Mihir Bose's Blog, page 36

The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide by Garry J. Bass

The 1971 Bangladesh genocide is little remembered, although it was almost as bad as Rwanda. It turned the Cold War story of freedom-loving US versus the oppressive Soviet Union on its head. The land of the free was in a shameful alliance with the killers, while the evil empire was on the side of the angels.

What shall we do with Qatar?

It is impossible to feel any sympathy for Qatar. An oil-rich Gulf state which somehow manages to get the World Cup and then lavishes money to try and convince the world it can not only stage the event but contribute to a better understanding of the world of sport hardly qualifies for sympathy. The immediate response would be there are far worthier subjects to feel sorry for. Yet as Qatar continues to get a bad press we must ask ourselves what is Qatar doing wrong and can they ever get out of this terrible spiral of distrust and dislike? And make no mistake they are.

Indian Super League kicks off: A whole new ball game for Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar

In what promises to be a heady mix of sport and Bollywood glamour, India today launches its own version of Premier League football.

The Indian Super League only has eight teams, and the fixtures will be confined to the next 10 weeks, but the tournament is already expected to kick-start a football revolution in a country with an estimated 500 million fans starved of any home-grown action.

Moeen Ali interview: The England star on backing Alastair Cook, boos in Birmingham and wearing Save Gaza wristbands

Kevin Pietersen sparked a game of claim and counterclaim with his explosive revelations in that book last week.

Among the accusations that spilled from the pages of Pietersen’s autobiography was the depiction of Alastair Cook as a weak England captain. However, that description is not one that Moeen Ali recognises.

India’s Wildest Dream

The Great War raised hopes of Indian independence but it would take another conflict to make it a reality.

History Today June piece

History Today June piece

My review of Fight or Flight for History Today

My review of Fight or Flight by Martin Thomas for History Today

Why English clubs have a problem moving homes

Going up the property ladder, selling your existing home for profit and then moving to a bigger better home, is something we take for granted. But for football clubs finding a new home, or even making the existing one bigger is very often a nightmare and can cause enormous problems. If clubs are not careful they can go into ruinous debt which can threaten their very existence.

Manu Tuilagi: I’ve told Stuart Lancaster… I’m a centre, not a winger

The big debate in English rugby is whether Manu Tuilagi will return to centre for the autumn internationals but in his eyes there is only one answer.

After all, the last time he played on the wing he told England head coach Stuart Lancaster he would be much happier sticking at centre.

It’s always fun beating the Yanks, declares confident Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has just given Boris Johnson a much-needed golf lesson on a pontoon beneath Tower Bridge and is now playing a few shots to entertain the customers of his sponsor, Santander.

As he plays his final drive, he declares: “Now it is the Yanks. It is fun beating the Yanks!”