Governor altered policy address, says Kerala CM

Pinarayi Vijayan says Governor made changes to speech prepared by government in Assembly; only the Cabinet-approved version will prevail in keeping with constitutional practice, he adds.

T.N. Governor refuses to read customary address in Assembly

In what has now become a familiar scene, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi declined to read out his customary address prepared by the State government on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, and walked out of the House. 

The Donroe doctrine, a broken international order

The new year began with a stark reminder that the over 200-year-old 'Monroe Doctrine' is not merely alive but has been given a fresh dimension, in keeping with the personality of United States President Donald Trump. In a swift operation as 2026 unfolded, U.S. airborne troops abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and incarcerated them in the U.S. on charges of undermining the security of the U.S. This action is being sanctified as the new 'Donroe Doctrine'. 

It is a mixed bag as far as the global outlook for 2026 is concerned, marked by an updated version of the U.S.'s 'shock and awe' tactics. 

The EV boom is accelerating a copper crunch

The global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) is widely celebrated as a technological breakthrough and a vital step toward a greener future. However, there also lies a growing and underappreciated challenge: an impending copper crunch. Copper is indispensable for electrification and forms the backbone of EV batteries, motors, wiring, charging infrastructure, and power grids. As EV adoption accelerates, copper demand has entered a phase of exponential growth that many policymakers and markets have underestimated. 

Enhancing China-India youth ties

The youth are the most active, dynamic, and promising force in all countries, especially in China and India. Both President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have attached great importance to the role of Gen Z and Gen Alpha in developing our countries and reaching centenary goals.

Bilaterally and internationally, mutual understanding and friendly exchanges of the youth play a vital role in the healthy development of ties. 

To compete with China, India may need China

The Ministry of Finance is set to scrap curbs on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts, which were introduced in 2020. The curbs were imposed following a deadly clash between the countries' troops in the Galwan Valley. They required Chinese bidders to register with an Indian government committee and obtain political and security clearances. According to Reuters, this resulted in China losing out on contracts worth $700-750 billion. 

The importance of Pax Silica for India

The Pax Silica initiative seeks to reduce coercive dependencies, secure global tech/Al supply chains, and build trusted digital infrastructure. India seeks to join it as it has a strong digital infrastructure, and a growing Al market.

How reusability can lead to sustainable, cost-effective access to space

The commercial space industry is evolving rapidly, driven by reusable rocket technologies that significantly lower launch costs. Companies like SpaceX lead the charge, with the market projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, enhancing sustainability and increasing mission frequencies.

Trump slams U.K's move to hand over Chagos Islands

A startled British government on Tuesday defended its decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the plan, which his administration had previously supported. 

The United Kingdom and Mauritius signed a deal in May 2025 to give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after two centuries under British control, though the U.K. will lease back Diego Garcia where the U.S. base is located, for at least 99 years.