What's in the NEWS - Politics

[qesehmk]

Glad to read this news about India rejecting British aid. IMHO we should never had accepted it in the first place.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9061844/India-tells-Britain-We-dont-want-your-aid.html

p.s. - Going forward we can use this thread to discuss any geo-political news. This way the immigration related threads won't be burdened with political discussions.

[imdeng]

India does need and will continue to need development assistance focused towards poverty reduction, rural development and education. However, most of the official aid that comes, comes with all kinds of conditions, purchase agreements, red tape, arrogant expats and so on - it all leads to mostly close to zero, actual, on the ground improvement.

During my career in India, I have personally worked with DFID (UK's official foreign aid instrument) and its Canadian counterpart. They both involved a lot of big dollar/pound numbers - much of which was straight wasted. If they just give the money to grassroots organizations in rural India - it will do much more good.

Glad to read this news about India rejecting British aid. IMHO we should never had accepted it in the first place.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9061844/India-tells-Britain-We-dont-want-your-aid.html

p.s. - Going forward we can use this thread to discuss any geo-political news. This way the immigration related threads won't be burdened with political discussions.

[Spectator]

Glad to read this news about India rejecting British aid. IMHO we should never had accepted it in the first place.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9061844/India-tells-Britain-We-dont-want-your-aid.html

p.s. - Going forward we can use this thread to discuss any geo-political news. This way the immigration related threads won't be burdened with political discussions.Q,

That's a very old article, dating from February 2012. Still it beggars belief that if India didn't want it and the British public didn't want to give it, that it has taken so long for the politicians to scrap it.

In recent days, the UK has announced the ending of aid to India. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9668045/UK-to-stop-financial-aid-to-fast-growing-India.html In fact, India gives out more in aid (mainly to Africa) than it receives.

I believe the subject has been a hot button issue in the UK, particularly giving aid to a Country that is booming and has chosen to spend so much money on items such as a nuclear deterrent programme and a space programme, at a time when the economic outlook for most people in the UK is not great.

Perhaps Indian politicians need to decide what their priorities are for themselves.


India does need and will continue to need development assistance focused towards poverty reduction, rural development and education. However, most of the official aid that comes, comes with all kinds of conditions, purchase agreements, red tape, arrogant expats and so on - it all leads to mostly close to zero, actual, on the ground improvement.

During my career in India, I have personally worked with DFID (UK's official foreign aid instrument) and its Canadian counterpart. They both involved a lot of big dollar/pound numbers - much of which was straight wasted. If they just give the money to grassroots organizations in rural India - it will do much more good.I agree that seems to happen and have read several stories about projects paid for by the aid but then no money is made available locally to run them. From memory, this has led to empty medical clinics and the like. Edit - found an example from the British press http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2068856/How-India-squanders-British-aid.html

I don't think India needs aid - it needs politicians who are prepared to make poverty reduction, rural development and education a higher priority and who will ensure it happens.

All the conditions are a double edged sword. Corruption is so rife, that if conditions were not placed on the aid, then none of it would actually be used usefully at all. Much money and resources still seems to disappear into a black hole even with them.

This is a general problem with economic aid and not confined to India.

Unfortunately International Aid direct to grass roots organisations is never going to happen for organisational reasons, even though I agree it would lead to more effective usage.

An alternate view anyway. The truth probably lies between the two extremes.

Overall, I think it is a good decision for both India and the UK.

[qesehmk]

Spec - actually the decision was made public today although that article was old. I forgot to include reference to more current news.

Completely agree that it is a good decision for india as well as UK.

The conditions you talk about are ok. But then inevitably when the aid comes in the form of government aid - it has a certain political objectives as well. That makes me opposed to it more than the conditions that actually ensure the aid goes to the needy.

One more reason I am not a fan of aid (any aid for that matter) is that - more than aid - free markets and just society is bigger enabler for poverty reduction. India (or any other country) should focus more on that compared to aid programs.


Q,

That's a very old article, dating from February 2012. Still it beggars belief that if India didn't want it and the British public didn't want to give it, that it has taken so long for the politicians to scrap it.

In recent days, the UK has announced the ending of aid to India. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9668045/UK-to-stop-financial-aid-to-fast-growing-India.html In fact, India gives out more in aid (mainly to Africa) than it receives.

I believe the subject has been a hot button issue in the UK, particularly giving aid to a Country that is booming and has chosen to spend so much money on items such as a nuclear deterrent programme and a space programme, at a time when the economic outlook for most people in the UK is not great.

Perhaps Indian politicians need to decide what their priorities are for themselves.

I agree that seems to happen and have read several stories about projects paid for by the aid but then no money is made available locally to run them. From memory, this has led to empty medical clinics and the like. Edit - found an example from the British press http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2068856/How-India-squanders-British-aid.html

I don't think India needs aid - it needs politicians who are prepared to make poverty reduction, rural development and education a higher priority and who will ensure it happens.

All the conditions are a double edged sword. Corruption is so rife, that if conditions were not placed on the aid, then none of it would actually be used usefully at all. Much money and resources still seems to disappear into a black hole even with them.

This is a general problem with economic aid and not confined to India.

Unfortunately International Aid direct to grass roots organisations is never going to happen for organisational reasons, even though I agree it would lead to more effective usage.

An alternate view anyway. The truth probably lies between the two extremes.

Overall, I think it is a good decision for both India and the UK.

[qesehmk]

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/21/15328783-india-hangs-only-surviving-gunman-of-2008-mumbai-attacks?lite

Better late than never. Finally there is some justice. While I have zero sympathy for the terrorist - it is bothersome that Pakistani youth continues to be brainwashed into terrorism.

[qesehmk]

For those who care - you may want to sign this petition about body cameras for officers to better serve public. (https://www.change.org/p/u-s-house-of-representatives-pass-the-michael-brown-jr-law-to-begin-equipping-police-with-body-cameras?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=197756&alert_id=iGMBkBrvcs_4c%2Bk3ih8vGq%2BSmhUYqNVGPhkCG NbNqAGTIBLLWT5LYaZlT3DNjfAIJ3kiyYRtlCP)

[qesehmk]

An outstanding article. Articulate, relevant, factual.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/editorial-nomination-asian-american-supreme-court-would-be-big-deal-n520736

[smile245]

The situation on the border of the United States and Mexico has become very acute. A lot of immigrants from Latin America are demanding political asylum (https://pasaportecolombiano.wordpress.com/asilo-politico/) in the United States. Some people have a reason for this, but some do not. But they all want to go to the USA. Trump, on the contrary, tightens the requirements for obtaining a visa.

[qesehmk]

This is a news piece by CNN. These guys stole my name ... they couldn't freaking be even original.

QAnon is now infiltrating mainstream American life and politics
(https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/03/us/what-is-qanon-trnd/index.html)
1660 (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/03/us/what-is-qanon-trnd/index.html)

[idliman]

This is a news piece by CNN. These guys stole my name ... they couldn't freaking be even original.

QAnon is now infiltrating mainstream American life and politics
(https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/03/us/what-is-qanon-trnd/index.html)
1660 (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/03/us/what-is-qanon-trnd/index.html)
Q, I believe Ian Fleming has the original claim to Q / Quartermaster.

[qesehmk]

Q, I believe Ian Fleming has the original claim to Q / Quartermaster.

Touche! I agree.