With Xi Jinping meeting Kim Jong-Un in Pyongyang, what’s driving China-North Korea relations?

What can North Korea, one of the poorest and least integrated nations in the world, offer China? Since their inception, China-North Korea ties have been based on wider geopolitical goals.

Can AI-driven growth be made responsible? An Expert Explains how

Petra Molnar, a lawyer and anthropologist who studies AI, surveillance and human rights, tells The Indian Express that when it comes to such growth, one must ask who bears the costs, and who receives the

Armenia polls: Why both the West and Russia have an eye on the elections of a small West Asian nation

Armenia is a major buyer of Indian weapons systems today, making its geopolitical shifts important for New Delhi.

People are being offered cash, IVF support and housing to have more kids. Why is it not working? Subscriber Only

Global Fertility Crisis Explained: From India to Sweden to Japan, despite varied economic and social conditions, fewer people want kids. Reasons range from polarisation to shift in values to income to smartphones.

Posh Delhi colony gets sewage in taps: How urban water systems fail, what needs to change

Before this, in Indore, contaminated tap water had killed 10 people. Part of the problem is the wide gap in engineering best practices and ground realities. An expert explains.

Why Mountbatten hastened India’s independence by 10 months, and at what cost

It was in June 1947 that Mountbatten announced, out of the blue, that the British would pack up and leave in 2 months, from the earlier expected one year. We look at the reasons why

Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar: Why major protests happen at this Delhi venue

Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar: The story of Jantar Mantar as a protest site begins in 1993. Here's what happened then, and what has happened since

Can spring groundnut mitigate Punjab’s groundwater crisis?

Punjab's farmers are increasingly cultivating maize, a water-intensive crop, during the hottest months of the year. Groundnut, which can be grown in the same period, uses less water and offers better returns. Will farmers embrace

Power subsidies are slowing household solar adoption. A solution: More subsidies Subscriber Only

Incentivising households and farmers to generate electricity locally is a crucial step for India's clean energy transition. But high upfront costs and cheap grid power have slowed the adoption of decentralised solar.

How energy tankers are using a shadow fleet ploy to slip out of Hormuz

For years now, risky dark shipping tactics have been largely limited the to 'shadow fleets' that transport Iranian and Russian oil. But the West Asia war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Meet new FIFA World Cup ball: AI-sensor for better decisions, improved design for fewer surprises

Over several World Cups, the ball has attracted more attention than the football. The Trionda is expected to bring the focus back to the game.

Maulana Barkatullah: The ‘first prime minister of India’, whose name Bhopal university wants to drop

Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali, after whom Barkatullah University in Bhopal is named, spent his life abroad, working for India’s freedom. Here is who he was and what he stood for.

Why Supreme Court framed a Victim Protection Plan for human trafficking survivors

The litigation traces to a 2004 petition filed by a Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking organisation, which argued that victims of commercial sexual exploitation were treated as “criminals” rather than “victims or survivors”. Here’s what to know.

How Andhra plans to power AI ambitions: Let data centres buy and distribute their own electricity Subscriber Only

The state is allowing large data centres to operate as 'deemed' power distributors, enabling them to procure electricity directly and cut costs while easing the burden on local utilities

A new scheme targets Delhi-NCR’s older trucks and buses to tackle air pollution. Here’s why it matters

Delhi-NCR suffers from extreme air pollution and the transport sector is a predominant source of pollution. The new clean mobility scheme will incentivise replacement of older vehicles with BS-VI or stricter emission-compliant vehicles. Here’s what

The Kerala development model was once looked up to. What went wrong? Subscriber Only

Kerala is stuck in a borrowing cycle to pay for salaries and pensions, leaving little money for development and capital expenditure. The state's new UDF government has acknowledged the issue, but can it turn things

Why has RBI kept interest rates unchanged despite mounting inflation risks?

The central bank has kept borrowing costs unchanged but warned that higher oil prices, supply disruptions and global uncertainty could slow growth and push inflation above its target.

Old ties, new Kathmandu: What India now needs to negotiate with Nepal Subscriber Only

Some in Nepal see India as a bullying big brother. New Delhi must not allow Beijing to fan these flames among Nepalese youth.

Who is Rajesh Mehta, the gold empire builder now under SEBI lens

Mehta's rise has often been portrayed as the classic Indian success story. But his gold exports and processing company, Rajesh Exports, is now at the centre of one of the most serious regulatory actions faced by

Government is freezing jet fuel prices for airlines. How will this scheme work and can it curb airfares?

The government expects this arrangement to ease the pain for oil companies and Indian airlines amid the West Asia energy shock. It also expects the move to rein in runaway airfares.

Explained: Gujarat’s new police range for Pakistan border, with implications for national security

The bifurcation of Gujarat’s Border range could help provide space for better supervision, with two Inspectors General now heading the region.

Malviya Nagar fire rescue puts spotlight on CPR: What it is and when to use it

The Malviya Nagar fire in South Delhi has drawn attention to CPR after a local resident used the life-saving technique to assist victims rescued from the smoke-filled building. Here is what to know

Can insolvency proceedings shield you in a cheque bounce case? The legal conflict, explained Subscriber Only

When a person undergoes IBC proceedings, a moratorium on legal action with respect to any debt kicks in. But there is little clarity on whether this moratorium covers cheque bounce. The matter has now been

US House vote against Trump won’t stop Iran war but still matters. Here’s why

At the heart of the 215-208 vote against Trump is the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a law intended to limit a President's ability to conduct prolonged military operations without Congressional authorisation. Here's what that

South Delhi blaze: Why residential areas in India’s cities are so vulnerable to fire

Urban fire risk in India: The South Delhi fire that killed 21 people took place in a hotel that was originally a residential structure. According to official data, 6 out of every 10 fire-related deaths