The goal of the Narendra Modi government in the coming year will be to position India as an island of calm in a world of storms. The destination for companies seeking to set up a secure supply chain. A country with a capital where politics is boringly predictable. A nation with a military that is unlikely to spar with its neighbours.
One measure of progress is that Modi is able to host summits with Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping and the US's Donald Trump without ruffling feathers.
When the PM says his third term is about the idea of the Vishwabandhu, or universal friend, it is more than a slogan. There is thought behind the phrase.
The world is likely to fight less but squabble more in 2025. Ukraine is slow-transitioning to a postconflict state. Neither side seems to be aiming for a decisive win; a peace conference with Kyiv and Moscow is on the horizon; and Donald Trump could prove to be the dove in shining armour.
Nothing will happen in a hurry. Wars of stalemates can take months to wind down.
West Asia is more of a muddle. With Gaza flattened and the collapse of Iran's informal Shia empire, the question is what the ascendant Qatar-Turkey axis has in mind. So far, the new axis has preached peace on earth and goodwill to all men (except Kurds). There is something for diplomacy to work with here, if Trump's anti-Ayatollah sentiment doesn't boil over.
Where global tensions will rise and cause ripples will be in economics and technology.
This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Old ailment, known pathogen: A warning against HMPV panic
For everyone holding their breath over fears of HMPV, here's a quick summary: it's an old ailment, caused by a known pathogen, and many people are likely to have been exposed to the virus by the time they are five years old.
TN GUV WALKS OUT OF STATE ASSEMBLY OVER ANTHEM ROW
Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi on Monday walked out of Tamil Nadu assembly without reading his customary address for the second consecutive year, opposing what he described as disrespect to the national anthem and triggering a political controversy.
Dhruv light chopper fleet grounded again after Gujarat accident brings back concerns
The Indian Coast Guard has temporarily grounded its fleet of locally made Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALH) for a safety inspection after one crashed at Porbandar in Gujarat on Sunday, killing two pilots and a diver who were on a routine training sortie, officials aware of the matter said on Monday.
CM says 9 workers trapped in inundated Assam coal mine
At least nine workers were trapped inside a coal mine in a remote area of Dima Hasao district of Assam after the mine was reportedly flooded with underground water, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.
9 dead as Maoists attack security vehicle in C'garh
Nine people died in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Monday after Maoists used an improvised explosive device to blow up a vehicle carrying members of the district reserve guard — the first major insurgent strike amid a string of ferocious encounters by security forces over the past year to eradicate Left-wing extremism in the state.
No Matter What I Do, My Son Will Always Be My Priority: Sania Mirza
The former tennis star on being a single mum and feeling a sense of responsibility in the public eye
Tough questions for India after two debacles in a row
A second series loss raises more questions than answers as head coach's performance comes under the lens
Sharvari named first-ever brand ambassador for Godrej Professional
Rising star and fashion icon Sharvari has been named the first-ever brand ambassador for Godrej Professional, a leading brand offering hair colour and care from the house of Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL).
Love lockdown: OYO's new rule for unmarried couples sparks mixed reactions
On Sunday, the hotel booking platform OYO introduced a new policy that prohibits unmarried couples from checking into its partner hotels in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Gambhir, Sharma face BCCI scrutiny
India have lost six of their last eight Tests; they were saved by the weather in Brisbane while the Perth Test win was the only bright spot.
