Opinion News - Page 12
When bourbon barrels saved Scotch whisky: The trade twist that tamed Trump
The story of how American bourbon manufacturers saved Scotch whisky from Trump’s tariffs — ultimately leading to their removal in May 2026 — is a tale of accidental diplomacy, symbiotic capitalism, and a deep appreciation for charred oak barrels
India’s AI strategy offers a blueprint for Global South
The focus on building accessible AI platforms, combined with a vibrant start-up ecosystem, positions India not merely as a consumer of AI, but as a potential architect of scalable, population-level solutions
India and Vietnam build a bond with the Dragon in mind, but beyond China
The two countries are not allies in the Western sense. They are something subtler, and potentially more durable: partners bound by converging interests and a shared preference for equilibrium over dominance
Head-on | How Western media changed its tone after West Bengal landslide
After predicting Mamata Banerjee’s triumph, Western media was left scrambling to rewrite its narrative following the BJP’s landslide victory in West Bengal
Operation Sindoor redrew India’s anti-terror doctrine with decisive force
Operation Sindoor was the moment when India finally abandoned ‘strategic restraint’ in favour of ‘offensive defence’
One year of Operation Sindoor: When India changed the rules of war
Operation Sindoor is widely regarded as a watershed moment in India’s security doctrine, primarily driven by a high level of political will and clear strategic direction.
BrahMos to business: India-Vietnam ties enter new phase as President To Lam visits Delhi
With synergy in a number of key sectors ranging from defence, trade, commerce and investment to cultural and people-to-people interactions, India-Vietnam relations are poised for a paradigm shift in the short, medium and long term
From Leicester to Golders Green: Failure to confront extremism is tearing Britain apart
One is witnessing the rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-Hinduism across the West, especially the UK. Political parties must recognise that confronting extremism cannot be selective, contextual, or politically negotiated
China can’t be the world leader for Buddhism ever
Beijing would like the world to believe that Buddhism has for decades been a leading component of Chinese civilisation and that China should take the lead in its propagation. But what does a state grounded in Marx’s atheist precepts have to do with religion?
Kolkata’s nostalgia trap: Winning Bengal was hard, transforming it will be harder
The state that once led the country intellectually, pioneered entrepreneurial-industrial culture, unleashed Hindu renaissance during the British era, and shaped modern Indian political thought now finds itself apologetic about everything it historically and civilisationally stood for.
BJP’s Bengal sweep will reshape India’s Bangladesh policy
The BJP's historic victory in Bengal transcends state politics. It equips India with the administrative, security, and diplomatic tools to pursue a coherent, assertive, yet constructive Bangladesh policy
Jhalmuri chronicles: When Bengal’s favourite travel snack becomes a symbol of political defiance
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi bought some jhalmuri while campaigning in Jhargram, both the BJP and the TMC have been spicing up their respective election rhetoric with some muri musings
Mamata meets her reckoning in Bengal, BJP must now deliver on its promises
Didi’s biggest sin is that she scotched the hope of a generation of youth, destroyed their future and dragged West Bengal back by decades. The overwhelming mandate for BJP is also an equally heavy burden of expectations
TVK’s ‘Vijay’ ends Dravidian duopoly, rejects old political formulas in Tamil Nadu
Vijay’s stunning rise in Tamil Nadu reflects a growing public impatience with dynastic politics, corruption and governance built solely on freebies
BJP’s Bengal win completes its eastern sweep, marks a watershed moment in Indian politics
Indian politics has firmly entered a new phase with the BJP at its centre and the Opposition further marginalised, starkly confused, and severely jaundiced
Why Banksy’s ‘guerrilla art’ is dangerous
That he could sneak in a large object into a vulnerable tourist hub in central London without being discovered is alarming
Petrol prices push Pakistan back to a donkey cart economy
It is a perfect, self-sustaining circle of poverty
China’s Global Security Report exposes fundamental flaws in Beijing’s worldview
The report asserts China’s role in a multipolar order, yet it does not fully explain how that role translates into an influence across a system that is no longer cohesive
Trump’s backing has made Asim Munir more dangerous, India must play its cards well
Pakistan's 'field marshal' has understood the psychological impulses of the White House occupant much better
Control Malacca or be controlled: Great Nicobar and the Chola lesson for today’s Bharat
A thousand years ago, Indian strategic thinking recognised what some of our modern elites refuse to see. Ignoring Great Nicobar’s strategic importance is not environmentalism; it is the worst of geopolitical negligence
India-Europe ties deepen into a structured, sustained phase
Recent developments clearly indicate that India is prioritising the deepening of comprehensive ties with select European countries, with these partners, in turn, showing equally strong and sustained interest
Chernobyl at 40: As the world bets on nuclear again, has it learned the lessons?
Forty years ago, a reactor taught the world what arrogance and opacity can do to atoms under pressure. Forty years on, the world is turning back to nuclear power again — whether that proves wise or hubristic depends on remembering the past and not repeating it
Is Israel the only disruptor in West Asia?
To reduce the entire tragedy of the Middle East to a single villain would be intellectually simplistic
Great Nicobar project is no ‘ecological disaster’; it’s a strategic necessity for India
The project balances strategic and economic necessity with ecological and tribal safeguards, highlighting its importance for maritime security, trade efficiency, and regional geopolitical positioning
Mamdani’s Kohinoor gambit: More than a cheeky swipe at the British Crown
Behind the Kohinoor lies a larger battle over history and power
Abu Dhabi’s OPEC exit signals a structural shift in the Gulf
The Arab unity is also no longer intact as countries explore the range of options from a forced or pragmatic modus vivendi to moving on to another end of the spectrum given the uncertainties of the West Asian region
AI is rewriting India’s IT model faster than we admit
The employment contract that powered India’s rise in IT is being rewritten. The question is not whether the shift will happen; it is whether India will respond early, deliberately, and honestly enough to shape the outcome rather than react to it
A politician as envoy: Dinesh Trivedi’s Dhaka posting marks rare diplomatic outreach by India
New Delhi appears to have clear recognition that rebuilding ties with Dhaka requires more than routine bureaucratic engagement. It demands political heft, cultural empathy, and the ability to navigate sensitive domestic constituencies on both sides of the border
From Sterlite to Nicobar: How activism is challenging India’s strategic growth
Foreign money funnelled via NGO networks has often been found causing activists-for-hire to function as agents to disrupt Indian industry, economic growth and energy independence efforts
Iran has emerged as the clear winner against US, but no one knows how to continue or end the conflict
That Trump is flailing about like a headless chicken and has nothing to offer except bellicose messages, should tell you something