How can countries reduce poverty faster?
KUALA LUMPUR and MANCHESTER – Can the world end poverty by 2030, the target set by the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development? The UN General Assembly recently reaffirmed this deadline but conceded that meeting it will require “accelerating global actions” to tackle poverty’s causes. As the international community explores new solutions, lessons from the [...]
Follow the foreign lady and arrest the conceited rebel
It was 1972 or 1973, after the 1971 insurrection and officers from the Intelligence Branch, which was then known as the ‘Special Branch’, were still following up intelligence and gathering information about Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna members to build up a dossier on the possible resurgence of the rebels. During the course of our investigations, it [...]
Russia had mole in visa firm used by UK: Report
MOSCOW AFP – Russia’s FSB security service had a mole in a company used by Britain and other countries to process visa applications, according to a report published Friday by investigative group Bellingcat. The report suggested this was part of a wider strategy that allowed agents such as those who allegedly poisoned ex-spy Sergei Skripal [...]
Sri Lanka’s foreign policy at crossroads
The full page article by Prof. G.L. Pieris asking whether Sri Lanka has a foreign policy at all today has had an unexpected response with the change of government. The government media carried an article on November 9 quoting our envoy in Russia as stating that President Putin is “President Sirisena’s favourite world leader…and once [...]
A Constitutional crisis- undermining the Constitution
The present crisis in Sri Lanka, generated first, by the appointment of a second Prime Minister by the President, while the first had not been properly removed from, or ceased to hold office under the Constitution, has created a very serious constitutional dilemma. The crisis was compounded by the dissolution of Parliament. The Gazette Notification [...]
Trump’s anti-media rhetoric resonates worldwide
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – A former French president once remarked: Never pick a fight with a little kid or the press. The kid will throw the last stone at you and the press will have the last word. But that obviously does not apply to a teflon-coated Donald Trump because nothing apparently sticks on him [...]
The media’s #MeToo problem
LONDON – Journalism classrooms may be dominated by women, but global media are still ruled by men, who occupy the majority of management positions, report more news stories and are more frequently presented as expert voices. This imbalance is reflected in the content newsrooms produce, with fewer written words and broadcast seconds dedicated to telling [...]
Dealing with India’s deadly air should be a national priority
NEW DELHI – A friend of mine, a diplomat returning home after less than three years’ service in India, was asked at his exit medical examination how many packs a day he smoked. When he protested that he was a staunch non-smoker, the doctor commented that X-rays of his lungs showed otherwise. But my friend [...]