On the afternoon of May 24, MSC Elsa 3, carrying more than 640 containers, started tilting off the coast of Kochi, apparently due to an operational problem. The nearly three-decade-old ship was said to be structurally safe. The crew abandoned the ship after unsuccessfully trying to right her. Now, Elsa 3 is lying at the … Read more
The United States President, Donald Trump, made headlines when he announced a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with its focus primarily on cost reduction. Yet it is a move that opens a broader discussion on streamlining government operations in developing economies through dedicated efforts to drive efficiency in governance. Going beyond the narrow, cost-focused … Read more
Remittances have long played a quiet but crucial role in India’s external sector balance, but in terms of policy attention, they have often been overshadowed by indicators such as foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade flows. Yet the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Sixth Round of India’s Remittances Survey, released in … Read more
In both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, two high-profile female politicians are fighting hard to cement their place in the political arena. While K. Kavitha, the daughter of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, has grabbed headlines in Telangana thanks to a “leaked” letter, Y.S. Sharmila, the daughter of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has … Read more
The Trump steamroller The Trump administration appears to be on a war spree in trying to tame students (Page 1, May 28). Many foreign students secure huge loans to fund their tuition fees charged by universities in the United States and their interests normally lie in completing their studies — and, if possible, finding employment … Read more
India’s financial sector stands at an inflection point. For years, the government and regulators have attempted incremental reform in banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), yet systemic frictions persist. These frictions are not just inefficiencies. They are barriers that deter savers, discourage investors and delay growth. A truly professional, transparent and investor-friendly financial sector demands … Read more
The French Open 2025, which got underway on Sunday, at once seems empty and so full of promise. It is the first edition without the now-retired 14-time champion Rafael Nadal, who had established such a stranglehold in Paris that Roland-Garros, during a soul-stirring ceremony on the opening evening, immortalised his footprint — quite literally — … Read more
There has been much attention on the issues of the practical utility, employment generating capacity, innovativeness of the research universe and the capacity of the Indian educational universe for global competition under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP 2020 is a long-term structural reform, designed for phased implementation. It aims to transform India’s … Read more
The southwest monsoon stormed into Kerala, a week ahead of its scheduled arrival on June 1. This was not a surprise because as early as the first week of May, meteorologists had tipped off the country about its early arrival over the Andaman Sea — a crucial pit stop before its advent over Kerala. A … Read more
Since 2014, May 28 has been observed globally as Menstrual Hygiene Day, drawing attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene. The occasion is marked by awareness campaigns and pad distribution drives. But for millions of menstruating people across India, this day passes like any other — shrouded in silence, discomfort, and exclusion. While … Read more