WORLD
Bangladesh’s Brouhaha: Political, economic chaos and what the future holds for Dhaka
Political turmoil grips the Indian subcontinent as Bangladesh faces severe instability with Sheikh Hasina's resignation and chaos in Dhaka. The situation reflects broader regional unrest and shifting geopolitical dynamics, highlighting challenges and potential for future recovery
WORLD
Pakistan: The forever mil-establishment in a country forever at war with itself
Democracies, even if they’re faux democracies like Pakistan, are about a collective sense of “We” for the people. In Pakistan, these elections leave the people grappling with a series of “I”s – Imran, inconclusive, internet blackouts, independents, intimidation, inflation, and ignominy
WORLD
Gaze on Gaza and the wickedness in the West Bank
Since 1967, the global community has called for a two-state solution. But instead since the Oslo Accords in 1993, it’s been clever by half measures – more land grabs, more illegal settlements, an increased cycle of violence, all in the West Bank, an area sans Hamas, debunking the myth that it’s all about Hamas
WORLD
Israel-Gaza: It’s all so complicated until it’s not!
Israel’s asymmetrical strength and unchecked retribution means too many Palestinians have been slain in Gaza. Israel is so far behind the “defending itself” argument, that one would have to wonder, which other state has gone from victim (October 7 attacks) to villain so quickly
BUSINESS
Why shoot for the stars, when the moon is within reach?
Chandrayaan-3 is the epitome of a sporting comeback and a better comeback after the Chandrayaan-2 had tough luck landing
BUSINESS
Modi in US: India secures a special place in Washington
Some now would confidently put New Delhi’s “special place” in the pantheon of Washington’s closest partnerships. Except, there is one tiny caveat, this “special place” is a “strategic partnership”. New Delhi has managed this diplomatic bonhomie without formally penning a treaty alliance
BUSINESS
Imran Khan: The cricketer, charisma, and the military conundrum
There is something to wonder about Pakistan’s politics, where even a beloved charismatic son of the soil, who brought international honour and pride to Pakistan, is now cast out, fighting legal battles, like his predecessors before him
BUSINESS
A Thaw In The Desert: What Iran-Saudi Arabia détente means for the region?
Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to mend fences and start a new chapter of rapprochement in the Middle East. If this détente was seminal, even more influential was that it was brokered by an unlikely geopolitical hegemon, China, long viewed by many as a pugnacious adversary in other parts of the world
BUSINESS
Joe Biden wants an Aatmanirbhar America
Despite Russian and Chinese aggressions, one would argue that President Biden's State of the Union was as domestic-focused as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget speech
BUSINESS
Oh Canada! Warmer times for immigration in the Great White North
The Canadian Express Entry could be seminal in creating a new generation of talent in the north American nation and the starting chapter in the book of Indo-Canadian ties
TRENDS
December 2022: In South America, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times
Brazil and Argentina, archrivals on the football pitch, experienced two different sets of overwhelming emotions in December
BUSINESS
Football | Why we love FIFA World Cup even when we aren’t supposed to
Despite FIFA’s flaws, the World Cup, rather football, brings parity where geopolitical clout and economic GDP wouldn’t permit
BUSINESS
FIFA World Cup | Qatar’s real goal in hosting the beautiful game
Qatar had bargained for the World Cup, but the World Cup had given Qatar its biggest bargaining chip yet
BUSINESS
Results of US midterm polls unlikely to affect India-US ties
Strategic synergy with India is a priority for both the Democrats and the Republicans, as increased collaboration on the Quad, I2U2, and the IPEF will take precedence as Washington remains steadfast in its trepidation of a Beijing hegemony in the region
WORLD
Sino-US Ties | Trade, Taiwan, and tensions
Washington’s position on a ‘One-China policy’ hasn’t changed, but its posture reflects a commitment to allies and partners in the face of Beijing’s belligerence
BUSINESS
Easing Tariffs | From Joe Biden, To China, without love
The focus isn’t a complete reset of economic ties between Washington and Beijing, but heavily geared towards taming inflation, and easing the stranglehold on rising consumer prices
BUSINESS
India-US Ties | Divergent on Russia and convergent on the Indo Pacific
Democracies do coalesce on shared values, but they diverge on key issues, as national interests supersede any overarching democratic kindred spirit code
WORLD
Russia-China Ties | Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping have a lot in common, and that’s troubling
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has been in power for over two decades and has quashed dissidents and opponents with ease. China’s Xi Jinping, is finishing his first decade in office, has a more behind-the-scenes approach when it comes to addressing opposition
BUSINESS
India, US make the right moves to improve trade ties
While rebuilding and strengthening trade ties, India and the US must build on the five I’s: intent, inclusion, investment, infrastructure, and innovation
BUSINESS
Takeaways from Nirmala Sitharaman’s successful United States visit
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's successful visit to the United States showed, there is a strong strategic partnership and close commercial ties between the US and India
ENTERTAINMENT
How geopolitics casts its long shadow over the Olympics
Over the past decades, the Olympic Games have been, in addition to sporting events, become avenues for geopolitical messaging as well
POLITICS
Israel’s critique of weak Palestinian leadership is a self-fulfilling prophecy
If the Palestinians — who have been under occupation for three generations now — are deprived in every walk in life, how will they be able to produce the sagacious stalwarts, intellectual thinkers and nation builders?
POLITICS
India-US Ties | Before sending aid, India got to hear Joe Biden’s rendition of America First
It was the collective outrage of the Indian diaspora that pushed the US administration to come forth and assist with aid on oxygen supplies, raw materials for COVID-19 vaccines, critical life-saving drugs and the like
BUSINESS
US-China Ties | India’s strategic autonomy ensures it's not a geopolitical pawn
India values its strategic autonomy, in some ways a metamorphosis of its traditional non-aligned stance from the Cold War
