India’s capacity to adapt and respond to the ever-evolving global geopolitical landscape is a testament to its growing influence on the world stage. However, foreign policy agility alone is not enough. For India to effectively navigate the challenges posed by a complex international environment, it must build strong foundations at home. This calls for national unity and targeted reforms that streamline governance, bolster economic self-reliance, and enhance technological and defense capabilities.
The global order today is marked by shifting alliances, regional rivalries, and emerging security dilemmas. India’s foreign policy faces pressures from balancing its relations with competing powers like the U.S., China, and Russia, while actively engaging with partners across the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and Africa. Amid these challenges, India’s diplomatic efforts have shown flexibility—maintaining strategic autonomy, pursuing bilateral and multilateral engagements, and advocating for peace in regional conflicts. But sustaining this maneuverability depends heavily on addressing internal cohesion and reforming critical sectors such as defense manufacturing and economic infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign sources.
Domestic reforms aligned with India’s foreign policy ambitions must prioritize boosting indigenous manufacturing in defense under initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, investing in innovation-driven startups, and enhancing resource efficiency. Equally important is the fostering of social and political unity to present a coherent voice on the international stage. An internally divided nation risks projecting inconsistency and may lose diplomatic leverage. Strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring equitable development, and managing internal challenges collectively underpin India's credibility and influence abroad.
Ultimately, India’s external actions are deeply intertwined with its internal dynamics. Achieving a balance whereby foreign policy is not only adept but also backed by resilient domestic structures will empower India to emerge as a decisive global player. Such a holistic approach—combining diplomatic agility with unity and reform—will enable India to protect its interests, uphold its values, and contribute meaningfully to global stability and progress.
Disclaimer: This Image is taken from The Indian Express.
In the complex and often tense dynamics between China and its global counterparts, the idea of a "reset" in relations periodically emerges in political discourse. However, the reality is far more nuanced, and a true reset with China is not realistically achievable in the near term. Several factors contribute to this challenging reality, rooted deeply in political, strategic, and economic considerations.
Firstly, China's rising global influence and assertiveness have fundamentally altered the landscape. Over recent decades, China’s economic power and geopolitical reach have surged, shifting the balance in its favor compared to many countries, including India and Western democracies. This ascent has diminished the incentives for China to engage in conciliatory resets, as it now wields greater leverage to advance its own interests without needing to accommodate demands.
Secondly, unresolved territorial disputes and mutual mistrust continue to cloud diplomatic efforts. For example, the border conflicts between China and India stretch over thousands of kilometers, with rival claims entrenched in every sector. Despite long-standing mechanisms aimed at de-escalation, such as the Special Representatives talks initiated in 2003, progress has been minimal. These deep-rooted issues create significant barriers to a reset, as trust is a crucial prerequisite for any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough.
Moreover, the global strategic environment complicates matters further. Countries like India are wary of allowing China to shape or limit their international partnerships due to concerns over sovereignty and regional influence. Attempts to reset ties have often faced setbacks amid competing ambitions such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its alliances in the region, which complicate India’s and others' strategic calculations.
A reset, if at all considered, would require substantial political will and a shift in mindset. For instance, India must balance its strategic autonomy with the reality of China’s power, and both nations would need to prioritize mutual trust over suspicion to foster constructive dialogue. However, such a political decision is not straightforward and is impeded by historical grievances, ongoing border tensions, and geopolitical rivalries.
In conclusion, while dialogue and cooperation remain important, a full reset of relations with China is not a practical possibility at this stage. The relationship is characterized by a mix of rivalry, cautious engagement, and strategic competition that makes a clean slate unrealistic. Instead, countries must navigate this complex relationship with careful diplomacy, balancing engagement with vigilance, and focusing on manageable areas of cooperation without overlooking the core issues that persistently challenge the relationship.
Disclaimer: This Image is taken from MIT.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on August 21, 2025, after nearly a month marked by intense unrest between the ruling party and the opposition. Throughout the session, repeated disruptions and protests by opposition MPs focused on various contentious issues, including opposition demands for debates on electoral integrity, the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack, and Operation Sindoor, the retaliatory military strike.
Despite the ongoing chaos in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the government successfully passed several important bills covering key sectors like the economy, infrastructure, sports governance, and taxation. Some of the significant legislations cleared during the session include the Income Tax Bill 2025, the Merchant Shipping Bill 2025, the National Sports Governance Bill 2025, and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, among others.
The opposition voiced strong objection to certain bills, particularly those concerning the removal of elected representatives detained on serious criminal charges, which led to scenes of uproar in the houses, with opposition MPs protesting loudly and even tearing copies of the bills during parliamentary proceedings.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the opposition for deliberate obstruction, blaming them for missing debates on important legislation due to their persistent disruptions. While the opposition pressed for discussions on urgent national matters, the government maintained that legislative business could not be delayed.
The session saw a total of 21 sittings from July 21 to August 21, with a break in mid-August. Though marred by political confrontations, the session also managed to advance legislative work crucial to governance and national development. As Parliament now takes a recess before the next session, all eyes remain on whether the political parties will find more common ground to ensure smoother functioning in future sessions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
Russia has assured that it will maintain oil exports to India despite increasing pressure and tariff threats from the United States. In recent statements made in New Delhi, Russian officials emphasized the strength of India-Russia energy ties and highlighted a special mechanism designed to ensure uninterrupted crude supplies even amid external sanctions and 25–50% tariffs imposed by the US on Indian imports.
Evgeny Griva, Russia’s Deputy Trade Representative in India, confirmed that India’s imports of Russian crude are expected to remain at current levels. “There will be around a 5% discount on Russian crude for India, subject to negotiations,” he said, pointing out that Russia sells oil to India at a notable price advantage compared to other sources. This discount and existing trade complementarity, Russia believes, position India as a key and growing consumer of its oil.
Despite Washington’s attempts to discourage India’s purchases of Russian crude—part of broader sanctions aimed at curtailing Russia’s revenues amid the Ukraine conflict—New Delhi has defended its right to buy from the most affordable sources, calling the US tariffs “unreasonable.” The Indian government has also signaled willingness to expand bilateral trade with Russia, potentially reaching $100 billion in annual turnover by 2030.
Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in India, was vocal in criticizing the US stance, labeling the sanctions “unjustified” and “unilateral.” He also expressed confidence that India-Russia energy cooperation will continue unabated despite external pressure. Babushkin noted that while the situation is challenging for India, Russia remains a reliable partner, and these sanctions largely harm those imposing them.
India’s state-owned refiners have reportedly resumed Russian oil imports after a short pause due to US tariff pressures. Deliveries of Russian Urals crude scheduled for September and October 2025 are expected to proceed, reinforcing India’s position as one of Moscow’s largest oil buyers alongside China.
This ongoing energy relationship highlights the complicated geopolitics of global energy markets, where economic pragmatism intersects with international diplomatic tensions. For India, securing affordable and reliable energy supplies remains a national priority, while Russia counts on sustained demand from Asia to offset Western sanctions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding firm on a new set of peace demands in the ongoing war with Ukraine, according to sources familiar with top Kremlin discussions. These demands, unveiled after Putin’s recent summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, include requiring Ukraine to relinquish control over the entire eastern Donbas region, give up any ambitions to join NATO, formally declare a neutral status, and prohibit the presence of Western military forces on its soil.
Disclaimer:This image is taken from Reuters.
Once the trendsetters of social media, fashion, and pop culture, millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—now find themselves the target of a new wave of cultural mockery, often labeled as "cringe" by the younger Gen Z generation. But why did this shift happen, and what does it really say about how generations define "cool"? One major factor is the natural evolution of trends and tastes over time. What was fresh and edgy in the early 2000s or 2010s—think skinny jeans, “millennial pink,” avocado toast, and carefully curated Instagram feeds—now looks dated or overly rehearsed to Gen Z, who favor baggier clothes, more ironic humor, and fast-paced, unpolished social media styles like TikTok videos. Even small behaviors, such as millennials’ habit of the “millennial pause” in videos to check if recording started, have become emblematic of an out-of-touch generation trying hard to stay relevant.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Singapore’s Internal Security Department has raised concerns over the growing threat of extremist ideologies, highlighting how artificial intelligence is becoming a potent tool in the radicalisation process. To explore how AI is reshaping the way individuals are drawn into extremist beliefs and what measures can counter this trend, Steven Chia speaks with Kenneth Yeo from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Associate Professor Razwana Begum from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Authorities are extending liquor sale hours and permitting new nightlife venues to revitalize the city's evening atmosphere, particularly around Boat Quay, Upper Circular Road, and Clarke Quay. However, with increasing expenses and a shift in customer preferences toward unique experiences rather than just drinking, the question remains whether these measures will be sufficient to attract crowds once again. Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss this with Danny Loong, president of the Singapore Nightlife Business Association, and Mogan Vithilingam, co-founder of the Singapore Pub Crawl.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Cities across the globe are experiencing a surprising side effect of climate change—a surge in rat populations. As global temperatures rise, urban environments are becoming more hospitable to these resilient creatures, causing a boom in their numbers that presents growing challenges for public health and city management. Scientists studying urban rat trends have found that warming climates, combined with factors like dense human populations and shrinking green spaces, create a perfect storm for these rodents to thrive. Rats are highly adaptable and opportunistic, often capitalizing on human-generated waste and shelter. Warmer winters in urban areas mean rats face fewer challenges in surviving harsh weather, extending their active foraging and breeding seasons significantly. This longer reproductive window leads to quicker population growth. For example, cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, and Toronto have reported substantial increases in rat sightings, with some experiencing growth rates several times higher than others.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
