COLUMNS

Pope Iraq visit: Tolerance and coexistence central to humanity

Pope’s historical Iraq visit underlined his commitment to interfaith dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and their necessity in today’s world. By Asad Mirza The Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis arrived in Iraq, last Friday, 5 March, to a red carpet and military-band reception, at the beginning of the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. He … Continue reading Pope Iraq visit: Tolerance and coexistence central to humanity →

Changing Contours of Indo-US Ties

By Asad Mirza After tolerating four years of tantrums, mood swings and fits, bad language, and the worst idiotic and overtly racist behaviour when defeated by any US president, the world keenly awaited the change of power in the oldest democracy in the world when Joe Biden took over as the new American president. Similarly, … Continue reading Changing Contours of Indo-US Ties →

UK’s new avatar

Post-Brexit strategy poses great challenges for the UK; to redefine its internal and external policies besides handling the worsening pandemic situation calls for pragmatism in a large dose, says Asad Mirza Now that the UK has left the EU and has lost the shelter of the EU’s single market and customs union at a time … Continue reading UK’s new avatar →

Arab politics post Qatar-Saudi rapprochement

The recent rapprochement between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and other GCC members may have positive fallout on the regional relations and balance of power, writes Asad Mirza With Saudi Arabia and Qatar signing a friendly bond that ended the three-year long economic blockade, which Riyadh had imposed on its tiny Gulf neighbour, … Continue reading Arab politics post Qatar-Saudi rapprochement →

COVID vaccine: Is it Halal or not?

By Asad Mirza It’s not only the Muslims, even Hindus and Jews have raised questions about the use of the COVID vaccine, due to prohibited substances in its composition. Even before the COVID vaccination process starts in India. The Indian Muslims have courted another controversy. The question is whether they’ll be amenable to get vaccinated … Continue reading COVID vaccine: Is it Halal or not? →

Indian Agriculture problems are much deeper

By Syed Ali Mujtaba With fresh bouts of farmer protest gaining momentum, currently the Modi government is riding the high Horse of arrogance and the farmers are equally determined to conduct the ‘Ashwameda,’ the Vedic Yag of horse sacrifice. The current farmers protest is much deeper than the repealing of the three farm laws and … Continue reading Indian Agriculture problems are much deeper →

Adieu 2020, Welcome 2021

2020 set many new paradigms, which may be the norm in the coming years, too. Asad Mirza Perhaps the humans have awaited no other year’s end so eagerly across the world as that of 2020. Similarly, no other event in the recent history has had such a far-reaching impact as that of the coronavirus pandemic, … Continue reading Adieu 2020, Welcome 2021 →

Jerusalema!, The song celebrates life and is full of joie de vivre

BY ASAD MIRZA Sometimes you are too bogged down by lethargy or feel really unconcerned by the happenings around the world and don’t feel like pounding at your laptop, dishing out highly opinionated pieces on mundane world issues. Perhaps this might be due to the gloomy atmosphere prevailing throughout the world for the last 10 … Continue reading Jerusalema!, The song celebrates life and is full of joie de vivre →

Post-pandemic economic growth dominates G-20 Summit

The Riyadh Summit focussed both on handling the pandemic and the global economic recovery. Asad Mirza The virtual G20 Summit in Riyadh, which was organised under the direct supervision of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), was indeed able to showcase the leadership capability of the Kingdom on the global stage. As expected … Continue reading Post-pandemic economic growth dominates G-20 Summit →

France and Islam

By Asad Mirza The French attacks on Islam and its Prophet are nothing new, we only have to peep a little bit into the past, to find the roots of this hatred. The recent storm over the inflammatory statements against the Holy prophet and Islam itself, by the French President Macron has set the Muslim … Continue reading France and Islam →