Новости за 19.04.2021

Rajarshi Dasgupta, Indian Express

A high voting percentage so far in West Bengal has been seen by many as a sign of change. This assembly election is of special significance for a number of reasons. Winning Bengal will hand a big reason to the BJP for overlooking multiple policy challenges: Social divisions, political unrest and economic hardships in the country. They will be vindicated in their strategic superiority and channel their cultural nationalism into new directions. A defeat for... Читать дальше...

Andy Collier, Spectator

Nicola Sturgeon has two houses and they could hardly be more different. Her official residence, Bute House, in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, is a Robert Adam designed early 19th century masterpiece with all the grace and elegance appropriate to the office of First Minister. Her life-size portrait hangs on its walls.

Neal Ascherson, Guardian

The UK government has moved to veto two bills passed by the Scottish parliament, strengthening the hand of the SNP.

Paul Wood, Newlines

The United States has learned some hard lessons in the Middle East. But can the same be said of the man who helped shape U.S. policy there across four presidencies?

Steven Erlanger, New York Times

Whatever government fills the vacuum in Germany after Chancellor Angela Merkel will be tinged with green.

Shashi Kumar & Salvatore Mercogliano, Proceedings

The recent blockage of the Suez Canal put a spotlight on the global maritime industry and showed the world's dependence on it.

Simeon Tegel, World Politics Review

Even in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic and a mismanaged economic austerity package, former President Rafael Correa's bitter legacy of corruption and authoritarianism outweighed the promise of a return to the lavish social spending of the left-wing populist's time in power.

Robert Shrimsley, Financial Times

"We all know how it works. The lunches, the hospitality, the quiet word in your ear, the ex-ministers and ex-advisers for hire, helping big business find the right way to get its way." So said David Cameron in 2010, in a speech on lobbying shortly before he became prime minister.

M. Jerzewski & S. Hashmi, Diplomat

Taiwan could gain outsized rewards from promoting the field in Australia, India, and Indonesia.

Paul Kolbe, Cipher Brief

Meanwhile, our networks are intricately interconnected, but we organize our defense into silo after silo. Government defenses are scattered across different agencies, companies are reluctant to share news of breaches and our intelligence agencies are pointed outwards. No one has a full view of the battlefield. Companies view cyber defense as a burdensome cost. Government budgets favor offense, and even when new funds are allocated to cyber defense, the focus is on securing government systems... Читать дальше...

Omid Rahimi, Jamestown

High-ranking officials from Iran and Tajikistan made a total of three visits to Dushanbe and Tehran, respectively, in less than two months, a significant sign that after years of frosty relations, diplomatic ties are finally improving (Khovar, February 23,

Derek Mitchell, Foreign Affairs

Failure to Act Will Lead to a Failed State

David Adam, The Week

Sourdough and baking helped many people cope with 2020, and many have found solace in family Zoom calls. But for millions around the world, the stress of the pandemic and tedium of lockdown life saw them seek the comforting embrace of another, fickle friend: alcohol.

James Waller, Worldcrunch

Sectarian rioting has returned to the streets of Northern Ireland, just weeks shy of its 100th anniversary as a territory of the United Kingdom.

David Sepkoski, Foreign Policy

The way we talk about climate change and our effect on the planet is all wrong—and increasingly dangerous.

Doug Bandow, The American Conservative

The American people need a debate now, before a crisis arrives.

Judy Dempsey et al, Carnegie Europe

There is no consensus in NATO in favor of Ukraine's membership. What the most determined Western countries can do is provide intelligence and military support to Ukraine, including weaponry and capability building.

Nikos Marantzidis, Ekathimerini

The data are devastating. For 10 consecutive years, deaths in Greece have outnumbered births. A total of 931,884 people were born from 2011 to 2020 while 1,198,502 died over the same period, resulting in a net decrease of 266,618 people.