Features

Curtain rising on heightening ‘global disorder’

Published

3 years ago

2023/04/20

Caught in the cross-fire; the people of Sudan

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva did not mince her words about emerging and heightening crisis tendencies in the global economy. She said, among other things recently, that the IMF’s projection of 2.8 percent global growth for 2023 “is not enough to bring opportunities to businesses and people around the world, and most worrisome is the projection for weak growth over a longer period of time.”

The IMF head went on to explain that current turmoil affecting the global banking sector in particular could revert world economic growth to just 1 percent and have disastrous recessionary consequences for most economies, including those of the emerging kind.

Not surprisingly, these recessionary tendencies are taking hold amidst escalating power struggles among key states in the present world political system. Hardly did China’s war games in the Taiwan Strait end recently than US warships were seen cruising in the same region in an obvious demonstration of counter-force.

This development comes in the wake of repeated gestures of strong support for Taiwan by the US in the former’s continuing stand-off with China over issues related to its political independence.

Not to be glossed over as well are increasing hostilities between NATO and Russia, along with the latter’s allies in Eastern Europe. Russia’s fears of ‘NATO’s Eastward expansion’ are certain to have aggravated with Finland formally joining NATO recently, reportedly to be followed by Sweden very soon.

The above events are among a wide range of international security-linked developments in recent times that point to the fact that East-West tensions are very much on the boil. China has thus far managed to remain relatively aloof from Russia’s squabbles with the West, particularly in the wake of the former’s invasion of Ukraine, but in the case of a hot regional war, for instance, China would perceive it to be in her interests to support Russia militarily and other wise.

In the event of the latter occurring the world could consider herself as having reached the threshold of another World War, although war would likely be seen as a measure of last resort by the world to resolve its inter-state differences.

However, it would be relevant at this juncture to discern historical patterns in World War related developments. Both, World Wars 1 and 11 were essentially full-blown armed confrontations between land-grabbing and colonizing major powers of those times along with their respective allies. In World War 1 the powers concerned were; Germany, Austria-Hungary, Serbia and their allies on the one side and Britain, France, Russia, their allies and later the US, on the other.

In World War 11, Britain, France, Russia, the US and their allies faced off against Germany, Italy and Japan. While land-grabbing was very much at the heart of these wars they invariably resulted in global economic recessions which proved very hard to shake-off.

This was particularly so after World War 1, when the West thought that the world was rendered a more trouble-free one after the major conflict. But it was proved wrong and the world inherited an economic recession that had crippling effects far and wide. Even in the West, starvation and disempowerment were the lot of the general populace.

This distressing backdrop constituted the setting for WW11, when Hitlerian Germany sought to right certain perceived wrongs that were perpetrated on it by the West in WW1. However, as is known, this war yielded little or no positive results for the major conflicting powers. Britain’s position as a number one colonial power, for example, came to an end, although Britain’s declining status enabled the US to emerge as the world’s foremost military, economic and political power.

The world has seen a few decades of US dominance in the current world system but the question that needs to be addressed now is whether the US’ hegemonic status is on the wane as well.

The US decision to quit Afghanistan in mid-2021 could be considered as providing the answer to the above poser. The fact of the matter is that nothing notably positive was achieved for the US and its allies from the Afghan invasion. Sectarian blood-letting, for instance, is continuing without a closure to this day in Afghanistan. The latter has lost in every respect and the US was compelled to leave Afghanistan without achieving any notable foreign policy aims.

When the US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in late 2001 and subsequently Iraq in March 2003, the world economy was already in crisis. After all, the invasions took place in the wake of the East Asian currency crisis of the late nineties. The world recessionary trends that were taking hold rendered these invasions inordinately costly for the West. It was only a matter of time before the West realized that ‘cutting and running’, so to speak, in the invaded countries was the better option.

Considering the deepening global economic crisis, the major Western powers ought to be congratulating themselves right now on their decision to scale down their military presence in the war zones of the South, if not vacate them completely; leaving the countries concerned to their devices.

However, it is yet to be seen whether such ‘wisdom’ would dawn on the Putin regime in Russia, which is in a strenuous effort to hold its head high in Ukraine, despite all evidence that any perceived gains in the latter would not come easy for Russia. However, the economy is ‘the thing’ and persisting with the invasion amid rising financial and material costs would eventually prove unbearable for Russia, as in the case of the West.

While the ruling or power elites of both East and West could prove capable of braving the spreading economic crisis, the lot of the ordinary people everywhere would be an affront to civic-conscious sections worldwide.

The possibility is that the poor worldwide would be left to wither and die by most governments of a Rightist persuasion. This is already happening in countries of the East and South that are bearing the brunt of invasions.

Moreover, as the world economic crisis takes its toll and ‘disorder’ becomes the lot of the powerless, it is power consolidation that would be at the heart of politics, particularly in the case of the South. That this is so is testified to by today’s Sudan, for example, where people are trapped in the cross-fire of power contenders. Human security emerges the utmost need.

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.