today, legislators are examining the effects of this landmark law. The ongoing debate often centers on corn ethanol and its effects on corn prices, the amount of renewable fuel that can be blended with conventional gasoline, and the oil savings and environmental benefits. Critics argue that …
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11 December
Karzai Reaches Out to Iran: Is It Right Move At Right Time?
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to explore a mutual agreement on economic and security cooperation. During his visit to Tehran, President Hamid Karzai and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed in principle to start negotiations for signing the bilateral cooperation agreement. President Karzai’s trip to Iran has coincided with the increased tensions between Afghanistan and the United States over the …
