In June 1983, Xi Zhongxun, the father of Xi Jinping, hosted Kim Jong-il, the father of Kim Jong-un, in Beijing. They watched a performance by Peng Liyuan, who years later would marry Xi Jinping.

Most China experts and ex-bureaucrats are sceptical whether an India-China rapprochement is possible. India’s ‘permanent establishment’ is wary. Like in Bertolt Brecht’s existential play Waiting for Godot, they would rather await Donald Trump’s arrival... newindianexpress.com/opinions/2025/…

Kurt Campbell and Jake Sullivan have carefully, and in sophisticated language, emphasised the importance of India, but they have also made the case for how DC plans to make India into a more “traditional ally” eventually by using not so traditional means. foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Another Onam with traditions alive, a reminder that the real soul of the festval still thrives in the state.Its a festival of not just new age Instagrammable aesthetics or social experiments, but a timeless celebration of culture. Happy onam everyone ❤️

The US is being quite pugnacious and even trigger-happy against India, leaving New Delhi with very little room to manoeuvre. Hard to see strategic trust re-emerging here, especially from the Indian side, regardless of where the tariff rate finally settles at.

Howard Lutnick says "in a month or two India will be at the table and they're going to say they're sorry." To that, I say this: There may indeed be a TARIFF deal on the table because it is in both countries' interest to do one. But (1) India most certainly will not "say sorry,"

A very big welcome for the US General, by one of the top officers of the Pakistan Army.

Iran's security czar Ali Larijani holds telephone conversation with India's NSA Ajit Doval. The "12-day war" between Israel and Iran pushed Delhi to do fair bit of balancing of its Middle East policy. Iran FM was also in India as Operation Sindoor was peaking.

"'The Afghan [poppy] crop in 2025 is likely to be far exceeded by Pakistan,' said David Mansfield, an expert on Afghanistan’s opium trade.... The size of the poppy farms..., & their locations... suggest 'unrestrained cultivation that has not ever been seen in Afghanistan...'"

On Presidents Putin, Xi and trans-humanism:

“On September 9, Secretary of War Hegseth spoke with China's Minister of National Defense, Admiral Dong Jun. Secretary Hegseth made clear that the United States does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or strangulation of the PRC” war.gov/News/Releases/…

1/2 Kremlin politician Alexey Pushkov (chairman of information policy commission of parliament) reg killing of Charlie Kirk: “This's a clear message to all prominent figures of America's public & political life who have similar views & who aren't afraid to share them with people.

The insurgency in Balochistan is at a mid-intensity stage, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it has reached an advanced stage. It appears that in both provinces, Pakistan has lost the political support of local societies and is relying on brute force to stabilize the situation. Based

A detailed study of the resource war in Asia, where the players are the US China and Russia with India as the new competitor. The authors, @TheNavroopsingh and @HimjaParekhp point out that the end goal of America through all these geo-political moves & resource wars is an

Trump is unreliable. In the movie "Gone Girl" directed by David Fincher with actor, producer, director Ben Affleck as the lead Nick Dunne: "Yes, I loved you & then all we did was resent, try to control, cause each other pain." Amy Dunne: "That's marriage". Trump is also toxic

What explains the rift in India-US relations? Daniel Markey argues: - "President Trump’s decision to elevate differences into hot disputes was his alone, not driven by domestic political imperatives or any powerful policy impulse in Washington". - "Lest there be any

Former French President #NicolasSarkozy sentenced to 5 years in jail for criminal conspiracy over Libyan campaign funds. He becomes the first post-war French president to face imprisonment, a shock verdict that stunned allies and rivals alike.

“Rubio’s our guy”

"Donald Trump has now surrounded himself by pure MAGA ideologues," Former Ambassador Jawed Ashraf shares insights in India-US relations #IndiaTodayConclaveMumbai | GAURAV C SAWANT Jawed Ashraf

If CIA director Ratcliffe makes a secret trip to Beijing soon, don't be surprised. Trump WH is openly embracing Pak-China axis. My estimate: Trump may try to visit Beijing as early as November. Will India's American lobby & self-serving think-tank leaders WAKE the hell UP?