A Judicial Push Against Ageing Vehicles India’s top court has once again stepped into the policy vacuum surrounding air pollution, issuing firm directions on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the Delhi–National Capital Region. The order reflects mounting judicial impatience with toxic winter smog and signals a shift from advisory frameworks to coercive enforcement, even as questions of…
A Snapshot of Global Family Wealth The latest global ranking of the world’s richest families offers a revealing look at how wealth endures—and compounds—across generations. The list is dominated by long-established Western business dynasties and Gulf ruling families, whose fortunes have been built steadily over decades, even centuries. Amid this rarefied group, only one Indian family—the Ambanis—has secured…
In early December 2025, President Donald Trump sharply escalated Washington’s confrontation with Caracas by announcing a sweeping blockade on oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Declared through a public statement, the move called for stopping all sanctioned vessels transporting Venezuelan crude in and out of the country. The announcement followed the U.S. interception of a large oil tanker off…
A Warning Signal from the Labor Market The U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 4.6 percent in November 2025, its highest level in more than four years, sending a clear signal that the post-pandemic labor market momentum is weakening. The increase came even as the economy added a modest 64,000 jobs, according to a delayed Bureau…
Sri Lanka is bracing for the arrest of one of its most celebrated sporting figures. Arjuna Ranatunga, the former cricket captain who led the island nation to its historic 1996 World Cup victory and later served as Petroleum Minister, is set to be taken into custody over an alleged fuel procurement scam that reportedly caused a loss…
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…
