The notion that there are no permanent friends or enemies in international relations-only permanent interests-is a widely accepted principle in geopolitics. I would argue that interests are also not permanent, and they shift in the sands of time. The only constant interest is survival; everything else is subject to change. The geopolitics in South Asia […]
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New Order
Pakistan sits at the crossroads of a new Afghan settlement, and the world is already rearranging the furniture. At this week’s quadrilateral meeting in Moscow, Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to a stable Afghanistan while quietly pressing concerns about terrorist sanctuaries along its western frontier. The same talks hosted the Taliban as full participants after Russia […]
Mexican police protest against joining new national guard
Officers of the Mexican federal police protested on Wednesday against the newly created National Guard, saying their superiors had threatened firings if they did not join the security force, in which they face pay cuts and loss of seniority benefits. The demonstrations spotlighted the concerns of several hundred officers over being absorbed into President Andres […]
Cocaine production hit new record in 2017: UN report
Global cocaine production reached an all-time high in 2017, breaking the previous year’s record by 25 percent, the UN drugs and crime agency said Wednesday in its annual report, as production soars in post-conflict Colombia. New remote fields and criminal gangs boosted production in the world’s top supplier, despite efforts to steer rural communities away […]
Argentina’s new poor sink deeper amid recession
Like many Argentines, Daniel Roger and his family found themselves slipping down the social ladder over the past year to join the one-third of their compatriots living below the poverty line. Sideswiped by the country’s swirling 57 percent inflation, their rent became too expensive and they were forced to move into a budget hotel to […]
Uber to use drones for food delivery, unveils new autonomous car
Uber said Wednesday it would begin testing food delivery by drone as it ramps up its Uber Eats service that partners with restaurants. The ride-hailing giant announced at its Uber Elevate Summit that it had been given regulatory approval to begin tests of delivering food by drone in the region of San Diego, California. “Our […]