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Bhagyashree Garekar

US Bureau Chief

Bhagya is US bureau chief at The Straits Times. She was foreign editor at the newspaper from 2020 to 2023 and served as its US correspondent during the Bush and Obama administrations. She produced ST’s first e-book, Myanmar Sunrise, which won an award in 2013 from the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association. In 2015, she wrote Living History, an e-book marking the 170th anniversary of ST and Singapore’s 50th anniversary. Bhagya began her career at India’s top financial daily, The Economic Times, with positions in New Delhi and Mumbai. She is a Jefferson Fellow. 

Latest articles

Huge strategic defeat for the US? There is now a two-week ceasefire but hard questions remain

A protest outside the White House on April 7 against military action in Iran after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Who will blink first? Trump wants talks to end war, but Iran won’t bow easily to pressure

US President Donald Trump takes questions during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on April 6.

Trump’s prime-time speech shows a president torn between escalation and exit

US President Donald Trump delivering an address to the nation about the Iran war at the White House on April 1.

In midst of Iran war, Trump administration keeps an eye on China rivalry

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

Suffering a sense of Iranian betrayal, will Arabs be forced to take a harder stance?

TOPSHOT - An Emirates aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026. Flights were gradually resuming at Dubai airport on March 16, previously the world's busiest for international flights, the airport operator said, after a "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire nearby, as Iran kept up its Gulf attacks. (Photo by AFP) /

Iran’s war machine can only last a few more weeks: Expert

In this episode, Professor Benjamin Radd predicts the remaining lifespan of Iran's regime.

Trump and Takaichi hit it off as she dodges his Iran war rage, also brings up China concerns

US President Donald Trump with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office on March 19.

Fears rise over Iran’s partially enriched uranium pile falling into wrong hands as war deepens 

A satellite image shows damaged buildings at Isfahan military garrison after reported airstrikes, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran, March 8, 2026. Vantor/Handout via REUTERS    THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO.

Trump faces MAGA backlash as online influencers shape the Iran war narrative

US President Donald Trump discussing Operation Epic Fury with (from left) Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Feb 28.

With Trump’s mixed messaging on Iran war end, calm in oil markets may be fleeting

epa12803461 An Iranian man drives past as smoke still rises from Shahran Oil Refinery following last night airstrike in Tehran, Iran, 08 March 2026. A joint Israeli and US military operation continues to target multiple locations across Iran since the early hours of 28 February 2026.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH