What the world is reading

In his recent fashion advice column in Slate magazine,Simon Doonan laments that older people are not revered and respected as they once were and wonders what kind of attire would help them reclaim their honour. Now that old folks have been relegated to the back burner,now that aging is seen as something shameful,something to be ignoredbeauty counters are jammed with age-defying unguentsthe old contract has been broken. There is no longer any incentive to dress like a venerable old geezer or geezerette. To all of you grizzled folks out there,I say this: Since nobody is going to give you any props for growing old gracefullylets face facts,nobody is going to give you props anymore for anything! You might as well let rip and crank up the volume on your leopard-print mankini.

He says while older women have an abundance of older and wiser style provocateurs men do not have such luxury. For guys,however,the landscape is arid. Flamboyant dudes tend to die or put their lurex catsuits and satin jockstraps into mothballs.

HERALD

The funny side of expat Pakistanis

Ask anyone who runs a service business and they will no doubt have their roster of amusing client stories. But ask a Pakistani business owner about their experiences with clients who are of Pakistani descent but born abroad and you will spot a common thread of frustration. She adds that 80 per cent of these visitors see the natives as the humblest of hicks,the simplest cave-dwellers. Bina Khan,a Karachi based make up artist writes about her experiences with Pakistani expats on their visit to their homeland.

I have had countless experiences like this and comments ranging from,Its good to see that you all use good praaaducts here to Well,in America,we have… Yes,thanks for the heads-up. I have never travelled. Or switched on a television. Or watched a movie. You see,we dont get cable in the network of caves that we occupy,so I really wouldnt know what goes on in the outside world.

TIME

Tackling the myth of Indian inefficiency

A couple of weeks ago,I tried to convince the world that China isnt as efficient as many believe. Now Im about to take on an even more daunting challengemaking the case that India isnt quite as inefficient as most people insist, writes Michael Schuman. He acknowledges that many people wonder how India,with its infamously entrenched bureaucracy,even come close to the directed policymaking of China. Though at times it may seem messy,Indias democratic system has produced a tremendous amount of economic reform over the past 20 years. All it takes is the political will to press forward with the changes,and some effort to build enough consensus to support those changes, he concludes.

The New York Times

Malala Yousafzais courage

If Pakistan has a future,it is embodied in Malala Yousafzai, reads an editorial.

Snubbing the Pakistani government and military,the editorial goes on to say Malala has shown more courage in facing down the Taliban than Pakistans government and its military leaders. Her father,who has shown uncommon bravery in supporting his daughters aspirations,said she had long defied Taliban threats. It adds that this attack was so dreadful,however,that Pakistanis across the ideological spectrum reacted with outrage. Even Jamaat ud Dawa,part of the militant Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba,couldnt stay silent. Shameful,despicable,barbaric attempt, read a message on the groups official Twitter feed.