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The pragmatic Indian move to court Taliban 2.0 has sent ripples in the region, particularly in Pakistan, their common foe. This bold Indian move will definitely serve well to safeguard its regional security concerns besides helping boost its aim to emerge as a regional leader.

NEW YORK: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a video this week announcing that all of his company’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, etc.) will do away with their fact-checking programs. Although the tech CEO framed his new policies as a defense of free speech against excessive censorship, his talking points regarding government interference, “legacy media,” and what he called a “new era” under President-elect Donald Trump revealed a deeper ploy. It’s one that envisions less regulation for multi-billion-dollar tech companies like his and less government restraint on expanding his influence—and wealth—around the globe. In other words, Facebook still doesn’t care about you and is once again choosing profits over people.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report released in Geneva on January 13 highlights the increasing complexity in the cyber landscape, which has significant implications for organizations and nations. This complexity arises from the rapid growth of emerging technologies, prevailing geopolitical uncertainty, the evolution of threats, regulatory challenges, vulnerabilities in supply chain interdependencies and the growing cyber skills gap.

Prioritizing employment generation and increasing funds for employment guarantee schemes have unquestionably emerged as the top priority during pre-budget consultations of Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman for the Union Budget 2025-26, both with the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and India Inc.

Microsoft's deepening engagement with India is both a strategic imperative and a reflection of its renewed focus on emerging technologies under the leadership of Satya Nadella. Nadella’s connection to India goes beyond his heritage; his initiatives underscore a profound appreciation for the country’s pivotal role in shaping the future of technology. As Nadella spearheads Microsoft’s ambitious AI Tour in India, the company has committed $3 billion toward AI development and the upskilling of half a million Indians in emerging AI technologies. This initiative is more than a philanthropic endeavor; it signals a deliberate strategy to cement Microsoft's relevance in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his debut podcast came out unlike a man possessed. None of his answers, revelations about his life and times, exploding like crackers. 'Forgettable' is the word that comes to mind after two hours of podcast. Podcaster Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha-fame, was "admittedly nervous" and Modi, being the generous subject, gave Kamath quarter by admitting that he, too, was in the same boat as it was his debut podcast.

I had known former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally. He released my book “Power Profiles” in his office in PMO. A few journalist friends and then his media advisor Harish Khare were present. We talked politics of that time. I used to meet him frequently after he relinquished PM’s post at his new residence. He used to tell me that I can meet him any time. He was courteous, as usual, walked up to door to see visitors.

Trump’s warning that “all hell will break out in West Asia” if the hostages being held by Hamas are not released by Inauguration Day has put the world into great worry and put away off the hopes of an early peaceful settlement. The whole world knows that hell has already broken on the Middle East particularly the Gaza. It seems Trump is not satisfied with the death of 46000 persons as reported by the ministry of health in Gaza today. More than 70% of them being, women and children. The number of the injured is reported to be more than 109,000.

In a startling move that has sent shockwaves through political circles in the United States and Canada, US President-elect Donald Trump recently posted maps on his Truth Social platform showing Canada as part of the United States. These provocative posts, shared on January 7, have ignited debates on sovereignty, diplomacy, and national identity. Trump's actions come amidst his repeated claims that Canadians would benefit from becoming part of the United States—a notion that Canadian officials swiftly and emphatically rejected.

WASHINGTON DC: Pro-Israel triumphalists are celebrating a trifecta: in the course of a little over a year, Israel has felled or significantly set back its three most troublesome enemies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Another enemy, Iran, has been brought low by Israeli missile attacks, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and a Revolutionary Guard commander in Damascus. Its Iraqi Shia militia allies have reportedly promised, at least temporarily, to cease attacks on Israel.