Battle for legitimacy: Afghanistan v the Taliban
After 18 years and almost a trillion dollars to fight the Taliban, Afghanistan’s government still struggles for legitimacy; we ask why. A list of the world’s ultra-rich reveals a disproportionate numb...
20 Touko 201922min
Private iniquity? The Abraaj case
Not long ago, Abraaj was one of the world’s highest-profile private-equity firms. We take a look at its spectacular downfall, and the fate of its charismatic boss, Arif Naqvi. This weekend Australian ...
17 Touko 201921min
May, EU live in interesting times: Brexit
As party leaders grill Britain’s prime minister—and with a looming European election the country was due to avoid—we examine how the Brexit mess is dissolving party allegiances. Turkey was once seen a...
16 Touko 201921min
Don’t spend it all at once: Pakistan and the IMF
The International Monetary Fund has struck another deal to bail out Pakistan—its 22nd. But how did the country’s economy end up in such a mess? Never mind rising numbers of vegetarians: the world is e...
15 Touko 201921min
Supply demands: Yemen peace talks
UN negotiators are trying to salvage a ceasefire agreement surrounding the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The Arab world’s poorest country is suffering mightily, but the patchwork of actors makes a suc...
14 Touko 201923min
Spare the Rodrigo: Philippine elections
Personalities, not policies, will determine votes in today’s poll in the Philippines to fill some 18,000 government jobs. Loyalists of the firebrand president Rodrigo Duterte—including his daughter—wi...
13 Touko 201921min
Unbalance of trade: China-America talks
Negotiations to end the trade war have been ruffled as the Trump administration again ramped up tariffs. But even if a deal is struck, that won’t address serious systemic troubles in the countries’ re...
10 Touko 201922min
Generals’ election: Thai politics
The military junta that runs Thailand almost completely sewed up a momentous vote—almost. After further electoral meddling the generals will now lead a weak government, with a surging youth-led party ...
9 Touko 201921min
