Amitendu

ISAS-NUS. Tracking trade, geoeconomics, supply chains, IndoPacific.Trudging academic & policy nerd.

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

After Japan battled the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw, the Japanese fans stayed behind and cleaned up every single piece of trash from their section at Dallas Stadium after the game.

[Madhusree Goswami @Madhusree24]

My family runs a homestay in the hills of Darjeeling and it goes without saying that we have to deal with all kinds of people. However, we have noticed some things that seem to be uniform behaviour for all Indians:
a) They will dirty the room, and not spare even the pillows,

[Harsh Goenka @hvgoenka]

With so many reels of our tourists behaving badly abroad, here’s a lovely exception. A Bengali song bringing together people at Van Gogh Museum. Culture is spread best when it creates joy, not disruption.

[Subhomoy @subhomoyb]

This business of arresting is the best reason to keep capital off from India. ''Brutal': Pune-based IT firm shuts down overnight, leaves 700 employees jobless. CEO arrested" https://t.co/MLfquQ7Bkf

[Vice-President of India @VPIndia]

Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'When Audit Matters: CAG Interventions That Made a Difference', edited by former CAG Shri Vinod Rai, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President said that audit is a vital instrument for strengthening democracy, reinforcing trust between the State and citizens through accountability, efficiency and fairness in the use of public resources. He also underlined that auditors themselves must adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct.

[রাজ শেখর @DiscourseDancer]

My insta is filled with such reels now.

This one from Japan.

[Kigali Finest™ @KigaliFinest_1]

When You Have PHD In Cheating. 🫢

[Nixon Joseph @NixonJoseph1708]

A young lady lost her life in an accident on a road in Aizawl last night. 🌹
By morning, a rose was placed where she died. Through the entire day, not a single vehicle drove over it.
Sometimes, humanity speaks loudest in silence. ❤️ #mizoram #humanity

[PrabhuChawla @PrabhuChawla]

I think North Indian political leaders should learn something from their South Indian counterparts. Incoming Chief Minster #Vdsatheesan calls on outgoing CM #PinarayiVijayan . But in north they go after each other like wild animals.

[Constantino Xavier @ConstantinoX]

Our report (edited with @Amitendu1 ) on the rising tensions / gap between growing connectivity and lacking institutional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal — with several case studies from experts across the region:

https://t.co/VoaQjuYKhg

[Álvaro J @jota_snchez]

Salvador Dalí le encantaba cenar bien.

Grupos grandes.

Mesas largas.

Vinos caros.

Los mejores restaurantes de París y Nueva York.

Y siempre insistía en pagar la cuenta.

Nadie sospechaba nada.

Cuando llegaba el momento de pagar, rellenaba el cheque con el importe total, con calma y elegancia.

Firmaba.

Y entonces, antes de entregárselo al camarero, giraba el papel y hacía un dibujo en el reverso.

Un boceto rápido.

Elefantes.

Caballos.

Figuras surrealistas.

Firmaba debajo.

Y entregaba el cheque al restaurante.

Dalí sabía perfectamente lo que iba a pasar después.

El dueño del restaurante no cobraría el cheque.

Lo enmarcaría.

Lo colgaría en la mejor pared del local.

Un Dalí original, enmarcado, dentro del restaurante.

Valía infinitamente más que cualquier cena.

Todos esos cheques con dibujos fueron guardados.

Y hoy valen una fortuna.

Hay relatos de que hizo esto muchas veces a lo largo de los años, tanto en París como en Nueva York.

En una de las noches documentadas, en el Café de la Rotonde de París, Dalí le pidió una hoja de papel al camarero, dibujó rápidamente un elefante con la trompa levantada, firmó debajo y lo entregó con total naturalidad.

La cuenta estaba pagada.

Y el restaurante había salido ganando.

Lo que hacía Dalí no era solo excentricidad.

Era entender perfectamente que el valor de su presencia y de su firma ya había superado el precio de cualquier menú.

No necesitaba dinero para pagar.

Solo necesitaba un trozo de papel y saber cuánto valía.

[Vikas Vij @TheClubJunto]

China’s Handling of Trump Visit

1. Chinese Media: No hero-worship, no emotional tone, no 24/7 coverage

2. Foreign Media: China is self-assured, seeks no US validation

3. Mature Nationalism: China's confidence stems from tech & economic domination, not headline drama

INSIGHTS:

Chinese Media

a. Xinhua, China Daily, CCTV, State Portals: Trump visit matters, but it is not positioned as "THE Event." No personality-driven coverage and no “historical breakthrough” theatrics.

b. Media Strategy: Beijing is not downgrading the importance of its relationship with the US. It is downgrading the emotional messaging that traditionally placed America has the “mother” of all nations.

c. Washington Post, ABC, Reuters: The real shift is that China has decided to act as an EQUAL. China’s posture is that of a "Civilization of Quiet Doers" that is not dying for US approval.

Chinese People

a. Trump is chaotic but useful. Trump's viral nickname “Chuan Juanguo” is all over Weibo (Chinese equivalent of Twitter).

It means: “Trump is our patriotic son, our nation-builder, whose actions accidentally helped build a stronger, more self-reliant China.”

b. People on Xiao (the Instagram of China) are more interested in CEOs like Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Tim Cook rather than politicians.

The narrative is: “These are the guys who know that our market matters.” (Example: 80% of iPhone's high-end components are made in China.)

c. Chinese netizens recognize that Trump is a “transactional visitor” and not a “friend.” Nobody in China appears interested in “Howdy Trump” style chest-thumping.

Lessons for India

a. National confidence stems from technology domination, economic resilience, and exports leverage, not headline drama.

China’s trade surplus hit $1.25 trillion in 2025. India, on the other hand, has never had a trade surplus year in its history (except in 1972 and 1976).

b. America’s giant corporations are doubling down on China for manufacturing scale. (Example: China produces more than 70% of the world’s electric cars.)

China also controls 90% of global rare earth refining – the US is begging for access to it during this visit.

c. India too has cheap labor and a large pool of engineers. But India never developed the manufacturing scale China has.

India too holds the world’s third-largest rare earth oxide (REO) reserves, plus huge reserves of critical minerals (like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite).

But India has near-zero commercial scale refining/processing capacity. So, India is largely import-dependent (80-90% imports from China.)

China did 30 years of quiet hard work to develop its industrial ecosystems for mining, refining, and processing. It went through numerous iterations, failures, and bottlenecks. It didn’t happen overnight.

ENDQUOTE

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War, 5th century BC

@arabicatrader

[Stephen Nagy @nagystephen1]

My piece 4 @SIGA_Institute on
Can #MiddlePowers survive the #US-#China Crossfire? https://t.co/3n3S3EzHpU @jppjagannath1 @DrJHPing @Discuss_Japan @IntlSecurity_jp @kokusai_seiji @Yuichi_Hosoya @ycapsjapan @MohanCRaja @Amitendu1 @chintamani36 @KaiserKuo

[Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) - NUS @ISASNus]

The global economic landscape is entering a new phase marked by fragmentation, strategic competition and evolving regional partnerships. Against this backdrop, the Second India-Singapore Futures Forum will examine how India and Singapore can deepen cooperation and strengthen resilience in an increasingly uncertain international environment.Organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies, the forum brings together policymakers, diplomats, academics and industry experts to discuss the future trajectory of India-Singapore relations across areas such as trade, technology, connectivity, sustainability and regional economic integration.The forum will feature keynote and opening addresses by:
• Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
• HE Dr Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore
• Associate Professor Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, ISAS-NUS📅 Friday, 15 May 2026
⏰ 9.30am – 12.00nn (SGT)
📍 Della & Seng Gee Guild Hall, NUSS Guild House.

As economic and geopolitical uncertainties continue to reshape Asia and the wider global order, the forum aims to foster meaningful dialogue on how India and Singapore can continue to collaborate as trusted partners in a fragmenting global economy. We look forward to welcoming participants from academia, government, business and the wider public.
#IndiaSingapore #ISASNUS #EconomicCooperation #RegionalIntegration #GlobalEconomy #SouthAsia #ASEAN #Singapore #India #PublicPolicy

[BSAT Properties @BSAT_Properties]

I was on a train in Tokyo. We stopped between stations. Announcement in Japanese, then in English: "We apologize for the delay. We will resume shortly."

The delay was maybe 3 minutes. Not a big deal.

When the train started moving again, another announcement: "We sincerely apologize for the delay. We were stopped for 3 minutes and 20 seconds. This is unacceptable. Thank you for your patience."

Three minutes and twenty seconds. They measured it exactly. And called it unacceptable.

When I got off at my stop, there were station staff on the platform bowing and handing out delay certificates.

I took one out of curiosity. It was an official document stating that the train had been delayed by 3 minutes and 20 seconds, signed and stamped.

The staff member said in English "for your employer. So they know the delay was not your fault."

I said I'm a tourist, I don't need it. He looked confused. "But the delay affected you. You deserve an apology."

Three minutes. They were treating a three-minute delay like a major incident.

Later I mentioned this to a Japanese friend. They said "oh yes, delay certificates are normal. Trains are supposed to be exactly on time. If they are late, they must apologize."

I said three minutes isn't late, it's nothing. My friend said "in Japan, three minutes is late. On time means on time. Not approximately on time."

They said the train company probably investigated why there was a 3-minute delay. "They will find the cause and fix it so it doesn't happen again."

I kept the certificate. It's framed in my apartment now. A reminder that somewhere in the world, people care about three minutes.

© 6IX.

[AbidoShaker @therealdotun1]

Anyone who thinks of themselves as a professional driver must watch this video first.

[Subhomoy @subhomoyb]

Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool is already up and running with commitments from the insurance cos pouring in. We have not yet heard of the US DFC plan to provide insurance cover. Big change in marine insurance perceptions; my story @bsindia https://t.co/3SqNSONzUe

[Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) - NUS @ISASNus]

As the global economy becomes increasingly fragmented, countries are rethinking partnerships, supply chains and strategic alignments. Against this backdrop, India–Singapore relations stand out as a model of resilience, adaptability and forward-looking cooperation.

The 2nd India–Singapore Futures Forum brings together policymakers and thought leaders to examine how both countries can navigate shifting economic realities—from trade and investment to technology and connectivity. What does the future of this partnership look like in an era of uncertainty? And how can collaboration be deepened to remain relevant and impactful?

Join us for a timely discussion featuring a keynote address by Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Singapore.

Register Now: https://t.co/3QZWBw5kz4

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. #ApostolicJourney #Cameroon https://t.co/bKteFZ3iWE

[Pramit Pal Chaudhuri @PramitWorld]

A reminder that Odisha’s per capita income surpassed West Bengal’s last year.