ThePrint

Nitish Kumar has mastered the rhythm of renewal in Bihar. In a democracy of churn and chance, endurance may be the rarest—and most refined—form of political art.

The Commercial Courts Act was enacted to reduce delays in resolving commercial disputes in India. Ten years on, more than 60% of the suits remain pending after two years of having been filed. Watch Bhargavi Zaveri-Shah explain whether the legislation delivered its promise.

When the US Federal Reserve reduced its interest rate by a quarter percentage point last week, establishing the target range at 3.75-4 percent, it was not a bold stimulus but rather a cautious act of navigation. A prolonged government shutdown has left the Fed operating with limited information on inflation and jobs. For India, this development influences the global cost of capital, investor behaviour, and the overall pace of trade. The rate cut was determined under extraordinary conditions. US GDP grew at an annualised rate of 3.8 percent in the second quarter, but more recent indicators suggest a cooling trend. Unemployment has risen to 4.3 percent, job creation has decelerated, and consumer spending is stabilising. Although inflation has decreased to approximately 3 percent year-on-year, it still exceeds the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target. Typically, policymakers would review fresh September data before making decisions, but since those reports never came, the Federal Reserve had to rely on August data. Bidisha Bhattacharya has more in #ThePrintEconomix

https://theprint.in/diplomacy/modi-to-inaugurate-punatsangchhu-ii-hydropower-project-during-4th-visit-to-bhutan-since-2014/2776984/

Donald Trump’s 60 Minutes interview had a key point missing -- when the US President mentions Pakistan conducting nuclear tests. The line was edited out by CBS but appears in the full 73-minute video, posted online by Trump. In episode 1751 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta talks of what the return of nuclear blackmail means for India. He also discusses Saudi Arabia, Abraham Accords, China and Taiwan.

Mahmud Durrani, a long retired Pakistani Major General, was taken away at 84 last week by the heart condition he had dealt with for more than four decades.  As Pakistan’s NSA, barely five weeks after 26/11, he emphatically told the media that Kasab was indeed a Pakistani and it made no sense to hide that truth. Durrani was made to resign immediately. 
 
In this edition of #FirstPersonSecondDraft, ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta recalls his conversation with Mahmud Durrani & how he pursued his peacemaking. 
 
https://theprint.in/opinion/first-person-second-draft/mahmud-durrani-general-shanti/2775854/

ThePrintAM: Who are the strongmen of Mokama & why do they have such heft in Bihar politics?

National Interest: Trump’s trade wars have rewritten powerplay, but India didn’t get the memo

https://theprint.in/judiciary/delhi-riots-case-delhi-police-cite-regime-change-bid-plot-to-draw-eyes-to-caa-during-trump-visit/2773760/