International Issues

Context The International Monetary Fund’s latest update to its world economic outlook posits a global economy showing signs of having weathered its most recent challenges, including the bank collapses in the U.S. and Switzerland, and likely poised to expand by 3% in 2023. Way Forword The Fund’s marginal 20 basis …

Tech firms and telecom operators are facing off over steep SMS tariffs, causing one-time passcodes and messages to consumers from abroad to cost several times more than what they cost domestically. In response to a consultation paper by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), telcos argued that there was …

The United Kingdom and the European Union struck a deal on February 27 regarding post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland, with a view to remove the border between Britain and Northern Ireland running through the Irish Sea. The fact that the Republic of Ireland remained with the EU after Brexit …

Sanctions are not hurting Russia, but the war is taking a toll on US and EU economies. February 24 marks the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. Although it was believed this was going to be a one-sided battle, the US and its allies stepped in with weapons for Ukraine …

India and Pakistan make up one-third of the total number of people globally exposed to glacial lake outburst floods — around three million people in India and around two million people in Pakistan. According to a 2020 study, the number and total area of glacial lakes worldwide have increased by …

According to local media reports, Japan will pay up to one million yen (approximately ₹6 lakh) per child to families if they move out of the Tokyo metropolitan area. This amount was previously set at 3,00,000 yen and has been raised to reduce population concentration in the capital area. The …

There “is no such concept as Indo-Pacific” which was “created by the United States” to bring in partners such as India to “contain” China, a Chinese diplomat has said, reflecting Beijing’s hardening opposition to both Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy as well as regional groupings such as the Quad. “In fact, there …

United States government officials announced on Tuesday that a federal facility had achieved a significant milestone in nuclear fusion research. Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm said the feat puts us on the path to “zero-carbon abundant fusion energy powering our society.” Officials said the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence …

The Turkish government said on Saturday that it would send foreign Islamic State (IS) fighters captured in Syria back to their countries of origin, despite the unwillingness of European states to take them in. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said Turkey would hold captured foreign fighters “for some time. After that …

Iraq’s top cleric warned foreign actors on Friday against interfering in his country’s anti-government protests as they entered a second month despite pledges of reform and violence that has left over 250 dead. The demonstrations have evolved since October 1 from rage over corruption and unemployment to demands for a …