View Articles

On January 15, 2024, president-elect Bernardo Arévalo of the Semilla Party was inaugurated after five tense months since he was elected on August 20, 2023. (Inauguration day in Guatemala is usually held on January 14 but constitutional challenges to president-elect Arévalo delayed the ceremony nine hours until shortly after midnight.) Guatemalans from all sectors (led by the Indigenous communities), international non-governmental organizations like Latin America Working Group (LAWG), and foreign governments mobilized to prevent corrupt public and private actors from overturning the people’s vote.

Donald Sutherland (1935–2024) who passed away on June 21 projected equal parts warmth, intelligence, and menace on the big screen. But he wasn’t just a brilliant actor — he was a man of the Left who never abandoned those values. There are some actors you can’t help loving. Not many, but the late Donald was definitely one.

For France, the national politics has never been so exciting in recent years as the French President Emanuel Macron announced the holding of snap polls in the country on June 30 and July 7 after the disastrous results of his party in the European Parliament elections on June 9 this year. At a time, when every political observer of the big media was forecasting far right take over of France, the quick understanding between the anti-Right parties in the country to fight the polls jointly has imparted a new dimension to the political battle in France.

The GST Council meeting on June 22 will be somewhat different from any previous ones because of the changed political situation in the country. Ever since the GST came not effect in the first Modi government, the opposition has been on the back foot. Now with the reinvigorated opposition and there being a coalition government at the centre, the state governments from varying political affiliations could be expected to have a stronger voice.

After visiting North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin went to Vietnam. This makes Vietnam the only country to have hosted state visits from the leaders of China, the U.S., and Russia—the world's three biggest military powers—in the past year.

The fundamental issue raised by Hollywood writers when they had gone on a strike against being replaced by artificial intelligence, somehow receded to the background after the resolution of that particular conflict; but it remains a fundamental issue. Much has been written about the various problems associated with the introduction of AI; but the one that concerns us here relates to the massive unemployment it would generate.

The one big difference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the “wife” factor. Kejriwal’s wife Sunitha Kejriwal appears to be on his side where Modi’s doesn’t appear on Modi’s side. Sunitha Kejriwal was speaking up for Kejriwal when the Enforcement Directorate arrested him on March 21 and speaking for him when he was sent to Tihar. The AAP, which was left to fend for itself, found Sunitha Kejriwal taking charge rather comforting although Kejriwal clarified that he remained Chief Minister and would rule Delhi from Tihar Jail if it came to that.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is no mistaking the spring in the walk of Congress leaders in Kerala these days and the sparkle in their eyes. The sense of euphoria is understandable. The party has just scored a remarkable victory in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 18 out of the 20 LS constituencies from the State.

In a decision that could set a precedent in the Indian financial sector, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Ministry of Finance has fined global crypto exchange Binance a hefty Rs 18.82 core (approximately $2.2 million) for not adhering to anti-money laundering laws while catering to Indian customers. In January, the websites of nine offshore crypto exchanges including Binance were blocked for not being registered in India and complying with Indian laws. The penalty announced on Thursday paves the way for Binance to resume its operations in India.

There is a clear direct connection of the Ministry of Education in the NEET exam paper leak. The Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan is not ready to resign. The matter has already reached the Supreme Court. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for 2024 has stirred controversy across India, with allegations of a massive scam by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This year, over 23 lakh students faced challenges from paper leaks to questionable exam management, sparking nationwide debates and protests.