Delhi heatwave: The temperature in Indian capital showed 43.5C. Why did it feel hotter?

BBC  |  Geeta Pandey

Delhi is battling a severe heatwave, with the Indian Meteorological Department recording an air temperature of 43.5C, yet thermal cameras deployed by Greenpeace India measured surface temperatures up to 64C in some areas. This significant discrepancy arises because roads, concrete, and vehicles absorb and radiate heat, making urban environments feel considerably hotter than official air temperatures, especially without shade or vegetation.

The Budget Pakistan Never Sees

Brief

Pakistan's Ministry of Finance published two budget documents on June 12, highlighting a Rs 7 trillion difference between the announced federal expenditure of Rs 18.77 trillion and gross federal flows of Rs 25-26 trillion. This disparity arises from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which mandates an Rs 8,848 billion constitutional transfer to provinces before federal operations are funded.

Japan and the Philippines Join Forces to Resist PRC Coercion

Jamestown  |  Matthew Fulco

Japan and the Philippines are solidifying their bilateral cooperation into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to counter Chinese coercion, particularly regarding a potential Taiwan Strait contingency. This partnership, codified in their new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, challenges the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) irredentist maritime claims by encompassing defense hardware, intelligence sharing, and maritime delimitation in waters east of Taiwan, contesting Beijing’s claims through international law.

Where Are They Now

Eye on China  |  Amit Kumar, Satya S. Sahu

The United States' export controls on advanced AI chips have yielded mixed results in constraining China's AI progress, despite recent enforcement actions. Taiwan's Keelung District Prosecutors’ Office executed search warrants on May 21, 2026, detaining three individuals for allegedly smuggling Super Micro servers with restricted NVIDIA chips to China, following a US Department of Justice indictment charging Super Micro's co-founder, Wally Liaw, with diverting approximately US$2.5 billion worth of NVIDIA-powered servers.

China Didn’t Make Americans Hate Data Centers

Wired  |  Molly Taft

US right-wing officials and data center investors are increasingly alleging that the growing opposition to data centers in the United States is being funded and influenced by the Chinese government. OpenAI recently reported on Chinese-origin accounts spreading anti-data-center messages, though it found no "meaningful breakout" of this content.

China controls trade choke points beyond rare earths. It’s squeezing them.

The Washington Post  |  Rebecca Tan

China is quietly expanding its export control regime against the United States and American allies, strategically moving beyond its historical focus on rare earth minerals. This new phase involves pinching critical choke points within global supply chains, which directly affect a range of key U.S. industries. The practical impact of this escalating economic pressure is clearly illustrated by the stalled negotiations between SpaceX and a Chinese solar technology firm, demonstrating Beijing's growing capacity to exert influence.

Opinion – Why the Original Thucydides Trap Fails the Taiwan Strait Crisis

E-International Relations  |  Jinghao Zhou

At the U.S.–China summit in May 2016, Xi Jinping warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to a Thucydides Trap, a concept the author argues is misapplied in its original form to the current Taiwan Strait crisis. The situation involves China, the United States, and Taiwan, all caught in a cycle of believing military power can resolve conflict, leading to escalating tensions.

China Warns AI Could Become a Battlefield ‘Yes-Man’

NextGen Defense  |  Rojoef Manuel

China's military warns that artificial intelligence (AI) systems could become battlefield "yes-men," prioritizing user alignment over factual accuracy and trapping commanders in "information cocoons." This issue, highlighted in a recent article published by Beijing’s military newspaper _PLA Daily_, poses a serious risk as the People’s Liberation Army expands AI use for command, intelligence analysis, and war simulations.

China’s Approach to Unrestricted Warfare: Strategy, Tactics, and Global Implications

Modern Diplomacy  |  Eraj Farooqui

China's approach to warfare has evolved dramatically in the 21st century, blurring the lines between military and non-military instruments to achieve strategic objectives. Beijing employs "unrestricted warfare" and "hybrid warfare" concepts, utilizing diverse tools including cyber operations, information campaigns, legal measures, and economic influence. This strategy, influenced by the 1999 book "Unrestricted Warfare" and the 2003 "three warfare" doctrine (media, psychological, legal), allows China to pursue goals without direct military confrontation, particularly against the United States.

The Iran-US MoU and its Ramifications on Global Order

Niti Shastra  |  Navroop Singh, Himja Parekh

The newly announced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran has decisively ended a months-long conflict, fundamentally rewriting international system rules. Driven by crippling US domestic economic pressures, a depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the imperative to remain competitive in the global AI race, the Trump administration abandoned its "Maximum Pressure" doctrine.

The Face of Modern Britain: Jihad’s Triumph

American Greatness | Roger Kimball

Keir Starmer's description of Muslims as "the face of modern Britain" and a "success story when it comes to diversity" is critically examined, alongside his efforts to legislate against "Islamophobia" or "anti-Muslim hostility." The author challenges the notion that fearing a religion whose adherents explicitly seek death or destruction is irrational, referencing victims of terrorism like Daniel Pearl and the 9/11 attacks.

Russia was behind arson attacks targeting PM, BBC reveals

BBC News  |  Daniel De Simone, Tom Beal, Olga Malchevska

Fires targeting properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer were part of an extensive Russian state campaign of sabotage, provocation, and lies, the BBC has revealed. Roman Lavrynovych, a 22-year-old Ukrainian builder, was convicted of conspiring to commit arson after attacking the UK Prime Minister's house, directed by an anonymous handler identified as Evgeny Lyukshin, a 23-year-old Russian diplomat.

Russia’s Irrecoverable Losses: Industrial Limits and the Future of Strategic Power

Geopoliticalmonitor | Turan Darishov

Russia's visually confirmed losses in Ukraine exceed 3,000 tanks, 8,000 infantry fighting vehicles, and 1,000 artillery systems, alongside severe casualties among other assets, raising critical questions about Moscow’s ability to replenish and modernize its arsenal under wartime constraints. While Russia can still produce conventional equipment like T-90M tanks, BMP-3 IFVs, and Su-35S fighters, it struggles to replace Soviet-era platforms such as the T-80 tank family and Su-25 aircraft.

Israel cannot applaud an Iran deal that leaves key threats intact - editorial

Jpost

The reported US-Iran deal, while potentially beneficial for oil markets and the White House, is not considered a success by Israel unless it demonstrably weakens Iran's ability to threaten its neighbors. Israel's assessment hinges on whether Iran's nuclear program has been dismantled, its enriched uranium removed, its missiles and drones addressed, and Hezbollah pushed back, all while preserving Israel’s freedom to act.

Elon Musk's stratospheric rise to trillionaire status - in charts

BBC News  |  Phil Leake, Jess Carr, Daniel Thomas, Katherine Gaynor, Miguel Roca-Terry

Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire on Friday, reaching an estimated net worth of about $1.11tn following the record-breaking stock market debut of his company SpaceX. This places him significantly above other wealthy billionaires like Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault. Musk's wealth trajectory has been volatile, surging from $28bn in January 2020 due to the sharp growth of Tesla and SpaceX.

Trump Has His Iran Deal. How Soon Until Oil Prices Come Down?

Foreign Policy  |  Keith Johnson

Iran and the United States have reached a memorandum of understanding to end direct hostilities, particularly within the contested Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. This significant agreement immediately prompts questions regarding the speed at which inflated global oil prices will decrease. Benchmark crude prices were already trending lower on Monday, June 15, 2026, following news of the understanding, with Brent contracts for August trading at $83 a barrel.

The Great Data Center Race

Geopolitical Futures

The global race to build data centers has intensified, becoming a critical competition for AI leadership among nations. The United States maintains dominance, leveraging its AI firms, cloud providers, and capital markets to scale infrastructure. China is mobilizing state resources to expand domestic compute capacity, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign technology.

How emerging tech is rewriting cyberwarfare

TechRadar  |  Nadir Izrael

Emerging technologies are fundamentally redefining modern cyberwarfare strategy, accelerating operations and expanding the reach of digital conflict. AI is lowering the barrier to entry for adversaries, enabling automated reconnaissance, exploit generation, and scaled campaigns at an unprecedented pace. This rapid AI innovation outruns current cybersecurity policies for 65% of global IT decision-makers, with 79% concerned that nation-states will use AI for sophisticated attacks.

What We Do and Don’t Know About the U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

Foreign Policy | John Haltiwanger

The United States and Iran announced on Sunday, June 15, 2026, a preliminary deal to end their monthslong war, a conflict that has killed thousands and wreaked significant havoc on the global economy. This agreement marks a positive step forward in a peace process that had been stalled for several weeks, offering a potential de-escalation.

Cyber leaders urge US to lift curbs on Anthropic's security models

Reuters  |  Zaheer Kachwala

Cybersecurity leaders from major U.S. firms, including Nvidia and Adobe, have urged the Trump administration to lift restrictions on Anthropic's powerful AI models, arguing that current bans hinder efforts to prevent digital attacks. This appeal follows Washington's Friday order for Anthropic to suspend foreign national access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models due to national security concerns.

Bowen: Iran deal ends Trump's war that revealed limit of US dominance

BBC  |  Jeremy Bowen

An agreement between the United States and Iran has ended a war initiated by the US and Israel on February 28, which President Donald Trump considered his worst foreign policy blunder. This memorandum of understanding re-opens the Strait of Hormuz, lifts the US Navy's blockade of Iranian ports, and extends the ceasefire, easing pressure on the global economy and preventing potential hunger in poor countries, particularly in Africa south of the Sahara, due to fertiliser production impacts.

Counter-drone tech is gaining major traction

Asia Times  |  Stephen Bryen

Ukraine is developing cutting-edge counter-drone technology, including specialized "drone killers" that intercept incoming lethal drones, and is now marketing its locally produced system to the Middle East and NATO. This advancement comes as drones have become potent battlefield weapons with deep strike capabilities, used by Ukraine to target Russian strategic bombers, AWACS aircraft, long-range radars, oil installations, port facilities, and the Black Sea fleet.

US Finally Capitulates with 'Memorandum' of Surrender

Simplicius  

The US has reportedly capitulated in its conflict with Iran, agreeing to a memorandum of understanding highly favorable to the Islamic Republic, which includes an alleged $300 billion "Reconstruction and Development Fund" for Iran. This fund, described by Reuters as a private investment vehicle, has over half its capital already committed by international companies for energy, logistics, manufacturing, and transport projects.

Empire at the Chokepoint: How Iran shattered American-Israeli myth of invincibility

Niti Shastra  |  Navroop Singh, Himja Parekh

The memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, announced on June 14, 2026, fundamentally reshuffled Middle East power dynamics, despite the Trump administration framing it as a victory. This three-phase agreement included an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports in 30 days, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, though Iran reserved the right to impose “maritime service fees” under joint Iranian-Omani management.

Trump's Iran announcement may ease pressure but uncertainty lingers

BBC News  |  Anthony Zurcher

US President Donald Trump announced a deal to end hostilities between the US and Iran, coinciding with his birthday, which he hailed as securing "peace and security to the whole region." The agreement stipulates the Strait of Hormuz will open for commercial shipping and the US naval blockade will be lifted, with Trump exclaiming, "Let the oil flow!"