Anagha Jayakumar

War in West Asia: Why it has drawn comparisons with the 1973 oil price crisis

April 02, 2026 07:11 IST

The 1973 crisis removed about 4.5 million barrels per day from global supply. In contrast, the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked around 20 million bpd. Here is what to know

Palm Sunday mass at Jerusalem: Why Israel’s blockade of Latin patriarch provoked outrage

March 30, 2026 18:27 IST

Israeli police said that all holy sites in Jerusalem, regardless of the faith, had been closed to worshippers in fear of Iranian strikes amidst its ongoing war with the US and Israel.

‘Cuba is next’: Amidst West Asia conflict, Trump turns his gaze to the Caribbean

March 28, 2026 19:53 IST

Ahead of a possible attack on Cuba, the Trump administration has made it clear that its efforts seek to disengage the Cuban government, not private individuals.

Natanz attack: How nuclear sites could pose radiation risks if damaged

March 21, 2026 19:21 IST

The attack on Saturday marks the second attack by the US and Israel on the site since commencing its war against Tehran in February, and its third overall — Natanz was one of the three sites targeted during the 12 Day War last June

US assets are under Iran attack, but here’s why NATO doesn’t have to answer Trump’s callSubscriber Only

March 17, 2026 07:11 IST

The latest remarks on the alliance have prompted a recall of Trump’s rhetoric at the start of the year, when he took to the stage at Davos to say that the US 'never got anything out of NATO.'

Transgender Rights Amendment Bill: Key Changes to 2019 Act ExplainedSubscriber Only

March 16, 2026 14:00 IST

The government has presented the amendment as a bid to 'protect only those who face severe social exclusion due to biological reasons for no fault... no choice of their own.' This understanding reverts to a pre-2014 understanding of transgender identity

How Iran’s use of naval mines in Strait of Hormuz points to its asymmetric warfare against US-IsraelSubscriber Only

March 13, 2026 13:26 IST

Nearly a fifth of the world’s oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s attacks on some of these ships since February 28 have proven a major deterrent for all commercial activity here. Here is what to know.

Why desalination plants have become the latest focal point in West Asia warSubscriber Only

March 09, 2026 18:27 IST

With concerns about an oil crisis and the cascading disruptions to supply chains globally, the latest strikes have introduced a new avenue of conflict in the escalating war. Here is what to know

Expert Explains Nepal elections: ‘RSP a party of progressive, smart people… would be keen to partner with India’Subscriber Only

March 07, 2026 19:56 IST

Ranjit Rae, former Ambassador to Nepal, speaks to The Indian Express about what the results of the Nepal parliamentary election signify, the way forward for the new Nepal government, and what India can expect in its relations with Nepal

Explained: Rastriya Swatantra Party, set to form next Nepal govt, and the ‘Balen effect’Subscriber Only

March 07, 2026 15:03 IST

The Nepal election results show the Rastriya Swatantra Party leading in several seats. Rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah is set to become the country's Prime Minister. What's behind the party's strong performance?

Was US legally right in sinking Iranian ship? What framework governing maritime conflict saysSubscriber Only

March 06, 2026 07:00 IST

The sinking of the frigate, in which at least 80 sailors were killed, has widened the theatre of the war between US-Israel and Iran.

The status of Iran’s nuclear programme, now at the centre of latest US-Israel joint opSubscriber Only

February 28, 2026 21:23 IST

Last year’s joint attack by Israel and the US saw the deployment of 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, which possess the infrastructure to convert natural uranium into highly enriched uranium

Iran conflict: How many military bases does the US have in the Middle East, and whereSubscriber Only

February 28, 2026 15:53 IST

US Iran conflict: In the US-Israel-Iran conflict, why are explosions being heard in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi? The US has 8 persistent bases and 11 other military sites it can access in the Middle East.

Netflix walks away, Paramount to become new owners of Warner Bros. Here is what to knowSubscriber Only

February 27, 2026 13:41 IST

Netflix’s initial offer had valued the Warner Bros business at $82.7 billion, while Paramount’s valuation of the combined business stood at $108 billion. Any resulting media deal was long guaranteed to become one of the biggest ever in history.

What is Trump’s third-country deportation policy, now struck down by US court?Subscriber Only

February 26, 2026 19:32 IST

A report by Senate Democrats earlier this month claimed that the government has spent over $32 million in taxpayer funds to convince third countries to accept around 300 deportees

With Trump’s IEEPA tariffs ruled illegal, who can claim refunds, and how do they go about it?Subscriber Only

February 24, 2026 13:04 IST

FedEx became the first company to sue the Trump administration for a 'full refund', after the Supreme Court scrapped recently imposed tariffs. Other companies are expected to follow. How will this refund be issued?

What are Section 122 tariffs and how will they differ from Trump’s earlier tariffs?Subscriber Only

February 21, 2026 12:00 IST

Trump’s choice of Section 122 marks yet another use of an instrument associated with Richard Nixon to pressure American trading partners

US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs: Could refunds to countries be on the table?Subscriber Only

February 20, 2026 23:46 IST

Are reciprocal tariffs out of the picture now, and can the global trade policy environment return to the calm seen in previous years? We explain why this is unlikely to happen.

‘Richest corporations have engineered addiction in children’s brains’: The landmark case against MetaSubscriber Only

February 20, 2026 06:48 IST

The outcome of the present trial will likely set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits. A 2025 study noted that 36% of teens use one of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, "almost constantly".

How Fed chair nomination brought pause to gold, silver rally, exposed their volatilitySubscriber Only

February 05, 2026 19:27 IST

The latest dip in silver prices comes with a stronger dollar, with the Fed signalling a reduced urgency to institute rate cuts in the interim. The dollar has also strengthened in the wake of planned US talks with Iran on the latter’s nuclear programme.

Could Sophie Baek be ‘just a maid’? ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 declares ‘life is meant to be lived,’ omits just who gets to live itSubscriber Only

February 04, 2026 17:01 IST

Bridgerton has always traded in fantasy, but this season's treatment of class reveals whose freedom the show truly values, and whose stories matter only insofar as they serve the romances of the wealthy

Gold crosses $5,000/oz: Fears of dollar instability, impending debt crisis behind meteoric riseSubscriber Only

January 28, 2026 06:34 IST

Throughout history, gold has served as the ultimate store of value - relatively scarce, durable, and symbolically associated with wealth and power. This makes gold a safe haven asset, insurance against currency failure.

As Trump reverses Greenland tariff threats, spotlight back on TACO effectSubscriber Only

January 24, 2026 19:38 IST

This pattern of escalating to an economic threat, and de-escalating in the face of an absolute rejection by the markets of such strong-arming tactics, has revived the buzz around the TACO trade, short for Trump Always Chickens Out

‘We’ve never got anything out of NATO’: Unpacking Trump’s claims at DavosSubscriber Only

January 23, 2026 06:01 IST

“We’ve never got anything out of NATO,” Trump said, adding later: “We’ve never asked for anything, it’s always a one-way street.” Does the statement hold up to scrutiny?

‘When America booms, the entire world booms’: Takeaways from Trump’s speech at DavosSubscriber Only

January 22, 2026 02:27 IST

The US President’s showstopping appearance at Davos featured characteristic bravado and bluster. From Greenland to Ukraine, the US economy to immigration, no subject was off the table