Friday, July 10, 1998
That M-word again
The US Congress is slated to review India's most-favoured-nation (MFN) status in the wake of its nuclear tests. Most-favoured nation is in fact something of a misnomer: MFN status really means not less favoured than any other. Further simplified, that means that any trading concessions offered to one country will be offered to all other countries under MFN and that no discrimination will be made between them. The world-trade regime presided over by the World Trade Organisation makes it mandatory for all member countries to extend MFN status to one another.
Sacrifice, not surrender
The Prophet kept his cool. It was perhaps the greatest test of his career as a messenger of God. For the first time a situation had arisen in which nearly all his followers disagreed with his decision. One of his closest aides, Hazrat Omar, who later became the second and perhaps the most illustrious caliph, had openly questioned his judgment. But the Prophet's job was to convey the message of God not only through words but also thorough exemplary deeds.
"I would like to break free from being ex-prime minister"
Back in London again this summer for treatment to cure a variety of ailments including renal failure, former prime minister V.P. Singh looked buoyant lying on a grey dentist's-style recliner, surrounded by humming machines and separated from two other patients by a cheerful floral curtain. Last week, his exhibition of paintings, Meanderings, closed to both approval from the artistic community and art buyers, having sold at least 10 of the 38 works on the opening night.
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