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KOLKATA: Political difference is meshed with an almost personalised rivalry at Berhampore and Krishnanagar constituencies in the run up to May 13, the day of the electoral battle of the fourth phase of the 18th Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. Careers of a stalwart and an upcoming leader would be made or marred on this day as the campaign is witnessing corruption charges shouted from the rooftops together with dragging out of "dark deeds" of long deceased ancestors drowning debates on real issues which an election should be all about.

Russia recently rejected a UN resolution proposed by the US and Japan, which aimed to prevent the development and use of nuclear weapons in space. This action by Russia indicates that they are moving closer to making the idea of using nuclear weapons in space a possibility.

With the passing of every phase, the anguish gripping the RSS and traditional BJP cadres and supporters is getting more pronounced and discernible, notwithstanding the attempts of the top RSS leaders to make them relent and ensure the victory of the BJP candidates.

BERLIN – It was May 10 in Germany’s terrible year, 1933. Hitler had been in power for hardly three months, when students and staff emptied the university libraries of forbidden books and threw them, an estimated 20,000 books by over a hundred authors, into the flames of a giant bonfire.

On International Workers’ Day, Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, announced that the country would sever diplomatic ties with Israel over its ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza. “Tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal. . . . If Palestine dies, humanity dies,” Petro said.

RSS Pariwar union government and Sangh Pariwar ruled states have enacted various laws that are anti-people and unconstitutional during the last ten years since 2014. These laws are draconian and have conditioned police, bureaucracy and judiciary to violate people’s fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India with impunity. As a result, country has transformed into an electoral dictatorship.

The role of State Bank of India in suppressing information about the Supreme Court-struck down electoral bonds has been well-exposed. Now more evidence of SBI’s ‘political mandate’ is emerging. For no rhyme or reason, an inhouse economist has debunked what he describes as the myth of voter apathy in the current elections. His study covered only the first two phases of polling, but the turnout in the just-concluded third phase also indicates a decline, compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress will not be able to do a repeat of the November 2023 assembly election victory. KCR’s Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) hasn’t recouped its loss and isn’t in shape despite party head K Chandrashekar Rao’s frequent pep talk to party leaders and party workers. Politics has veered to the communal in the interregnum and “Samajik Nyay” is the key.

This week’s Gazan short-lived celebration of a ceasefire that was not to be, highlights what is at stake in the seven-month-old war and Israel’s refusal to end the carnage. Thousands poured into Gazan streets within minutes of Hamas advising it had accepted a Qatar and Egyptian ceasefire proposal.

Relations have soured since Joe Biden labelled India as 'xenophobic'. Additionally, tensions have been fuelled by criticisms from Washington and a foiled assassination attempt. However, experts believe that Washington will make sure that nothing hinders its strategy to work with New Delhi in order to counter China’s challenge to both.