Trump spoke like a monarch in his address to the US Congress. With “No King” placards and a Congressman being forcefully escorted out by Marshals, it was pure theatre. Indians are inured to this. It’s a rare spectacle in the West but a sign of hard democratic contestation in action.
Cricket won’t have another Steve Smith. His batting style is physics-defying
Fidgety and weird, Steve Smith’s enigmatic batting shouldn’t work. But it does and how, almost like a bumblebee’s physics-defying flight. After retiring from ODIs, two-time World Cup winner said he’s making way for others. Cricket goes on and new talent will rise, but there can never be another Steve Smith.
Single Nodal Account is a good reform. Brings transparency to disbursals, shows unused funds
Government’s Single Nodal Account system for Centrally Sponsored Schemes is a virtuous reform. It has brought transparency in Centre’s disbursals, reduced wastage, and has made states and ministries accountable. States’ cries about inadequate central funding have little impact if thousands of crores are lying unspent, as the new system shows.
Slim pickings for India. No overarching rhetoric about defining partnership of the 21st century, valued strategic partner in the Indo – Pacific, the centrality of Quad.