Thailand Vows Continued Fighting On December 13, 2025, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated that Thailand would persist in military operations against Cambodia despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion of a newly brokered ceasefire. Hours after Trump’s calls with Anutin and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet, Thai fighter jets targeted Cambodian positions along the disputed border. Anutin took to…
A Long-Delayed Reset of India’s Demographic Baseline India has formally set 2027 as the year for its next national Census, approving an expenditure of roughly ₹11,718 crore for what will be the country’s first fully digital enumeration. The decision closes a prolonged gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the postponement of an exercise originally…
A Public Snub on a Diplomatic Stage Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found himself in an uncomfortable spotlight on Friday after being kept waiting for nearly 40 minutes to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at an international forum in Turkmenistan. The episode, captured on video and rapidly circulated online, left Sharif visibly exposed to questions of…
India Allows 100% FDI in Insurance India has taken a decisive step in reshaping its insurance landscape by allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies. Cleared by the Union Cabinet on December 12, this move marks the most significant liberalisation since private participation was first permitted in 2000. Yet, the reform is…
A Major Boost for Pakistan’s Airpower The United States has approved a $686‑million package to modernize Pakistan’s existing F‑16 fleet, marking the most significant upgrade to the aircraft in years. Unlike a fresh procurement, this initiative focuses on enhancing networked capabilities, situational awareness, and survivability of the jets, extending their operational life into the 2040s. The…
A Sudden Alert After a Violent Night Japan was jolted into heightened vigilance this week after the government issued an unusually rare “megaquake advisory”—a step taken only when seismic activity hints at the possibility of a far larger event. The trigger was a magnitude-7.5 offshore earthquake near Aomori that injured dozens and rattled northern Honshu…
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) are increasingly shaping how nations integrate into global commerce. Ideally, these frameworks reduce barriers, streamline rules, and unlock new avenues for exports and investment. Yet their economic payoff depends not on signatures but on smart design, high utilization, and robust domestic capabilities. India’s accelerating push into new FTAs…
Democratic lawmakers are sounding alarms that Donald Trump’s tariff barrage against India is on a collision course with one of Washington’s most consequential strategic priorities: maintaining a durable partnership with New Delhi at a moment of intensifying rivalry with China and persistent uncertainty around Russia. What was long viewed as a “low-cost, high-benefit” relationship is, they…
A New Financial Orbit for Musk’s Space Empire Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly preparing a public listing of unprecedented scale, targeting more than $30 billion in fresh capital at a colossal $1.5 trillion valuation sometime in 2026–27. If executed, it could eclipse Saudi Aramco’s 2019 debut and instantly become the largest IPO in market history. What…
A Global Recognition for India’s Festival of Lights Diwali’s recent inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity marks a defining moment for one of India’s most widely celebrated traditions. The announcement came during UNESCO’s 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Heritage—hosted in Delhi’s historic Red Fort complex—turning the city…
