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The FinePrint

In deadly dry Bundelkhand, Ken-Betwa link finally seems real. But critics have questions, fears

One of India's most parched regions is finally set to get access to water, but 10% of tiger reserve will be submerged, while locals have questions on compensation for their land.

Red-eyed, lost young men in Bihar’s Seemanchal show how Nitish Kumar’s alcohol ban backfired

In Bihar, the focus is still on curbing alcohol. But there’s a problem Nitish Kumar didn’t see coming – drug addicts, crime and a new ‘Generation Nowhere’.

Shark-remora bond defines BJP’s ties with allies. Bihar’s ‘Son of Mallah’ learns the hard way

From NPP in Manipur to BPF in Assam and now VIP in Bihar, BJP has maintained a track record of losing allies. And it is not bothered.

How ‘wanderers’ of BJP are surviving outside PM Modi’s Union Cabinet, & what they are doing now

67 ministers have left the Modi govt since 2014, most of them dropped for non-performance. Some resigned to get bigger assignments, some got organisational duties. Others are still waiting.

China reached out to India as it’s facing heat from US on Ukraine. But Wang Yi bungled

War was always a business enterprise for the US, and Ukraine is no different. But it doesn't outweigh the threat of a growing Chinese presence.

Imran Khan’s fall is a win for Pakistan’s Generals, not its democracy

Imran Khan’s pushback against Gen Bajwa crossed a fundamental red line. The removal of PMs who intervened in military affairs has been a leitmotif in Pakistan’s post-Zia politics.

Pashto films inspired Bollywood once. But Zia, 9/11, Taliban all led to their decline

Look at Pathans in Bollywood films, the golden era of Pashto films defied borders. Now, they have been reduced to vulgar movies in shady halls of Pakistan.

From gaon to Golf Links — Modern India is still under the spell of black magic

Lona Chamarin and Ismail Jogi aren't commonly known — unless you are with a tantrik invoking these mystery figures as part of his Kamakhya vashikaran spell.

Indians bit off more than they can chew. Many pandemic pet dogs homeless now

From an average of five adoptions a month in 2020, new homes for pets have fallen to just one or two now. Adoption agencies are toughening clauses.

‘Running Boy’ Pradeep Mehra’s overnight fame shows India’s obsession with merit and success

Feeding the idea ‘hard work will give rewards’, in a country where ‘a chaiwala can become a PM’, helps stave off questions about inequality.

On Camera

Indians are musically poor. We aren’t a good market for cutting-edge international bands

Coldplay is an exception. Our taste in western music is orthodox, throwback, out-of-date. When Nirvana, Blur were big, we were still playing Pink Floyd, Queens.

10 yrs ago, battery leasing failed to boost demand for EV cars in India. Now, it’s making a comeback

Under this model, battery is provided to EV owners on a subscription basis or lease. With more people open to buying EV cars, the lower upfront cost could likely drive wider acceptance.

Morocco signs pact with Tata for joint manufacture of WhAP Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The armoured platform is India's first amphibious infantry combat wheeled vehicle. Last year, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces had procured 90 military trucks from the Tata Group.

Islam doesn’t kill democracy. The army-Islam combo does

How come Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and Sri Lanka remain constitutional, democratic and stable despite Islam and Buddhism respectively, but Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar don’t?