 |
Links 8/12: Republicans 2008; the economics of obesity and pre-school; Pakistan, Afghanistan, Asia’s income gap |
 |
Election 2008
Mitt Romney won this weekend’s problematic Iowa straw poll.
For former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, the dismal results of the Iowa Straw Poll signal it’s time to bow out of the presidential race.
Plus, it seems a few candidates have trouble keeping their facts straight. Giuliani “misspoke” about Ground Zero; Romney “misspoke” about his son’s military activity.
Who is responsible for paying the extra costs associated with obesity? What can employers do to promote the health and well-being of their employees while keeping a close eye on their insurance premiums?
In other economic news: Is pre-school “a cure for inequality”?
South Asia:
“At critical moments in the fight for Afghanistan, the Bush administration diverted scarce intelligence and reconstruction resources to Iraq, including elite C.I.A. teams and Special Forces units involved in the search for terrorists,” reports The New York Times reports in an article on how a “good war” turned bad.
Addressing tribal leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s President Musharraf encouraged tougher action against Taliban insurgents, pushing for greater cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight militant insurgents in the countries’ tribal areas.
Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto may be close to reaching an agreement for her return, which may be good news for Pakistan’s faltering democracy.
The struggle to obtain the release of 21 South Korean aid workers who were taken hostage by the Taliban in mid-July continues.
The income gap is growing in many Asian countries. China’s gap is approaching Latin American levels (which are the highest in the world), but despite a recent rise, India is doing better than many imagine (relatively speaking).
My browser likes to look at news from South Asia. What has been in your browser window today?
