A Festival of Harmony Turns Tense For centuries, Cuttack, the millennium-old city on the banks of the Mahanadi, has stood as a living emblem of communal harmony and cultural brilliance. Each year, during Durga Puja, the city dazzles with handcrafted silver filigree medhas (ornate backdrops) — often made by Muslim artisans — symbolizing unity in diversity….
High-Stakes Diplomacy in Washington Pakistan’s civil-military leadership is attempting a bold reset with Washington. In September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir sat down with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in what is being described as a pivotal meeting. The discussions centered around regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation—topics…
Ceasefire in Sight? The long and bloody conflict in Gaza may be inching toward a breakthrough. On Saturday, Hamas declared it was prepared to “immediately” begin talks to resolve outstanding issues tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework. The announcement marked a significant shift, breaking months of deadlock that have fueled devastation and despair in…
A Shifting Political Landscape Japan’s political arena is entering a defining moment. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), long dominated by male leadership and traditional power blocs, has chosen Sanae Takaichi as its new party head, positioning her to take office as Japan’s first female prime minister. Her rise comes at a time when the LDP faces…
A Streaming Giant Under Fire Netflix, the world’s largest streaming platform, is navigating one of its most turbulent moments yet. Known for shaping global viewing habits, the company is now grappling with a backlash that has spilled from living rooms onto Wall Street. At the center of this storm is tech billionaire Elon Musk, who…
A Step Toward Digital Empowerment Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for their support in setting up a National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Centre in Balasore. Calling it a “matter of pride” for Odisha, Majhi stressed that the initiative will…
Rising Flames of Discontent In recent days, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) has been rocked by widespread protests that turned violent, leaving at least nine people—including three policemen—dead and hundreds injured. The demonstrations, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), reflect years of pent-up frustration over economic hardships, political suppression, and unchecked exploitation by Islamabad. What…
Odisha’s Digital Leap Odisha has steadily transformed itself into one of India’s most promising destinations for technology and digital innovation. With strong policy support and a growing skilled workforce, the state has made notable progress in its journey toward becoming a knowledge-driven economy. Now, its ambitions have received a significant boost: software major Zoho Corporation has announced plans…
India’s Currency Ambitions For decades, the US dollar has dominated global trade, with most countries pegging their cross-border transactions to it. But as India’s economy expands and its global footprint widens, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is seeking to give the Indian Rupee (INR) a stronger role on the world stage. In its latest move, the…
A Shift in the Winds of Diplomacy Afghanistan’s rugged frontiers have long shaped South Asia’s security and political equations, and India has historically stood at a cautious distance from the Taliban. For decades, New Delhi resisted engagement with the group, considering it an extension of Pakistan’s influence and a destabilizing force in the region. Yet, the…
