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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
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The FinePrint

Don’t expect a gentler Modi in 2024. He’s already sure of his place in history

Narendra Modi's supremacy doesn't work in South India. Unless the BJP's next victory is more national in character, the Hindi belt vs the rest problem will fester going ahead.

Govt right to hold soldiers accountable for J&K civilian killings—focus on security system too

Local Gujjar residents had played a critical role in military operations against the Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Pir Panjal mountains before 2003, setting up special militia to fight terrorism.

Jaishankar’s ‘rebalancing’ pitch in Moscow shows he’s trying to hit a sweet spot with Russia

Jaishankar has surely realised that Russians are hardly a junior partner of the Chinese, a phrase much used in Central Asia, where Russia & China struggle for influence.

Meet India’s ‘dunki influencers’. They teach you how to cross Panama jungle, Mexico border

Dunki influencers are now making YouTube videos, Instagram reels, and TikTok to document their migration journeys.

Nagaland wants to rule hospitality— 5-star hotels to tribal villages, Delhi to Japan

There is a bit of Nagaland talent in every hotel, restaurant, and bar across India, but the state is yet to tap into its full potential as a hospitality powerhouse.

Why Red Sea crisis could cost India—Modi govt sets energy goals but doesn’t follow through

Just because India's increased oil imports proved beneficial after Russia-Ukraine war doesn't mean Modi govt should continue with it. Israel-Hamas conflict could hurt us now.

CWC meeting, manifesto committee, rejig—what’s behind last week’s activities in Congress

If the Congress' allies sought to undermine the Gandhis by proposing Kharge as the PM candidate, the Gandhis have reacted loudly and clearly—not in words but in action.

There’s a new music festival race in Northeast. Dambuk’s OFAM offers 12 genres & rice beer

Neon lights, vertical screens, and fire and smoke shows added to OFAM's grandeur. It was a scene straight out of the 2012 Tom Cruise-starrer Rock of Ages.

Indian govt hasn’t had much luck in killing Dawood Ibrahim—but media is doing much better

When Modi stood on the cusp of being elected PM, he vowed to hunt down Dawood. That hasn’t been delivered on—but media seems determined to proclaim success, regardless.

Bengali films facing identity crisis. Losing box office battle to Pathaans and RRRs

When movies do dive deep into Bengali essentialism, they tend to be unrelatable to a large audience, often indulging in esoteric plots.

On Camera

Bihar mimics 19th-century American South. Citizenship is now weaponised to exclude voters

Disenfranchisement by institutional fiat is profoundly undemocratic. The effect of the ECI's new documentary process in Bihar will tilt the scales in favour of the BJP.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.