In early May, a mixed group of citizens, businessmen and politicians gathered informally in a vast hall in Calcutta, to discuss the national elections. The conversations were not as heated as they became later in the month, the street battles between political parties were not yet national news. But it was evident that a big fight for Bengal was underway – a fight between the very old guard, the current guard, and those hoping to be the future guard of this read more

Just as the United States and China seemed to be getting close to finalising a deal on the trade war, negotiations have faltered again. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He’s visit to Washington D.C on May 8 was expected to bring negotiations to a close. Instead, miffed by the changes the Chinese negotiators have reportedly made to the draft agreement, the Trump administration announced new tariffs at 25% on $200 billion worth of Chinese exports with plans to raise tariffs on read more

Looked at from afar, the most amazing thing about the ongoing election in India may be the numbers involved. Over 900 million citizens are eligible to vote and voter turnout is hovering between 60% to 70%. The election to 543 seats in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) is being conducted in seven phases with 12 million officials deployed in 1.7 million voting booths. The first phase of polling was held on April 11 and the concluding one will be on read more

Japan is currently celebrating the dawn of a new era, named ‘Reiwa’ (‘beautiful harmony’), and the coronation of its Emperor Naruhito. This is cause for celebration for the multi-generation mercantile Indian Japanese community too, which has seen the reign of four emperors. In 1923 (before the Great Kanto Earthquake read more