Satarupa Bhattacharjya

Iran’s initial salvoes of ballistic missiles and drones burned through a significant chunk of American and allied interceptors. Replenishing these will take years economist.com/briefing/2026/…

BREAKING: Iran says its Natanz nuclear facility has been hit in an airstrike. apnews.com/live/iran-war-…

President Droupadi Murmu on board the INS Vagsheer. Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi accompanied her on the two-hour submarine sortie today. Photo via IN

The NYT reports how the CIA lost a nuclear device in the Himalayas during the Cold War: nytimes.com/interactive/20… via @NYTimes

When the US will sign its trade deal with India is uncertain & whenever it does, it will be triggered less by trade realities and more by non-trade issues, says Navtej Sarna in an interview with @Satarupa_B Worth watching! @bsindia mybs.in/0001256J

President Droupadi Murmu during a Rafale sortie today. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh accompanied her in a second Rafale. Both fighter jets were flown by their respective pilots. Photo via IAF

the skies over tel aviv right now

India is in talks with the US, France, Russia and the UK to start an advanced jet-engine programme at home by the end of the year. The “big decision” will need to be taken at the “appropriate level” of the Indian government, because it involves India spending an estimated “₹40,000 crores–50,000 crores” over the next decade, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter. More👉 mybs.in/2elQjg4 @Satarupa_B @MEAIndia #defence #Security #news #ExternalAffairs

The #IAF will likely advise the government to buy stealth aircraft as and when its opinion is sought, according to a government source. The need for such a purchase is based, above all factors, on India’s threat assessment in its neighbourhood. @Satarupa_B mybs.in/2ekj5s9

The use of a military aircraft by the #US to bring civilian deportees back to #India and shackling them during the long flight suggest that the bilateral relationship is not all roses. @Satarupa_B #IllegalImmigrants mybs.in/2eketu9

Inside this week’s issue of The New Yorker: nyer.cm/ww8oDLf

Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of China’s state-backed Global Times, has been banned from posting on social media after he wrote controversial comments about the world’s no. 2 economy, sources say trib.al/VkOO64C

FROM THE MAGAZINE | Some experts have argued that a country as populous as China could not have achieved high growth year after year without authoritarian governance. So, a question that is relevant to India, arises. Can rapid economic development and democratic politics coexist in a developing country of 1.4 billion people? Read the story by @Satarupa_B theweek.in/theweek/cover/… #india #china #economicgrowth #sinoindia #midyearspecial

@dhume @rohini_sgh Ten years is a short time in Indian politics. Besides, India has not seen a single-party rule in a while, so getting used to the idea didn’t quite happen, did it?

@rohini_sgh No doubt that the deck was heavily stacked toward the BJP, and this is one reason why 240~ looks kind of pathetic. But the main reason is that post-2014 people have (re)normalized the idea of single party majorities at the center.

Totally fair to slam Modi/BJP for performing far below expectations, but to put this in perspective: 1. BJP is on track to win roughly 2.5X as many seats as its nearest rival. 2. In any election between 1996 and 2009 pundits would have hailed 240~ seats as a major victory.

Tian'anmen - 35th anniversary

The post of China’s ambassador to India - vacant for more than 18 months - has been filled with the arrival in New Delhi of Xu Feihong. He is the 17th Chinese ambassador to India, a Chinese embassy media statement said.

Alexei Navalny, the fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who staged massive anti-Kremlin protests, died in prison Friday, Russian authorities said. Follow here for live updates: apnews.com/live/alexei-na…

EU prepares sanctions on Chinese and Indian companies over Russia links on.ft.com/3SVsgp3

BREAKING: Australia appalled at China’s suspended death sentence for writer Yang Hengjun apnews.com/article/china-…

Traditional new year fireworks light up Hong Kong skyline.