WB 10th Result 2026 Topper List: Abhiroop Bhadra tops WBBSE Madhyamik exam, check list hereWB 10th Result 2026 Topper List has been released. Check Rank 1 to Rank 5 list here. Published on: May 08, 2026 11:15 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link West Bengal Board
Ravi Pandit, the co‑founder and long‑time Chairman of KPIT Technologies Ltd, passed away on Friday, 8 May 2026, in Pune. KPIT Technologies, one of India's leading automotive and mobility software engineering firms, confirmed the news of his passing in an exchange filing
Anant V Joshi replaces Vaibhav Raj Gupta as Annu Mishra in ''Gullak'' season 5Anant V Joshi replaces Vaibhav Raj Gupta as Annu Mishra in ''Gullak'' season 5 May 8, 2026, 10:19:36 IST PTI Share via Copy link Mumbai, Actor Anant V Joshi has been cast as Anand "Annu" Mishra in the fifth season of the
‘My right side stopped working’: Indian techie builds AI app after sudden Bell’s palsy diagnosisAn Indian man says he vibe-coded an app to track his recovery after he was suddenly struck by Bell’s palsy — a condition that causes temporary facial paralysis Updated on: May 08
Pakistan has moved decisively to internationalise India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. In the last week of April, Islamabad took the matter to the United Nations Security Council, shifting the dispute from a bilateral argument to a test of international law
From rejection to redemption, Mainoo’s journeyThe young midfielder is a perfect example of why trying to shoehorn players into a system does not work Published on: May 08, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Dhiman Sarkar Share via Copy link Their narrative arc is related
Rat poison, not watermelon, caused death of 4 family members in MumbaiDeputy commissioner of police Pravin Mumde said that as per the FSL report the rodenticide traces were found in the liver, kidneys and spleen of the deceased. Published on: May 08
Thane, May 8 (PTI) A sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane has acquitted a man and a woman, who were accused of operating a prostitution racket, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Additional Sessions Judge A S Bhagwat on Thursday cleared Saif
Openness, not isolation, is the bedrock of the West

Openness, not isolation, is the bedrock of the West
Recent statements from Washington show how global politics is being increasingly framed along civilisational terms. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has referred to the idea of a shared “Western civilisation,” describing the U.S. and Europe as bound by common history, cultural heritage, and institutional traditions. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has amplified comments about countries such as India, China, and Iran in the context of migration and geopolitical competition that reinforce a tendency to interpret global politics in civilisational terms. Taken together, these statements point to a broader shift: global affairs are being interpreted not only through the language of power and interest, but also through civilisational identities.
The appeal of such framing is understandable. It offers a sense of clarity in an era of rapid technological disruption, demographic change, and geopolitical uncertainty. But apparent clarity is not the same as analytical accuracy. Moreover, it is not an entirely new framing either. As early as the 1990s, political scientist Samuel Huntington had argued that global politics would evolve into a “clash of civilisations,” where cultural and religious identities would become the principal fault lines of international relations.
Civilisational explanations can obscure more than they reveal, particularly when they imply that cultural cohesion, rather than institutional adaptability, is the primary source of national strength. A historical record of the modern West suggests otherwise.
Much of the West’s post-Cold War dynamism has rested not on homogeneity, but on openness — to talent, ideas, capital, and global competitive pressures. Its advantage has been institutional: the capacity to absorb diversity and convert it into innovation within rules-based systems.
Nowhere is this more evident than in today’s innovation economy. AI, in particular, has become the defining frontier of global competition, shaped by deeply international talent flows and research ecosystems. Companies such as Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA exemplify systems in which breakthroughs depend on globally sourced expertise, cross-border collaboration, and the ability to attract the most capable minds regardless of origin.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored this complementary reality: innovation now operates through globally distributed production systems. Rapid vaccine development and distribution, by firms such as Moderna and AstraZeneca, depended on international research networks and global manufacturing ecosystems. In the case of AstraZeneca, large-scale production through partnerships such as that with the Serum Institute of India illustrated how innovation and industrial capacity now operate across borders.
This is not an argument against immigration control. Immigration must be governed effectively, and civic norms must be upheld. But managing diversity is fundamentally different from retreating from it.
In an era of intensifying geopolitical competition, openness remains a critical strategic asset. The West’s advantage lies not only in military alliances or economic scale, but in institutional resilience and its capacity to attract, integrate, and retain talent. Civilisational framing, by contrast, risks misdiagnosing this advantage — privileging identity over capability and boundaries over performance. Demographic realities reinforce this point. Many advanced economies face ageing populations. In this context, immigration is not simply a cultural or political issue, but an economic necessity. Without sustained inflows of skilled labour and human capital, growth slows, fiscal pressures increase, and innovation ecosystems weaken.
The defining challenges of the 21st century — including AI governance and climate change — further highlight the limits of civilisational thinking. These are problems that cannot be addressed within cultural silos. Against this backdrop, framing global politics in terms of civilisational hierarchy carries risks. It encourages a narrowing of identity at precisely the moment when cooperation and adaptability are essential.
The question, therefore, is not whether identity matters. It clearly does. Societies require shared norms, institutional trust, and continuity. The more important question is whether democracies can manage change without losing confidence in the openness that has sustained their development. The strength of the West has historically rested on its ability to combine stability with adaptation — to absorb new influences while preserving core principles such as the rule of law, individual liberty, and accountable governance.
Therefore, the policy challenge ahead is not to retreat into notions of cultural purity, but to govern openness with clarity and purpose. This requires strengthening integration frameworks and reinforcing institutional trust. It also requires recognising that engagement with other civilisational spaces is not a concession, but a necessity in a globally interconnected world.
In a world of intensifying geopolitical rivalry, it may be tempting to define strength in narrower terms. But doing so risks undermining one of the West’s most important strategic assets. Openness — disciplined, governed, and anchored in strong institutions — is not a vulnerability. It is a source of sustained advantage.
Milinda Moragoda is Former Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister, diplomat and the Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, a strategic affairs think tank
Published - May 08, 2026 02:07 am IST
Europe / USA
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Tariffs Vs Openness India’s academic openness under strain How Each Zodiac Sign Deals with Loneliness — From Isolation to Connection Imran Khan's isolation Actor among West Bengal residents stranded in Dubai amid West Asia tensions Australian Rules-Former West Coast player Brown comes out as bisexual in AFL first Stronger air defence takeaway for India from West Asia conflict ECLGS 5.0 likely to benefit 1.1 cr MSMEs and airlines amid West Asia war—Details Morgan Gibbs-White Late Strike Helps Forest Win At West Ham India complete series clean sweep over West Indies
Multibagger defence stock Apollo Micro Systems shares surged more than 7% on Friday, 8 May, after the company announced fresh order wins worth ₹51.02 crore in the ordinary course of business. According to the company’s filing, the orders include contracts worth ₹17
2 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Looking for a big-screen TV? Amazon sale brings up to 65% off on 55-inch smart TVsBring home a 55-inch smart TV during the Amazon sale and stream movies
2 minutes ago
The BCCI has issued a stern eight-page directive to all 10 IPL franchises. This follows serious protocol breaches observed during the ongoing season. The directive emphasizes strict adherence to new Standard Operating Procedures. Concerns include unauthorized visitors in player rooms and owners
2 minutes ago
Iran wants oil tariffs paid in Chinese yuan – is power of US petrodollar in decline?Iran wants oil tariffs paid in Chinese yuan – is power of US petrodollar in decline? Published on: May 08, 2026 10:54 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Auckland
2 minutes ago
The NEET-UG 2026 examination was conducted on Sunday (May 3, 2026) across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters to assess on-ground readiness for the examination, officials said
2 minutes ago
Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, as the specialised cloud provider tapped into strong demand for its services used to train and deploy models.The company's shares were flat in volatile extended trading following a jump in operating expenses
2 minutes ago
A U.S. trade court on Thursday (May 7, 2026) dealt President Donald Trump a fresh setback, ruling against the 10% global tariffs he instituted after the Supreme Court struck down many earlier duties. The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, for now
2 minutes ago
A federal trade court on Thursday delivered another blow to US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, ruling that the administration’s temporary 10% global tariffs were not permitted under federal law. In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel of the US Court of International Trade in New York held
2 minutes ago
Inside Ambani family's fancy Venice party with opulent decor, traditional Indian thali menu of poori, bhindi, dahi badaA grand dinner hosted by the Ambani family in Venice celebrated Indian culture through a carefully crafted menu of traditional Indian dishes and elegant decor. Published on: May 08
2 minutes ago
More than 150 children fell ill allegedly after consuming food served under the mid-day meal scheme at a school in Saharsa district of Bihar on Thursday, PTI reported. The incident was reported at Middle School Balwaha in the Mahishi block area, where students began complaining of stomach pain
2 minutes ago
Crystal Palace booked their place in a first-ever European final after defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Thursday night, completing a dominant 5-2 aggregate victory in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals. The Premier League side
2 minutes ago
As households across the globe count the costs of the US-Israel war in Iran, some companies have been counting bumper profits instead. The uncertainty sparked by the conflict, and Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is driving up the cost of living and hitting the budgets of firms
2 minutes ago
Mother’s Day is a celebration of warmth, care, and the little moments that make family time special. And often, the best memories are created around food, from comforting homemade desserts to refreshing drinks shared over long conversations. Whether it’s preparing a thoughtful breakfast
2 minutes ago
Aston Villa stormed into their first European final in 44 years with a dominant 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Unai Emery’s side produced a sensational response at a packed Villa Park to
2 minutes ago
Actor Vishal has come out in Vijay’s support amid the confusion regarding Tamil Nadu government formation. Recently, Vishal took to his X handle and expressed disappointment with rumours of AIADMK being in talks with DMK. He mentioned that if Vijay’s TVK does not form a government in the state
2 minutes ago
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the body that looks into the provident fund scheme, has brought several measures for PF Trust funds for better regulations and management. Among the major provisions are risk-based audit and capping of 2 per cent interest rate to tighten the grip
2 minutes ago
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday ( May 7, 2026) announced that it had become India's first space-tech unicorn following its latest round of funding of nearly USD 60 million, taking its valuation to$1.1 billion. The funding was provided by Sherpalo Ventures
2 minutes ago
Two former Chinese defence ministers have been handed suspended death sentences on corruption charges, according to state media. A military court on Thursday sentenced Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve. This means their death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment
2 minutes ago
An Indian woman’s candid account about leaving behind a high-paying corporate career in London and starting over by cleaning Airbnb apartments in Melbourne has gone viral online. Shweta, a former Head of Product who now works as a personal coach, opened up about the identity crisis
2 minutes ago
Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders in which the body cannot make enough healthy haemoglobin, aka the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This leads to anaemia, causing tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and in severe forms, slowed growth and bone problems
2 minutes ago
Trump administration claiming ‘win’ against Iran – here’s report cardTrump administration claiming ‘win’ against Iran – here’s report card Published on: May 08, 2026 10:39 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link London, Two months into the war in Iran
2 minutes ago
Recent statements from Washington show how global politics is being increasingly framed along civilisational terms. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has referred to the idea of a shared “Western civilisation,” describing the U.S. and Europe as bound by common history, cultural heritage
2 minutes ago
The warning has not been officially articulated by Vijay himself, but it reflects the growing frustration within the TVK camp as post-poll negotiations drag on without resolution and the numbers required for a majority remain just out of reach
2 minutes ago
The state-run telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), offers a special ₹1 plan for its customers. Originally, this offer was launched by the company to boost SIM sales and increase its subscriber base. BSNL has been providing new SIM cards bundled with this plan for quite some time
2 minutes ago
The board meeting of Tata Trusts, which was scheduled to take place today, May 8, has been postponed to May 16, CNBC-TV18 has reported, citing sources. No reason has been given for the postponement. The development comes at a time when the Trusts are facing heightened scrutiny over issues
2 minutes ago
Two Indian crew members are among the 149 people stranded aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has killed three passengers and infected several others. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been anchored near Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean after multiple
2 minutes ago
Suryakumar Yadav faces removal as the India T20I captain due to ongoing poor performance despite a 76.92% win rate. Reports suggest Shreyas Iyer is poised to take over. India have recently won the T20 World Cup 2026, thus becoming the first team in history to win three trophies
2 minutes ago