Day: April 15, 2025

Turbulence Ahead: China Halts Boeing Deliveries as US-China Trade War Deepens

Manish Kumar

A Trade War Takes Flight—And Hits Aviation Hard The US-China trade war, which has been simmering under the surface since early 2025, has taken a dramatic new turn. In a move that could ripple across global markets and disrupt key supply chains, China has ordered its airlines to halt all new deliveries of Boeing jets, further intensifying tensions with Washington. This latest salvo follows the United States’ decision to impose steep tariffs—up to 145%—on Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to respond with retaliatory duties of 125%. While these tit-for-tat tactics are not new, the…

JEE Main 2025 Controversy: Factual Errors, Response Sheet Glitches Spark Nationwide Outrage

Manish Kumar

Yet Another Blow to Students’ Trust in Competitive Exams Just days after the NEET UG row shook public confidence in the National Testing Agency (NTA), a fresh wave of anger has erupted over the JEE Main 2025 Session 2 exam. Students and parents are flagging factual inaccuracies in questions, discrepancies in response sheets, and a complete lack of response from the NTA. The JEE Main, a gateway for engineering aspirants across India, is meant to be an objective, high-standard exam. But recent developments are raising serious concerns about the credibility…

NASA’s Indian-Origin DEI Chief Removed After Trump’s Executive Order Shuts Down Diversity Programs

Manish Kumar

A Shift in Policy, A Career Upended In a move emblematic of shifting federal priorities, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has officially ended its association with Neela Rajendra, the Indian-origin head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Her removal comes amidst sweeping changes across U.S. federal agencies following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump targeting DEI programs. While initially retained under a rebranded title, Rajendra’s exit underscores the broader federal crackdown on identity-based workplace initiatives and reflects growing political scrutiny over such roles in science and technology institutions. Attempts to Retain Rajendra Fell Short In March,…

Tahawwur Rana and the 26/11 Plot: ISI Links, Sleeper Cells, and India’s Pursuit of Justice

Manish Kumar

A Dark Chapter Revisited The memories of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks—commonly referred to as 26/11—still haunt India. The coordinated assault by 10 Pakistani terrorists left 166 dead and scores injured over a 60-hour siege that targeted Mumbai’s bustling railway station, luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The attackers, trained and backed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), used the sea route to infiltrate India’s financial capital and brought the city to a standstill. At the centre of the conspiracy was David Coleman Headley, an American-Pakistani who had conducted detailed reconnaissance in Mumbai. But now, another shadowy…

Robert Vadra and the ED: Legal Scrutiny or Political Vendetta?

Manish Kumar

A Familiar Face in a Familiar Fight Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, once again found himself in the spotlight on Tuesday as he appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land deal case in Haryana. The case—linked to alleged money laundering—has resurfaced ahead of election season, prompting Vadra to claim that the probe is part of a larger campaign of political targeting by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This is far from Vadra’s first brush with investigative agencies. Over the years,…

Trump vs The Ivy League: How America’s Elite Universities Became the New Political Battlefield

Manish Kumar

Trump’s New Front in the Culture War A new cultural clash is unfolding in the United States, and this time, the battleground isn’t Capitol Hill — it’s the nation’s elite universities. Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has trained his political firepower on Ivy League institutions, launching an unprecedented crackdown that includes freezing billions in federal aid. The latest target is Harvard University, which now faces a halt in $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts after refusing to comply with Trump’s sweeping policy…

Delhi Airport Terminal 2 Temporarily Shuts for Maintenance: All Flights Shift to Upgraded Terminal 1

Manish Kumar

A Powerhouse of Air Travel in India The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi stands as a beacon of India’s aviation prowess. As the largest and busiest airport in the country, it handles an enormous volume of passengers and air traffic daily. Terminal 2 (T2) alone manages over 46,000 passengers and 270–280 air traffic movements each day, highlighting its significance in the airport’s operational framework. Now, in a move to enhance passenger experience and infrastructure, Delhi Airport has announced the temporary closure of T2 for critical maintenance, rerouting all…

Sri Lanka Skips India’s Tejas MK1: A Strategic Decision Amid Deep Ties

Manish Kumar

Historic Ties, Strategic Collaboration India and Sri Lanka have enjoyed a longstanding relationship marked by cultural affinity, historical bonds, and strategic cooperation. Since gaining independence in the mid-20th century, the two nations have built strong diplomatic ties. India has played a significant role in supporting Sri Lanka through numerous crises — including the recent economic meltdown and political unrest — by extending critical aid, debt restructuring support, and maritime collaboration. However, despite the visible goodwill, Sri Lanka has, on several occasions, made decisions that appeared to diverge from India’s strategic interests…