In an amalgam of scholarly history and popular narrative for the layperson, Mukund Padmanabhan delivers a succinct new dimension to a period of many facets: war and defence, imperialism and nationalism, rumour and fact, courage and cowardice.

Lula was elected president in his fourth attempt, becoming the first person from outside the political and economic élite who did not have a degree. The obstacles he faces in his third term are formidable.

Chinmaya R. Gharekhan writes about time he was in the prime minister’s office (PMO) and ambassador to the UN at New York.

The US and NATO seem determined to prolong the fight until Russia is weakened and destabilised, and its sympathisers shamed.

In 'The Rafale Deal: Flying Lies', authors Ravi Nair and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta examine in forensic detail the Indian negotiations with France over the purchase of the fighter jets.

Insulting a friendly neighbour or well-intentioned interlocutor for the sake of public plaudits is too high a price for the country to pay.

Whatever our distaste for the Taliban’s previous and present behaviour, their abuse of human rights, and the fact that they are beholden to Pakistan, it will nevertheless be essential to maintain connections with the incoming de facto regime.

In 'Garibaldi in South America: An Exploration', author Richard Bourne offers a detailed account of Italian military general Garibaldi's life, and how he later came to be known as a 'hero of two worlds'.

Sobhan writes it is ‘difficult to capture the mood and tensions of those historic days’, but in part two of his series, he does it remarkably well.