Europe’s Blindspot

With another Islamist-inspired knife attack shaking Berlin, Germany is once again paying the price for a decade of denial. It reinforces tha belief that Europe’s migration crisis was never merely about numbers but a profound failure of political judgment. The latest outrage followed a horrifying rampage near a Berlin Pride event, where a man drove a rented van into a crowd, killing a 65-year-old Polish woman and injuring at least 29 others before attacking people with a machete. Just days...

min read

With another Islamist-inspired knife attack shaking Berlin, Germany is once again paying the price for a decade of denial. It reinforces tha belief that Europe’s migration crisis was never merely about numbers but a profound failure of political judgment. The latest outrage followed a horrifying rampage near a Berlin Pride event, where a man drove a rented van into a crowd, killing a 65-year-old Polish woman and injuring at least 29 others before attacking people with a machete. Just days before, another confrontation had unfolded in Berlin’s leafy Spandau district, when the police had shot dead a knife-wielding suspect as he charged towards officers. The identity of the attacker has intensified the questions facing Germany. Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese origin, was not an unknown figure. Authorities knew he had previous convictions for assault, robbery and extortion. They knew he had attempted to join the Islamic State. They knew he had been radicalised. The tragedy in this case was not a failure to identify a threat but the failure to act on one. Germany’s latest security crisis is part of a disturbing pattern. The country has repeatedly witnessed attacks where perpetrators were already known to authorities or had displayed warning signs before violence erupted. In December 2016, Tunisian extremist Anis Amri drove a truck into Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market, killing 13 people. He had been classified as a security threat, yet bureaucratic failures allowed him to remain in Germany. In Würzburg in 2021, a Somali migrant killed three women in a knife attack after reportedly shouting Islamist slogans. In 2024, a police officer was killed in Mannheim when an Afghan national carried out a knife attack during an anti-Islam demonstration. The same year, Solingen’s anniversary celebrations were shattered when a Syrian asylum seeker allegedly inspired by Islamic State ideology killed three people. In each case, the public was told that lessons would be learned. In each case, the cycle continued. The roots of this crisis lie in the political choices made during Europe’s migrant wave of 2015. Angela Merkel’s decision to allow more than a million migrants and asylum seekers into Germany was presented as an act of moral leadership. Her famous declaration “Wir schaffen das” (we can manage this), which became the defining slogan of an era, today stands as the apotheosis of elite liberal folly besides being a dangerous illusion. Merkel’s government had underestimated the challenges of integration, vetting and monitoring. Instead, a legitimate debate about borders, identity and public safety was replaced by moral grandstanding. Open societies cannot survive if they become incapable of defending themselves. Berlin’s latest tragedy is not simply another attack. It is a warning that Europe ignored too many times.

Why Women Are Better Investors Than Men

Kaustubh Kale
Mar 9, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Mar 10, 2025

As the world celebrated International Women's Day, discussions centered around women's achievements in various fields—business, leadership, science, and beyond. But one area where women consistently outperform men, yet receive little recognition, is investing.

Despite money management often being seen as a male-dominated field, women have quietly and consistently proven to be better investors than men. With patience, discipline, and a long-term mindset, women naturally possess qualities that make them superior money managers.

A Perfect Blend of Knowledge and Wealth

In Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati symbolizes knowledge, while Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth—two essential pillars of investing. The ability to manage wealth wisely stems from a deep understanding of financial principles, and this is where women excel. They take the time to learn, analyze, and make informed investment decisions rather than rushing into trends or speculation.

Why Women Make Better Investors

Several traits make women stand out as investors:

Patience and Long-Term Vision: Unlike men, who may be more prone to impulsive trading and get-rich-quick schemes, women tend to have a longer term mindset. Their ability to stay calm, especially during market fluctuations, leads to better returns over time.

Disciplined and Goal-Based: Women prioritize consistent savings and goal-based investing. This disciplined approach helps them build wealth steadily. Women naturally excel at budgeting, planning, and structuring investments to align with future goals, whether it’s children’s education, home buying, or retirement security. Their emotional connection with goals is what makes them stick to discipline.

Risk-Aware, Not Risk-Averse: Contrary to the stereotype, women are not afraid of risks—they are just more calculated about them, through appropriate asset allocation. Eventually, this approach ensures maximum returns with minimal risks.

Trust and Willingness to Learn: Women value education and expertise, making them more likely to seek guidance from a well-qualified financial advisor. Unlike men, who often overestimate their investing abilities, women approach financial decisions with a willingness to learn. Once they find a trusted expert, they follow sound advice instead of making emotional, short-term moves.

Women Leading the Financial World

These qualities are why many of the world’s leading financial institutions are now led by women. In India and abroad, we see prominent banks, asset management companies, and investment firms thriving under female leadership. Their ability to combine strategic thinking with emotional intelligence makes them exceptional at managing money—both at a personal and professional level.

Final Thoughts

With their trust in expert advice and a strong focus on financial education, more women should embrace their strengths and take control of their financial futures!