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Forbes has come out state-wise analysis of GDP in India, which makes an interesting analysis of how growth has been uneven in the country and there appears to be correlation between human development index and per capita income. Apparently merely high GDP does not indicate high economic prosperity in the country.

The proposed India, Middle East, Europe economic corridor is expected to go a long way to increase the political clout of Middle East countries, particularly the Gulf countries, which the West has hitherto been looking at mainly as a market for arms as well as the security might of US and allies, apart from a dependable source of oil supplies.

Protesters in Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Iran, and Israel are dashing autocratic and authoritarian hopes of a prolonged winter.

In sports, prodigies don’t always blossom into world-beaters; Indian chess currently has a handful of teens who could be on the cusp of doing so. They include Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi and, as of now, first among equals R. Praggnanandhaa, who took on the great Magnus Carlsen in the final of recently concluded FIDE World cup.

How do we measure the time that has passed since Al Qaeda terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon and crashed another in a field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001? How should we count the impact of the U.S.’ seemingly endless “War on Terror” that the 9/11 attacks were used to justify? How about the lives lost?

The well-known quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet," is frequently referenced about name change. It is true of the ongoing debate about India's official name change to Bharat. Regardless of the title employed, it remains the same nation.

All indications suggests that India’s political narrative will have a new twist next week when the Special Session of Parliament will be held in five sittings from September 18 to September 22. Agenda for the session has still been kept secret and there are only speculations in the corridor of power.

It has been a couple of months since the BJP got into election mode. Preparations for general elections 2024 began in earnest in July 2023. The Karnataka assembly elections loss was a jolt that called for a reassembling of sorts. On September 1, news came of the setting up of 300 call centres for “grassroots contact work”. Reports said Union Home Minister Amit Shah would inaugurate the call centres.

Behind all the rhetoric and claims of red lines for negotiations, some underlying geo-political realities had resulted in the consensus at the G20 meet in Delhi held on September 9 and 10. The final document is full of compromises from all sides. It is a success of the middle of the road approach, which offers only the second best solutions. It is sure-footed gift for an imperfect world.

Talk of Dharamdev Pishiorimal Anand and one will be greeted by an yawn. But the audience is all ears even at the passing mention of Dev Anand. The evergreen star will turn 100 on September 26. The month long celebrations are already on for remembering the perennial young lover of the Hindi cinema who, in his own words romanced with his life.