From farm to software, how fresh WTO talks expose deep faultlines between rich and developing nations

With the West Asia war and US tariffs already disrupting global trade, divisions within the WTO raise questions about the organisation’s future.

Musk in Modi-Trump call, says New York Times; Govt says only the leaders spoke. What are Musk’s interests here?

The NYT report said, “It is unclear why Mr. Musk was on the call or whether he spoke”. It said Musk did not return multiple requests for comment and the White House declined to comment

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

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.

As Yemen’s Houthis enter Iran war, all eyes now on Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sparked the world’s worst energy shock. Now, the entry of their Houthi allies raises fears over another maritime chokepoint — the Bab el-Mandeb.

Kannan Gopinathan’s stalled resignation from the IAS: What the rules say Subscriber Only

Gopinathan resigned from service in 2019 but the government has still not accepted his resignation. As long as an officer is part of the service, they cannot contest elections and or even join a political

Behind copper’s latest fall: West Asian conflict weighs on the metal’s demand outlook

Copper is essential to the modern economy, with uses ranging from housing and manufacturing to power grids, clean energy, artificial intelligence and defence. Thus, it is often seen as a barometer of economic health

Delhi NCR joins Mumbai in dual airport club: How Noida, Navi Mumbai airports compare

On Saturday, Delhi NCR will enter the dual airports club with NIA's inauguration; commercial operations are expected to start in a few weeks. Here is why it is significant, and how it compares with NMIA

Strait of Hormuz: Who gets through, who doesn’t, and can Iran charge ships for passage?

Tehran has turned the world's most critical oil chokepoint into a geopolitical lever. Here's how it's benefitting from it and how it decides to filter ships carrying oil and gas.

How sex test using saliva or cheek swab will determine a woman’s eligibility to compete in elite sports

IOC said that any woman wanting to compete in international sport must now undergo a mandatory SRY gene screening, or a sex test. What does that entail? We explain. 

Explained: The Olympics’ policy to bar transgender people from women’s sports, and its far-reaching impact

Inclusion in women’s sports has long been a subject of polarising debate. It has garnered further attention as issues related to diverse gender and sexual identities have become ideological battlegrounds in politics in recent years.

GDP: From the US to India, who are the economic winners and losers of US-Iran war? Subscriber Only

In this week’s ‘GDP: Graphs, Data and Perspectives’, Udit Misra writes that a recent OECD analysis points to the global GDP growth rate seeming “resilient”, but this hides many changes and country-specific assessments.

What Iran’s drone blitz says about the future of warfare Subscriber Only

Cheap drones are increasingly reshaping the economics of modern warfare, especially in the Iran war. Cost-effective solutions are needed to tackle them.

Petrol, diesel excise duty slashed by Rs 10: How it impacts consumers, explained

Stress on fuel retailers’ finances was already visible amid the war in West Asia. Here is how retail prices of petrol and diesel, used by the vast majority of Indians, and government revenues will be

Ozempic vs Olymviq: Why Novo Nordisk sued India’s Dr Reddy’s over weight loss product trademark

Dr Reddy's 'Olymviq' branded-drug has run into a legal wall owing to its similarity to Novo Nordisk's 'Ozempic' brand. In India, the legal framework is quite strict on similarly named drugs.

A perfect storm: Why gold prices are down after 2025’s historic surge Subscriber Only

Gold, always seen as a safe asset that people turn to in times of trouble, has tumbled when least expected — during a war

Nirav Modi case: Dismissing risk of torture and suicide, how UK court rejected plea against extradition

Here is what Nirav Modi’s team argued, how the Indian government countered them, and what the court’s ruling means for the extradition.

India’s new climate targets are modest, but significant. Here’s why

As the US retreats from renewables and climate financing hopes falter, India has signalled that it remains committed to clean energy pathway.

WTO conference begins: What’s at stake for the world body, and for India? Subscriber Only

On the agenda are reforms aimed at bringing back predictability to global trade rules that have been effectively torn up by Donald Trump-led US administration. Here's what India will hope from the summit

Can Parsi women be excommunicated for marrying non-Parsis? SC to examine

Parsi women who marry outside their community can face exclusion, while men doing the same do not. A petition argues that this goes against equality.

Social media addiction trial: Why Meta and YouTube were held guilty

Jurors were directed, as a matter of law, to consider the platforms architecture, how feeds are structured, how engagement is sustained, and how users are drawn back repeatedly

How Karnataka is looking to curb screen time among students

This comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during his budget speech on March 6, said the state is planning to ban social media among children aged under 16. The draft policy for Responsible Digital Use Among

Explained: Amid Iran war, the rise of Israeli settler violence in West Bank

Israeli settlements in the West Bank go back to the 1967 Israel-Arab War and the idea of Israel itself. Despite repeated condemnations, they have continued expanding under the Israeli government

Why OpenAI is shutting down its viral AI video app Sora

The abrupt move reflects how OpenAI is looking to shift its focus to its enterprise business and close the gap with rival Anthropic.

Meta, YouTube found liable for ‘addiction’ in the US. Could it have implications in India?

The LA verdict is being seen as a watershed moment in the legal battle over whether tech platforms can be held accountable for the psychological impact of their products on minors

Are India’s forex reserves really ‘adequate to provide cushion against external shocks’? Subscriber Only

The RBI uses its forex reserves to defend the rupee. But the level of reserves itself can add to investor confidence – or cause concerns