World’s custodian of peace remains glaringly irrelevant
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – As a new political twist to an old saying goes: the dogs bark but the military caravan moves on. Despite ominous warnings from an overwhelming majority of member states both in the General Assembly and the Security Council—against a military attack on Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin stood defiant when he ordered [...]
Did US provoke Putin’s war?
When Russia’s Vladimir Putin demanded that the U.S. rule out Ukraine as a future member of the NATO alliance, the US archly replied: NATO has an open-door policy. Any nation, including Ukraine, may apply for membership and be admitted. We’re not changing that. In the Bucharest declaration of 2008, NATO had put Ukraine and Georgia, [...]
Buying dollars with rupees
February in Colombo is usually a pleasant month. The temperature is comfortable, probably preparing us for the mad heat of March. Being an old man who (unlike most of my fellow citizens) can survive this shortage of power, food and dollars without too much discomfort, I can be content today with my lot in life. [...]
People and events
During a recent meeting with religious leaders in Weligama, Ven Derangala Managala thera presented the book “Divya Lokayata Yana Maga” to Bishop of Galle Raymond Wickramasinghe. The meeting was organised by officers of the Inter-religious Committee of the Divisional Secretariat.
Russia’s war and the global economy
NEW YORK – Now that Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we must consider the economic and financial consequences of this massive historic development. The Ukraine war is not just another minor, globally inconsequential conflict of the kind seen in recent decades. This is a major escalation of Cold War [...]