Rudroneel Ghosh
‘The greatest challenge for new German coalition govt will be ongoing war in Ukraine and deepening political split with US…AfD is the real winner of this election�?/a>
Germany’s general elections saw the opposition CDU/CSU emerge as the largest party with Friedrich Merz tipped to be next Chancellor. The latter has taken a strong stance on supporting Ukraine and called for Europe to chart its own strategic course. Michael von der Schulenburg, Member of European Parliament and former assistant secretary-general at UN, spoke with TOI about speed-bumps ahead for the incoming govt
Will Trump’s ‘Ukraine Deal�?Be A Win for US?
The going will be tough. To get to rare earth deposits, landmines have to be cleared. Then, American companies will have to spend heavily before they can start mining
Here is what happens when dictators fall
Some countries transition to democracy successfully, others descend into deeper chaos. Still others see the return of authoritarianism in a different form
Explained: Assad is gone. What happens to Syria & West Asia now?
Any number of many things. When a man designated by US as a terrorist gives interviews to CNN as a liberator, you know the ‘new�?won’t be normal. Turkiye seems the biggest winner at this point, Iran, the biggest loser
‘Hasina had to go...Yunus govt formed unconstitutionally…Can’t have secularism & state religion…Hindus can’t all come to India�?/a>
Turmoil in Bangladesh has seen its minorities come under attack, raising global concern. Head of interim govt Muhammad Yunus has assured equal protection to Bangladeshi Hindus. Surendra Kumar Sinha, former chief justice of Bangladesh, the first Hindu to occupy the post who was removed unconstitutionally by the Hasina govt, spoke to TOI about the current situation
Explained: Why Bibi’s in a bit of jam in West Asia
As threat of all-out war between Israel & Hezbollah grows, regional extremist groups�?asymmetric strategy is hurting Tel Aviv. Here’s an explainer on how the tables have turned
‘Angry Europeans are voting for right-wing parties…migration’s out of favour...Le Pen can be France’s president�?/a>
Recent EU elections saw far-right parties increase their tally in the continental Parliament. This may see a prominence of right-wing agenda in European policymaking. Michael von der Schulenburg, former assistant secretary-general at UN, spoke with TOI about the implications
‘Protesting students reflect the soul of the university…What US is spending on Israel’s war could wipe out significant US student debt�?/a>
With pro-Palestine student protests sweeping American universities, authorities have been left searching for answers. Kathy Newman, professor of English and Media Studies at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, spoke with TOI about what’s fuelling the protests and how they are part of American tradition
Undersea message: India, get more cable-able
No clarity yet on how 4 Red Sea cables got damaged. But no doubt that ocean floor cabling is a big geopolitical game. New Delhi can & must be a bigger player.
‘Palestinians were dying a slow death before Oct 7…US, Europe must stop Israel�?/a>
The Israel-Hamas war is in its fifth month, and close to an estimated 30,000 have been killed in Gaza. Israel attacks in the West Bank have also surged. Diana Buttu, West Bank-based lawyer and former spokesperson for Palestine Liberation Organisation, speaks to Rudroneel Ghosh on the recent ICJ ruling even as attacks continue, including in the West Bank
'Hamas went too far with the October 7 attack'
Hamas so far is defiant in the face of Israel’s continuing ground offensive in Gaza. Paola Caridi, author of Hamas: From Resistance to Regime, in a conversation with TOI, explains why the militant outfit is deeply worried about getting the terrorist tag
‘Finish Hamas…remove Netanyahu…then talk peace�?/a>
In conversation with Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister. He tells TOI the way forward for Israelis and Palestinians
'Our reading of Hamas proved totally wrong...but...'
Dismissing Iran’s role in Hamas’s attack, former military intelligence chief of Israel Major-General Tamir Heyman tells TOI the immediate goal is to restore Israeli control. He warns Hezbollah: “don’t put us to the test.�?/p>
Wagners (militias) down the ages and across countries
The Russian militia that’s making news is one of numerous non-state armies the world has seen. A brief look at some of these armed and dangerous groups