BUGLE

We all have heard of brain drain. It is the phenomenon of meritorious students from third world countries like India migrating to developed countries especially like United States. Of course this helps propel India in global stage in terms of its contribution in running world class corporate like Microsoft or Pepsi and several other organizations with some Indians sitting at the top of these companies. This clan of immigrants also feeds Indian coffer with their remittance in foreign exchange. Though, time and again there are many so-called nationalists are found bemoaning, shedding crocodile’s tears, for the brain drain. That is had they been here, they could contribute for the advancement of their own country. None better than them know it is next to impossible, since nothing thrives better than corupptons, casts and reservations here. But there is change in wind direction. Since 2003, between 50000 to 60000 Indian information technology professionals have returned to India for better...

Not many remember, in late 60s or early 70s, three movies from Hollywood in a series brought Italy in the forefront of cine-goers mind. They were “Marriage in Italian Style”, “Divorce in Italian Style” and “Ghost in Italian Style”. I remembered them with a recent development of dispensing compensation in Italian style. News of Associated Press suggested that Italy agreed to pay Libya $5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country in the last century. This has been to by Libyan foreign minister Mr Abdel-Rahaman Shalgam. He further claimed that Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi, who is visiting Libya at present, is set to sign a memorandum pledging a $5 billion compensation package involving construction projects, student grants and pension for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during the Second World War (too late to consider!). He further said “It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours duri...

Sea piracy is one of the oldest professional crimes, ever since men learnt to brave the high sea on boats or ships, sea pirates followed them to loot them. In mid sea, before heavily armed looters the sailors ever remained helpless. However in those days, the pirates were happy with their loots, whatever they could find on board. Latter in middle age they use to carry the sailors along to sell them off as slaves many times. The slave trade was thriving then. It is unfortunate that though we are exploring the surface of moon or mars but we are yet to purge the surface of our own planet! Sea piracy is very much on even now, the pirates use those ships that are not recorded with Lloyds. Nor they are satisfied with their loots what they usually find on the ships that fall pray. They take the seamen on hostage for ransom. Usually the they get it, on the face, from the shipping companies who own the ships. It is left to anyone`s guess who funds the shipping companies. After all you cannot ...

Yesterday was the day, marked for one of the last monarchy`s fall. The King of Nepal, the small Himalayan kingdom has ended its centuries old monarchy. The King Ganyendra is no more the king, the irate mob attacked the royal palace in Kathmandu, as every time such thing happens when a monarchy or dictatorship ends anywhere in the world. It happened recently in Iraq, we watched on TV, how the tall statue of Saddam Husain was pulled down by hilarious mob. The royal palace is likely to be converted into a national museum. The King is likely to stay elsewhere as an ordinary citizen. Nepal has become a republic after lots of struggle. Now the world will watch how the republic is run in future. In fact history offers evidence that in past, where ever the democracy emerged ending the monarchy it lasted and in many cases as a true democracy. But where democracy emerged ending the colonial rules as in India, sometime it was very short-lived. As we find in the case of Pakistan, Myanmar (former...

A recent news paper report suggests that Thailand one of the biggest exporters of rice in the world is considering a rice cartel in line with the OPEC; oil producing and exporting countries. The news is not likely to be amusing to US, UK or the other bulk rice importing developed, developing and under developed countries. The latter is going to suffer maximum. They as per the report approached other major rice exporting countries, like Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and few more. The developed world as well as the rest of rice importing nations are already feeling the heat this year. The shortage is so acute that first time ever the last great war , in US Wall Mart is rationing the rice. In UK the restaurateurs and take away owners have given a representation for withdrawal of EU taxes on import of rice which is currently Euro65 per ton. As instigated by the oil price hike to $126 per barrel this year; in a year increased around 100%; the counter measure proposed by Thailand is not very s...

The all around price rise is a global phenomena now. Not only the developing nation, the developed and super developed nations like US are in the grip of this. Recent volley of of US President Mr. Bush blaming India and China for global food shortage and oil price hike, is what warrant the gravity of situation. The first time in post world war , the Wall Mart in US is rationing the rice! It is interesting to note the stuff matches the surname of secretary of states of Bush administration! However, the accusation of Mr Bush is base less; India has no role to play in oil price hike. India`s per capita oil consumption is lowest in the world average per capita consumption. Which is 925 Kg. India`s is only 117 Kg, comparing to US`s 3429 Kg, Japan`s 2082 Kg, European nation`s 1113 Kg; India stands no way for the oil price hike. On the contrary the common American citizens are oil guzzlers and car addicts too. Off course they can afford that as their economy and standard of living is quite...