Opinion

By Aminata Touré & Kevin Casas-Zamora Democracy is in trouble. For nine consecutive years, more countries have suffered a weakening of democratic institutions than have experienced improvement — the longest such decline in a half-century. Around the world, citizens are losing faith in democracy, and...

By Nikhilanand Panigrahy The foresight of Nobel laureate George Bernard Shaw is reflected in the quote, “Science has solved no problem without creating ten more.” For this reason, one might say that while science successfully remedies a difficult issue or crisis, it simultaneously creates a...

By DK Giri   Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two-day visit to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This was a short visit with long-term objectives. Bhutan is strategically critical for India as a buffer against China. The key highlight of the visit was...

By Melvin Durai If you know the names of your neighbours and have a good relationship with them, consider yourself lucky. My wife, Malathi, and I certainly do. We have such a good relationship with our neighbours that they don’t think twice about coming to...

By Agnes Dasewicz This year marks a historic milestone: for the first time, global renewable-energy production has surpassed coal. In the first half of 2025, renewables accounted for more than 34% of the world’s electricity, while coal’s share fell to just above 33%. Notably, these...

By Jagdish Rattanani There was a time in India when whatever the election results, the Election Commission of India (ECI) was the acknowledged winner of the battle and the chief protector of India’s democratic traditions. The ECI was initially tame, then it became a tiger...

By Shivaji Sarkar The NDA’s stunning 202-seat sweep in Bihar—far above exit-poll expectations—has buoyed a shaken stock market but also revived debate on the sustainability of Bihar’s economy and what this political consolidation means for the state’s future. Election rhetoric centred on poverty, yet the...

By Lynn Forester de Rothschild The COP30, now underway in Brazil, marks a decade since 195 parties adopted the landmark Paris climate agreement at COP21. But what should be a moment of celebration is instead being overshadowed by rising uncertainty: the climate-finance gap still amounts...

Gopabandhu Mohapatra Gold has reached the unprecedented price level due to global economic uncertainty, and prices have experienced turbulent sharp rises and falls during the past few years. Investors are now turning to gold as a safe haven, seeking stability amidst fluctuating markets. This surge...

Jennifer Morgan It is hard to imagine a more appropriate venue for this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Delegations from around the world will gather in the equatorial Brazilian city of Belém, on the edge of the Amazon – one of the front...