STANDPOINT by Atique Naqvi

Being open to investors and different communities is key to fostering growth in this Latin American state, according to Ricardo Martinelli. "If interest rates, which have a tendency to go up do that, that presents some challenge to us. But, we have ample resources to weather out any difficulties", he said in 2011. The interview was published in the March 2011 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Being hungry and displaced in Syria By Atique Naqvi | Dubai, UAE | Uploaded on the blog recently** Syrians protest against lack of basic services. Hunger as a result of breaking down of food supply chains is not uncommon in conflict-hit areas – Syria is just one example. Though millions of Syrians are currently experiencing ills of war, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has made significant progress over the last few weeks in reaching more people affected by the violence. Owing to improved access through cross-line and cross-border food deliveries, thousands of Syrians in besieged and difficult-to-reach areas are benefitting from the program. In July, WFP food assistance reached a total of 3.7 million people in Syria, an increase on the number of people reached in June (3.4 million). More than 300,000 people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas received WFP food through cross-line convoys in July – double the number of people reached using cross-line convoys in J...