ThePrint

Trump today said US is postponing strikes on Iranian power plants & energy infrastructure as the two countries hold negotiations to end the Gulf war. Rejecting Trump's claims, Iran has said that no talks have been held with US. Meanwhile, Pakistan trying to position as the key mediator, with reports of a possible meeting of US & Iranian delegations in Islamabad. #CutTheClutter Episode 1815 explains Trump's incoherent & changing end goals in Iran— from regime change to nuclear weapon & a possible deal. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief also looks at how Trump has used ambiguity to declare victory or negotiate ‘deals'----more----Read The New York Times article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/us/politics/trump-iran-offramp.html

App-based cab drivers in Gurugram associated with platforms like Uber and Ola went on strike on March 23, demanding mandatory KYC verification for passengers. The protest has disrupted ride availability across the city, leaving commuters struggling to book cabs. Samah Qundeel explains the key demands.

The low-budget movie, Adamya (The Unbroken), captures the life of a young Communist who chooses the barrel of the gun over the ballot box. Released on 13 February in limited theatres, the movie, directed by Ranjan Ghosh and presented by veteran director Aparna Sen, has become a regular favourite for the audience. Reviewers have critically acclaimed the movie, and a raging debate has started in West Bengal. Watch Author & ThePrint Columnist Deep Halder explain:   To Read: https://theprint.in/feature/naxal-film-adamya-political-buzz-west-bengal/2881975/

As critics accuse PM Modi of surrendering national sovereignty and India's moral compass over Iran crisis, declassified documents show the dilemmas he faces are not new. Watch #ThePrintSecurityCode with Praveen Swami.

Today's tensions between Iran and Israel dominate global headlines—but this conflict was not always inevitable. Once strategic partners, the two nations collaborated on intelligence and defence. But revolutions, wars, and shifting alliances transformed cooperation into confrontation. This video explores the deeper geopolitical forces—oil, ideology, and the Palestinian issue—that shaped this rivalry.----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/iran-israel-werent-enemies-allies/2884582/

The Iran war is escalating and one side thinks India is punching way above its weight. The other thinks Modi has undermined India and it punches below its strength. Both are wrong. Through its independent history, then (Congress era) and now (under Modi), India has punched according to its weight. It has, however, always had an exaggerated sense of its own power and authority—more moral, philosophical and ideological in the past; more strategic, economic and spiritual now. Watch this week's #NationalInterest with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta

Iran's Kharg island is at the centre of Gulf war, with Trump reportedly mulling a takeover as tensions escalate. #CutTheClutter Episode 1814 looks at the strategic importance & geography of the tiny island, which is also Iran's key oil hub. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why the island is crucial to Iran, and how it was at the centre of earlier Gulf war.

What has SC squashed the case against Elvish Yadav? ----more---- https://theprint.in/judiciary/anti-bodies-not-snake-venom-why-sc-quashed-case-against-youtuber-elvish-yadav/2883746/

Iran targeted energy infrastructure across Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia & UAE, after Israel struck South Pars- Iran's biggest natural gas complex. South Pars is part of the world's biggest oil field shared by Iran & Qatar. #CutTheClutter Ep 1813 explains the unique geography & significance of South Pars. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also details how the Arab states have reacted, and why this may mark a new phase in the Gulf War.

https://theprint.in/politics/was-insulted-had-difficulty-surviving-assam-mp-pradyut-bordoloi-joins-bjp-after-quitting-congress/2882369/

Soon after announcing assembly poll schedule Sunday, Election Commission transferred 44 IAS, IPS, other civil servants in 4 states, including Bengal, ‘without consulting state govt'.   https://theprint.in/india/mamata-says-eci-transferred-officers-by-breaking-convention-what-former-ecs-say-on-the-norm/2882134/

Assembly Elections will be held in 4 states and one Union Territory next month. With the election schedule announced, the campaigning has already begun and politics is heating up. In #CutTheClutter Episode 1812, Shekhar Gupta and DK Singh explain what's at stake in these crucial elections for each political party - from BJP to Congress, and LDF in Kerala to TMC in West Bengal. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief & Political Editor also explain what the poll outcome could mean for key leaders: Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala, Vijay & Stalin in Tamil Nadu, and Mamata in West Bengal.

ThePrintPOD: Complaint filed by members of BJP Yuva Morcha after video of Muslim group on the boat went viral. Police say appropriate action will be taken.   https://theprint.in/india/14-held-in-varanasi-for-iftar-party-with-chicken-biryani-on-boat-in-ganga-hurting-hindu-sentiments/2882120/

Joe Kent, who led the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to President Donald Trump and posted publicly on X on Tuesday, 17 March. In the letter, he said he could not support the war “in good conscience”. Samah Qundeel explains who he is and what his resignation means for the Trump administration.

BJP has tamed many regional parties—both allies and adversaries. How Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry polls are a win-win for BJP in terms of its expansion plans, ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh looks at the BJP's stakes in coming assembly polls in this episode of #politicallycorrect   To Read: https://theprint.in/opinion/amit-shah-wont-lose-sleep-over-kerala-tamil-nadu-puducherry-assam-bengal-is-different/2880526/

Nishikant-led House panel flags ‘regulatory gaps' in online media & OTT, calls for more PIB fact-checks

Israel has claimed that it killed Iran's most powerful leader & country's top security official Ali Larijani in overnight strikes. #CutTheClutter Episode 1804 traces Ali Larijani's journey & his rise from a science student, philosopher to Ayatollah's Khamenei's closest confidant & the most significant person in Iran's power structure. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why his ‘killing' would be a blow to country's leadership.

What began as a routine two-seat election to Rajya Sabha turned into a midnight drama of cancelled ballots, EC scrutiny and voting patterns likely to have left the Congress unsettled.

As Iran chokes the Strait of Hormuz, #CutTheClutter Ep 1810 looks at rivalries between gulf countries that prevented an alternative to the critical water passage. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains Saudi Arabia & UAE's oil pipelines, when they were built & limitations.

Iran faces a choice that is larger than the immediate conduct of war. It can continue the logic of short-term escalation, or it can think in the longer historical frame.

Rating democracies is a tricky business.  Something makes the Indian Subcontinent different. All of its nations, from the Maldives through Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan have regular elections. Of course the quality of democracy varies, let's say from Pakistan at the lowest rung to India. Peaceful power transfers followed uprisings in India's neighbourhood— from Bangladesh, Nepal to Sri Lanka. Watch this week's #NationalInterest with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta   

एलपीजी की कमी, ईरान के खिलाफ छेड़ा गया युद्ध और ईरान के परमाणु कार्यक्रम से लेकर भारत-बांग्लादेश संबंधों तक-- दिप्रिंट के शो #ShekharSeSawaal में दिप्रिंट के एडिटर-इन-चीफ शेखर गुप्ता दे रहे हैं आपके सवालों का जवाब अपूर्वा मंधानी के साथ.

Iran war & the closure of Strait of Hormuz has affected global oil supply and resulted in LPG ‘crisis' in India. In episode 1809 of Cut The Clutter, Shekhar Gupta, Editor-In-Chief, ThePrint looks at India's imports of LPG & LNG, how much do we consume & measures undertaken by Modi govt to address the concerns. Udit Bubna joins in.

Two weeks on and the US-Israel and Iran war has only escalated. And what we have been seeing is aerial warfare. Israel & US have been launching attacks from airborne assets whereas Iran is targeting US missile defences with missiles & drones, launched from the ground. In Cut The Clutter Episode 1808, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at the big picture emerging from the war, and what air power can & cannot achieve by itself. He also looks at lessons from the Iraq war & US air-campaign then.

ThePrintAM: Why did SC allow passive euthanasia in Harish Rana case?

Three commercial ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate in the US-Israel Vs Iran war. Nearly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through the narrow sea passage between Iran and Oman, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy. But the story of Hormuz is not just about geopolitics. In Cut The Clutter Episode 1807, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at its strategic importance, geography & geology. --------------------------------------------

The IMD Tuesday announced that Delhi is undergoing a spell of dense fog, but what are the underlying reasons? What is the reason behind Delhi's AQI rising sharply from 172 on Friday to 265 on Tuesday? Watch #ThePrintVideo with Akanksha Mishra to find out.

Five members of Iran's women's national football team have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during a match with South Korea at the AFC Women's Asian Cup. The decision allows them to remain in Australia amid concerns that they could face punishment if they returned to Iran. Samah Qundeel explains.

https://theprint.in/india/ping-pong-witness-satsang-that-never-was-gaps-in-cbi-probe-that-led-to-hc-acquittal-for-ram-rahim/2874087/

#cuttheclutter The sinking of Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters off the Sri Lankan coast in Indian Ocean has raised questions over the 'legality' of American action at sea. After the US attack,Sri Lanka allowed another Iranian ship to dock. Meanwhile External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar today told the Parliament that India had granted docking permission to an Iranian naval vessel (IRIS Lavan) on 'humanitarian grounds'. #CutTheClutter Episode 1806 looks at the international law of naval warfare and what it says about the legality of the US sinking of an Iranian ship. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why in the many laws of war, two Iranian ships found refuge from India & Sri Lanka, while one was sunk by US. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Watch CutTheClutter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZ574bLX50 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To visit ThePrint Store: https://store.theprint.in/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced By: Mahira Khan

  #nationalinterest Trump has ushered in the age of humiliation. His method is to push around America's friends rudely and publicly. How do India and Modi respond to this? ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta argues that Modi's stoicism abroad needs much humility at home. Watch this week's #NationalInterest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/trump-brings-the-age-of-humiliation-for-friends-modi-needs-stoicism-abroad-humility-at-home/2871925/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To visit ThePrint Store: https://store.theprint.in/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced by: Mahira Khan

Salahuddin Sumon and Nilay Kumar Biswas were the two Bangladeshis on a recent trip to Antarctica. Ice caps and penguins weren't the only highlight. The duo witnessed breathtaking natural beauty, rare animals in their natural habitat, the debilitating effects of climate change on ice caps, and something they had not expected from their fellow travellers: in-your-face racism. Watch Author & ThePrint Columnist Deep Halder explain: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read column: https://theprint.in/feature/bangladesh-youtuber-antarctica-racism-salahuddin-sumon/2865424/

CutTheClutter: China sets lowest growth target since 1991,moves priorities & what US gets wrong about Indian growth

'India is not alone in encountering this dynamic, but its high oil import dependence and increasing energy demand render its exposure particularly significant.' Watch Bidisha Bhattacharya, Associate Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation, explain in #ThePrintEconomix

Colombo mounts rescue op for IRIS Bushehr, whose engine malfunctioned near its Exclusive Economic Zone, while upholding neutrality after US torpedoing of IRIS Dena off Lankan coast.  

Chinese discourse places particular emphasis on the role of the US, evaluating both the strategic feasibility of deeper American involvement and the broader geopolitical consequences. Watch Sana Hashmi explain why China views India as as an emerging variable in the US - China AI equation, on this week's #EyeOnChina --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read Column: https://theprint.in/opinion/eye-on-china/how-china-sees-irans-post-khamenei-trajectory-it-depends-on-four-factors/2870248/

Did you expect Dubai to become a target in the current Iran conflict? I certainly did not. And neither, I suspect, did the residents of Dubai themselves. When I heard about the explosions in the city, my first reaction was that these were caused by the interception of missiles that were overflying Dubai on their way to US bases in the region. Never did it occur to me that Iran would send drones to attack civilian targets in Dubai, specifically selecting those with the greatest chance of hurting foreign tourists and visitors.

https://theprint.in/politics/who-is-christopher-tilak-congresss-unusual-choice-for-rajya-sabha-seat-in-tamil-nadu/2870418/

CutTheClutter: Iranian warship torpedoed by US submarine:Questions,political blamegame in India & Tehran's 2 navies

What compelled Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to pave the way for the likely installation of a BJP CM? What does it mean to the BJP, the JD(U) and the Opposition RJD? ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh answers these and more questions in this episode of #PoliticallyCorrect

CutTheClutter: US-Israel war on Iran: Why Trump-Netanyahu regime change goal is perilous, learnings from ME

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel has not only dominated domestic headlines but also gained sharp attention in international circles. The timing is significant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently urged the formation of a new regional bloc, describing the Middle East as divided between “radical Sunni and Shia axes”.' Watch this week's column for ThePrint by Amana Begam Ansari.----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/modi-israel-indian-muslims-faith-foreign-policy/2864952/

Carney is 1st Canadian PM in 8 years to have a bilateral India visit. Ties nosedived almost 3 years ago after Canada's allegations that New Delhi was of 'interfering' in Ottawa's affairs.

On 27 February, a Delhi trial court dismissed the CBI case against the 23 accused in the Delhi liquor policy case, slamming the CBI for procedural lapses & reliance on hearsay evidence.

China has been quieter since the Gen-Z Movement in Nepal, considering Beijing has its own red lines, especially after Tiananmen Square Protests in 1989—a pro-democracy uprising.

ThePrintPOD: What closure of Strait of Hormuz means for India's oil & gas supply