International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
Explained: What is the US’s 2,000 pound ‘bunker buster’ bomb, used to attack Iran’s Isfahan
The United States used the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) — a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb — in combat for the first time on June 22, 2025, as ...
Next days in Iran war will be ‘decisive’, claims Pentagon chief Hegseth
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the coming days would be "decisive" in the ongoing war against Iran, signalling an imminent escalation of ope...
India may pivot to the US as conflict clouds availability of LPG from West Asia
India is actively diversifying LPG imports away from West Asia towards the United States, with US-origin supplies expected to remain competitive in Asian mar...
India could face pressure as US pushes plurilateral e-commerce moratorium
The WTO's e-commerce customs duties moratorium — which has prevented WTO members from imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998 — expire...
Developing countries, LDCs can no longer be rule-takers at WTO: Commerce Secretary
India's Commerce Secretary, speaking in the context of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, asserted that developing count...
West Asia conflict could shave off 1% point from India's FY27 GDP growth projections: EY
EY's Economy Watch report has warned that if the West Asia conflict persists through FY27, India's real GDP growth could erode by approximately 1 percentage ...
China, Pakistan propose peace plan for West Asia, call for ‘immediate’ end to hostilities
China and Pakistan have jointly unveiled a five-point peace roadmap for West Asia (the Middle East), focused on ending hostilities related to the escalating ...
EU carbon market could drive next phase of climate action by scaling up CO₂ removals, study finds
A study published in the journal Joule on March 31, 2026 finds that the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) — the world's first and largest carbon market — ...
US tariffs drag India apparel export growth to modest 1.5%: ICRA
India's apparel exports recorded only modest growth of ~1.5% in the recent period, constrained significantly by high US tariffs imposed under the Trump admin...
10 foreign ships with energy cargo for India stranded in Persian Gulf
At least 10 foreign-flagged ships carrying energy supplies destined for India remain stranded in the Persian Gulf as Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait o...
India’s 1st Iranian oil cargo since 2019 headed to Gujarat coast
India's first Iranian crude oil cargo since May 2019 is heading to a Gujarat port, based on ship-tracking data, with Reliance Industries reportedly purchasin...
Iran war shock: Middle East conflict could cut 1 ppt from India’s FY27 GDP outlook
A persistent Middle East conflict — triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran that began February 28, 2026 — could reduce India's real GDP growth for FY2026-27 ...
Trade Relief Measures for Exporters
The Reserve Bank of India issued "The Reserve Bank of India (Trade Relief Measures) Directions, 2026" (Press Release 2025-2026/2362, March 31, 2026), formall...
10 India-bound ships carrying energy cargo stuck in Persian Gulf
At least 10 India-bound ships carrying energy cargo — crude oil, LPG, and LNG — are stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz due ...
As the US talks of seizing Kharg, 3 problems and an ominous precedent
US President Trump publicly mused about seizing Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf, as a way to pressure Tehran and gain lever...
Iran-Israel war LIVE updates: Iran executes two more convicted of links to banned opposition; power outage in parts of Tehran
The US-Israel conflict with Iran (Operation Epic Fury, launched February 28, 2026) has entered its second month with the Strait of Hormuz remaining largely c...
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, AI emerges as key driver of global trade growth: McKinsey
A McKinsey Global Institute report titled "Geopolitics and the Geometry of Global Trade: 2026 Update" found that AI hardware shipments — chips, servers, and ...
How Pakistan won over Trump to become an unlikely mediator in the Iran war
Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic intermediary between the United States and Iran in the 2026 West Asia conflict, with Pakistani leaders holding separ...
Kuwait says oil tanker hit in Iranian attack at Dubai port; crew safe
On March 31, 2026, an Iranian drone struck the Kuwait-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Al Salmi while it was anchored approximately 31 nautical miles ...
Donald Trump willing to end war without reopening Strait of Hormuz, says Wall Street Journal
According to a Wall Street Journal report, US President Donald Trump told senior aides he is willing to wind down military operations against Iran even if th...