Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills 1,400, Demands Global Response Despite Politics
At least 1,400 people have died and more than 3,100 have been injured in a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern Afghanistan on the night of Aug. 31. The scale of devastation and the lack of timely global support indicate the growing tendency to let geopolitics override humanitarian imperatives.
India’s Shift to Russia–China Axis Damages Its Democratic, Economic Interests
India is moving closer to Russia and China, stepping away from its partnerships with Western democracies. This new direction weakens its position in global trade, technology and democratic cooperation, pulling India toward authoritarian governments and brings economic punishment and fewer reliable international ties.
The Quiet Power of a 90-Year-Old Monk That China Cannot Silence
China stands as a global giant, with the world’s second largest economy, an expanding military footprint and growing influence in international diplomacy. Yet for all its power, it remains deeply unsettled by a monk living in exile in the Indian Himalayas – the Dalai Lama, who will turn 90 on July 6. The reason lies in what he symbolises and what China has failed to control despite decades of effort.
How Wars Use Simplified Narratives to Justify Violence
In international conflicts, we often treat entire countries as if they share a single belief or intention. It makes it seem like all of America and Israel want to bomb Iran and Palestine, or that every Iranian threatens Israel and the U.S. This “monolith” thinking distorts our responses and fuels misdirected anger. It divides ordinary people as observers and lets those in power claim to speak for entire nations, even when many disagree within their borders.
G7 Leaders Condemn and Raise Alarm Over Rising ‘Transnational Repression’
At the conclusion of the G7 summit in Canada on June 17, leaders of the seven countries issued a statement condemning transnational repression (TNR). Here’s a look at what TNR means, and whether it also hints at India.
Israel and Iran in Open War, the World Remains Deeply Divided
Israel and Iran are engaged in direct military confrontation, following an Israeli air and drone assault on June 13 targeting critical nuclear and military installations deep inside Iran. Let’s look at the roots of this confrontation and examine why public opinion on this conflict around the world, including in India, remains deeply divided.
Trump’s Kashmir Offer Shows the US Still Doesn’t Get India-Pakistan
By any diplomatic yardstick, U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is misplaced. It rests on one of Washington’s most enduring and dangerous misconceptions—that Kashmir is the core problem between the two countries, a notion his predecessor Barack Obama also held.
India Strikes Pakistan with Missiles; First in Over 5 Decades
India launched a major military strike deep into Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early on May 7, saying it targeted sites used by terror groups responsible for the April 22 attacks on civilians in the Kashmir region. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the attack a “blatant act of war,” promising that it “will not go unpunished” and claiming that a “resolute response is already underway.”
UN Urges ‘Maximum Restraint’ amid India-Pakistan Tension after Kashmir Attack
Amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking through his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, has “appealed to both governments to exercise maximum restraint” and asked them to keep the situation from sliding any further.
What Trump’s Tariffs Mean for India and the World
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced significant tariff increases on imports, aiming to address trade imbalances and bolster domestic industries. A universal 10% tariff was imposed on all imported goods, with higher rates targeting specific countries based on trade deficits. These tariffs have led to immediate global economic repercussions.
What’s in the World Economic Forum 2025 for India?
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2025 meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which starts on Jan. 20, is attended by several Indian officials, including Union and state ministers and three chief ministers. However, its coverage within India primarily focuses on the country’s economic interests, overshadowing the theme of this year’s meeting. This theme – Collaboration for the Intelligent Age – is crucial for both India and Asia at large, as well as for the people living on this continent.
China’s Mega Dam in Tibet Raises Concerns Over Ecology, Livelihoods
China is building the world’s largest dam on a major river in Tibet, which originates from a glacier in the northern Himalayas and flows downstream as the Brahmaputra River, crossing into India before merging with the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. The project is expected to significantly impact crucial ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people, including those in India and Bangladesh.