What's holding back the world economy?

SEVEN years after the global financial crisis erupted in 2008, the world economy continued to stumble in 2015. According to the United Nations' report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2016, the average growth rate in developed economies has declined by more
10 February 2016

How India's caste system survives

Vemula was admitted to his university on merit, not through the reservation system. Yet he faced all the prejudice that would be directed at any Dalit. He left behind a passionate letter outlining his mistreatment at the hands of an insensitive and bureaucratic university administration.
9 February 2016

Strategies for responsible gene editing

A final safeguard against the irresponsible development of gene drive technology is to ensure that early interventions are developed exclusively by governments and non-profit organisations.
28 January 2016

Sri Lanka's Rebirth

Sri Lanka is fortunate to have a low level of urbanisation today; but this is likely to change in the next two decades. This gives the country the opportunity to create model cities, based on the adequate provision of public services and sound public transport and attuned to the cost of carbon and climate change.
26 January 2016

From child slavery to freedom

It is a blot on the face of humanity that we have yet to eradicate slavery – of children, no less. Not only does child slavery persist...
25 January 2016

The public sphere's new enemies

Before November's terrorist attacks in Paris, it was legal to stage a demonstration in a public square in that city. Now it isn't. In
23 January 2016

Promises to keep in 2016

If we want to achieve the targets established by the Global Goals for maternal health, child health, and infectious disease, we will have to double R&D funding by 2020.
22 January 2016

Toward a New Islamic Golden Age

The Muslim world's past contributions to science and education were extraordinary. The Islamic “golden age” – during which
16 January 2016

The New Geo-Economics

Last year was a memorable one for the global economy. Not only was overall performance disappointing, but profound changes – both for better and for worse – occurred in the global economic system.
9 January 2016

Peace with Pakistan?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore, Pakistan, on Christmas Day brought his hyperkinetic year of global diplomacy to a headline-grabbing close.
5 January 2016

How to fight jihadi terrorism

The hysterical anti-Muslim reaction to terrorism is generating fear and resentment among Muslims living in Europe and America. The older generation reacts with fear, the younger one with resentment;
1 January 2016

Thanking Bangladesh

With 111 Indian enclaves spread over 17,000 acres in Bangladesh, and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves spread over 7,110 acres in India, a settlement would involve a net transfer of some 40 square kilometers (15.4 square miles) of territory from India to its eastern neighbour. That is not a huge area. Yet it has taken nearly seven decades to make real progress toward resolving the anomalies.
19 December 2014