ThePrint

CutTheClutter: Factors behind Israel's financial resilience,why it's an unusual war economy,& defence exports' role

Description: Israel has been at war since 3 years, but has shown economic resilience due to multiple reasons. Its defence exports have surged by 130% between 2020-2025, and its among the leading exporters of high-tech goods and services. #CutTheClutter Episode Xxxx looks at factors behind Israel’s unusual war economy and why it has shown financial resilience. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains the country’s defence exports, how India has the maximum share and the change in Israel’s defence exports post Abraham Accords. Read the IISS report here: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/charting-middle-east/2026/09/the-defence-dividend-of-the-abraham-accords/ Read TheEconomist story here: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/09/24/israels-war-economy-is-thriving

NationalInterest: India has always been a hard state under Gandhian cover. Nehru to Modi, leaders have reinforced it

Modern India might have been conjured up in the image of Gandhi. But India was never a Gandhian state. Founders of the Republic, be it Nehru or Patel, nursed zero such notions. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta: To read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/india-hard-state-gandhian-values/3060496/

ThePrintPod: Same X-ray, different skeleton: Inside India’s $766 billion forex reserves

In the summer of 1991, India undertook an action that no sovereign nation desires: it pledged its gold reserves. Under strict confidentiality, approximately 47 tonnes from the Reserve Bank of India’s vaults were transported abroad and deposited with the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan. This measure secured a $405 million loan, giving the country a temporary reprieve.Critical issue is whether a country’s assets comfortably exceed its liabilities and timing of these obligations. RBI’s data allows for a precise evaluation of this criterion. Watch #Economix with ThePrint Consulting Editor (Economics) Bidisha Bhattacharya:

NationalInterest: On Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, his legacy and how he changed India

On Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, watch #NationalInterest where ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta argued how Shastri’s legacy is unfairly overshadowed by peace he made at Tashkent and a visit that also took his life. Among his contributions were the Green Revolution and talent-hunting Dr Swaminathan. Originally published on 22 March 2025.

CutTheClutter: Cockpit fight, accused Omani pilot & an Indian hero: Questions & facts of attack on flight to Israel

Israel is investigating the FlyDubai incident as a 'jihadist terror attack'. FlyDubai’s FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September, when a bloody clash unfolded in the cockpit. The flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by its co-pilot, reportedly an Omani pilot. The plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, minutes after sending the emergency signal. The motive behind this attack is still being investigated. #CutTheClutter Episode 1911 details what unfolded on the FlyDubai flight. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains the facts we know, what we don't and the questions this attack raises over civil aviation safety.----more----Read Hussain Abdul-Hussain's tweet here: https://x.com/hahussain/status/2105278966281974128?s=46----more----Read 50Word edit here: https://theprint.in/50-word-edit/flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-saved-day-indians-proud/3059187/

CutTheClutter: India's Golden Quartet shines at Asian Games again:Tracing our nation's rise in Women 4 x 400m Relay

Indian women’s 4x400m relay team ended the nation's wait, by securing our only athletics gold at the Asian Games. The team comprising of Kiran Pahal, M R Poovamma, Prachi Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj, also won back India's traditional top spot. They are the latest behind India's spectacular success in women's 4x400m relay, since 1982. Shekhar Gupta traces the story of women’s 4x400m relay as an Indian brand, how our nation rose in this particular branch of track & field, and the generations of women’s 400m relay quartet who have made the nation proud. #CutTheClutter Episode 1910 also looks at the setbacks and hurdles.----more----Read India Today's article here: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19901031-xi-asian-games-indian-athletes-performed-miserably-but-officials-stole-show-813165-1990-10-30

ThePrintAM: What's the controversy over Revanth Reddy's remark?

CutTheClutter: Debt to an $18 billion bet: Ruias' journey as Trump ropes in Essar to build US' largest steel plant

US President Donald Trump announced $18-billion investment by Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics. The investment is to build the largest ever US steel plant. #CutTheClutter Episode 1909 traces the journey of the Ruias and Essar— from debt, to $25 billion repayment & and now an $18 billion bet in America. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why Trump’s celebrating this step, and how his thinking on rejuvenating basic manufacturing in US has remained linear.----more----Read the Reuters report from November 2022 here: India's Essar Group is debt-free after repaying $25 bln | Reuters----more----Read The Economic Times Report from March 2021 here: RBI's 'dirty dozen': Most firms are on way to resolution three years on, ETBFSI----more----Read Prashant Ruia’s interview to Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/6df853f6-31b3-491e-8fb9-41e7ed34d04b?syn-25a6b1a6=1

CutTheClutter: Shorter battles, forever wars, tech & self reliance-What shapes new battlefield, & lessons for India

Ukraine and Middle East wars show how the battlefield has been redefined. #CutTheClutter draws from comments by Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth's comments at the NDTV defence summit, remarks by former Defence Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov on X and an essay by the recently 'evicted' US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll in the Foreign Affairs. Why are their comments important and what's the common message in them? Episode 1998 looks at some of these crucial questions, and what they mean for the changing nature of wars. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains how technology has changed battlefields and lists the five key lessons for India.----more----Watch #CutTheClutter on Op Spider Web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGhelHxJgM8----more----Read Dan Driscoll's essay in Foreign Affairs here: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/rewiring-arsenal-democracy-war-dan-driscoll----more----Ukraine's ex-Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov's post: https://x.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/2103837667154669837----more----Army Chief's remarks at NDTV Defence Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MWjIBeDtHY

ThePrintPod: The Gyanesh Kumar controversy & Modi govt: When things go wrong the crises keep coming

'The Modi government may not be ready to act against Gyanesh Kumar, but allowing the controversy to continue carries its own risks.' Watch #ThePrint #SharpEdge with Vir Sanghvi: To Read: https://theprint.in/opinion/the-gyanesh-kumar-controversy-modi-govt-when-things-go-wrong-the-crises-keep-coming/3053031/

NationalInterest : Third year trough for Modi 3.0. Restoring EC’s image should be the first priority.

Gyanesh Kumar has now become the second most unforgettable among our 26 CECs. He obviously didn’t seek this ‘fame’. But he can’t shake it off. For Modi government, this has come at a juncture that’s usually troublesome in India: the third year of the incumbent. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta. https://theprint.in/national-interest/since-indira-govts-drift-in-the-3rd-year-modi-must-restore-ec-image-to-get-out-of-it/3053831/ https://theprint.in/national-interest/narendra-modi-bjp-longest-serving-continuously-elected-prime-minister-challenges/2958655/

CutTheClutter: Message behind pomp & pageantry at Trump-Xi summit, & what US-China G2 would mean for India, & world

#cuttheclutter US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a 2-day summit. The summit featured much pomp and pageantry, but there was no talk of any hard bargain or breakthroughs. Both countries agreed to extend an existing trade agreement by two months. It will now expire on January 10, 2027, instead of November 10, 2026. Xi warned that U.S. support for Taiwan could complicate U.S.-China ties. #CutTheClutter Episode 1907 looks at the message behind the pomp and grand gestures, as well as the takeaways from Trump-Xi Summit. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains what the US-China G2 could mean for India and the rest of the world. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #asusexpertbook @ASUSIndia.official Checkout the ASUS Expertbook series: https://www.flipkart.com/asus-expertbook-core-ultra-store

Opinion: Kolkata event discusses forgotten Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh. ‘1971 stigma remains’

A Kolkata event, titled “Partition’s forgotten people: Subaltern spaces across fluid borders”, highlighted a community that has been othered due to language and alleged closeness to the Pakistan Army during the 1971 war. More than five decades after Bangladesh’s Liberation War and two years after the July 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule, many Bihari Muslims, who are branded as Pakistanis, remain on the margins of Bangladeshi society. The discrimination remains, and they are still forced to work as barbers, butchers, and rickshaw pullers. Author and ThePrint Columnist Deep Halder shares insights from the event.----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/kolkata-event-discusses-forgotten-bihari-muslims-in-bangladesh-1971-stigma-remains/3047934/

EyeOnChina: Chinese commentary on Xi-Trump summit is a cross between flowers and daggers

Chinese commentary ahead of the Xi-Trump summit focuses less on a breakthrough and more on managing competition and stabilizing China-US ties. Chinese analysts note that rivalry continues across areas from dialogue and economic interdependence to issues of AI, Taiwan and Japan, even as both sides work hard to prevent confrontation. Watch #ThePrint #EyeOnChina with Sana Hashmi----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/eye-on-china/xi-trump-summit-china-us-rivalry/3050913/

CutTheClutter: Two ECs dissent, questions on legality of SIR process: Constitutional, legal issues & nuances

#cuttheclutter An investigation by the Indian Express reveals that two of the three Election Commissioners raised 14 objections to some aspects of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) over a period of 10 months. The objections were raised by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. #CutTheClutter Ep 1906 looks at the what the story reveals, what it means and what it doesn't. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains the facts, legalities, and nuances. Read EC's reply here: https://x.com/ecisveep/status/2102678422753517847?s=46 Read Indian Express' Newsbreak here: https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/election-commission-sir-14-objections-gyanesh-kumar-sukhbir-singh-sandhu-vivek-joshi-10889737/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #asusexpertbook @ASUSIndia.official Checkout the ASUS Expertbook series: https://www.flipkart.com/asus-expertbook-core-ultra-store

CutTheClutter: Somaliland: Tiny 'country' Israel recognises, UAE has a port in, &why it's key to Red Sea power play

#cuttheclutter Somaliland, recognised only by Israel so far, has a deal with the UAE to operate the Berbera Port. Somaliland's President has been in the US, and is likely to address a rally near UNGA venue on 23 September. #CutTheClutter Episode 1905 looks at the fascinating 'tiny' country of Somaliland as its leader visits US and makes a pitch to the world for recognition. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains Somaliland's geography, its roots, importance and why it is key to the power struggle in Red Sea. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #asusexpertbook @ASUSIndia.official Checkout the ASUS Expertbook series: https://www.flipkart.com/asus-expertbook-core-ultra-store

CutTheClutter: 58 yrs of R&AW: Why & how India's external intel agency was formed, successes, setbacks & spymasters

#cuttheclutter R&AW completes 58 years of existence today. It was on 21 September 1968 that India's external intelligence agency was formed by RN Kao. Shekhar Gupta explains why and how R&AW was formed, its many successes and a short-lived period of crisis. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief also traces the stories of the many spymasters who helmed it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #asusexpertbook @ASUSIndia.official Checkout the ASUS Expertbook series: https://www.flipkart.com/asus-expertbook-core-ultra-store

ThePrintPod : Tijara councillors detained in Haryana ahead of chairperson vote, alleges Rajasthan Congress leader

The councillors were returning from Himachal Pradesh to vote in the election of the Tijara Council chairperson, scheduled for 3 pm Monday, says Congress's Imran Khan.

CutTheClutter: Flt Lt Alfred Tyrone Cooke passes on: Story of India-Pakistan war hero who took on 4 Pakistani jets

Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke (retd), who took on 4 Pakistani jets during the 1965 India-Pakistan war died today. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta tells the story of the 1965 war hero, and the remarkable Kalaikunda dogfight. #CutTheClutter Ep 1903 ----more----Read Sameer Joshi’s article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/heroics-of-1965-war-an-indian-air-force-pilot-engaged-four-pakistani-sabre-jets-all-alone/234459/

NationalInterest: Bangladesh isn’t a mirror image of Pakistan. Hyphenating them undermines India’s strategic interests

India is caught in a trap of its own making. While BJP may find it convenient to play on insecurities, it gives Pakistan and Bangladesh leverage. By positioning neighbourhood policy centre-stage in our polarised politics, we’re giving them leverage. It’s a game they, especially Pakistan, know they can play. It also narrows India’s options and room for manoeuvre. This needs correction. ----more---- https://theprint.in/national-interest/pakistan-bangladesh-bjp-politics/3046888/