Climate change is real: The world is hotter than its been for two millennia
Global warming is upon us. Long-term global temperature trends revealed by tree rings in a new scientific study confirms tree-life long heat conditions in the northern hemisphere. The Paris Agreement cap sadly lacks a global consensus.
India must raise productivity for sustainable and inclusive growth
We must focus on improving manufacturing processes and capital expenditure deployment to increase productivity. Quick digitization of supply chains and operations can earn significant benefits for companies.
BJP Shares Photo From Singapore As Development Of Indian Metro Services
BOOM found that the photo was published by the Singapore government to promote the country's convenient transportation.
Manu Joseph: Alice Munro reported from inside the heads of women
The author and literature Nobel laureate was chiefly interested in the lives of women, but the result wasnt always compassion for women.
The carbon emissions of war put humanitys right to exist at risk
While developing countries are asked to sacrifice their growth prospects for global climate goals, it is a cruel joke to witness wasteful emissions from extended wars. Geopolitics and international security are blind spots that the climate-change movement mustnt ignore.
Atul Kulkarni writes: Why a loyal voter is bad for democracy
In a plant-based whole food (PBWF) diet and lifestyle, the use of oil is discouraged. Instead, it is recommended to consume butters made from nuts and seeds. Humans evolved over millions of years consuming natural...
P Chidambaram writes: Inheritance tax on buffaloes
The armchair activism of #blackout2024
Sunday View: The Best Weekend Opinion Reads, Curated Just for You
We sifted through the papers to find the best opinion reads, so you won't have to.
History Headline: Are Uttarakhands pine trees to blame for the fires?
Oh, a-Nazi demon-hunting we will go
Wolfenstein 3D would probably have served as a 'gateway game' for my proper addiction to the world of gaming, were it not for a friend accidentally deleting it from my PC, and me subsequently moving to the more pacifist climes of Delhi where work and family took precedence over killing fascists.
Biden tariffs, Xis wei-chi strategy and India's options
Meanwhile: an instructive term that helps convey the perils of inattention. The parade of political rhetoric in Indias 44-day-long election has sucked out the oxygen critical for debate. As Indias parties grapple with words for votes, the spectre of a trade war is playing out. Ideally, matters concerning livelihood must occupy centre-stage, but are sadly waylaid by emotive issues. The fact is what happens in the global economyas contestants wrestle with identity and ideologyhas implications for the incoming government. This week saw the Biden administration in the US imposing a steep hike in tariffs on a wide-ranging list of imports from China. It has trebled the duties on steel, aluminium, batteries, components and critical minerals to 25 percent, doubled duties on semiconductors and solar cells to 50 percent, introduced new levies on ship-to-shore cranes at 25 percent and on medical and other protective equipment at 50 percent,and ramped up tariff on electric cars from 25 to 100 percent. The case for raising tariffs has long been in the baking. There is the goal of economic resiliencethe pandemic unravelled the fact that the global supply chain was verily a Chinese supply chain. There is also the political compulsion. There is a rare and strong consensus in polarised US on the need to constrain/corral China. Bidens rhetoric is not dissimilar from that of Trump when in 2018 he imposed tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods. The mild schadenfreude in India must confront the fact that the Trump tariffs on India are still in place. The ratcheting up of tariffs triggered a calibrated response from China it has termed the new tariffs a unilateral action in violation of World Trade Organization rules and vowed to defend its interests. As yet, there is no signal of retaliation. Interestingly, the action has neither shaken nor stirred the Chinese stock markets. Indeed, the Chinese state agency Xinhua quoted Nietzsche to troll the US action stating, What does not kill you makes you stronger. Unlike other economies that play checkmate chess, the Chinese play wei chi ,where the goal is to conquer through encirclement. If China appears to have brushed off the new tariff regime, it isnt about what it will do, but what it has already engineered to circumvent the new regime. China has used a pathway via Vietnam and Mexicowhich are reliant on Chinese inputsto reach the American consumer. Unsurprisingly, in 2023 Mexico emerged as the largest trading partner of the US. In April, US trade representative Katherine Tai pointed out that China has used non-market practicesstate-subsidised investment in emerging sectors to create capacity, and carve market share with predatory pricingand that steel is coming through the backdoor as Mexican steel. It used a similar template to capture markets in EVs, batteries and solar panels. The route is effective as Mexico enjoys privileged access to US markets as a member of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A report by the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a non-profit outfit, reveals that Chinese companies are investing in manufacturing units in Mexico, Chinese FDI into Mexico is rising and US imports from Mexico contain an increasing amount of Chinese value. Indeed, during his recent visit to Hungary, Serbia (the largest recipients of Chinese FDI in the last three years) and France, Xi Jinping explored the potential of expanding the market for Chinese EVs and other goods by inducting China into the supply chain in Europe. Why and how does this matter to India? Soon after the announcement of Bidens tariffs, the IMF cautioned that trade restrictions lead to fragmentation and could dent global growth by 0.2-7 percent, depending on the magnitude. Any slowdown in global growth has implications for the aspirations of a billion Indians. Indias challenge is that 45 percent of its workforce is dependent on agriculture and lives on a sixth of national incomethey must be moved to higher-yield sectors. Politically, if there is one question that has dominated the elections it is the issue of employment. On Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlined the governments aim to boost Indias participation in global value chains and expand manufacturing. Indias ambition faces a barrage of challenges. Advanced economies are fashioning industrial policies to re-shore manufacturing despite warnings by IMF that industrial policy is not a magic cure for slow growth. Ironically, they are doing exactly what they were scornful of. The glossary of rising protectionism includes the Inflation Reduction Act and Chips Act in the US, and the Net Zero Industry Act and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in the EU. Politics matters and so does cost economics. India must capitalise the headline attention of global funds and consultancies to attract investments away from Vietnam, Mexico or Indonesia. It needs to scale up skills for smart manufacturing, clean up its labour laws, enable plug-and-play sites and unclog the regulatory cholesterol. The stellar performance of Apple and others in India must be leveraged for branding. A good start would be to understand what is it that Tamil Nadu or Gujarat is doing right to woo investments, create jobs and catalyse growth, and deploy the template across the economy. Hopefully, at some election in the future, competitive ideas for prosperity and not compulsive rhetoric about identity will define the mandate. Shankkar aiyAr Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: A Biometric History of Indias 12 Digit Revolution, and Accidental India (shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com)
Jolted by hiccups and the mind games
Many superstitions and associated beliefs surround this unwelcome annoyance
A holistic approach to responsibility: Balancing accountability and empathy
We were sitting in a colleagues department when he received a phone call and hurriedly left the college. The next day, he informed us that one of his acquaintances had been injured in a freak...
Travel Zen: How to stay organized before, during, and after your trip
With the travel and holiday season in full swing in India, many of us are gearing up for exciting adventures and much-needed breaks. Whether youre planning a relaxing beach getaway, an adventurous mountain trek, or...
Ethics must be expunged from public health
Ethics is a devious concept that has often been deployed since antiquity by elites to justify their misdemeanours. It is mainly religions that preach ethics and morality but religions themselves dont always act ethically. For...
The most striking aspect of this movie is its revelation of true friendship. I am reminded of the famous saying of Aristotle, What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
What I learnt from a Magic Circle Lawyer at Freshfields
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of the worlds most prestigious law firms and part of the elite British Magic Circlelaw firms, needs no introduction. It is renowned for its exceptional legal and business advisors. Freshfields clientele...
View: Fine dining isn't just about fine dining, you pay 'so much' for much more than food
Is it worth paying 'so much' for food at Nadodi, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that reimagines South Asian cuisine? At Noma in Copenhagen, often voted as the best restaurant, and in the Faroe Islands at KOKS, billed as the 'world's most remote foodie destination, we experienced unique dining adventures.
View: Get a juggler, talk up POK, just dont let the voter get bored
You could blame politicians and say they need to improve their intellectual discourse, turn perhaps to the great speeches of Vajpayee, JP, Nehru (oops) and George Fernandes. However, I don't think it is the politicians' fault. They're looking for any trick in the book to entertain crowds. In the age of social media, the public has changed.
A welcome to arms, it's really all about literary swagger
The pen is mightier than the sword. But for some writers, both objects hold equal fascination. Take Amir Khusrau and Babur. Or Samudragupta from an earlier time. Or Valmiki if we go mythological, who is said to have been the fierce bandit Ratnakar, adept with the bow and arrow before taking up the quill.
Mental health awareness: Its okay to not be okay
A friend lost her father during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still she couldnt get over, she remained gripped by shock and unable to find solace. She is withdrawn, struggling to communicate her pain....
Sushil Modi, BJPs organisation man who built bridges and didnt nurse grudges
YouTube vs WhatsApp: Digital Mavericks Are Testing Dubious Election Narratives
Social media is playing a key role in the dissemination of both information and disinformation to the people.
Unrelated Video Linked To Alleged Assault On Swati Maliwal At Delhi CMO
BOOM found that the viral video is from a scuffle at the Tis Hazari Court Mediation Center in Delhi.
A continuing political crisis in Pakistan
Edited Video Peddled As Modi Supporting AIMIM in Telangana
BOOM found that the video has been edited to make the false claim.
What I learnt from Alice Munro: Of fried eggs and communities, and finding the writers voice
Who Benefits From the Deferment of the Lok Sabha Election in Anantnag-Rajouri?
The beneficiary of this move could potentially be PDP President Mehbooba Mufti.
Odissi danseuse Madhulita Mohapatra is on a mission. To introduce the exquisite beauty and richness of Odissi dance to the people of Kerala. Despite being one of the nine classical dances recognized by the Sangeet...
RESTORING THE FOREST, TREE BY INDIGENOUS TREE
The sight was so stunning and majestic that they stood frozen in time. An adult tiger walked past them ignoring their presence, and then she suddenly turned around. Ramesh cannot forget her eyes that remained...
How to make elections civil again
There is too much frothing and foaming about issues prior to 1947. Like Bose vs Savarkar. Political campaigning should be pulled back to our real and present lives, EC should devise a time bar Politicians...
Is gen Z alright? It has the elders worried
The young are lively on digital platforms but not polling booths. Many are too caught up in studies & work and their own heads to vote. Maybe their choices signify satisfaction. Maybe hopelessness Theres no...
Putin-Xi bhai-bhai: Which means New Delhi must revise its Moscow ties
Any doubts that Russia and China have formed an inseparable strategic compact today have been put to rest by Putins latest visit to China. The two sides inked a joint statement to deepen their comprehensive...
The real skinny on Ozempic: No quick fix solves the real problem a toxic food system
Obesity has nearly tripled globally since 1975, a first in the history of our species. It contributes to at least 200 known diseases and complications, including strokes and cancer. Now, theres a way to solve...
Find purpose and a higher goal in life
By Jaya Row Where is happiness? You believe it is out there in the world. As long as a desire is unfulfilled, the mind is agitated and unhappy. When the desire is fulfilled, the agitation...
Jagmohan Dalmiya, the man who set cricket on its path to current riches
The ICC will rightfully take credit for extending the footprint of the game to the lucrative American market. But this is a good time to remember Jagmohan Dalmiya, the man whose dynamism and street smarts set cricket on its path to global reach
Ram Madhav writes: What the Indian voter should be keeping in mind at the poll booth
Hurdles on the path to green growth and how to remove them
GST portal does not accept monthly returns until the entire tax is paid. This must change
Collapse in Ghatkopar, a call to reform
Loud quitting: Catharsis, breakdown
Let me tell you a tale of a lion who held a deep faith in the divine. Once, there was an atheist. His name was Laddu Pinto. He was filthy rich and belonged to an...
The present perspective of the Indian energy sector
India is seeing substantial expansion in its energy industry, fueled by a combination of traditional and renewable energy initiatives aimed at satisfying the countrys increasing demand and sustainable development objectives. The Indian government has been...
Rising tide of climate concern in India: A positive shift towards sustainability
In an age where the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly undeniable, it is heartening to see that Indians are significantly concerned about global warming and are ready to back governmental efforts towards a...
Ruskin Bond's memoirs | Bond at 90
Ruskin Bond's memoirs | Bond at 90
Across India with Edward Lear | Portrait of an artist & poet
Across India with Edward Lear | Portrait of an artist & poet
Matilda at NMACC | Rebel with a cause
Matilda at NMACC | Rebel with a cause
Suhas Palshikar writes: BJPs electoral pitch shows duality, not inconsistency
Kerala men in Russia-Ukraine war: What leads to distress migration
National interest vs party interest at election time
While addressing an election meeting in a Kurukshetra village recently, the BJP candidate and well-known industrialist Naveen Jindal asked the audience rhetorically, Which is greater the party or the nation? to which the unanimous...
Solvyns Bengal prints in Mumbai
If studies in printmaking and etching in India have to be recorded in the history of its past then the work of the brilliant Flemish genius Franois Balthazar Solvyns must be engraved. DAGs ode to...
For India's Tata Motors, the fallout appears immediate and challenging, while power industry firms stand on the edge of unexpected benefits
Why war of words among netas make no impact once voters have made up their mind
In a waveless election like the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, do election speeches, statements at public rallies, or TV interviews help set a new election trend or manufacture a mood? Probably not. Not at least...
The Reserve Bank of India should defy the curve and cut rates
India's central bank needs to show foresight again and cut rates ahead of the US Federal Reserve to make money cheaper and revive private capital expenditure, which is necessary to sustain the post-pandemic growth revival amid fiscal constraints that could stay the governments hand.
Time, tide, and tokens wait for none
I wake up. It is 7 am this Monday. I am panicking. Friday is not the day of celebrations. It is the day of celebrations and over-commitments. In fluent spoken English, I had promised to...
Has BJP played a role in making of Rahul Gandhi?
Are Mr Modi and the BJP guilty of inadvertently promoting Rahul Gandhi over the last few years in their fixation to put him down? Has their strategy been counterproductive and instead worked in favour of...
Accused held in Anjali murder case in Hubballi
Hubballi: Karnataka police have arrested Girish alias Vishwa, the prime suspect in the murder of 20-year-old Anjali at her residence here in the city. The arrest comes days after the brutal incident, which occurred when Anjali rejected Girishs proposal, leading to her being fatally stabbed. According to Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar, Girish was []
Ghatkopar tragedy: Prime accused arrested
Mumbai: The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police arrested the owner of Ego Media, Bhavesh Bhide, the prime accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case that left 16 dead and scores injured, police said on Friday. Bhide was nabbed on Thursday from Udaipur, Rajasthan. He has been brought to Mumbai on transfer remand and will be []
Mumbai all set to vote on May 20
Mumbai: Mumbai City Collector and District Election Officer Sanjay Yadav appealed to all voters of Maharashtra capital district to participate spontaneously in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state on May 20. In his press statement issued Friday, Yadav said that voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm in []
When women are loved to death: A Karnataka story
Didigiri in a Bengal divided by class
Once again, Mamata Banerjee is in a fierce fight to defend her turf from BJP. And once again, Didi is fighting alone as her INDIA coalition partners contest separately. In 2011, Trinamool Congress formed the...
On Wednesday, Supreme Court declared the arrest of Prabir Purkayastha, founder of NewsClick, illegal and ordered his release from custody. Purkayastha had been in police and judicial custody since October last year, in connection with...
Metropolitics: In Mumbai and Delhi, poll battles are about reaffirming party identity
The vote in financial capital Mumbais six Lok Sabha constituencies is on May 20. Capital Delhis seven LS seats vote on May 25. Mumbai barely stayed off the headlines selecting candidates was messy for...
Seinfelds spoof on Kellogg: Brand theft or celebrity endorsement?
Jerry Seinfelds new comedy film Unfrosted makes fun of breakfast cereal major Kelloggs launch of Pop-Tarts, even as the comedian dares the company to sue. But the brand's owner would rather join the joke, not take him on for intellectual property infringement. Whats going on? Dont ask AI.
The CEO of the Indian offshoot of the international garment maker, Uniglow, noted for its all-weather fashion wear, held a special staff meeting of all the companys employees. Thanks to a localised version of man-made...
In the 2024 US Presidential Election, as the competition for the White House heats up, Chinas economic ascent and its impact on American interests captivate focus. At the core of this electoral contest lies a...
Time to enlighten, educate and express
By- Radhanath Swami Leaders are the most important people in society. They define the goals, priorities and progress of a nation. They represent the nation on the world stage through conduct, character, and personality. They...
On Sushil Modi, his son writes: Thank you papa, you were our hero
SC verdict on Newsclick shows adherence to due process is much more than a procedural requirement
Mint Quick Edit | US elections: Brace for Biden vs Trump debates
Ahead of the US presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump have agreed to two debates on 27 June and 10 September. The clash may be pivotal if the race tightens. Will ageism play a role?
Reading Alice Munro is a visceral experience, like a conversation with an old friend
Sunil Chhetri represents best of Indian football
Express View on SC order releasing Prabir Purkayastha of Newsclick: A welcome message
Forty years: Tripura floods death toll at 27, about 1.25 lakh homeless
The ongoing general elections, apart from being the biggest exercise in democracy the world has ever witnessed, are an unprecedented administrative exercise. While political parties and people are engaged in campaign activities, theElection Commission of...
My Take 5 (Edition 18): The week that was in international affairs
Welcome to another edition of My Take 5, your weekly wrap of international news. Ukraine is having to defend against a new Russian onslaught, fighting has intensified in Gaza, and protests in Georgia continue. Lets...
Behind Supreme Courts remarks on sanctity of marriage, a growing social anxiety
IDF, ISA eliminate 10 terrorists in strike on Hamas war room
Based on IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF carried out a precise strike on a central Hamas war room commanders embedded inside an UNRWA school in the area of Nuseirat. The war room was used by terrorist operatives in Hamas military wing. The strike was carried out using precise munitionsin order tominimize harm to uninvolved []
Srikanth evokes memories of my experiences with people who are more than their disabilities
Think it over: What AI does for us versus what its doing to us
Chatting with AI chatbots can leave a neural imprint on us. A friendly bot may make us feel less vulnerable, offering us a sense of comfort, but might an emotional vacuum created by such a relationship also leave us emotionally fragile?
Old Video Of EVMs Found Inside A Vehicle In Varanasi Peddled As Recent
BOOM, in its factcheck, found that the video dates back to the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
India is worlds sutradhar: I&B Secretary Jaju
Cannes: The India pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival has opened with the countrys film community asserting the role of India as the narrator of stories for the world. India is the sutradhar of the world, said Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju while inaugurating the India pavilion at the Marche du Film, the []
Statistical standouts from ICC Mens T20 World Cups
Dubai: Crickets biggest T20I party started in 2007, which was won by Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India in Johannesburg after they defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in a final-over thriller by five runs. Since that inaugural event, there have been seven further editions of the tournament, held in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2022. Indias T20I []
Only mainstream politics for J&K: BJP on Jamaat willingness to contest polls
Srinagar: Senior BJP leader and Kashmir division in-charge Sunil Sharma on Thursday said that only mainstream politics would be tolerated in Jammu and Kashmir by the Narendra Modi government. He was responding to a statement by a senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) that they were ready to join electoral politics if the Centre lifts its []
