First came the tariffs in August—50% duties on Indian goods, dressed up as punishment for buying Russian oil. Caught between an old ally in Moscow and mounting pressure from Washington, India’s energy policy has become a delicate balancing act. But just how critical is Russian oil to the Indian economy? [In 2024], India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, bought $52.7bn of Russian crude—37% of its oil bill—followed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nigeria, and the US. Des

India’s telecoms ministry has directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, according to a government order, raising concerns of data privacy and user consent in one of the largest handset markets in the world. The ministry said the app, which is available to India’s 1.2 billion smartphone users, was essential in “curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security.” But privacy adv

Israel has approved a plan to absorb about 5,800 members of the Bnei Menashe community by 2030, according to a government decision. A first group of 1,200 people is scheduled to arrive next year. The ministry responsible for their absorption will provide initial financial support, Hebrew language instruction, job guidance, temporary housing and social programs to help newcomers settle. The Bnei Menashe identify as descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, considered one

Around 20 million people in India’s capital woke up breathing the most polluted air of any major city in the world, a day after celebrations for the Diwali festival, during which revelers typically set off fireworks and firecrackers. New Delhi’s PM 2.5 concentration—a measure of pollutants in the air—was more than 40 times the World Health Organization’s annualized guideline level, according to Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir. In 2020, authorities enacted a complet