THE fact that the world economy has slowed down since the financial crisis of 2008 is beyond dispute. In fact even conservative American economists have started using the term “secular stagnation” to describe the current situation (though they have their own peculiar definition for it). The purpose of the present note is to give some growth-rate figures to establish this particular point.Calculations of GDP, which are notoriously unreliable for particular countries, are even more so for the world as a whole.

THE 16th Finance Commission (FC), constituted on December 31, 2023, with Aravind Panagariya as chairman, is currently preparing its report. The FC has already started visiting state governments and holding discussions on the memorandum submitted by the state governments. Recommendations of the 16th FC will cover a five-year period starting on April 1, 2026.Article 280(1) of the Indian Constitution outlines how a Finance Commission is established.

PULVERISING Gaza, emptying the Strip of its people, bombing the West Bank, and expanding illegal annexations of land there – none of that is enough for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his genocidal drive to build “Greater Israel.” Lebanon, too, it seems, must be parceled up and pieces of it brought under Tel Aviv’s control.Since the war on Gaza was launched by Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Lebanon has been a secondary theater of combat, with periodic bombing runs by Israel and rocket launches from Iran-backed Hezbollah militants on the other side of the b

THIS October 7 marks a year since Israeli aggression on Gaza. Israel used Hamas attack as an excuse to carry out its genocidal war on Gaza, Palestine. It declared the elimination of Hamas as its objective in attacking Gaza. Far from achieving its objective, Israel has today pushed the entire West Asia into a cauldron of fire with its attacks on Lebanon, Iran, Syria,Yemen and Iraq. The US has stood steadfastly with Israel backing its every aggressive move.Israel’s military attacks on Lebanon over the past fortnight have completely changed the character of the war.

THE value of creative labour has always been very context specific and dependent on subjective appreciation of the buyer of the products of such labour. The importance of aesthetic value of products has increased particularly with increased possibility of customisation of products. This has also increased the demand for artists, designers and different types of content creators who could add value to the product or service beyond its core uses.