The Muslim News Courtesy: The Muslim News
24 December 2025

How the West cheered Dhaka’s collapse

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On December 18, Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the 2024 student-led uprising, was assassinated. What began as protests against civil service quotas became a leaderless uprising. As Western powers celebrated a “democratic dawn”, Bangladesh slid into structured anarchy. Dhaka now faces two futures with terrifying clarity: one with elections skewed by military advantage and Islamist mobilisation, and the other by acknowledging that democracy cannot be airlifted.

Gateway House (2) Courtesy: Gateway House
24 December 2025

Bangladesh economy spirals downwards

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Bangladesh’s economy, already weak at the time of the August 2024 coup, has been on a downward spiral since. Banks are insolvent and cannot lend, business confidence is low, and investors are staying out. These issues will worsen the ongoing radicalisation, extremism and violence in the country. 

@narendramodiX Courtesy: @narendramodi/X
18 December 2025

Ethiopia is a key ally in Africa

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Ethiopia's importance as an African country that has played a vital role in advancing the vision of African unity and integration, and as a nation that killed its own demons of dictatorship to emerge as a successful democracy, is remarkable. In this upgraded frame, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Addis Ababa is significant, with India as a partner offering economic and technological engagement.

US Embassy and Consulates in Italy Courtesy: US Embassy & Consulates in Italy
18 December 2025

U.S.’ National Security Strategy 2025

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It is customary for every U.S. president to release a National Security Strategy (NSS) early in their tenure. President Trump published the NSS for his second term in November 2025. It’s a contrast from his 2017 NSS, which addressed broad threats. The 2025 version is narrower, emphasising trade over security, with the Western Hemisphere being the primary area of focus. Is the U.S.’s global role shrinking?

Website articles (21) Courtesy: Alamy
18 December 2025

Japan in Bombay: trade, faith and community

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The earliest sizeable presence of Japanese expatriates in India was in colonial Bombay and its Presidency. The Japanese came for trade, but their engagement with the port city and its cotton hinterland went beyond commerce to include spiritual life and later, India’s national movement. This chapter, ‘Geographies of Exchange between Japan and India’, traces their community, religion, social infrastructure, and commercial and cultural contributions to Bombay.

Website articles (14) Courtesy: Wikiwand
11 December 2025

The Scottish espirit in Bombay

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For a week in December, the Feast of St. Andrew is observed in Mumbai’s two Scottish Presbyterian churches – St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the Church of St. Columba. In the absence of Scots, these Churches and multiple educational institutions and trading houses remind us that colonial Bombay was primarily built by these hardy Highlanders, often mistaken by locals for Englishmen. The Scots were also Britain’s most enthusiastic Empire-builders.

9feb9c42-5bb4-16f6-4358-f21cbb0992ff Courtesy: Gateway House
11 December 2025

Ambedkar the forgotten internationalist

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As global conflicts intensify and global leadership falters, it is time to look back 75 years to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar - not only the father of India’s Constitution but also an internationalist whose foreign policy vision remains overlooked. He warned against aligning with China, upheld Tibet’s sovereignty, advocated U.S. ties, rejected non-alignment, and championed India’s UNSC seat. How different would the scenario have been if Ambedkar had led India’s foreign policy?

Getty (2) Courtesy: All India Radio News
9 December 2025

Putin’s visit sends a signal

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India and Russia have a time-tested relationship, which was evident during President Putin's state visit to New Delhi last week. Its success lay in the warmth the leaders of the two countries share and in its timing: geopolitically, just after discussions of the U.S. and China as the G2, and commercially and strategically, at a time when India’s needs match Russia's capabilities.

Getty Courtesy: Getty Images
4 December 2025

Myanmar’s important election

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Myanmar heads to the polls in December amidst a festering conflict, now running on five years. At home, the balance of power is constantly shifting between the military and the anti-junta forces. Internationally, there is a growing fatigue with resolving the conflict. However, for the ruling military this election is strictly about putting the derailed train of ‘limited democracy’ back on track.