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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 isekai anime with OP MCs that are actually fun to watch
Source: IMDB Overpowered protagonists are a defining trait of many isekai anime. While that can sometimes make the plot predictable, the best shows still manage to keep things engaging with strong world-building, character development, and smart pacing. If you're looking for isekai anime where the main character is ridiculously strong but the story doesn't feel flat, this list is for you. 10 isekai anime with fun main characters That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Source: IMDB Rimuru Tempest starts life in a new world as a slime but quickly evolves into one of the most powerful beings in the land. He gains the ability to absorb other creatures and replicate their powers, which helps him build alliances, defeat major enemies, and establish an entire kingdom. The series blends action, politics, and fantasy in a well-balanced way that keeps it engaging from start to finish. Overlord Source: IMDB When a veteran gamer gets trapped in his favourite MMORPG as his in-game avatar, Ainz Ooal Gown, he becomes a powerful undead overlord. With command over a guild of elite NPCs and access to devastating magic, Ainz sets out to explore and conquer the new world. The show focuses heavily on strategy, political intrigue, and dark fantasy elements as Ainz gradually expands his influence. The Rising of the Shield Hero Source: IMDB Naofumi Iwatani is summoned to another world as one of four legendary heroes, each wielding a different weapon. As the Shield Hero, he's initially ridiculed for his defence-only style, and after being falsely accused, he becomes an outcast. Over time, he turns into a powerful and strategic fighter who uses his defensive skills to overcome enemies and build a loyal team. His growth is both physical and emotional, making the story deeper than a typical power fantasy. No Game No Life Source: IMDB Sora and Shiro, two shut-in siblings known for their unmatched gaming skills, are transported to a world where all conflicts are resolved through games. With no physical strength, they rely on logic, strategy, and mind games to defeat powerful opponents and challenge the gods themselves. Their overwhelming intellect and perfect teamwork make them unbeatable, and every episode is a high-stakes mental battle. Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious Source: IMDB Seiya Ryuuguuin is summoned to save a world on the brink of destruction. While he possesses immense power, he refuses to fight until he's trained to absurd levels. He over-prepares for every possible outcome, making him far stronger than any enemy he faces. The series uses this extreme caution as a plot device while also showcasing just how dangerous even a prepared hero can be in battle. Jobless Reincarnation: I Will Seriously Try If I Go to Another World Source: IMDB After dying in his previous life, a jobless man is reborn as Rudeus Greyrat in a magical world. From childhood, he shows an exceptional talent for magic, swordsmanship, and learning. Trained by masters and driven to make the most of his second chance, he becomes a powerful adventurer. Unlike many OP characters, Rudeus also faces emotional and moral challenges that add depth to his journey. The Eminence in Shadow Source: IMDB Cid Kagenou dreams of becoming a secret mastermind who operates behind the scenes. After being reincarnated in a fantasy world, he creates an imaginary enemy organisation just for fun, only to realise it's actually real. Cid gains immense power and unknowingly gets involved in major global conflicts. Despite his cluelessness, his strength and leadership push the story forward in unexpected ways. Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Source: IMDB Subaru Natsuki is transported to another world without any special powers, until he realises he can return to a specific point in time after dying. This ability allows him to redo events and make better decisions, giving him an unusual advantage. While not physically overpowered, his mental strength, resilience, and knowledge gained through countless loops make him one of the most impactful characters in isekai anime. Saga of Tanya the Evil Source: IMDB A salaryman reincarnates as Tanya Degurechaff, a young girl in a war-torn fantasy world. Despite her appearance, she quickly rises through the military ranks thanks to her ruthless tactics, strategic mind, and exceptional magic skills. Tanya's goal is to defy the god who reincarnated her, and her strength makes her a feared weapon on the battlefield. The anime combines military action with supernatural elements and psychological depth. Wise Man's Grandchild Source: IMDB Shin Wolford is reborn into a magical world and raised by a legendary wizard. By the time he reaches adolescence, he's already far more powerful than most adults. Despite his strength, he lacks social awareness, which often leads to awkward or dangerous situations. The anime focuses on his training, school life, and how his unmatched power shapes the world around him. Overpowered characters can easily make a story feel repetitive, but when written well, they can become the reason the anime shines. These ten isekai titles prove that having a strong protagonist doesn't have to kill the tension,it can raise the stakes, explore deeper themes, or just make the ride a lot more fun. Whether you enjoy magic battles, fantasy politics, or clever strategies, these series offer more than just raw strength. Also read| Best romance anime where the couple actually ends up together
Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Will the SNP get another independence referendum?
Tumult, turmoil, chaos: select as appropriate how best to describe the last two years for the Scottish National party. Nicola Sturgeon's resignation, the infighting that followed and the infamous Operation Branchform police probe caused public trust in the party of government to plummet. Fast forward through the gaffe-a-day leadership of Humza Yousaf and current First Minister John Swinney has managed to regain control somewhat, with the SNP noticing a turnaround in the polls and projected to become the largest party in Holyrood next year. Yet while it has been suggested that the nationalists could pick up a third of the vote, this is some distance off a majority. The worry for the SNP is that another coalition or confidence and supply agreement will be required, either with the Greens or the Scottish Lib Dems. Neither option is favourable for a pro-business, pro-independence party. Enter Swinney's latest independence strategy. The First Minister has insisted that securing a clear majority at next year's Scottish parliament election will get the ball rolling for a second independence referendum. 'The precedent was established in 2011,' Swinney told the BBC's Today programme, nodding to the election that saw the party, under Alex Salmond, win 69 seats in Holyrood. The following year David Cameron signed a deal giving Holyrood the power to hold an independence referendum and two years after that Scotland voted to remain in the UK by 55 to 45 per cent. In recent years support for independence has stagnated around the 50 per cent mark – with Ipsos polling last month suggesting 46 per cent of Scots are in favour of leaving the UK while 43 per cent are opposed. It's not quite the sustained majority some nationalist figures have suggested is required for another indyref, but given the SNP is polling at around 30 per cent it does point to the existence of a group of independence backers that the party is yet to win over. This group has been a source of fascination for pro-indy figures. It was this cohort that Salmond, who died earlier this year, tried (and failed) to appeal to with his Alba party – which now struggles to even register on polls. Senior SNP figures, including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, talk of how people are simply yet to be persuaded of the cause. But the figures show there remains an issue persuading Yes supporters to back the SNP, as much as there is a wider hope to persuade No voters to come to the other side. And, as polling guru Sir John Curtice said on the BBC the night the nationalists lost the Hamilton by-election, it is very unlikely that No voters will vote for the SNP, even if the party does promise to pursue a gradualist approach to secession and deal first with issues of poverty and healthcare. The party of government in Scotland also faces a similar issue to the party of government in Westminster: it is losing support to both the left and right. Pollsters predict the Scottish Greens will increase their vote share next year to pick up a couple more MSPs. It's good news for the left-wing group at a time it is undergoing turmoil of its own: as its leadership contest looms, current MSPs have come under fire from more radical party members hoping to pull the party even further leftwards, similar to Zack Polanski's efforts down south. Meanwhile polls have consistently shown that despite not having any kind of party apparatus in Scotland, Reform UK could elect 15 MSPs from a standing start, taking more than 11 per cent of the vote. As I wrote last month, while for now it's the unionists who have most to fear from Farage, the SNP can't continue to ignore the threat from the populist right – especially as pollsters suggest as many as 10 per cent of SNP backers could vote for Reform next year. Swinney has moved the SNP closer to the centre-ground somewhat, and those working in his government are keen to tout the Scottish government's pro-business credentials – highlighted, they say, in his Programme for Government – as a sign the party has recovered from its unserious partnership with the anti-growth Greens. While soft indy supporters unimpressed by the Scottish government's record thus far are hardly any more enamoured by Scottish Labour, there remain unanswered questions about the direction of travel for the SNP on key policy areas. The FM told the BBC on Monday that a second indyref would allow the party to make 'Scotland's energy wealth work for Scotland' and introduced 'fair and equitable' changes to the welfare system. Yet there is a vast difference of opinion on energy policy between the party's Westminster and Holyrood groups and there has been little detail on how the party would rework the welfare system. As always, affordability is a concern given the SNP both slammed Starmer's benefits cuts and continues to laud its decision to direct about a third of its block grant towards the NHS. Swinney's independence 'precedent' argument follows his party's recent loss in Hamilton. The SNP's pivot to a 'two-horse race' message against Reform failed to secure victory and left party figures frustrated at the lack of a positive campaign. Putting independence at the heart of the 2026 election campaign is a blatant attempt to win over that non-SNP supporting, pro-independence voter base – though its exact make-up remains unclear. Combine this with more coherent, 'common sense' policy positions – with a continued move away from the culture war debates that unhelpfully pigeonholed SNP politicians in the past – and there is a chance that independence voters who rowed behind Labour in 2024 will back the SNP in the Scottish parliament next year. But then the party, if it is serious about secession, finds itself faced with the same issue that has plagued it for the last decade. Even if the SNP manages to win a majority next year, there is no legal requirement for the UK government to give Holyrood powers to hold a second referendum. Indeed Starmer on Monday afternoon dubbed the push for independence 'the politics of yesteryear'. And while the US President has spent much of his time north of the border talking up Scotland, reports from early this morning that the Prime Minister left his joint dinner with Donald Trump and Swinney early on Monday evening don't bode well for fruitful discussions about the First Minister's latest proposal.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Destiny's Child reunites after 19 years: Why they broke up—and was Beyoncé the reason?
Destiny's Child recently reunited on stage during Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour, sparking nostalgia and renewed interest in their split. Formed in the early 1990s, the group achieved massive success but faced internal conflicts, including lineup changes and a lawsuit against their manager. Despite disbanding, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have reunited for memorable performances over the years. Destiny's Child just gave fans a blast from the past. As Beyoncé wrapped up her Cowboy Carter tour with a star-studded finale in Las Vegas, she brought out her former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a surprise on-stage reunion. The trio's unexpected performance had the crowd roaring and sparked fresh buzz online—not just about their nostalgic hits, but also about what really led to their split nearly two decades ago. Here's a look back at why one of the most iconic girl groups of all time called it quits. From Girl's Tyme to Destiny's Child Destiny's Child, originally known as Girl's Tyme, was formed in Houston in the early 1990s. Starting with Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett, the group performed at local events and went through several lineup changes. After years of hustle and building a local reputation, they signed with Columbia Records in 1997 and officially rebranded as Destiny's Child. Destiny's Child shot to fame with the release of their debut single No, No, No and their second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which featured chart-toppers like Bills, Bills, Bills and Say My Name. Their mainstream breakthrough led to massive global success, with the group selling over 60 million records by 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Billboard named them one of the greatest musical trios of all time and the 9th most successful artist of the 2000s. Throughout their career, they earned 14 Grammy nominations and took home two awards. Trouble Behind the Scenes While Destiny's Child was soaring in popularity, tensions were brewing behind the scenes. Trouble began when members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett grew dissatisfied with the group's management—particularly with Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, who also served as their manager. They felt he was giving preferential treatment to Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. In 2000, both Roberson and Luckett filed a lawsuit against Knowles, alleging breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, marking the start of internal conflict within the group. Lineup Changes and Fallout In 2000, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. However, Farrah exited the group just five months later. Her departure stirred controversy—she told that she was "verbally attacked by the management" after missing promotional events due to illness. Beyoncé, on the other hand, claimed Farrah lacked commitment, which led to her removal. Following this shake-up, Destiny's Child continued as a trio. Their 2001 album Survivor was widely seen as a reflection of the group's turbulent past and resilience. Reunions Over the Years Later in 2001, Destiny's Child announced a hiatus and reunited in 2004 for their fifth and final album, Destiny Fulfilled. While the group gave all its members a platform, Beyoncé's solo career soared the most prominently. After their formal disbandment, each member pursued individual careers with varying degrees of success. Despite parting ways professionally, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have reunited for special performances over the years—most notably at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and the 2018 Coachella festival.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
MEA ‘nearly lost the plot' on Indus Treaty negotiations, says former Finance Secretary Subhash Garg
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) nearly 'lost the plot' over the Indus Water Treaty talks with Pakistan in 2016, as senior MEA officials entered into a tussle with the World Bank, before the issue was retrieved — the claim is made by former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, India-appointed Executive Director at the World Bank (2014-2017), in his latest book, which recounts for the first time the tensions between the Modi government and World Bank President Jim Kim over the Kishenganga hydropower project. The point of contention was whether the World Bank, which has a limited role in guiding any disputes or differences between India and Pakistan, would decide to appoint the 'court of arbitration' Pakistan had asked for, or a 'neutral expert', as India wanted. After his controversial first book about his unceremonious exit from the Union Finance Ministry, Mr. Garg has now taken aim at the MEA in his new book, No, Minister: Navigating Power, Politics and Bureaucracy with a Steely Resolve, where he says he was sidelined during the initial stages of the Indus Water Treaty negotiations in 2016. He also claims that he was told to 'keep off the matter', and only attend meetings to be led by India's Deputy Chief of Mission Taranjit Sandhu (later the Ambassador to the U.S. before he retired and joined politics). '[However], by the middle of November, the MEA team was getting nervous. It was not able to nudge the World Bank team in the direction it wanted, i.e., to appoint a neutral expert and began to sense that the Bank was tilting towards Pakistan,' Mr. Garg wrote, in the chapter titled 'Bringing Indus Waters Arbitration Back From the Brink'. At this point, the book claims that Mr. Jaishankar made a visit to Washington and asked Mr. Garg to take charge of matters. Mr. Garg accepted the request, but insisted that no MEA official join the discussions, and even turned back then MEA Joint Secretary Gopal Baglay (now India's High Commissioner to Australia) from the meeting with Mr. Kim, although he had travelled non-stop for 20 hours to reach Washington. According to Mr. Garg, it was his own intervention, in a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Kim, that eventually helped ensure a neutral expert, Ian Solomon, was appointed, after the World Bank accepted Pakistan's demand for a court of arbitration at The Hague. The MEA did not respond to a request for comments on Mr. Garg's claims. The Hindu also reached out to Mr. Sandhu and Mr. Baglay for a comment, and they did not respond to or deny the claims. In Washington, World Bank officials privy to the negotiations confirmed the tussle between the World Bank and the Indian government, but said they could not comment on whether it was Mr. Garg's meeting with the World Bank chief or other interventions that eventually changed the course of events. The World Bank first ruled that having a neutral expert and court together could lead to 'contradictory outcomes'. However, subsequently, it facilitated the setting up of both an expert as well as a Chairperson to the Court of Arbitration. India has refused to attend the proceedings in the Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Pakistan has maintained that it is working within the terms of the treaty, whereas India says the treaty does not allow such parallel dispute mechanisms. When asked by The Hindu, Mr. Garg said this should not have been an 'institutional turf battle', and that he did not want India's case to be 'compromised' even as the World Bank, the U.S. and the U.K. had gone ahead with appointing experts to take the Pakistan application for arbitration forward. Allowing Pakistan's diplomats to continue the process unchallenged would have an impact on other negotiations, he added. After the Pahalgam terror attacks in April this year, India has decided to 'suspend' the Indus Water Treaty, but some of the book's revelations are significant for future decisions on similar issues. The book recounts Pakistan's campaign against the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects in Jammu-Kashmir; India's objections to the International Monetary Fund/World Bank funding of the Gulpur hydropower project in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir; and China's objections in 2010 to multilateral funding for a hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh, leading Mr. Garg to conclude that the government and the World Bank needed better communication between themselves. Mr. Garg also pointed out that Mr. Kim and Mr. Modi had a good relationship, and Mr. Kim's plan to fund schemes for 'stunted' or malnourished children had not gone down well with Mr. Modi. In Parliament this week, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development said that about 37% of children under five years registered on their tracker were found to be stunted. 'I believe India's approach of not fine-tuning its stance in line with World Bank policies has harmed its own interests more than serving it,' Mr. Garg, who moved to India as Economic Affairs Secretary after his tenure at the World Bank ended, said. Differences with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman led to his transfer as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Power in August 2019. He applied for voluntary retirement that same day, and retired after serving the mandatory notice period on October 31, 2019. (With inputs from Jacob Koshy and T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan in New Delhi.)
The Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
Asked to Investigate UPA Govt's Use of 'Fake Notes' That Never Were: Ex-Finance Secretary Subhash Garg
New Delhi: About a year ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government then eying a second term, asked then union finance secretary, Subhash Chandra Garg, to investigate fake currency notes that had been allegedly used by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government to use for political funding. While Garg informed the Prime Minister's Office that he did not find anything suspicious after undertaking the exercise for a couple of months, the PMO was still not satisfied and appointed an expert committee headed by an external professional. In his new book No, Minister: Navigating Power, Politics and Bureaucracy with a Steely Resolve, Garg writes that while he communicated that 'under no circumstances' would he 'find it acceptable that an outside professional be allowed to go into the highly sensitive and confidential currency printing presses.' Despite his misgivings, an expert committee headed by former chairman to the PM's Economic Advisory Council Bibek Debroy was formed, close to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Garg who took voluntary retirement in 2019 writes in his book that in April-May 2018 he received a confidential demi-official (DO)-from then principal secretary to the prime minister, Nripendra Misra, to audit 'all the paper purchased and used for printing currency notes over the last ten years.' 'There was no explicit purpose mentioned for undertaking this massive exercise. When I spoke to him to find out, he was not very forthcoming. It appeared that there was some suspicion in the mind of the PMO that the previous government had used the currency note printing presses to print notes over and above what were officially accounted for to use the same for political funding,' writes Garg in the book. Garg writes that since it was an order 'and indeed a sensitive matter' he undertook a detailed audit, which he described as a 'Herculean exercise' that took a couple of months. 'In consultation with government's note printing company, the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL), I designed a broad worksheet to capture all the currency printing paper purchased over the past 10 years in square metres, all the currency notes printed during this period, the paper consumption which these printed notes accounted for by taking their dimensions into consideration and all the resultant and accounted for wastages,' he writes. 'I gathered the international norms of wastages to benchmark wastages accounted for by note printing presses. It was a Herculean exercise and took a couple of months.' Garg said that at the end of the exercise which was undertaken by the SPMCIL officers, it was found that there was slightly higher wastage which was 'not alarming' than international norms and that he found nothing suspicious. 'There was slightly higher wastage (though nothing alarming) than the international norms, but it was quite close to the Indian experience and the long-term trend. I went through all these calculations and got the SPMCIL management to send the report along with all the details officially concluding that there was no unexplained wastage. I thereafter forwarded it to the PMO with my covering note that I did not find anything particularly suspicious in the printing of notes over that period of 10 years,' he writes. According to Garg, the PMO was not satisfied and he was sent another DO from Misra in which he was informed that an expert committee headed by an external professional would be formed. Garg said that he found it unacceptable that an outside professional would be 'allowed to go into the highly sensitive and confidential currency printing presses.' 'I found it uncalled for and decided to meet him to persuade him not to embark on that wild goose chase. He was insistent. I said that the government might appoint an expert committee but under no circumstances would I find it acceptable that an outside professional be allowed to go into the highly sensitive and confidential currency printing presses,' Garg writes in the book. 'He agreed to this. The PMO decided to appoint Bibek Debroy as head of the committee, a decision that was taken just prior to the Lok Sabha elections of 2019,' he writes. Bibek Debroy. Photo: PTI/Files Debroy had been the chairman of the PM's Economic Advisory Council since 2017. Garg writes that the Debroy committee however did not start work till his voluntary retirement in July 2019. 'Nothing has been placed by the government in public domain about the work done and conclusions reached by the Debroy Committee,' he writes. In July 2019, Garg who was moved to the power ministry applied for voluntary retirement, preferring to resign over a year before his scheduled 'superannuation' date. Although Garg's new position in the power ministry came with the same salary and perks, it was widely seen as a demotion. The decision to shift Garg to the power ministry was seen as being abrupt, primarily because the finance ministry bureaucrat was closely and personally involved with several government initiatives including ,
