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The FinePrint

Rabinder Singh spy scandal exposed R&AW’s ugly sides. But India hasn’t learned from its mistakes

Vishal Bhardwaj's Khufiya touches on the penetration of R&AW. The reel-world denouement, though, was quite different from the real-world ending.

A scientist rescuing Delhi museum species from bugs & blight. They’ll survive for next 200 yrs

After a massive fire wiped out most of Delhi's natural history collection, over 100 taxidermy mounts and fossils came to Sawai Madhopur. Lead scientist Yunus repairs them day & night.

Modi govt’s rhetoric on economy is changing ahead of 2024 elections. It’s not all rosy

The launch of Bharat Dal and Bharat Atta shows that the government is worried about the distress people are facing. It has no choice but to take action.

‘Akhilesh-Vakhilesh’ aside, Telangana Muslims will determine Congress’ place in INDIA

The AIMIM and the BRS, though never in an alliance, are the closest allies. KCR virtually stays away from Owaisi's turf, Hyderabad; the latter supports the ruling party elsewhere.

Rachin Ravindra was not named after Sachin. But this World Cup, he is breaking Tendulkar’s records

The 24-yr-old has beaten 2 of Sachin Tendulkar’s records — scoring most runs in a World Cup before turning 25 & scoring 3 centuries in a World Cup — all in his debut ODI season.

Hamas attack shows human intelligence is crucial for national security. Tech doesn’t catch intent

One can rely almost exclusively on technology to collect and analyse data, but gauging intent will remain in the jurisdiction of the person or organisation.

Delhi’s govt vet hospitals are broken. Private care for the rich pets

The government's veterinary care hospitals in Delhi are in bad shape, with premises being used for activities like badminton and ludo, and some left abandoned.

Bangladeshi Muslims are building a 300-yr-old Kali temple. Now they want Modi’s help

In a Bangladesh that is increasingly witnessing communal violence, Basurdhuljhuri may serve to strengthen the country’s secular credentials.

Pakistan’s solution for terrorism is to expel Afghan refugees – but it’ll only get worse

The seeds of war sowed by the ISI in 1973 have yielded a long, bitter harvest, which now threatens to overrun Pakistan itself.

India funding world cricket. And it’s riding on paan masala, tractor, rebar, deo market

Kapil Dev’s ‘Palmolive da jawab nahi’ ad was early sign of advertisers taping into the middle-class. Today, Indian cricket has a new base—small towns playing, funding, watching.

On Camera

India’s TRP ecosystem needs a reset. Time to end BARC monopoly

A ratings monopoly in India has led to lack of technological variation, resulting in sluggish systems detached from market dynamics.

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.