Jaishankar heading to Moscow, Wang to Delhi amid strain in India ties with US. Remember Nehru’s non-alignment?

On Doval–Wang table: LAC situation, next steps to repair ties; visits taking place in run-up to SCO summit in China, possible visit by Putin to India NB: During the 1960’s the RSS hailed the American war of agression against Vietnam as a dharm-yuddha, or ‘holy war’: manifesting their visceral hatred of socialism and of communist… Read More Jaishankar heading to Moscow, Wang to Delhi amid strain in India ties with US. Remember Nehru’s non-alignment?

Israel is wiping out Gaza’s journalists – and it’s no longer even hiding it

Hanno Hauenstein: German media helped pave the way for Israel’s murder of journalists The laws of war are clear: journalists are civilians. To target them deliberately is a war crime Jodie Ginsberg Israel always boasted that it was the only country in the region to support press freedom. That boast rang hollow even before the current war. Now, it’s… Read More Israel is wiping out Gaza’s journalists – and it’s no longer even hiding it

The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI

Hinton is known for his pioneering work on neural networks, which helped pave the way to today’s AI boom. In 2023, he stepped down from Google and started speaking out about the dangers of AI. AI systems have tried to blackmail humans or bypass shutdown orders. This keeps happening. This is not going to stop happening. Matt Egan… Read More The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI

Few Options on the Negotiating Table as India and Modi Are Cornered by Trump

Given India’s own macroeconomic position, as vulnerable as it is now, it is imperative for the government to try and achieve a trade-compromise with the US in the short term at least. Deepanshu Mohan The additional 25% tariff penalty imposed on India by Trump administration, taking the overall tariff level to 50%, signals a low… Read More Few Options on the Negotiating Table as India and Modi Are Cornered by Trump

Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike

New York, August 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled by Israel’s killing in Gaza on Sunday of five Al Jazeera staff — correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa —  as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. The five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in a targeted strike on a tent… Read More Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike

The Caravan archive: Malegaon Acquittals, NIA’s Decline, and Sangh Parivar Terror Links

Welcome to The Backdrop, a selection of fine narrative journalism from The Caravan to put the news in context. The Independence Day Sale is now live. Last week, a special National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai acquitted Pragya Singh Thakur, a former member of parliament from the Bhartiya Janata Party, and six others in the… Read More The Caravan archive: Malegaon Acquittals, NIA’s Decline, and Sangh Parivar Terror Links

Mumbai: St Xavier’s College cancels Stan Swamy lecture after ABVP protests

St Xavier’s College in Mumbai has cancelled its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture, which was to be held on Saturday, after protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, reported The Free Press Journal. The ABVP is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The lecture, titled “Migration for… Read More Mumbai: St Xavier’s College cancels Stan Swamy lecture after ABVP protests