Photo Source: Internet By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront A n interesting debate rages in the global business arena. Tariffs and international policies on trade make up a huge chunk of economic decisions in our world. Today, many people criticise the trade liberalisation policies around the world. After the end of second world war, the Bretton Woods assemblage of international economic institutions paved the way for one of the most important events in history. International free trade alliances were given an advent for a purpose to stablise the global economy. During those times, there was a natural urge amidst several countries to escape protectionist policies pertaining to economies. During the years 1948 to 1994, GATT (General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade) saw high growth turnouts in international commerce, which was later constituted as the WTO in 1995. Uruguay Round from 1986 to 1994 was conducted seven times over the years which mainly focused on agricultural ...

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Gloeb Upfront After the end of the First World War, and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919,  the Ottomans lost all their territories. The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful Islamic Empires (1290-1918). In 16th century entire Middle East and North Africa came under the rule of Sultan Selim I, followed by the rule of Sultan Suleyman, who overtook North Africa excluding Morocco. Known as the 'Protectors of the Pilgrimage', they once ruled over Mecca and Medina. History has shown that once an empire collapses, its remnants somehow remain. We see Putin trying to sell Russian national ideas in Crimea. A similar debate happening in Ankara  is no exception to this rule. Through the epochs of history, we have heard good of Ottoman commerce, laws and and several aspects of their civil administration that existed in the 20th century. Ottomans were known to create a power structure designed to overcome challenges in governance bec...

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront Birth of Euro-Asian Economic Union is Vladimir Putin's brainchild and Russia's answer of the European Union (EU). Putin dreams of creating a tariff-free trade zone along with other member states, thereby fostering closer socio-economic ties. All this strategical exercise has to go well with the other two players, namely Kazakhstan and Belarus. More importantly, Russia has to bring the political actors in Astana closer to its Moscow plan because Kazakhstan has pivotal stakes in the region. Russia and Kazakhstan share common pipelines, an electricity grid, and railway links which cover 4000 miles border. Astana will have the region's tallest skyscraper soon. In terms of bilateral achievements, Russia did a business of over $26 billion in 2013 alone. Russia is also the main consumer of Kazakhstan's mining and chemical exports. World's largest spaceport, Baikonur Cosmodrome is managed by Russia in Kazakhstan. About 50 percen...

Photo Source: Ansamed By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront W hen   a new nationalist movement was born in Europe, advocating the creation of a Jewish state in the First Zionist Congress of 1897, its delivery resulted exodus of about 750,000 Palestinians who were made refugees in the Nakba of 1948 from Palestine, which was actually the part of Ottoman Empire. The end result was the enmity between native Palestinian Muslims and immigrating Jews from Europe. The concept of being away from their land still emphasises their right to return - the most basic humanitarian law. It has been on the list of many leaders, most recently, in John Kerry's framework of peace, who actually wanted a quiet diplomacy in the Arab region. Politically, the Oslo Accords of 1993 and Taif Agreement of 1989, were actually jolted by the intifada of the common people.  In 1940, the British actually ended the mandate of Palestine and left the country on 14th May 1948. The ruling Jewish lead...

Source: Google By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront T he slogan that Africa is rising has been lingering around for a while now, with many multi-nationals wanting to invest in the continent.  The region is marketed by many business leaders of the West as the next generation economy. However, these slogans have been tired of late because of the increasing social ills eating into the system, which is directly affecting nearly 1.1 billion inhabitants. Only in September last year, about sixty-seven people died in Kenya in a Westgate seize where country showed to the world that it was unable to police itself. In Nigeria, about 200 school children were abducted by Boko Haram militants in series of calculating attacks, where its army took the toll of failing their freedom. The armies of Africa are regarded as one of the best assets in these countries. In fact, such is their pride and confidence that in the year 1994, when Rwandan genocide happened, Africans were bo...

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront THREE MILITARY FIGURES HAVE EMERGED as significant actors in the politics of Libya, Egypt, and Lebanon. In Libya, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar commands the self-styled Libyan National Army and has positioned himself as one of the most influential figures in shaping the country's future. Reporting by Reuters and The Guardian has documented how Haftar's campaigns in Benghazi and Tripoli received support from foreign powers, including Russia and the United Arab Emirates, while his reliance on foreign fighters and mercenaries has drawn criticism from international organisations and human rights groups. Critics argue that his military dominance has weakened prospects for democratic governance, even as supporters portray him as a force for stability and order. In Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rose from general to president following the military's removal of Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Since assuming office, Sisi has consolidated power throug...

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront I ndia has colonised itself. The richer are getting rich in India and poor are getting poorer. However, the most concerning ill has been the corporate mafia eating the system - it's opposition, and the revolt of Maoists has been the most important concern for the ruling government in India, especially for the UPA. Maoists, an extreme amalgam, banned by the CPI, are rebelling through the deep and isolated jungles of India, united for a cause- to oust away corporate fascism, unleashed by the state or by an amalgam of corporate elites. In a 2009 parliamentary speech, P Chidambaram, who was himself a former committee member of the Vedanta Industry Group, openly espoused hostility towards Left-wing extremism. In hills of Odisha like Damanjodi and Niyamgiri, nature is God and industries are demons. The people there believe that if ecology is disturbed, their gods are sold - Dongria Kondth long existed before the creation of India or...