World

OPINION | Iran conflict showcases the brutal economic logic of drones, reshaping air defence planning globally

'Kamikaze' or one-way attack drones offer a compelling cost-to-effect ratio. The US has embraced this logic in its ongoing operations

OPINION | Chokepoint Hormuz is not just about oil; it’s also the vulnerable undersea digital corridor

The ongoing projectile war along the shores of the Persian Gulf has already sent crude oil price past the $100/barrel mark. But the invisible risk of this war is the network of undersea cable running through the strait that undergirds financial system 

Karnataka budget: State to induct 4,000 e-buses with World Bank aid at Rs 2,000 crore

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said an aerospace park will be developed adjacent to Mysuru airport under KIADB to boost the region’s aerospace industry.

Pharma exporters brace for Rs 5,000-crore hit as US-Iran war drives up freight costs

Exporters face steep surcharge of $4,000–$8,000 per shipment, driving up logistics costs for drugmakers heavily dependent on the Gulf and the wider West Asia market

OPINION | Why attempting regime change in Iran through leadership decapitation is a fool’s errand

Leadership structure is diffused, providing the regime with a shock absorber when individuals are targeted. Moreover, strong ideological commitment makes it tough to engineer enough defections

Hospitals brace for 'soft' quarter as US-Iran war disrupt international travel

West Asia is not just a source market, it is also India’s primary aviation corridor that connects Africa, Central Asia and Europe to India

World Wildlife Day 2026: PM Modi calls for stronger action to protect India’s wild heritage

India marked World Wildlife Day 2026 with new species discoveries as PM Modi reaffirmed commitment to conservation and sustainable habitats.

US-Iran escalation disrupts vital trade corridors, leaving Indian pharma on edge

India exported $30.47 billion worth of pharmaceuticals in FY25, with around $1.75 billion tied to the Middle East and North Africa region, making the current situation particularly worrying

OPINION | Ayatollah Khamenei is dead which will prolong the conflict

Idea of martyrdom is a central pillar of the Iranian regime’s worldview. That Khamenei did not flee and risked assassination could create a ‘blood debt’ legacy among rival Iranian factions and also give hardliners the upper hand 

OPINION | Hormuz shutdown shows why India’s energy security depends on supply diversification

In the global crude market, risk perception has an outsized influence on price trend. The outbreak of war in West Asia will have an immediate impact. India’s takeaway is to double down on its diversification strategy 

OPINION | As the US and Iran face-off, an escalatory spiral in the conflict seems certain

The US is the superior military force but it doesn’t have an easily achievable strategic goal. If the aim is regime change in Iran, there’s no quick answer. For the Iranian regime, survival is the ultimate victory, for which it will risk escalation

OPINION | Military overlap between Pakistan and China is overstated but India needs to be wary

NATO represents the reference point for military interoperability. By this yardstick, China-Pak collaboration is not quite there. Their differing strategic goals and challenges prevent anything more than tactical familiarisation

OPINION | Munich, the return of civilisational dogma and India’s new reality

Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference reflected the MAGA doctrine, which frames issues through the prism of Western civilisation. India’s response should be to strengthen cooperation where interests converge; preserve autonomy where they diverge 

OPINION | Bangladesh’s forgotten hero amid its turbulent history

Abu Taher’s revolutionary rise and execution illuminate how coups, ideology, and betrayal shaped Bangladesh’s early politics, entrenching a recurring cycle of military power and violence 

OPINION | India’s True Two-Front Battle: America and China 

The US and China have presented themselves as two sides of the same coin. They exhibit the same tendency, albeit using different methodologies, of undermining stability and sovereignty

US insulin reliance on Denmark may turn into unexpected pressure point in Greenland standoff

Roughly 30–50 percent by volume—come from Denmark. That makes the U.S. effectively dependent on Danish production for a continuous, non‑substitutable supply.

OPINION | Greenland is a strategic hotspot, but Trump’s approach is self-defeating

In a mapping of potential flashpoints in big power rivalry, Greenland will occupy an important position. But the US approach only serves to weaken its protective shield

OPINION | Face Off over Greenland: When tariffs become a tool of political coercion

US has threatened military allies with tariffs, a new low. Tariffs have now become an all-purpose weapon, shattering the pillar of predictability which drove growth in global trade. It’s still not too late to step back 

US issues level 4 ‘do not travel’ advisory for 21 countries: Check the full list

The US issues a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for 21 countries, warning citizens of extreme safety risks and limited emergency assistance.

OPINION | Does the Iranian regime’s survival depend on a strategic reset?

The 2026 protests have come in the backdrop of severe economic hardship, caused partly by relentless US sanctions. If the regime prioritises survival, an economic revival may depend on a strategic pullback

China’s AI chip dragons’ firepower is mostly mythical

The three newly listed makers of semiconductors are lossmaking, ad none has sales worth more than a tenth of their bigger rival

OPINION | As the 'Don' runs riot in Venezuela, Western media reach for the dictionary

By avoiding legally precise language when Maduro was kidnapped, Western media reframed a foreign military operation as procedural necessity, echoing patterns seen during past interventions

OPINION | India: The ally America treats as an adversary 

India has been clear about its position on strategic autonomy. The question is whether Washington can accept a partner that does not follow instructions but whose interests nonetheless align on the issues that matter most

OPINION | US action in Venezuela is an exercise of raw power; India should be wary

The case of Venezuela serves as a warning that universal norms are fading and power-based hierarchies are rising. India must adapt carefully, strengthening its stance in a world where raw power has returned to the forefront of history

Year in a word: ‘Peace’

Despite ceaseless Trumpian talk of ending the world’s wars, it’s not quite that easy