Context: Since the West Asia conflict began in February 2026, 16 Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks on merchant ships, highlighting the risks faced by Indian maritime workers in conflict zones.India has one of the world's largest seafaring...

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel, followed by a temporary suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7, 2027, despite earlier penalising India for purchasing Russian oil.The developme...

Context: The eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal from her Madrid home after a sharp rent increase triggered nationwide protests demanding affordable housing, stronger tenant protection and restrictions on investment funds purchasing resi...

Context: On October 8, the U.S. announced the suspension of the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme for eight global IT companies, including Indian-headquartered Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant and HCL, alleging misuse of immigration and l...

Context: U.S. immigration restrictions: Tighter U.S. immigration policies and uncertainty surrounding permanent residency are affecting Indian professionals, particularly those working in technology and other skilled sectors.Impact on Indian IT firms...

Context: The recent four U.S.–China summits in around six months have raised speculation about a possible “G2” (Group of Two) arrangement between the world’s two major powers.However, the underlying relationship remains one of strategic competition,...

Context: Students across France have launched blocus (school blockades) at lycées/high schools, protesting poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate funding.The movement began in mid-September 2026 around Pa...

Context: The Delhi High Court has held that possession of a valid Indian visa does not create an inherent or legally enforceable right to enter India.The ruling came in a case involving a Turkmenistan citizen who was denied entry at Indira Gandhi Int...

Context: On 14 September, the First Ministers/leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Cardiff advocating greater self-determination and independence from...

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks during Xi’s Washington visit, signalling an attempt to establish a more stable and predictable relationship despite continuing strategic rivalry.While the immediate outc...

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump had previously proposed acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and renewed the demand after returning to office in January 2025.Denmark rejected any transfer of sovereignty...

Context: The continuing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global trade and energy flows, prompting comparison with the governance model developed for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.The Malacca–Singapore experience demonstrates how li...

Context: Age-Based Regulation of Children’s Internet UseThe European Union (EU) is considering age-based rules to restrict children's access to social media, video-sharing platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and online games.The proposal...

Context: The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026, after Senate approval, with implementation requiring Presidential assent.The Bill proposes tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Ru...

Context: The United Kingdom has announced a ban on imports originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, citing concerns over settlement expansion, displacement of Palestinians and the weakening of pro...

Context: Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s August 2026 visit to India marks a shift in bilateral defence ties from largely institutional cooperation towards greater operational capability and implementation.Over the past decade, India and J...

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced Saptadhara from the Red Fort on August 15, identifying seven streams of national strength to support the goal of Viksit Bharat.Soft power is one of these streams and refers to the ability of a cou...