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Best of BS Opinion: Saudi strategy, Trump tactics, and Ray's robots
We've all seen the scene: a smug cat, unbothered, brushing past a vase that crashes dramatically to the floor. The cat looks up at you, wide-eyed, as if the wind did it. Not them. Never them. It's a moment so common it's become meme material. But once you spot this sly disavowal in the feline kingdom, you start seeing it everywhere. Today's stories are wildly varied but similar. The vase? Oh, it fell on its own. Let's dive in.
Take Saudi Arabia. As Javier Blas writes, Riyadh has made a stunning shift — from oil-price hawk to price-suppressor. Officially, it's about disciplining unruly Opec+ partners. But scratch that surface and you'll find five other vases wobbling: hedging against Russia, anticipating Iran's comeback, subtly nudging the US shale. Each explanation denies the wreckage left behind. The oil cat's not sorry. It's strategic.
Speaking of Trump, Mihir S Sharma reminds us how the original vase-knocking populism has turned blame-shifting into a political superpower. Undermining institutions? That's media bias. Wrecking party structures? That's voter love. The more chaotic his presidency gets, the tighter his grip becomes. Like all master cats, he causes the mess but walks away unscathed, purring approval into the echo chambers of fringe loyalists.
But not every cat knocks over vases just to win. Some want to rebuild the room. Pope Francis, as Antara Haldar writes, is a rare figure challenging capitalism not with equations, but with empathy. His economics is moral, spiritual and a call for dignity over dividends. In a world of technocrats, Francis meows differently, and the echo is divine.
Markets know this slyness well. As Devangshu Datta notes, traders navigate events that may happen (tariff wars) and those that crash out of nowhere (border conflicts). Each brings tremors without clear authorship. Is it policy? Is it chance? Is it both? When India's growth or defence sector jolts upward, who claims credit and who whispers, 'it wasn't me'?
Even fiction isn't immune. Atanu Biswas revisits Sujoy Ghosh's Anukul, where Satyajit Ray's robot doesn't just serve but judges, acts, and kills — all while staying eerily silent. Was it programmed morality? A glitch? Or a machine's quiet decision to let others debate why?
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Trump-Putin phone call: US President says he & Vladimir agreed Israel-Iran conflict 'should end'; Putin pushes for post-June 22 Ukraine talks
U S President Donald Trump said Saturday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed during a phone call that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran 'should end. ' The hour-long call, which Trump said was initiated by Putin to wish him a 'very nice' 79th birthday greeting, also touched on Russia's war in Ukraine and recent prisoner exchanges. 'President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,' Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. 'He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.' The US President added that little time was spent discussing Russia's invasion of Ukraine but said, 'that will be for next week.' He confirmed that 'large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides,' referencing the ongoing Ukraine-Russia prisoner swaps. Trump's comments come amid growing global concern over the widening conflict between Iran and Israel, with fears of further destabilisation across the Middle East. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo On Friday, Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iranian territory, prompting condemnation from Moscow and unease in Kyiv, which fears a shift in US military focus away from Ukraine. Putin proposes new peace talks with Kyiv after June 22 The Kremlin's readout of the call focused more on Ukraine than on Iran, stating that Putin told Trump Russia is prepared to hold a new round of peace negotiations with Ukraine after June 22, once ongoing prisoner and body exchanges are completed. It was their fifth call since Trump returned to the White House, part of his broader efforts to reset relations with Moscow and depart from the approach of his predecessor, Joe Biden. 'Both leaders expressed satisfaction with their personal relations,' the Kremlin said, adding that they 'communicate in a businesslike manner and seek solutions to pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex these issues may be.' Russian officials also highlighted progress in implementing the Istanbul agreements, which facilitated recent exchanges of wounded prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers. On Saturday, Ukraine and Russia carried out their fourth such exchange in a week, with Ukraine recovering another 1,200 bodies of individuals Moscow claimed were 'Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.' Videos released by both sides showed returning prisoners draped in national flags, some visibly injured, being welcomed with embraces, calls to family members, and chants of national slogans. Kyiv urges US to maintain aid amid Israel-Iran escalation Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not confirm whether Ukraine would agree to participate in renewed talks with Russia, only saying: 'The exchanges will be completed and the parties will discuss the next step.' Zelensky warned that growing tensions in the Middle East risked shifting American attention — and resources — away from Ukraine's war effort. 'We would like to see aid to Ukraine not decrease because of this,' he said, recalling a similar slowdown in support last time tensions flared in the region. He also criticised what he described as an overly conciliatory tone between Washington and Moscow. 'Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it,' Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter). Russian troops intensify operations in Sumy Meanwhile, fighting continues to rage across Ukraine's northeastern front. Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces had successfully pushed back Russian advances in the Sumy region, regaining control of at least one village. Russia has been seeking to create a 'buffer zone' along its border with Ukraine by intensifying military operations in Sumy to shield the adjacent Kursk region. Moscow previously claimed gains in Dnipropetrovsk, but Zelensky dismissed those claims. Ukrainian officials estimate that 53,000 Russian troops were deployed in the Sumy offensive. The ongoing assault forms part of a broader three-year campaign that has devastated Ukrainian infrastructure, displaced millions, and claimed tens of thousands of lives. Allies uneasy over Trump's posture toward Moscow Trump's continued pivot towards warmer ties with Moscow has caused alarm among US allies, especially in Europe, who fear a potential rollback of US financial, military, and intelligence support for Kyiv. In previous weeks, the Biden administration had maintained a firm stance against Russia's actions, but Trump's approach has created uncertainty over future US foreign policy. European partners are reportedly scrambling to assess how they might fill any aid gap should the US reduce support. As geopolitical flashpoints widen from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, pressure is mounting on global leaders to maintain a coordinated response.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Trade to inflation, how Iran-Israel conflict may affect India, markets
Just as global shipping lines and traders had begun to breathe a sigh of relief from elevated freight rates, with vessels returning to the crucial Red Sea route from the longer Cape of Good Hope passage, a direct conflict between two major West Asian powers has reignited fears of surging oil prices and more trade disruptions. The escalating tension between Iran and Israel sent shockwaves through global stock markets, with India's benchmark Sensex closing 573 points lower on Friday. Experts warn that Iran may respond by closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a key passage through which 20–25 per cent of global oil supply transits, as well as a critical corridor for LNG (liquefied natural gas) shipments from Qatar and the UAE. Qatar, notably, is among the top LNG suppliers to India. The renewed instability could pose deeper macroeconomic challenges for India, extending beyond trade, particularly as the country's reliance on oil imports continues to rise. While India was compelled to halt oil imports from Iran following US sanctions in 2019, Goldman Sachs estimates that Iranian supply could fall by 1.75 million barrels per day (b/d) for six months before gradually recovering. 'Assuming OPEC+ compensates for half the peak shortfall from spare capacity, Brent could rise above $90 per barrel before retreating to the $60s by 2026 as supply recovers,' the investment bank noted. A fall in prices of fruits, pulses and cereals had helped lower India's headline retail inflation to a 75-month low of 2.82 per cent in May 2025. This easing inflationary trend had prompted the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the policy repo rate by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points. However, the RBI cautioned that 'monetary policy is left with very limited space to support growth'. Risk of wider energy disruption S&P Global noted that, so far, both Iran and Israel have avoided directly targeting energy infrastructure. However, Israel has temporarily shut its Leviathan gas field — a key supplier to Egypt and Jordan — as a precaution. Iran, meanwhile, reported no damage to its oil refineries or storage depots in the initial attacks. Iran possesses approximately 2.2 million b/d of crude refining capacity and an additional 600,000 b/d of condensate splitter capacity. In May, it produced about 4 million b/d of crude and condensate. According to S&P Global, Iran's crude exports could fall below 1.5 million b/d this month. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president S C Ralhan had said in May that conditions in the Red Sea were improving, with ships resuming their regular routes. Exporters believed the risk of a wider conflict remained contained — as long as major powers like Israel and Iran stayed out of direct confrontation. Now, with traders' worst fears materialising, vessels may be forced to continue using the Cape of Good Hope route. This detour means sustained upward pressure on freight rates. The Red Sea crisis had already caused a spike in shipping costs due to voyage duration increasing by 10–14 days. Longer voyages also tightened vessel availability, exerting inflationary pressure on freight rates. The crisis also hit LNG flows through the Suez Canal, which dropped to 4.15 million tonnes in 2024 — a sharp fall from 32.36 million tonnes in 2023 and 34.94 million tonnes in 2022, according to Kpler data. Meanwhile, LNG volumes via the Cape of Good Hope rose more than five-fold, from 11.76 million tonnes in 2022 to 59.37 million tonnes in 2024. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Gavin Newsom goes on offense and Democrats across the U.S. are rallying behind his fiery momentum
Donald Trump Sends in National Guard Without Gavin Newsom's Consent Democrats Applaud Gavin Newsom's Defiance Live Events Speaking Out Loud and Clear FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel California Governor Gavin Newsom is back in the national spotlight as he stood up against US president Donald Trump over the protests of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles, which has led to his increased support among Democrats, as per a in Los Angeles, the biggest city in Newsom's state, escalated when, to tackle the protests against ICE raids , Trump sent the National Guard without Newsom's consent, as per The Hill. While, the US president justified his decision by arguing that things were going out of control on Newsom's watch, but Newsom and Democrats argued that Trump deliberately provoked a larger confrontation and escalated the situation, reported The strategist Jamal Simmons said, 'While it's been a horrible week for the country, Gov. Newsom has been a credible voice of so many people's discontent and anxiety about Trump's America,' adding, 'Democrats want people who can take on Donald Trump, and he is seen as someone who has been taking him on,' as quoted in the Democratic strategist Basil Smikle highlighted that Newsom has done well at framing Trump's actions as a 'massive overreaction and abuse of authority," adding, 'When voters say they want a fight, this is what they're referring to — even as Trump threatens Newsom's arrest,' quoted The governor's popularity among the Democratic Party has increased since he started speaking directly to the public in speeches, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks and is even calling out Trump on social platform X, as per the report.A long-time ally of Newsom told The Hill, 'This is what Gavin does best,' adding, 'He is absolutely unapologetic about getting up in someone's face and calling out their weaknesses. That's why he's so effective in going after Trump and MAGA Republicans,' as quoted in the a speech on Tuesday, Newsom told the crowd, 'What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment,' he said during his speech. 'Do not give it to him,' quoted The pointed out that, 'If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant — based only on suspicion or skin color — then none of us are safe,' adding, 'Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves, but they do not stop there,' as quoted in the emphasised, 'This is about all of us. This is about you,' adding, 'California may be first — but it clearly won't end there. Other states are next. Democracy is next,' quoted The sent in the National Guard to Los Angeles without the governor's permission, following protests against ICE accused Trump of trying to provoke chaos and called the deployment a power grab. He has spoken out strongly in speeches and online.
