
Ohio vs Akula: US to send its powerful submarine to Russia, will it start nuclear war? will Putin...
Washington, DC: Following the comments of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, United States President Donald Trump has directed two nuclear submarines to position themselves in the 'appropriate region.' He took to Truth Social and wrote, 'I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.'
What Exactly Did Dmitry Medvedev Say?
Currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev shared a post on Telegram, warning the US President about the 'Dead Hand'. 'As for the talk about the 'dead economies' of India and Russia, and 'entering dangerous territory' – maybe he should recall his favorite movies about 'the walking dead,' and also remember how dangerous the so-called 'Dead Hand,' which doesn't even exist, could be,' he wrote in the post.
Russian MP's Reply To Trump
However, the Kremlin has not reacted to Trump's threat but a senior MP named Viktor Vodolatsky has issued a warning to the US President that Russia has more nuclear subs to deal with US submarines coming to his country.
'The number of Russian nuclear submarines in the world's oceans is much more than the US submarines and the areas to which US President Donald Trump has ordered to send submarines have been under their control for a long time,' he said.
The aggressive statements given by the top leadership of both countries ignited the possibility of a war under the oceans.
Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine
America has Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) which are known for their nuclear weapons capability and stealth capability. The Navy has 14 nuclear submarines, loaded with long-range Trident II D5 missiles, 20 each. These missiles are capable of destroying a large area.
US's Fast Attack Submarines
Apart from SSBN, the US has three types of nuclear-powered attack submarines—Virginia-class, Seawolf-class and Los Angeles-class. These subs are loaded with deadly Tomahawk missiles, Harpoon missiles and MK-48 torpedoes, capable of destroying any ship and submarine. These attack submarines are designed to search for and destroy enemy ships.
The US also has 24 Virginia-class SSNs and three Seawolf-class submarines.
Russia's Submarine Fleet, The Largest In The World
It is to be noted that Russia has one of the largest submarine fleets in the world. The country has a total of 64 powerful subs. These subs include 14 SSBNs, Borei-class and Delta IV-class. 8 Borei-class SSBNs, which are equipped with 16 Bulava SLBMs and six 533 mm torpedo launchers.
These submarines are capable of firing rockets and under sea mines, making them more dangerous than other subs.
The Russian Navy also has 4 Yasen-class nuclear attack submarines. These subs are small in size so that they can attack with great speed. Russia also has 5 Akula class submarines, which are known for their super-destructive powers.
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Economic Times
3 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Trump tariffs aren't scaring India's new businesses
TIL Creatives Despite Trump's tariff threats, India's economy shows resilience with a surge in new business registrations US President Donald Trump seems to be escalating his tariff war on India. He has again threatened substantial tariffs against the country for purchasing Russian oil and 'selling it on the open market for big profits". Trump had last week announced a 25% duty on all Indian goods in addition to a penalty for buying a 'vast majority' of Russian military equipment and crude oil. Though India has not announced any tit-for-tat tariffs, the India-US trade stalemate seems to be worsening. India is not submitting to Trump's threats. It has called out the hypocrisy of the US and EU for continuing to import various goods from Russia while pressuring India not to do so. Risks to India's economy and businesses can blow up if Trump slaps more tariffs on all the gloom spread by Trump's tariff threats has failed to deter new businesses in India. Fresh registrations of companies rose for the seventh straight month in July and those of limited liability partnerships surged for five months in a row, said an ET report citing the latest corporate affairs ministry many as 17,555 companies, including overseas entities, were incorporated in July, an 18% increase from 14,887 a year earlier. Similarly, the number of LLPs that got registered in July rose by a quarter to 7,343. Between April and July, the number of companies that got incorporated jumped over 26% from a year before to 78,696, the data showed. During this period, 30,411 LLPs got registered, a 29% rise from a year before. Also Read: US to 'substantially' raise tariff on India, says Trump Despite the external threats such as tariffs and domestic challenges such as low demand, India is still projected to retain its status as the world's fastest-growing major economy this fiscal year and the next. 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The economy has the look and feel of 'steady as she goes' as far as FY26 is concerned, the Finance Ministry's Monthly Economic Review for June said, even though it pointed out downside risks. Also Read: Trump's staffing gaps complicate India's bid to ease US tensions "The Indian economy in mid-2025 presents a picture of cautious optimism," the review said. "Despite global headwinds marked by trade tensions, geopolitical volatility, and external uncertainties, India's macroeconomic fundamentals have remained resilient. Aided by robust domestic demand, fiscal prudence and monetary support, India appears poised to continue as one of the fastest-growing major economies, with various forecasters, including S&P, ICRA, and the RBI's Survey of Professional Forecasters, projecting GDP growth rates for FY26 in the range of 6.2 per cent and 6.5 per cent." The Finance Ministry report also indicated room for further rate cuts for the RBI. "Core inflation remains subdued, and overall inflation is comfortably below the RBI's 4 per cent target, affording room for the easing cycle to be sustained," it said. A global slowdown could further dampen demand for Indian exports and continued uncertainty on US tariffs may weigh on the country's trade performance in coming quarters, the finance ministry review 25% US tariffs and possibly higher as Trump has threatened will certainly dilute the positive outlook, a trade deal with the US this year can't be ruled out even as other trade agreements will create new avenues for Indian across companies said there is a visible revival of demand in India after months of slowing sales. They are tapping into this recovery with more investments, distribution, equipment and innovation, ET has reported chief executive Tim Cook said growth in India accelerated in the June quarter with the iPhone maker reporting record revenue driven by double-digit expansion in smartphones, Macs and services. It's not just Apple that's upbeat on India. A dozen global chiefs of large companies such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, PepsiCo, Nestle, Mondelez, Whirlpool, LG, Domino's, AO Smith and FedEx have renewed their bet on the country after a challenging phase. The CEOs were speaking on earnings calls for the last is a key growth market for global companies given that various large categories are still underserved. Companies said they are increasing their focus on India with the revival of demand visible after unseasonal rains and geopolitical tensions weighed down sales since overall household consumption is set to pick up in the next two to three quarters on rural strength, a Swiss brokerage said on Tuesday. Softened inflation, which boosts purchasing power, improving crop outlook on good monsoons and a USD 20 billion social welfare spends on women are set to strengthen rural consumption, UBS Securities said in a report. Urban consumption will "stabilise" on aspects like RBI's rate cuts, USD 10 billion of policy stimulus through personal income tax changes and improved availability of credit, it of Indian Industry (CII) President, Rajiv Memani, has countered prevailing market sentiment about private capital expenditure, asserting that while there's a perception of a slowdown, private capex is actually taking place across various industry sectors in the country. "There's an atmosphere suggesting that private capex is not happening, but actually capex is happening," Memani said last month, citing data showing consistent private investment over the past three years. The CII President pointed to robust corporate fundamentals as evidence of ongoing investment activity. "If you look at listed companies and attend their AGMs, you'll find that CII members are looking to increase capex. Everyone has strong balance sheets, low debt, and the ability to raise funds from public markets," he external risks and domestic uncertainties do pose challenges to economic growth, India's structural story remains resurgent which gives confidence to new businesses as well as top companies.
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First Post
5 minutes ago
- First Post
80 years after Hiroshima: Nuclear threat still looms over global security
History, with its grim cycles and painful lessons, has every reason to indict humanity. In the week marking the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russia announced it no longer considers itself bound by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, blaming 'the actions of Western countries' for creating a 'direct threat' to its security. Last Friday, US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines 'in appropriate regions' following what he described as 'highly provocative comments' by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is ironic that nuclear weapons still exist, despite the well-known devastation they cause to the planet—and the threat of nuclear sabre-rattling remains as constant as the air we breathe. Aside from white lilies and sombre memorial services for the dead, and sympathy for those emotionally and physically maimed by the two blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, little has moved forward in practical terms. In the prologue of her book Nuclear War: A Scenario, Annie Jacobsen describes a frightening vision of what the next nuclear bomb explosion might look like. For now, it is only imagination—but reality would unfold within minutes if the bombs were ever detonated, for whatever reason. She writes: 'A 1-megaton thermonuclear weapon detonation begins with a flash of light and heat so tremendous it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend. One hundred and Eighty million degrees Fahrenheit is four or five times hotter than the temperature that occurs at the center of the Earth's sun. In the first fraction of a second this thermonuclear bomb strikes… there is light…. Soft X-ray light with a very short wavelength. The light superheats the surrounding air to a millions of degrees, creating a massive fireball that expands at millions of miles per hour. Within a few seconds, this fireball increases to a diameter of a little more than a mile (5,700 feet across), its light and heat so intense that concrete surfaces explode, metal objects melt or evaporate, stone shatters, humans instantaneously convert into combusting carbon.' This, of course, is Jacobsen's speculative scenario of what might happen if a nuclear bomb were to strike the Pentagon outside Washington. But if such an event were to occur, her imagined horror would become exact, unbearable reality. In the 653-page book The Effects of Nuclear War, authored along with Philip J Dolan, Samuel Galsstone writes, 'There are inherent difficulties in making exact measurements of weapons effects. The results are often dependent upon circumstances, which are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to control even in tests and would certainly be unpredictable in the event of an attack.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Then, after the immediate destruction there is the curse of a nuclear winter which is inevitable. A legacy of devastation, a present of peril Eighty years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed more than 200,000 people and left haunting reminders of nuclear warfare, the world remains on edge. Far from fading into the pages of history, nuclear weapons continue to cast a long, ominous shadow over global peace and security. While the world has avoided another nuclear strike since 1945, today's risks may be even more acute driven by geopolitical volatility, advancing technologies and the slow unravelling of disarmament frameworks. A world still armed to the teeth As of early 2025, the global stockpile of nuclear warheads stands at approximately 12,241, with the vast majority—over 90 per cent—held by United States and Russia. This massive arsenal is not just a relic of the Cold War but a continually modernised force, featuring increasingly sophisticated delivery systems and warhead designs, Andrew Hammond writes in The Business Times. While global treaties have aimed to curb proliferation, they have done little to dismantle the core of existing nuclear forces. Slowing clock of disarmament The post-Cold War era witnessed a surge of hope for nuclear disarmament. Treaties such as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start) and initiatives like the Nuclear Security Summits led to tangible reductions and enhanced controls over nuclear materials. However, this progress has since slowed, if not reversed. Today, the momentum has shifted towards rearmament. The United States is developing a new generation of nuclear weapons and has indicated an openness to resuming nuclear testing. Meanwhile, China has more than tripled its arsenal, reaching around 600 warheads. These developments have reignited fears of a new arms race, especially as Russia also pursues advanced systems like hypersonic missiles and underwater nuclear drones. Submarines are indeed deadly platforms for nuclear launches. Efforts such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which came into force in 2021, have garnered support from many non-nuclear states. Yet, they have been largely dismissed by nuclear-armed nations. The global appetite for disarmament, once buoyed by the horrors of Hiroshima, is faltering in the face of renewed strategic competition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tensions in a fragile world Geopolitical fault lines are increasingly volatile, exacerbating the risk of nuclear conflict. Recent exchanges between Medvedev and Trump over nuclear threats serve as stark reminders of how easily diplomatic tensions can veer into dangerous territory. Medvedev's reference to Russia's 'Dead Hand' nuclear retaliation system and Trump's counter by repositioning submarines closer to Russia are not just posturing, they reflect the peril of miscalculation in today's hyper-charged political climate. Other hotspots, including the enduring India-Pakistan conflict and North Korea's relentless nuclear testing, add layers of complexity. These regions combine deep-seated historical animosities with nuclear capabilities, making them particularly susceptible to escalation. Iran, for its part, remains a significant concern. Reeling from attacks on its nuclear facilities, Tehran may further accelerate its nuclear programme, potentially pushing other regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Turkey toward similar ambitions. Technology: The new wildcard While nuclear weapons have always embodied existential danger, emerging technologies are making the nuclear scenario even more unpredictable. Artificial intelligence, cyber warfare and advanced missile defence systems are disrupting the traditional logic of nuclear deterrence. According to Hammond, AI-driven systems, if poorly managed, could make decisions faster than human operators can verify, increasing the likelihood of misjudgements. Meanwhile, cyberattacks on nuclear command and control systems could trigger false alarms or disable safeguards. The potential for accidental launches or misinterpreted threats has grown significantly in an era of digital warfare and machine decision-making. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the Cold War and into the 1990s, several false alarms nearly triggered nuclear war due to technical errors and misinterpretations. In the 1950s, a flock of Canadian geese was mistaken for a Soviet bomber attack by radar systems. The 1960s saw meteor showers and radar reflections from the moon falsely indicating a missile strike, while in 1979, a human error led to a false nuclear alert, causing Norad (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to scramble fighter jets. A year later, a faulty computer chip triggered a similar scare, prompting the preparation of B-52 bombers and the President's emergency aircraft. The most serious incident occurred in 1995 when a Norwegian research rocket was misidentified by Russian systems as a US nuclear missile, prompting president Boris Yeltsin to consider a retaliatory strike, an act he ultimately resisted, narrowly avoiding catastrophe. Terrorism threat Beyond state actors, the threat of nuclear terrorism has not disappeared. While acquiring a functional nuclear weapon remains a high barrier for non-state groups, the possibility of a radiological dispersal device (dirty bomb) is far more feasible. Such a weapon would use conventional explosives to spread radioactive material, potentially causing mass panic, economic chaos and long-term contamination of urban centres.. Hammond mentions former US defence secretary Robert Gates who once remarked that the thought of a terrorist obtaining a nuclear weapon was what kept him awake at night. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Treaties undermined, norms at risk International treaties and arms control frameworks that once served as guardrails are now fraying. The Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, was set just one second from midnight earlier this year, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe. Eighty years after Hiroshima, the world faces a dual nuclear threat: that of state-led warfare and non-state terrorism. While the horrors of 1945 forged a powerful global aversion to nuclear war, that consensus is under threat. The only way to ensure nuclear weapons are never used again is to eliminate them altogether. Eight decades on, the urgency of that mission has never been clearer.


Mint
5 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump's U-turn: After accusing Zelensky of ‘starting war', how US is using Ukraine to justify tariff on ‘friend' India
The day was February 28, 2025 and the White House prepared to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. When the two leaders met, they shook hands and politely discussed diplomatic matters among other things. Minutes later, the meeting turned into a shouting match between Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president emphasised the need for 'security guarantees for Ukraine' for any deal to happen. That started the clash, with the United States accusing Ukraine of being ungrateful for American support and of 'stalling' peace talks with Russia – warning, 'You're either going to make a deal, or we're out.' 'You see the hatred he's got for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. That's tough to make a deal with that kind of hate,' Trump said as the whole world watched on LIVE television. Accused of 'starting the war', Zelensky left and the deal, that would have given the US rights to rare earth minerals in Ukraine, was not signed that day. Cut to July 2025 – Ukraine has now become the flashpoint in Donald Trump's trade war with India. In a stunning shift, Donald Trump, who once pointed the finger at Zelensky for starting the Russia-Ukraine war, has now trained his guns on India – imposing 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties for New Delhi's business ties with Moscow, accusing New Delhi of bankrolling Vladimir Putin's war machine by buying Russian oil. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have spoken over the phone, but not met since Trump returned to the White House in January, despite both leaders expressing their desire for face-to-face talks. After one of the calls that happened in May, the US president said his call with Vladimir Putin went very well and that Moscow and Kyiv 'will immediately start negotiations' toward a ceasefire and end to the war. As Trump sounded hopeful, the Russian president said more 'compromises' were needed. By the end of the month, Trump – sensing no end to the Ukraine war – had started threatening sanctions on Russian products, warning Vladimir Putin that he was 'playing with fire'. Trump even admitted that Putin was not looking to stop Russia's war against Ukraine. 'I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed. I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad,' he said. Donald Trump has often portrayed himself as a dealmaker and global peacemaker, but as Russia refused to fall in line with his expectations, the US president began to show signs of frustration. Buoyed by his own expectations and frustrated over not being able to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end, Trump shifted blame outward. He slapped 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and announced additional penalties for India's business ties with Russia. But Trump didn't stop there. He threatened even more tariffs for India's purchase of Russian oil, accusing the country of 'fueling' the Ukraine war. What could be called a striking twist, Ukraine, a country Trump had once accused of 'starting the war,' is now at the centre of his trade war with India, which he has used as a geopolitical weapon to justify the tariffs on 'friend' India.