News of the day.

While several of these countries don't get along very well, at least they're still talking. I do wonder about these regional unions - EU, ASEAN, African Union, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, CAFTA, etc. I think each union is progress, but can integration get stuck at this level? I choose to be optimistic. The article is about SAARC, South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation.

Moment of Truth. Religion poses interesting obstacles to the idea of one people, one world. This Economist article discusses the entanglement of politics and religion around the world, and difficulty, if not danger, of conversion. 

Turkey's top court rejects ban on governing party. It will be interesting to see how this development affects Turkey's dance with the EU over membership. One EU MP is quoted as saying, "There is a great sense of relief among Europeans."

The half-century trend toward trade liberalisation has been stymied for the moment. China and India are important players now, and this IHT article shows just how much. They're concerns about food security, and the US recalcitrance on agricultural subsidies threw a wrench into trade talks. What trade talks? The Doha Round, of course, which appears to have come to a screeching halt. The Economist explains.