Of ‘Valandas’, past and present
Advocates of India-United States relations will silently wince. But they will agree that the latest US move to suspend tech firms from a key programme that lets them sponsor skilled foreign workers for permanent residency is primarily aimed at India and Indians. Indian nationals account for about 70% to 75% of all approved H-1B visas, […]
AS GULF’S PEACE PROSPECTS PETER OUT…..
The window for peace in the Gulf opened briefly, but has shut abruptly, triggering prospects of unending violence and destruction. United States President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s 7-Day plan for cessation of hostilities and reopening of the Hormuz Strait. He must have weighed what would help more: quitting a war unpopular at home and being […]
TARIFFS: TRY BULLYING BEIJING, MR. TRUMP?
A key takeaway from last week’s New Delhi BRICS Summit was the long-delayed, but warranted, call to protect critical energy and civilian infrastructure threatened by a Gulf War that is lengthening and escalating each day. It came as Brent crude surpassed $108 per barrel, as Iran is being hit and is hitting America’s allies […]
WHEN EURASIANS HOLD HANDS
Proving the doubters wrong, the BRICS nations have urged ‘restraint’ in the Gulf War and a smooth flow of global trade. The joint declaration at the two-day summit has also expressed ‘firm opposition’ to the forced displacement of Palestinians by Israel. India has moved along with the Global South. Its two allies, the United States […]
WARS + WEATHER = WORLD WITHOUT WHEAT : HEADING TO A HUNGRY WORLD
Wars are bad, anyway. But when they combine with adverse weather conditions worldwide, they become deadly. We are heading for a global food crisis triggered by both. Come winter, even the rich will not escape. Over four years of war in Ukraine and six months in the Gulf – both showing no signs of ending […]
HORSING AROUND ON HORMUZ
As the Gulf War enters its seventh month, it has become evident that all the horsing around is centred on the Strait of Hormuz. The expression “horsing around” means “ to act in a silly, noisy, playful, or rough way instead of being serious.” But this is serious, no matter who the riders are. United States President Donald […]
COURT RELIEF FOR IMRAN KHAN: A NEW POLITICAL TURN?
The Supreme Court’s relief to imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, permitting medical check-ups and family visits, heralds a new phase in Pakistan’s politics. More than a hospital episode, it may be part of a larger deal, though nothing concrete has emerged so far. It is premature to say whether history will repeat itself, as […]
AFGHANISTAN TODAY: GANDHARI’S CURSE?
Maharshi Vyasa’s Mahabharata does not record it. But popular folklore and the epic’s modern-day television adaptations state that Queen Gandhari cursed her brother Shakuni that his kingdom of Gandhara (modern-day Afghanistan) would never find peace or prosperity. True or not, Gandhari, wife of the blind king Dhritarashtra, who blindfolded herself, was a woman of great […]
INDIA STORY THROUGH I-DAY SPEECHES FROM RED FORT: India Strategic
(Photo) Courtesy : Firstpost As India celebrated the 80th anniversary of Independence, it is evident that the annual ceremony at Delhi’s Red Fort has become much more than a national ritual. It reflects India’s changing priorities, aspirations and identity. When the Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the Tricolour from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort […]
Bofors Burial: Why Big Guns Are Silent Now?
There was a time when the word “Bofors” needed no explanation. It was not merely the name of a Swedish gun. It was a political weapon, an election slogan and, for a generation, almost a synonym for corruption. The Bofors deal was signed in 1986. When it became controversial and was debated in and outside […]
