It’s sad that the United States of America is being turned into an object of ridicule in most countries except for India

On February 28, 2026, the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, Iran, was destroyed by a missile strike, killing 175 to 180 people, primarily schoolgirls. Investigations by various news organisations indicate the school was hit three times, with the US Armed Forces suspected of being responsible. PIC/AFP

This column is usually dedicated to documenting the many ways in which Bombay is becoming one of the world’s most liveable cities. This time around, however, I wanted to pause and spare a thought for a place that isn’t getting the kind of amazing publicity we have long grown used to: the United States of America. For those paying attention, it doesn’t appear to be doing so well these days, and I couldn’t help worrying about it.

When I was little, in an era before colour television or Wikipedia, the USA was looked upon as the promised land by my friends and neighbours. It was a place many wanted to settle in, attracted by the long-running ‘American Dream Advertising Campaign’ and its promise of prosperity. It was thought of as a country where the world’s most honourable Caucasian men and women........

© Midday