View Articles

Shifting the goalposts is to bang the drums and make a din loud enough to catch the attention of the world, draw sympathy and, then, when the other side relents, kick the can further down the road and declare ‘okay, here’s the new spot for the goalposts.’

As the Socialist-led government takes over in Spain, newly minted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces at least two daunting tasks: cleaning up the wreckage wrought by years of European Union-enforced austerity and resolving the Catalan crisis exacerbated by Madrid’s violent reaction to last fall’s independence referendum. Unfortunately, his party’s track record is not exactly sterling on either issue.

Admission to medical colleges has been a contentious issue for quite some time. At one time medical education in our country used to be within the reach of students from ordinary families too. This was the time when medical colleges were in the state sector. Going by the information from the website of Medical Council of India, at the time of Independence, there were 20 medical colleges out which only one was in private sector. Most of the new additions were in the state sector till late eighties. But after the shift in economic policies the scenario changed. We find that between 1990 and 2017 the number of colleges opened in private sector was 238 while only 115 were in the state sector. Not only that, many of these were made as deemed universities with their own examination and admission system and fee structure.

USA President Donald Trump’s initiation of protectionism to insulate America First policy set off a global trade war, and China and India have become the first victims. Both were accused for indulging in unfair trade practices, causing to damage to American industries and employment. President Trump was severe against China on the plea that while the exporting nations treated USA unfairly and reaped the benefits of the open and large American market, these countries were reluctant to reciprocate by opening their own market on equal terms.

Call someone an ‘incel misogynist’ in the United States and consequences will follow. That someone will threaten to sue and rub noses in the dirt till they choke on manure. An ‘incel’ is shorthand for ‘involuntary celibate’, a person who "cannot attract women as sexual partners and is compelled to check out of the dating scene". No man will take this label lying down. Not even an incel!

Senator Iván Duque was victorious in second round voting on June 17 in Colombia, running as the presidential candidate of the rightist Democratic Centre party. The party was founded by former President Álvaro Uribe whose administration was riddled with secret wiretapping, corruption, blatant support of right-wing paramilitaries, and severe human rights abuses. Duque, a 42-year-old lawyer, polled 10.4 million voters, or 53.98 percent of the 19.5 million Colombians going to the polls.

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh so far has had a two-party electoral system. But now it is being debated whether this is going to change in the 2018 Vidhan Sabha elections.

A radical left-winger, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, identified as an old friend of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is poised to become the next president of Mexico. He is also perceived to be a game changer. Mexicans believe he would bring about a fundamental transformation in the body politick of the country. Corbyn has become an unlikely source of inspiration for Mexican activists.

China is clearly outmaneuvering India in the diplomatic war to win over India’s neighbours. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made several visits to China, apparently to keep Beijing in good humour, reduce tension between the two countries and to promote that vague thing called ‘confidence building’. The sincerity of the Prime Minister’s efforts to better Sino-Indian relations cannot be questioned. But what can be questioned is the response it has evoked from China.

The BJP walked out of the alliance. But the PDP walked away with the talking points: Influenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make his snap trip to Lahore, win for PDP’s ‘reconciliation’ thrust as opposed to Centre’s “muscular response”; secured release of over 10,000 stone-throwers; enforced Ramzan Ceasefire and protected “Article 370 and 35 A”. That left the BJP scrambling for cover with “law & order had deteriorated” and “national security and India’s integrity was at stake.”