News Menu, May 26: Bharat Forecasting System unveiling, PM's Gujarat blitz today
Global Platter: India's Anti-Terror PushIndia's Operation Sindoor diplomacy goes global, with all-party delegations, including one led by Tharoor in Guyana, briefing world leaders on India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. In Bahrain, Owaisi calls Pakistan an aggressor, not a victim, while BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda reports positive responses. Incidentally, On May 26, 1966, Guyana gained independence from British colonial rule, marking a bold new chapter in its history.Geopolitical Ghee: Turkiye-Pakistan TalksHigh-level military talks between Turkiye and Pakistan's army chief in Istanbul raise eyebrows. India Today uncovers discussions on expanding military ties, potentially stirring regional tensions. Is this a strategic pivot or a simmering flashpoint? The ghee's getting hot.Political Spice: RJD's Family FeudRJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav expels his son Tej Pratap for six years over 'irresponsible behaviour' and deviation from family values after Tej's public relationship declaration with Anushka Yadav. Tejashwi and Rohini back Lalu, while JDU and BJP question the move, citing past family controversies. India Today dives into this spicy Bihar drama—family or politics, what's the real issue here?advertisementGDP Buffet: India's $4 Trillion TriumphIndia surpasses Japan to become the world's 4th largest economy at $4 trillion, says NITI Aayog CEO. BJP leaders celebrate, while Congress' Pawan Khera andBhupesh Baghel questions if the growth reaches the masses. India Today dissects this economic milestone—is it a feast or just crumbs for India's poor millions?Monsoon Mix: Record-Breaking RainsThe southwest monsoon hits Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and the Northeast, marking its earliest onset in 35 years. Heavy rain alerts grip Konkan and western Maharashtra, with Kerala's 11 districts under red alert. Pune's Baramati and Indapur face flood-like conditions, with NDRF deployed. India Today reports Delhi's drizzle, Mumbai's orange alert, and 27 storm deaths across northern India. This monsoon's a relentless force, no umbrella big enough.Tech Tikka: Bharat Forecasting System UnveiledThe government launches the Bharat Forecasting System today, promising hyper-local weather predictions. India Today explores how this tech could reshape agriculture and disaster prep—served with a side of precision.Southern Sizzlers: Political StormsIn Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay claims CM Stalin's Delhi visit for the NITI Aayog meet was a cover to dodge a 1,000 crore TASMAC scam probe. Karnataka revokes the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs, while Manipur sees protests over identity insults, with tear gas fired at marchers heading to Raj Bhavan. The south's cooking with intrigue and unrest.advertisementBitter Bite: Covid's Sneaky VariantsTwo new Covid variants, under WHO watch, emerge in India. Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi report surges, with Karnataka ramping up testing. India Today urges masks and vigilance as the virus creeps back.Evening Cuppa: Shah's Maharashtra MissionUnion Home Minister Amit Shah's three-day Maharashtra visit kicks off with a public meeting in Nagpur and a BJP office inauguration in Nanded. India Today follows his trail as he pushes governance and party momentum.Mughlai Special: Taj Mahal ThreatAn email threatening to blow up the Taj Mahal with RDX prompts an FIR and plans for an anti-drone system. India Today probes this high-stakes scare—history's treasures under siege.The Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, took 22 years (1632–1653) to complete. Over 20,000 artisans and 1,000 elephants contributed to its construction.Parting Bite: On May 26, 2014, during his swearing-in as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi emphasized unity and development, stating, 'India is one. Our dreams and aspirations are one. We have to take India forward together.' With the GDP galloping, the march continues.
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Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
India, Philippines announce strategic partnership
India and the Philippines on Tuesday entered into a strategic partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the strengthening of defence relations was a symbol of deep mutual trust between the two nations. The two countries announced their strategic partnership after bilateral talks between Modi and visiting Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. here. 'It is a matter of pleasure that today we have decided to elevate our relations to the status of a strategic partnership. A comprehensive action plan has also been formulated to translate the potential of this partnership into results,' Modi said. India and the Philippines are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations and the two leaders released a postage stamp to commemorate the occasion. Modi also thanked the Philippine government for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and standing with India in the fight against terrorism. 'India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny. From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past, it is a promise to the future,' Modi said. The PM said the Philippines is an important partner in India's Act East Policy and 'MAHASAGAR' vision. 'We are committed to peace, security, prosperity and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. We support freedom of navigation in accordance with international laws,' Modi said.
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First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
Standing tall: Bharat's strategic calm amid Trumpian turbulence
Bharat must stand its ground on tariffs and be prepared for short-term pain in pursuit of long-term strategic gain read more Modi's Bharat has to be both mild and fierce while dealing with the Trumpian turbulence. Image: The White House A bully is an intriguing phenomenon. Powerful, but insecure. Loud, yet hollow. Assertive, but deeply vulnerable. He doesn't merely seek obedience — he craves submission, preferably extracted through intimidation, manipulation, or humiliation. This classic bully syndrome is evident in how Donald Trump has approached his second term as US President, especially in foreign policy. This American trait is becoming more pronounced as 'we are moving into a post-American world, one defined and directed from many places and by many people,' as author Fareed Zakaria writes in his book, The Post-American World. This new world, Zakaria adds, may not be as much about the decline of America as it is about 'the rise of the rest.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's unpredictability, ego-driven decisions, and transactional diplomacy are the result of this changing world order where America is strong, but not strong enough. Trump tries to make up for this by becoming a bully — by holding the world to ransom, as he has done with his ongoing tariff moves. The Bully Syndrome Psychiatrists note that a bully thrives when others submit or appease. The same logic applies in the case of tariffs. Yielding to Trump — or any such figure — is counterproductive. Submission only feeds the bully, inviting more demands and further concessions. That doesn't mean Bharat should react to every Trump tweet or provocation. The goal is not to be reactive but strategic — or even better, strategically proactive. Understand the adversary: When does he lash out? What motivates him? What triggers retreat? Trump's behaviour is largely driven by domestic political compulsions, election cycles, and a simplistic view of trade and tariffs. He may have become the President, but the businessman in him refuses to leave his personality. His worldview remains binary — you're either a winner or a loser, an ally or a foe, a master or a servant. Bharat, with its growing economic heft and independent foreign policy, doesn't fit into his 'ally' column. It doesn't need to. Draw Red Lines, With Poise Bharat's first move should be to clearly set boundaries with poise, not posturing. It must articulate these red lines in an unemotional, matter-of-fact manner. And the Modi government has done precisely that, as the External Affairs Ministry in an official statement on Monday (August 4) called the ongoing Trump tirade 'unjustified and unreasonable.' It also highlighted how the US itself continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EVs, and fertilisers and chemicals from Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bharat needs cheap oil for its people and growth. It cannot avoid looking at cheaper options just because it suits American interests. Bharat currently consumes about 5 million barrels per day, 85 per cent of which is met through imports. And given the unprecedented growth expected to take place in the country, with GDP growth constantly hovering above 6 per cent, reports say Bharat's demand for oil will be more than that of any other country in the world. Similarly, the US needs to understand that Bharat's Russian defence ties are born out of necessity, not ideology. America's restrictive terms — high costs, limited tech transfer, source code constraints, and end-use monitoring — have pushed New Delhi towards Moscow. What works for Pakistan, an artificial construct, cannot be imposed on Bharat, a civilisational state with strategic autonomy in its DNA. Ancient Wisdom, Modern Challenges Amid Trumpian turbulence, Ved Vyasa's Mahabharata can offer timeless wisdom, urging restraint and patience, and not being overwhelmed by anger and rage. Bhishma, for instance, advises Yudhisthira in 'Raja Dharma Parva' — as translated by Bibek Debroy in The Mahabharata (Volume 8): 'One must fight for the sake of victory, not because of anger or a desire to kill.' He qualifies his statement by saying that 'if the one who is fighting uses deceit, [one] must fight back using deceit. If he fights with adharma, one must counter with adharma.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bharat need not match Trump tweet-for-tweet. Instead, it should outmanoeuvre him with strategic steadiness. Timing matters. As Bhishma says, 'Time always brings success… However, a man who is waiting for the right time should not let that moment pass.' Meanwhile, without resorting to verbal volleys or showcasing confrontational postures, Bharat can continue doing what it has been doing thus far — buying Russian arms and importing oil. Let Bharat's actions speak for themselves. Build Strategic Alliances Bhishma also advises Yudhisthira to seek new allies when oppressed by a stronger king. He says, 'If a king is oppressed by a stronger king, he must resort to three kinds of allies and friends.' Bhishma then elaborates allies and friends as 'direct allies, allies of allies, and enemies of enemies'. Time is ripe for Bharat to expand its strategic alliances. It must build strategic coalitions — both traditional and innovative. It must reorient its ties with Europe along the lines of the UK Free Trade Agreement. It must look afresh at Asian, African, and South American markets. Some of the American trade losses can be covered there: Bharat's pharma industry, for instance, could find greater footholds in these markets. Similarly, it should deepen its outreach to Asean, and continue nurturing its neighbourhood through cooperative diplomacy. Even within the American political landscape, Bharat should engage with institutions, think tanks, businesses, and lawmakers — beyond the presidency. America is more than its president. Bharat must remember that. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The goal is not to overtly challenge the Trump administration but to signal that Bharat cannot be bullied and has options. It values the US relationship but will not be boxed in. Learn from the Dragon More importantly, while dealing with Trumpian threats, Bharat should realise — and also make the Americans realise — that it has weathered greater storms in the past. It navigated alone during the Cold War, defied American fury at the time of the 1971 Bangladesh crisis, endured global isolation after the 1998 nuclear tests, and emerged stronger every time. Today's Bharat is economically sounder, militarily stronger, and diplomatically assertive. It must preserve its strategic autonomy — not for defiance, but for national interest. If Trump is unreasonable, Bharat must stand its ground — calmly, firmly. China offers an instructive example. Trump began his second term with moves to tame the Middle Kingdom. But Beijing responded with resilience, recalibration, and countermeasures. It didn't react emotionally, and eventually, the US President softened. Not out of admiration, but because confrontation wasn't delivering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Likewise, Bharat must insist on mutual solutions. If Washington wants Delhi to move away from Russian arms, it must offer better terms. If it wants to be an energy partner, it must offer affordable, stable alternatives — without coercion. Be Mild and Fierce Bharat's strength lies not just in GDP or missiles, but in civilisational confidence. Bullies lose power when met with quiet defiance. Bharat's message should be simple: 'We value the relationship, but we are equals. We act in our interest and expect respect.' Americans, as a people, are pragmatic. Once the noise settles, they will see that Bharat's rise is a stabilising phenomenon, not a threatening one. It seeks balance, not dominance. It avoids conflict but is unafraid of it when required. The Trumpian storm must be faced with civilisational calmness and confidence — not by shouting, but by outthinking. Not by trembling, but by standing tall. Bharat must be prepared for short-term pain in pursuit of long-term strategic gain. Because in the end, the one who doesn't bend under pressure shapes the course of history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bhishma again has a word of advice: 'People disrespect one who is mild and hate one who is fierce. Do not be mild. Do not be fierce. Be both mild and fierce.' Modi's Bharat has to be both mild and fierce while dealing with the Trumpian turbulence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
New Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Post-Op Sindoor, IAF, Navy to place mega orders for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
NEW DELHI: Soon after they caused significant damage to Pakistani military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor, Indian forces are placing mega orders for the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Top defence sources told ANI that a high-level defence ministry meeting is expected to give clearance to the procurement of a large number of BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy warships, along with ground and air-launched versions of these weapons for the Indian Air Force soon. The missiles were used in a big way to hit Pakistani air bases and Army cantonments all along its length and breadth during the four-day conflict. The Navy would be using the missiles for equipping its Veer-class warships while the Indian Air Force would be using them to equip its Russian-origin Su-30 MKI fighter jet fleet, the sources said. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the performance of the indigenous weapon systems in the conflict, saying, "During Operation Sindoor, the world saw the capabilities of our indigenous weapons. Our Air Defence Systems, missiles, and drones have proved the strength of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', especially the Brahmos missiles." In the first phase of the conflict, when India launched attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, including the terror headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistani Punjab province, the BrahMos missile was the main weapon of choice for the Indian Air Force, which hit targets with great precision. The BrahMos caused further damage to Pakistani air bases, and hence the Pakistan Army tried to retaliate, protecting the terrorists and their infrastructure.
