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The victory by Ireland’s left-wing Sinn Fein Party in the Republic’s recent election has not only overturned some 90 years of domination by the island’s two centre-right parties, it suddenly puts the issue of Irish reunification on the agenda.

After 19 years of the USA’s determined aim to punish the Afghan terrorists to avenge the ignominious and helpless surrender to the 9/11 invasion, the ground truth that the Washington has learnt bitterly is that it ‘never could have won war in Afghanistan’, candidly admitted Scott Ritter, a former US Marine Corps intelligence office. And indeed there cannot be greater truth than the ground truth. The experience of the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, states Ritter serves as a case in point as back in 2009, some 5,000 American soldiers of the brigade were engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the Taliban in and around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

It was not simply like devil quoting the scripture. But more than that; the action that manifest change of strategy by the BJP. Amit Shah politically acknowledging that resorting to hatred slogans like “goli maaro” and using derogatory language against the Muslims during the Delhi assembly elections has ominous intention and must not be taken at the face level.

After a brief scare, domestic petroleum prices are showing a declining trend. That is certainly a point of consolation for the Modi government, which is facing trouble for the economy on all possible fronts.

What could be impact of Arvind Kejriwal’s sweeping victory in Delhi elections in other states where polls are due? Firstly, it appears that the BJP is losing its appeal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma has been waning. No wonder if West Bengal goes the Delhi way as Mamata Banerjee is no less popular than Kejriwal. In Bihar, the scenario is altogether different. The BJP-Nitish Kumar led JD(U) alliance appears to be better placed and the opposition is divided with Lalu Prasad in jail. How much the BJP will sway the voters is to be seen.

The Indian National Congress suffered one more electoral disaster as it was engaged in celebrating its 135th foundation day. It emerged with zero in the Delhi assembly elections. The cynic may be tempted to note that it maintained consistency in its use as the political instrument. It had drawn complete blank even in earlier election five years ago. And yet it was the instrument that Mahatma Gandhi had used to propel Indian people to convert their morality into an incompatible weapon.

Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle indicates a deep crisis. The root of the differences between the prime minister and his chancellor – which resulted in the Sajid Javid resignation – lies in the particular character of Britain’s continuing capitalist crisis and the different ways in which the dissonant tendencies in our multilayered ruling class think it can be overcome.

In the lead-up to February 22 Caucus Day in Nevada, early voting will take place February 15–18. Nevada is the third state in the country to hold caucuses or a primary election, and the first Western state, after Iowa and New Hampshire.

The second budget presented by Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman and the seventh budget of the NDA-BJP government is another disappointment but not all surprising. When our economy is admittedly facing a downturn and confronted with serious problems, it was expected that steps would be announced in the budget to improve the economy and put it on the growth trajectory. But the Budget is docile document with usual figures and statistics, promises and expectations and it is unlikely that this budget would help to turn the tide.

The Indian Supreme Court’s handling of the review petitions pertaining to the original Sabarimala judgment delivered in September 2018 is emblematic of the court’s scant regard for the principle of stare decisis in particular and the process of law in general.