Opinion: No PM Modi Hugs For Justin Trudeau. This Is Why

Opinion: No PM Modi Hugs For Justin Trudeau. This Is Why

Shivam Vij, The Washington Post | Wednesday February 21, 2018

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi routinely lands up at the airport to receive world dignitaries. From the moment a world leader sets foot on Indian soil, Modi's photo ops begin. Who can forget the famous Modi hug reserved for world leaders?

Opinion: There's Peace In The Air At Olympics, But Something Doesn't Smell Right

Opinion: There's Peace In The Air At Olympics, But Something Doesn't Smell Right

Jerry Brewer, The Washington Post | Sunday February 11, 2018

At the end of the opening ceremony on Friday night, after more than two hours of kumbaya at its most elegant, the infamous Pyeongchang wind pestered the fantasy-closing fireworks exhibition. A grand and hopeful night concluded with smoke and debris forcing you to close your eyes and take cover.

Opinion: Forget 'Peoplekind' - There's A Lot Else Wrong With Justin Trudeau

Opinion: Forget 'Peoplekind' - There's A Lot Else Wrong With Justin Trudeau

Molly Roberts, The Washington Post | Friday February 09, 2018

The Canadian prime minister interrupted a woman at a town hall last week to issue a correction, cutting her off when she mentioned "mankind." "We'd like to say 'peoplekind,' not necessarily mankind, because it's more inclusive," Trudeau said.

Opinion: The Dark Underside Of Saudi Arabia The Crown Prince Is Loath To Change

Opinion: The Dark Underside Of Saudi Arabia The Crown Prince Is Loath To Change

The Washington Post Editorial | Monday January 29, 2018

One view of Saudi Arabia was on display at the just-completed World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the kingdom sought to reassure investors and show off traditional Saudi food, music and culture. The finance minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan,declared, "Saudi Arabia today is different. It's not Saudi Arabia five years ago." He and other ministers extolled the "...

Opinion: The Rise Of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Reveals A Harsh Truth

Opinion: The Rise Of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Reveals A Harsh Truth

Bernard Haykel, The Washington Post | Tuesday January 23, 2018

The crown prince inherited a sclerotic state with limited administrative capacity and an economy that is largely reliant on declining oil revenues. The country is burdened by a venal elite comprised of thousands of royals and hangers-on who operate with impunity and are a huge drain on the economy. It is saddled with a bloated public sector which employs 70 percent of...

Opinion: What Saudi Arabia Could Learn From South Korea About Fighting Corruption

Opinion: What Saudi Arabia Could Learn From South Korea About Fighting Corruption

Jamal Khashoggi, The Washington Post | Tuesday January 09, 2018

In the whirlwind of headlines about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his highly visible campaign against corruption, one might forget that barely a week earlier, he was courting titans of global industry, technology and finance at an investment conference that was also the launch of NEOM, a gleaming futuristic metropolis. As Dave Eggers writes in "A Hologram...

Opinion: New Trump Book: Bannon's 'Treasonous' Claim, Ivanka's Presidential Ambitions And Melania's First-Lady Concerns

Opinion: New Trump Book: Bannon's 'Treasonous' Claim, Ivanka's Presidential Ambitions And Melania's First-Lady Concerns

John Wagner, Callum Borchers, The Washington Post | Thursday January 04, 2018

President Donald Trump is a book genre unto himself. There's "Understanding Trump," by Newt Gingrich, whom Trump considered as a running mate; "Let Trump Be Trump," by former Trump campaign aides Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie; "The Swamp," by former Fox News host Eric Bolling; and a forthcoming, yet-to-be-named book by former White House press secretary Sean Spic...

Opinion: Putin's Dark Cult Of The Secret Police

Opinion: Putin's Dark Cult Of The Secret Police

Vladimir Kara-Murza, The Washington Post | Monday January 01, 2018

On Dec. 20, the Russian government proudly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Cheka, the Soviet secret police. In his official message of congratulations to "officers and veterans" of the security services, President Vladimir Putin urged them to "honor the traditions and the legacy of their predecessors."

Opinion: Foreign Media On PM Modi's "Enduring Popularity" And 3 Other Top Global Stories

Opinion: Foreign Media On PM Modi's "Enduring Popularity" And 3 Other Top Global Stories

Afshin Molavi ,The Washington Post | Thursday December 28, 2017

The events that make headlines are not always the most consequential stories. Often, hidden beyond the headlines of the day, the tectonic plates are shifting imperceptibly, quietly - these deserve our close attention.

Opinion: Crown Prince Of Hypocrisy

Opinion: Crown Prince Of Hypocrisy

The Washington Post Editorial | Wednesday December 27, 2017

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to shake up the hidebound kingdom. He has already announced that women will be permitted to drive, launched an anti-corruption campaign, allowed movie theaters to open next year, imposed budget austerity and revealed expansive ambitions to diversify the economy away from its dependence on oil. All this seems respon...

Opinion: It's Time For The UN To Sanction Saudi Arabia

Opinion: It's Time For The UN To Sanction Saudi Arabia

Akshaya Kumar, The Washington Post | Wednesday December 20, 2017

Ripples of reform from Riyadh have been attracting positive press for the Saudis in Washington. The government recently pledged to permit women to drive, allow movie theaters into the country and to teach physical education to girls in schools. These are important steps, especially for gender equality. This month, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who h...

Opinion: China's Intrusive, Ubiquitous, Scary Surveillance Technology

Opinion: China's Intrusive, Ubiquitous, Scary Surveillance Technology

The Washington Post Editorial | Monday December 18, 2017

Step by step, China has been rolling out surveillance technology that is remarkably intrusive, comprehensive and ubiquitous. Eager to exploit gains in technology, Beijing seems little concerned about human rights or privacy violations.

Opinion: North Korea's New Ballistic Missile Flew 500 Miles Higher Than Similar Ones

Opinion: North Korea's New Ballistic Missile Flew 500 Miles Higher Than Similar Ones

Julie Vitkovskaya, The Washington Post | Friday December 01, 2017

On Wednesday, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that may be capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. The regime is calling it the Hwasong-15, which translates to "Mars" in Korean.

Opinion: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Says His Country "Not Normal"

Opinion: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Says His Country "Not Normal"

Calvert W. Jones, The Washington Post | Friday December 01, 2017

Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, isn't just consolidating power before his probable ascent to the throne. He's also trying to remake Saudi society. He bluntly told reporters that his country is "not normal."

Opinion: In The Middle East, The Dream Of Democracy Is Dead

Opinion: In The Middle East, The Dream Of Democracy Is Dead

Asli Aydintasbas, The Washington Post | Thursday November 23, 2017

Seven years ago, a Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire in defense of his dignity, unknowingly triggering an avalanche of public demonstrations across the Middle East. People in the region wanted what was denied to them for almost a century - a fair order, better lives and a little breathing space.