It’s incredible to see how a gathering of bright minds from all corners of the globe can converge on a single, pressing issue that affects us all. Imagine academics, researchers, and experts – each carrying a unique perspective shaped by their own continent’s history, culture, and challenges – all meeting in the vibrant, intellectual hub of the University of Amsterdam. This wasn’t just any academic conference; it was a crucial dialogue, supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, focused on unraveling the complex, ever-evolving beast that is the “infrastructure of influence operations.” Think of it as a global brain…

In the often-turbulent world of Indian politics, where impassioned rhetoric and sharp critiques are as common as chai stalls, a recent exchange brought into stark relief the fiery nature of political discourse. Arvind Kejriwal, the charismatic and often controversial national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His words, delivered with his characteristic candor, painted a picture of a leader who, in Kejriwal’s estimation, displayed a perplexing dichotomy: seemingly meek in the presence of global powerhouses like former US President Donald Trump, yet unyielding and even punitive towards domestic political adversaries.…