World

The cessation of trade hostilities covered just recent measures. China’s official stance was a candid “occasional friction is normal”. US’ need to contain China’s expanding capability makes conflict in economic and technological domains inevitable

Karnataka govt under lens over 'world record' for free women’s bus travel; BJP questions award’s authenticity

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah posted on X, on October 16, images of certificates claiming ‘world records’ for the highest number of women availing free travel tickets in Karnataka and of KSRTC as the most award-winning road transport corporation.

OPINION | Pakistan experiences ‘two-front’ conflict

Outbreak of armed conflict between Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a reminder that one should be careful what one wishes for. That said, Afghanistan can at times bring rivals on to the same page. The layers to the interrelationships in the region make for a complex situation

OPINION | US military is caught between a rock and a hard place

President Trump’s address to the brass was very political in nature. The dilemma for the military comes from the effort to demand loyalty to the President, which will challenge a force that swears loyalty to the US Constitution

OPINION | Leadership, legitimacy, and Japan’s future

Liberal Democratic Party, which enabled the country’s ‘economic miracle’, is mired in internal trouble. A leadership election scheduled for October 4 will have far-reaching consequences for both country and its dominant political formation

Indegene acquires BioPharm to boost AI-powered pharma marketing

The deal, executed through Indegene’s US subsidiary ILSL Inc., aims to strengthen the company’s omnichannel and media offerings by integrating BioPharm’s precision marketing expertise with Indegene’s data and analytics platforms.

OPINION | Layers to Pak-Saudi defence pact will usher in more volatility

Pakistan-Saudi defence agreement solidifies a new strategic reality.  It raises the stakes for both India and Iran, and may prompt several countries in West Asia to recalibrate their doctrines. While the pact has been designed for deterrence, it may usher in a new volatile reality in West Asia

US sanctions on Chabahar Port are a gain for China

The Trump administration's decision to revoke sanctions exemptions on Iran's Chabahar port reveals a troubling pattern of strategic incoherence that may ultimately benefit China while undermining America's long-term interests in Central Asia

What to make of the Pakistan-Saudi defence deal?

The recent defence deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has wide ranging implications for several countries including India, the Arab world, Israel and the U.S. Much depends on whether the Saudi intention is limited to gaining capability to counter Israel or will it try to empower Pakistan as well

OPINION | The Wire Across the Roof of the World: China pushes the clean electricity frontier

China is stringing an extension cord across the roof of the world. If it hums as planned, it will light coastal cities and lock the Tibetan plateau more firmly into the national core. It is a lesson in how clean energy and state power can travel together

OPINION | If Pakistan does not apologise for its army’s genocide in 1971, ties with Bangladesh won’t really blossom

Bangladesh recently asked the visiting Pakistani foreign minister to apologise for the mayhem unleashed 54 years ago. Successive Pakistani governments have sidestepped the issue but it refuses to go away. The events preceding Bangladesh’s liberation are an albatross that limit the efficacy of Pakistan’s outreach

OPINION | Golden Visas and Residency: India’s growing influence in global diplomacy

Countries are using residency and Golden Visa programmes to attract India's wealthy and skilled professionals, reshaping India's global economic, diplomatic, and cultural influence while posing domestic challenges

OPINION | Himalayan challenge awaits Nepal’s PM Sushila Karki

The country’s economy is not in a good shape and a critical cabinet selection has met with opposition. However, Karki’s first moves showed that she has a grip on the situation. That said, there remain unknown risks confronting Nepal which will make the job of interim PM hard

Genomics major lllumina bets on India to power affordable innovation amid global headwinds

"India is not just a cost center—it’s becoming a core innovation engine for us," said Ankur Dhingra, Chief Financial Officer of Illumina told Moneycontrol.

OPINION | US security guarantees are bleeding credibility as Russia and Israel push boundaries

Beginning with the war on terror that US embarked on in 2001, the country has seen an erosion in its reputation as a reliable security partner. The recent incidents in Qatar and Poland have only added to the narrative that the security umbrella is full of holes

OPINION | Google ruling in the US will have adverse implications in India and other developing countries

The recent judgement by a US federal court in the 2020 case against Google has been a setback for anti-monopoly advocates in the country and beyond. The judgement emboldens the Big Tech players and disadvantages developing states, including India

GSK working on affordable vaccines for neglected diseases, partnership with India key: Jamila Louahed

Jamila Louahed - VP, Head Global R&D for Therapeutic Vaccines and Belgium R&D Site Head for GSK outlined how the pharma major's innovations are being deployed to tackle diseases like malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, and Shigella.

OPINION | Politics behind social media ban that triggered massive protests in Nepal

The tragic deaths of Gen Z protestors in Kathmandu on September 8 has its roots in the frustration they experience over lack of livelihood opportunities in the country. Linked to is the failure of political parties to create conditions that could provide the country’s young with hope

Indo-US ties are based on mutual benefit, not ‘strategic freeloading’

Ill-informed commentary from a section in the US suggests that India is a strategic freeloader in a manner similar to NATO allies. That is a wholly inaccurate portrayal of the bilateral relationship which is based on a two-way flow of advantages. Also, India is charting its own path to enhance its Comprehensive National Power

Russia, India, China: Beyond the bonhomie

India's euphoria over Modi's visit to China masks deeper complexities. While terror concerns were addressed, subtle diplomatic wins were overshadowed by China's strategic vision. India navigates a tricky global landscape

Indians are not ‘arrogant’ and this is not ‘Modi’s war’

India’s approach to energy security, trade, and international relations is rooted in its sovereign rights, democratic principles, and commitment to peaceful progress. Navarro’s criticism that ignores these realities is counterproductive, and ultimately, it is global peace and prosperity that suffer from such divisive narratives

Trump’s Transactional Diplomacy: Trade as leverage in conflict mediation

Trump's mediation efforts blend diplomacy and trade, seeking economic benefits for the US and allies. This transactional approach raises concerns over sustainability, conflicts of interest, and long-term peace outcomes

Trump Tower in North Korea? South Korea's Lee bets on Trump to resume talks with Kim Jong Un

Lee cited a statement by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, where she described the ties with Trump as 'not bad'.

Why India must stay firm against US pressure and wary of China’s charm

Sanghnomics: The US tariff war is disrupting global trade, hitting India’s MSMEs hard. While diversification offers opportunities, India must remain cautious of China and prioritise self-reliance to safeguard economic sovereignty 

Commerce Without Conflict: Why the world needs a new compact for trade 

The world cannot return to the “golden age” of globalization. That said, commerce without conflict is not a naïve aspiration; it is a practical necessity. Therefore, governments cannot afford to abandon the rules-based system altogether – doing so would harm even the most powerful economies