Critical Minerals

Critical Minerals: The New Oil of the 21st Century?

Critical minerals are not literally the new oil, but they may play a comparable role in defining the balance of power. The race has already begun, and India’s preparedness will determine whether it merely secures access to the resources of the new century or helps shape the industrial order that emerges from them.

Trade Pivot Weakens Pakistan’s Grip on Afghanistan, as Others Move in

Afghanistan has sought to limit or reduce its structural vulnerability by moving trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port and Central Asian corridors. Kabul is realigning Afghanistan’s external economic geography by looking towards Iran, Central Asia, China and India.

India's Sugar Economy and Ethanol Politics: The Demand-Supply Imbalance Threatens to Mar Festival Season

The current rise in Indian sugar prices is the result of several factors rather than ethanol alone. Lower-than-expected production—from an initial estimate of 343 LMT to about 306 LMT—is central to the supply concern. Weather damage, disease, festival demand, global prices and market speculation have added to the pressure.

Can Iran's Chabahar Help Turkiye and India do Business?

Chabahar will not transform Türkiye–India relations. It can, however, show whether two countries with serious political disagreements are capable of making one difficult commercial route work.

More on Economy, Trade and Development

China deploys five militia squads in Eastern Ladkah

China has deployed five militia squads for rapid response at the disputed Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. It has done so to "consolidate the border" and "stabilise Tibet region", sources said

China funds anti-India protests along Indo-Nepal border

China has paid Rs 2.5 crore (in Nepali currency) to various organisations based in Nepal to carry out demonstrations against India along the Indo-Nepal border that stretches to over 1,700 km, intelligence agencies said

CPEC aimed at decreasing China’s reliance on strategic chokeholds: Pentagon

Under its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) policy, China is pursuing projects in Pakistan that would decrease Beijing’s reliance on strategic choke points, says a Pentagon report released on Wednesday

China bullying neighbours, hoping for peaceful resolution of India-China border tension: Pompeo

While accusing Beijing of bullying its neighbours, US Secretary of State Mike Pompe said on Wednesday that Washington hopes there would be a peaceful settlement of the escalating tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China

India, China talks over Pangong Tso remain inconclusive

Military talks between India and China on Wednesday remained inconclusive over the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops' fresh incursion attempts into India territory

India bans PUBG, 117 more Chinese apps

In yet another strike on Chinese apps, the Indian government on Wednesday banned 118 apps, including the immensely popular Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile, Baidu and several VPNs that allowed access to TikTok that was earlier banned

Nations waking up to China's threats: Tibetan administration

More and more nations around the world are waking up to the threats to global democracy posed by the People Republic of China, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said on Wednesday

For the first time, India dominates strategic heights at Pangong Lake

For the first time since the India-China skirmishes began at Ladakh earlier this year, the Indian Army is dominating strategic locations on the south bank of Pangong Lake, even as China enhanced deployment of troops close to the Thakung base in Indian territory and tried to change the status quo

Sanctions by US on 24 companies have no international legal effect; Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka

The US administration newly banned 24 Chinese companies from buying American products with an accusation of them constructing on Chinese islands and helping “militarizing” the South China Sea

India, China engage in third military dialogue after fresh skirmishes

Indian and Chinese militaries began the third round of talks at Chushul on Tuesday to resolve the fresh skirmishes at Pangong Lake in Eastern Ladakh

Former Indian president met Dalai Lama despite Chinese opposition

Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Lobsang Sangay, who heads the Tibetan government in exile, on Tuesday paid tributes to former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee by remembering his meeting with the exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in 2016 despite an opposition by China

Top Indian security brass meet to discuss strategy against China

India's top security and defence authorities are meeting to discuss the fresh Chinese incursions in Indian territory at Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh

Myanmar wriggling out of Chinese hold, reduces CMEC commitment

India's eastern neighbour Myanmar has begun to re-look at a number of projects under the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which at $100 billion is much bigger than the Chinese investment in Pakistan at $64 billion

India, China military talks over fresh skirmish at LAC

Military talks between India and China at Chushul to resolve the fresh skirmish at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh ended late on Monday evening, government sources said

Indian Special Frontier Force officer killed in mine blast at LAC

An Indian Special Frontier Force officer was killed and another personnel of the force seriously injured in a landmine blast, while they were on a reconnaissance mission at the Line of Actual Control with China in the Ladakh Himalayas, sources said