THE NEW

India joins global anti-Trump front ( Economic Times Editorial) |   India’s plan to raise additional import duty, worth $240 million, on a variety of imports from the US in retaliation against US tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium imposed on national security grounds. The retaliatory tariffs on 30 products—motorcycles with engine capacity over 800cc, certain iron and steel goods, lentils, almonds, apple—show that India has joined the anti-US trade coalition that is gathering force to resist unilateralism in trade. New Delhi’s action would be noticed, principally because it comes alongside retaliatory tariffs on US imports by China, the European Union and the US’s North American Free Trade Agreement partners, Canada and Mexico. However, the amount ($240 million) that India expects to collect is tiny in relation to US exports of over $1.5 trillion. China’s additional tariffs total $50 billion. It will levy a 25% additional tariff on 545 product categories including many f

The Guardian view on Albert Einstein: free thinking and hidebound attitudes Editorial Albert Einstein’s humanitarian reputation almost matches his scientific stature. From the 1930s onwards he vigorously denounced racism, “a disease of white people”, once observing that “being a Jew myself, perhaps I can understand and empathise with how black people feel as victims of discrimination”. So it is especially shocking to learn of racist and misogynist comments that he made while travelling in Asia in the 1920s. In his newly published diaries from the period, he describes the Chinese as “industrious, filthy, obtuse” and “a peculiar herd-like nation”. Though he praises their modesty and gentleness, he also echoes contemporary warnings that they posed a demographic threat: “It would be a pity if these Chinese supplant all other races. For the likes of us the mere thought is unspeakably dreary.” How could a figure renowned for his empathy and wisdom have written such passages? The answer

The Guardian view on Trump in Singapore: a huge win – for North Korea (THE GUARDIAN'S EDITORIAL) A confident leader strode into the Singapore summit and won. Kim Jong-un went with a plan, gave little and left with plenty: bolstered status and diplomatic leverage, lavish praise from the US president, the promise of an end to US-South Korean military drills – and, surely, a growing confidence that North Korea is doing well at this game. A meeting supposed to effect a breakthrough on denuclearisation looked “more like a big welcome party to the nuclear-armed club”, in the acid but accurate words of one observer. Better than war, for sure. But since it was Donald Trump who raised that spectre, giving him credit for dispelling it would be like calling a man a life-saver when second thoughts stay his hand from murder. The US president handed over gift after gift in exchange for the inflation of his ego. He does not know or does not care that his country went home poorer than it came

Jordan crisis: Why Gulf States are rushing to step in Fearing a second Arab Spring at their doorstep, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States are eager to help Jordan's economy. Saudi Arabia will host a regional summit to discuss the ongoing economic crisis in Jordan, where a proposed income tax law recently prompted some of the largest protests in years. The meeting in Mecca on Sunday will be attended by Saudi King Salman, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. King Abdallah II hopes the summit will provide Jordan with an immediate cash infusion to help it offset the current budget deficit, which amounts to about $700m, sources in Jordan's royal court told to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. The king will also push his Gulf allies to renew their previous financial grant agreement, which injected $1.25bn a year into Jordan's coffers from 2011 until 2017

India is the biggest and one of the most important democratic country on earth. Indian democracy today is as old as sixty-two years and it has survived despite many countries have yielded to dictatorship and military rule. The success or failure of democracy means a lot for the future of democracy not only in India but in other countries as well. A democratic form of government is run by the elected representatives of the common people. Hence, pubic opinion is the essence of democracy. Such form of government ensures good opportunity for the overall growth and well-being of its citizens. Indian democracy is characterized by peaceful coexistence of different ideas and ideals. There is healthy cooperation and competition among exiting political parties. Since, ballot and not bullet is the essence of democracy, there exists multiple political parties and each parties have their own ideal. After gaining independence in 1947, India had chosen for Parliamentary democracy. Actually, Indi

India is the largest democratic country in the world. Democracy is defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Democracy is considered the finest form of government in which every individual participates consciously and in which the people remain the sovereign power determining their destiny. So, in democracy the people are the ultimate source of power and its success and failure depend on their wisdom, consciousness and vigilance. It is not possible for all the people in a big country like India to participate in the government. This is why they are required to exercise their franchise and elect their representatives at regular intervals. These representatives from the parliament legislate and form responsible government. Such governments can be either unitary or federal. In India we have the federal form having both a government at the center responsible to the parliament and governments in the states elected and equally responsible to their legislat