PM, Xi Boost India-China Ties With Direct Flights, Trade, Optics

BEIJING, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin is a step forward towards improving the relations between the two countries, as well as strong optics in the wake of Washington's hefty tariffs.

Both Modi and Jinping have welcomed steady progress in their bilateral ties since they last met in Russia for the BRICS summit. They noted that they are partners, and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes.

India and China will resume direct flights in a big step towards reconciliation, Modi noted, but did not give a specific date. The direct flights were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting travellers to pass through Hong Kong or Singapore.

Modi spoke about the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and tourist visas during their meeting. India and China had resumed the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet earlier this year. Last month, India began issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens. Both were suspended during the 2020 pandemic.

The Prime Minister also noted that the two countries should pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country's lens. "The two leaders deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms," said a statement.

India and China relations had soured following the 2020 Galwan clashes, but both nations have been working to mend their ties, with their meeting in Russia's Kazan last year paving the way for further reconciliation. Modi and Xi Jinping noted that the disengagement had led to peace and tranquillity along the border areas.

Jinping also stressed India and China remain "friends and good neighbours". He noted that both are important members of the Global South and should shoulder the responsibility of improving the well-being of the citizens of the two countries.

He further said that India and China should not let the border issue define the overall relationship and work together to maintain peace and tranquillity. He emphasised that the two countries must handle their ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, and promote a sustained, healthy, and stable development of their bilateral relations.

The improvement in ties with China could be helpful for both countries, the largest in the world in terms of population. While the Indian EV sector would benefit by offering room for the Chinese companies to grow, the Chinese economy would also get a boost from greater access to Indian markets.

Both sides have also agreed to reopen border trade following foreign minister-level talks earlier this month, which would help in diversifying trade at a time of severe tariff uncertainties. China has also assured India that it will address its need for rare earth minerals, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines.

Hamas spokesperson and top commander Abu Obaida killed in Gaza strike, says Israel

TEL AVIV, Aug 31: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing and a top commander of the Palestinian militant group, was killed in Gaza over the weekend.

Obaida’s last appearance was on Friday, when he issued a statement as Israel launched the initial phase of a new military offensive in Gaza City, which has been declared a combat zone. Hamas has not yet responded to Israel’s claim.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier confirmed that Israel struck Obaida, the longtime spokesperson of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, though he said it was unclear at the time whether the strike had been fatal.

“I do notice there is no one addressing this question on the Hamas side,” Netanyahu told ministers during a weekly cabinet meeting.

Obaida is the latest Hamas representative to be targeted and killed as Israel intensifies efforts to dismantle the group’s military capacity.

He is also among the last remaining commanders of Hamas in Gaza with Israel eliminating almost all the top commanders over the last two years.

At least 43 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday, most of them in Gaza City, local hospitals reported. Shifa Hospital, the largest in the territory, said 29 bodies were brought to its morgue, including 10 people killed while seeking aid and others struck in various parts of the city.

On Sunday morning, hospital officials confirmed 11 more deaths from airstrikes and gunfire. Al-Awda Hospital said seven of the victims were civilians attempting to reach aid supplies.

Witnesses described Israeli troops firing on crowds in the Netzarim Corridor, a military zone cutting through Gaza.

“We were trying to get food, but we were met with bullets,” said Ragheb Abu Lebda from Nuseirat, who recounted seeing at least three people bleeding from gunshot wounds. “It’s a death trap.”

Hamas Confirms Death Of Its Chief Mohammed Sinwar Months After Israel Said It Killed Him

CAIRO, Aug 31: The Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on Saturday the death of its Gaza military chief, Mohammad Sinwar, a few months after Israel said it killed him in a strike in May.

Hamas did not provide details on Sinwar's death but published pictures of him along with other group leaders, describing them as "martyrs".

Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Islamist faction's chief, who co-masterminded the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and whom Israel had killed in combat a year later.

He was elevated to the top ranks of the group after the death of his brother.

His confirmed death would leave his close associate Izz al-Din Haddad, who currently oversees operations in northern Gaza, in charge of Hamas' armed wing across the whole of the enclave.

Ahead Of PM Modi's Meeting With Putin In China, A Phone Call From Zelensky

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the SCO summit, where they discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and expressed India's full support for efforts to restore peace and stability.

"Thank you, President Zelensky, for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspects, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction," Modi wrote on X.

In his statement, President Zelensky shared details of the conversation, which also covered talks with President Trump and Ukraine's ongoing efforts to engage in peace discussions with Russia. He reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness to meet with Russia's head, despite Russia's continued attacks on civilian targets.

"I spoke with Prime Minister of India @NarendraModi. I informed him about the talks with President Trump in Washington, with the participation of European leaders. It was a productive and important conversation, a shared vision among partners on how to achieve real peace. Ukraine reaffirmed its readiness for a meeting with the head of Russia," Zelensky said.

Zelensky also highlighted the ongoing strikes by Russia, stressing that Moscow has shown no willingness to engage in diplomacy, continuing its attacks on civilians. "Almost two weeks have passed, and during this time, when Russia should have been preparing for diplomacy, Moscow has given no positive signal - only carried out cynical strikes on civilian targets and killed dozens of our people," he said.

Zelensky thanked Modi for his words of condolence to the victims of the attacks and praised India's stance on peace, especially ahead of the SCO Summit. "We coordinated our positions ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire, with the necessary silence. This position is understood and supported by everyone. It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire," he added.

The Ukrainian President further noted, "India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the summit. Thank you."

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations between India and Ukraine, including preparations for upcoming visits and the establishment of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission meeting. Zelensky expressed optimism for future cooperation, saying, "We also discussed our bilateral relations, preparations for the exchange of visits, and the holding of a meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission. There is potential we can realise. I will be glad to meet the Prime Minister in the near future."

This was the second time in the month that Modi and Zelensky have engaged in a telephone conversation.

Modi is scheduled to participate in the 2025 SCO Summit on Sunday, August 31, where he will hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the summit.

The SCO summit holds great significance for India, especially after the imposition of the US's 50 per cent tariffs, including a 25 per cent tariff on India's purchase of Russian crude oil. Alongside the host, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also attend.

Houthis confirm their prime minister killed in Israeli strike

SANAA, Aug 30: Yemen's Houthi rebel movement has confirmed that its self-proclaimed Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli air strike earlier this week.

The Iran-backed group said several other senior officials were killed when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Thursday.

The IDF said at the time that it attacked a Houthi "military target" in the Sanaa area, giving no further details.

The Houthis have controlled much of north-western Yemen since 2014, after ousting the internationally recognised government from Sanaa and triggering a devastating civil war.

The Houthis said Rahawi had been killed alongside several Houthi ministers, though it did not name the others.

Saudi Arabian news site al-Hadath reports the Houthis' foreign minister, as well as the ministers for justice, youth and sports, social affairs and labour, were killed.

The office of Mahdi al-Mashat, the Houthis' president, said that several other ministers "sustained moderate and serious injuries" as a result of the strike.

It added that Muhammad Ahmed Miftah, the Houthi deputy prime minister, would assume Rahawi's role.

Rahawi had held his post since August 2024, and was largely seen as a figurehead of the movement instead of being part of the top decision-making circle that plans military operations.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the movement's ultimate leader, as well as the group's defence minister and the chief of staff, were not said to be among the casualties in Thursday's attack.

The IDF is yet to publicly comment on the latest developments.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have regularly launched missiles at Israel and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel has, in turn, carried out air strikes on targets in Houthi-held parts of Yemen, with the stated aim of curtailing Houthi attacks.

Last week, Israel said it had hit Houthi targets in Sanaa, in response to the movement's missile attack which Israel said carried cluster munitions.

Chandrayaan to AI Initiative: PM Modi’s 6 big announcements from Japan

TOKYO, Aug 29: India and Japan Friday unveiled a joint declaration on security cooperation, launched an Economic Security Initiative with a special focus on advanced technologies as Tokyo announced its plan to invest $68 billion in India over the next decade.

The slew of announcements came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his counterpart, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, in Tokyo.

The two countries also launched an India-Japan Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative, alongside agreements in space, and cooperation in defence and security. The latest development comes amid straining India-US ties after the Trump administration levied 50 per cent tariffs on New Delhi, half of them for its purchase of Moscow’s oil. While Japan has negotiated a trade agreement with Washington, Tokyo’s lead trade negotiator cancelled a scheduled visit at the last minute Thursday, further delaying discussions on the fine print.

Here are the six crucial agreements announced:

Japan will invest 10 trillion Yen (about Rs 5.96 lakh crore) in India over the next decade, with a special focus on connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups from both countries.

"We have set a target of 10 trillion Yen investment from Japan in India over the next ten years. We will also give special attention to connecting Small and Medium Enterprises and Start-ups from both countries. At the India-Japan Business Forum too, I urged the Japanese companies to 'Make in India, Make for the World'," Modi said.

Implementation of Digital Partnership 2.0 and AI cooperation initiatives, prioritising semiconductors and rare earth minerals were announced.

"We are launching the Economic Security Cooperation Initiative. Under this, we shall move forward with a comprehensive approach in critical and strategic areas. Cooperation in the area of High Technology is a priority for both of us. In this context, Digital Partnership 2.0 and AI cooperation initiatives are being undertaken. Semiconductors and rare earth minerals shall remain at the top of our agendas," PM said.

Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence industry and innovation. “Our common interests are linked to defence and maritime security. We have decided to further strengthen mutual cooperation in the field of defence industry and innovation,” said Modi.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a media briefing later on Friday, said the new joint declaration on security co-operation provides a clear framework for this area of partnership.

He highlighted that the document reflects a broad concept of security, adding that a key element of the agreement is the first-ever institutionalised dialogue between the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India and Japan.

An agreement between ISRO and Japan's space agency JAXA for Chandrayaan-5 mission, marking enhanced cooperation in space exploration, was also unveiled.

“We welcome the agreement reached between ISRO and JAXA for cooperation in the Chandrayaan-5 mission. Our active participation will become a symbol of progress of humanity beyond the boundaries of the earth and in space as well,” said Modi.

A Sustainable Fuel Initiative and Battery Supply Chain Partnership, alongside the Joint Credit Mechanism to strengthen green energy collaboration was launched.

"Our Joint Credit Mechanism is a big win for energy. It shows that our green partnership is as strong as our economic partnership. In this direction, we are also launching the Sustainable Fuel Initiative and Battery Supply Chain Partnership," PM said.

Over the next five years, 5 lakh people from India and Japan will spend time in each other's countries furthering the movement of professionals, including 50,000 skilled Indians contributing to Japan’s economy.

The “exchange of 5 lakh people from both sides (who) will be encouraged in different fields in the next five years,” PM said.

This engagement will deepen through institutional cooperation between India and Japan, opening "new doors for trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges," he added.

Modi is currently in Japan on a two-day visit for the annual India-Japan summit before heading to China to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State meeting.

On Friday, he held talks with the Japanese PM, and on Saturday he will travel to Sendai, where PM Ishiba will host a lunch in his honour. Modi is also scheduled to tour a semiconductor manufacturing facility during the visit.

Iran-Backed Houthi PM Killed In Israeli Airstrikes On Yemen, Defence Minister Feared Dead

PARIS, Aug 29: Iran-backed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, Euronews reported, citing Yemeni and Israeli reports. The strikes also targeted top military officials, including the Houthi Defence Minister.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it attacked the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen on Thursday, four days after a deadly round of bombings against the Iran-backed group, which had repeatedly launched missiles and drones to express support for the Palestinians.

The Israeli military said after those strikes that it had targeted what it said were Huthi military sites, including the presidential palace, in response to attacks against Israel. Authorities in Sanaa said at least 10 people were killed and 90 were injured.

Al-Rahawi died in his Sanaa apartment during the Israeli strikes, according to the Yemeni Al-Jumhuriya outlet. Several of his associates were also reportedly killed in the same strike. The Israeli military said it struck a “military target" belonging to the Houthis on Thursday, without specifying who it was.

Additionally, Israeli officials said they believe the strikes eliminated Houthi Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari during a cabinet meeting of senior officials outside Sanaa.

Al-Ghamari had been wounded in a previous Israeli attack, according to Euronews. However, Israel is still assessing whether further deaths among the Houthi leadership can be confirmed.

The airstrikes coincided with a planned speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who was reportedly not present at the targeted location of the Israeli strikes. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had approved the strikes along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli military Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir.

“As we warned the Houthis in Yemen, after the Plague of Darkness comes the Plague of the Firstborn. Whoever raises a hand against Israel — his hand will be cut off," Katz said.

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked Israel since the Gaza war began and have targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that they allege are connected to Israel. The rebel group controls large parts of Yemen, which has been gripped by war since 2014, and is part of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance.

The Trump administration had announced a deal with the Houthis to end the strikes in return for an end to attacks on shipping in May.

Russian President Putin To Visit India In December, Says Kremlin

MOSCOW, Aug 29: Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to India in December, the Kremlin said Friday, as ties between the countries grow closer and after the United States imposed tariffs on New Delhi over its purchases of Russian oil.

Putin will also meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a regional summit in China on Monday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, saying the pair would discuss "preparation for the December visit".

US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for New Delhi's massive purchases of Russian oil, part of a campaign to pressure Moscow into ending its offensive in Ukraine.

Energy incomes are a key source of revenue for Moscow's state budget.

Russia is also one of India's top arms suppliers, and the warm ties between the two countries date back to the Soviet era.

Ukraine's Western allies have sought to cut Russia's export earnings since Moscow launched its military assault in February 2022.

But Russia has been able to redirect energy sales away from Europe to countries including India and China, ensuring the multi-billion-dollar flow of funds has continued.

India has argued it imported oil "from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict".

Putin has significantly curtailed his foreign travel amid the offensive on Ukraine, for which he was slapped with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

India is not a party to the ICC and therefore not obligated to detain Putin.

20 Killed In Israeli Strikes On Gaza Hospital, 5 Journalists Among Them

GAZA, Aug 25: Gaza's civil defence agency said five journalists were among at least 20 people killed Monday when Israeli strikes hit a hospital in the south, with Reuters, the Associated Press and Al Jazeera mourning their slain contributors.

Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said "the toll so far is 20 martyrs, including five journalists and one member of the civil defence," after strikes hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis -- a large medical complex in the south that has been targeted several times by Israel since the start of the war.

According to media watchdogs, around 200 journalists have been killed in nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its troops on Monday "carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis."

"The Chief of the General Staff instructed to conduct an initial inquiry as soon as possible," it said, adding it "regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and does not target journalists as such".

The civil defence's Bassal said an Israeli explosive drone targeted a building at Nasser Hospital, followed by an air strike as the wounded were being evacuated.

Ukraine Drones Hit Russian Nuclear Plant

MOSCOW, Aug 24: Russia accused Ukraine Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence.

Russian officials said several power and energy facilities were targeted in the overnight strikes. The fire at the nuclear facility was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported, according to the plant's press service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained within normal ranges.

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire "due to military activity," but hadn't received independent confirmation. It said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that "every nuclear facility must be protected at all times."

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack.

Firefighters also responded to a blaze at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region, home to a major fuel export terminal. The regional governor said approximately 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down, with debris igniting the fire.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight into Sunday.

Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile, into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 48 drones were shot down or jammed.

The incidents occurred as Ukraine marked independence day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered remarks in a video address from Kyiv's Independence Square, emphasizing the nation's resolve.

"We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace," Zelenskyy said, calling for a "just peace."

"What our future will be is up to us alone," he said, in a nod to the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared would leave Ukrainian and European interests sidelined.

"And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal," he said.

U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg was in attendance at independence day celebrations in Kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukrainian Order of Merit, of the 1st degree.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy.

"On this special day - Ukraine's Independence Day - it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always stood by our side," wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff.

Norway announced significant new military aid Sunday, pledging about 7 billion kroner ($695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway and Germany are jointly funding two Patriot systems, including missiles, with Norway also helping procure air defense radar.

Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for peace in Ukraine as he marked the country's independence day with a special appeal during his weekly noon blessing. He said the faithful were joining Ukrainians "asking that the Lord give peace to their martyred country."

Leo also sent a telegram to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to mark independence day, which the Ukrainian leader posted on X along with similar notes from other world leaders.

In the letter, Leo assured his prayers for all Ukrainians who are suffering, and wrote: "I implore the Lord to move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamor of arms may fall silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path to peace for the good of all."

Israel strikes Yemen after Houthis fire new type of missile

TEL AVIV, Aug 24: Israel struck Yemen’s Houthis on Sunday after the Iran-backed rebels fired a new type of missile at Israel.

The Israeli military said it struck a military site where the presidential palace is located, as well as two power plants and a fuel storage site.

Initial reports from the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV indicated that at least two people were killed and five wounded in the attack.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said “the strikes were conducted in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel and its civilians.”

More than 10 fighter jets participated in the strikes, according to an Israeli air force official, who said the furthest target was approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) from Israel.

Al-Masirah said there was “Zionist aggression ongoing on the capital Sanaa,” a city controlled by the Houthis.

A member of the Houthi leadership, Mohammad al-Farrah said that the Houthis would continue to support the people of Gaza and would “not retreat from it until the aggression is lifted, the siege is broken, and the starvation of Gaza’s people is stopped.”

The strikes follow the Houthis’ launch of a missile against Israel on Friday.

'No Meeting Planned' Between Putin, Zelensky: Russia

MOSCOW, Aug 23: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday there was "no meeting planned" between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, despite US attempts to organise the summit.

"There is no meeting planned," Lavrov said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker".

US President Donald Trump raised expectations for a swift summit between the leaders by saying they have both agreed to meet after he received President Volodymyr Zelensky with European allies in the White House.

Lavrov told the US broadcaster that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "ready to meet Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit," adding that it was "not ready at all".

Lavrov earlier this week slammed the White House meeting as a "clumsy" attempt by Europeans to change the US leader's position on Ukraine, agreed with Putin at a summit in Alaska last week.

And on Friday, he dashed hopes for a Putin-Zelensky meeting to resolve the conflict now in its fourth year, by questioning the Ukrainian president's legitimacy and repeating Russia's maximalist claims.

"There are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including no NATO membership, including the discussion of territorial issues, and Zelensky said no to everything," according to Lavrov.

Jaishankar's message: 'Don't buy refined petroleum products from India if you have a problem'

NEW DELHI, Aug 23: India Saturday forcefully rejected Washington's criticism that it is running a "profiteering scheme" by buying discounted Russian crude oil with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserting that New Delhi's procurement has been in national and global interest.

Jaishankar emphatically said that India will continue to take decisions on the matter independently and suggested that the previous US administration was supportive of New Delhi's procurement of Russian energy as it stabilises the oil market.

"It's funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business," Jaishankar said.

"That's really curious. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don't buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. But Europe buys, America buys, so you don't like it, don't buy it," he said.

His comments came when asked about US officials criticising India on its energy ties with Russia.

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Wednesday that India is running a "profiteering scheme" by using discounted Russian crude oil and then selling refined petroleum products at premium prices in Europe and other places.

He made similar allegations earlier as well.

The external affairs minister also wondered why the same yardstick is not being used for China, the largest importer of Russian crude oil.

"The same arguments which have been used to target India have not been applied to the largest oil importer, which is China. has not been applied to the largest LNG importer, which is the European Union," he said.

"And when people say we are funding the war or putting money in the coffers of Putin, the Russia-European Union trade is bigger than India-Russia trade. So is Europe not putting money into Putin's coffers," he asked.

Jaishankar acknowledged that India's procurement of Russian crude oil has gone up in the last few years and noted that it is driven by national interests.

"That's our right. In my business, we would say that's what strategic autonomy is about," he said.

"We are buying oil to stabilise the oil market. Yes, it is in our national interest. We have never pretended otherwise, but we also say it is in global interest."

India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Consequently, from a mere 1.7 per cent share in total oil imports in 2019-20, Russia's share increased to 35.1 per cent in 2024-25, and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India.

In his remarks, Jaishankar said there were discussions between New Delhi and the previous administration in Washington on the procurement of Russian crude oil.

"There were a series of very explicit conversations, saying, we have no issues with your buying," he said and referred to the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil.

"The fact that you devised the price cap meant that you accept that there's an oil trade going on with Russia. Otherwise you wouldn't need a price cap."

"In 2022, there was deep nervousness because oil prices were going up. There was great international nervousness about the price of oil. And there was a set of conversations with different people in the American administration at that time," Jaishankar said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

'Gaza City could be destroyed': Israel issues massive ‘all gates of hell’ warning to Hamas

TEL AVIV, Aug 22: In a massive warning, Israeli defense minister said on Friday that Gaza City could be destroyed if Hamas does not accept Israel’s terms, amid the country preparing for expansion of its offensive in the region.

The remarks by Israel defence minister Israel Katz come a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would give a go-ahead to the military to seize Gaza City.

Israel Katz warned that “all gates of hell will open on the heads of Hamas” the enclave’s largest city could “turn into Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” referring to the areas which have been reduced to rubble in the war.

“The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists in Gaza — until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war,” Katz wrote in a post on X.

Katz asserted the Israel’s cease-fire demands of the release of all hostages and Hamas’ complete disarmament.

Hamas has said it would release captives in exchange for ending the war, but has rejected dropping arms without the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Israeli war on Gaza began after Palestinian militant outfit Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel during which dozens of people were killed and taken as hostages.

In the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 were abducted, of whom most have been released in ceasefires or other deals.

The Gaza health ministry, which does not differentiate between militants and civilians, said on Thursday that at least 62,192 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war.

Putin Demands Donbas Surrender, No NATO, No Western Troops In Ukraine: Report

MOSCOW, Aug 21: Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, according to sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking.

The Russian president met Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday for the first Russia-U.S. summit in more than four years and spent almost all of their three-hour closed meeting discussing what a compromise on Ukraine might look like, according to the sources who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Speaking afterwards beside Trump, Putin said the meeting would hopefully open up the road to peace in Ukraine - but neither leader gave specifics about what they discussed.

In essence, the Russian sources said, Putin has compromised on territorial demands he laid out in June 2024, which required Kyiv to cede the entirety of the four provinces Moscow claims as part of Russia: Dontesk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine - which make up the Donbas - plus Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.

Kyiv rejected those terms as tantamount to surrender.

In his new proposal, the Russian president has stuck to his demand that Ukraine completely withdraw from the parts of the Donbas it still controls, according to the sources. In return, though, Moscow would halt the current front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, they added.

Russia controls about 88% of the Donbas and 73% of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, according to U.S. estimates and open-source data.

Moscow is also willing to hand over the small parts of the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions of Ukraine it controls as part of a possible deal, the sources said.

Putin is sticking, too, to his previous demands that Ukraine give up its NATO ambitions and for a legally binding pledge from the U.S.-led military alliance that it will not expand further eastwards, as well as for limits on the Ukrainian army and an agreement that no Western troops will be deployed on the ground in Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, the sources said.

Yet the two sides remain far apart, more than three years after Putin ordered thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine in a full-scale invasion that followed the annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and prolonged fighting in the country's east between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops.

Ukraine's foreign ministry had no immediate comment on the proposals.

Jaishankar Meets Putin In Moscow

MOSCOW, Aug 21: Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting came hours after Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov. It largely focused on expanding the trade ties between the two countries.

The meeting comes amid Trump's tariffs and pressure on India to stop buying oil from Russia, claiming that it fuelled the Ukraine war.

"We believe that relations between India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War," Jaishankar said at a joint media briefing with Lavrov.

"Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers," he said.

Earlier today, Jaishankar said that India-Russia ties are the "steadiest" of relationships in the world after the Second World War.

He is on a three-day visit to Russia during which he co-chaired the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) and addressed the India-Russia Business Forum meeting in Moscow.

Netanyahu Says He'll Push For Gaza City Takeover Amid Renewed Ceasefire Talks

TEL AVIV, Aug 21: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he will give final approval for the takeover of Gaza City while also restarting negotiations with Hamas aimed at returning all the remaining hostages and ending the war on Israel's terms.

The wide-scale operation in Gaza City could start within days after Netanyahu grants final approval at a meeting with senior security officials later Thursday. Hamas said earlier this week that it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators, which - if accepted by Israel - could forestall the offensive.

The Israeli military has begun calling medical officials and international organizations in the northern Gaza Strip to encourage them to evacuate to the south ahead of the expanded operation. The military plans to call up 60,000 reservists and extend the service of 20,000 more.

Israeli strikes meanwhile killed at least 36 Palestinians across Gaza on Thursday, according to local hospitals. A renewed offensive could bring even more casualties and displacement to the territory, where the war has already killed tens of thousands and where experts have warned of imminent famine.

Many Israelis fear it could also doom the remaining 20 or so living hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that ignited the war.

During a visit to the military's Gaza command in southern Israel, Netanyahu said he would approve the army's plans to retake Gaza City, and had instructed officials "to begin immediate negotiations on the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel."

"These two things - defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages - go hand in hand," he said.

Israel Demands All Hostages Release In New Truce Deal

TEL AVIV, Aug 20: A senior Israeli official on Tuesday said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any future Gaza deal, after Hamas accepted a new truce proposal.

Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan, a day after Hamas signalled its readiness for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war.

Mediator Qatar expressed guarded optimism for the new proposal, noting that it was "almost identical" to an earlier version agreed to by Israel.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Israeli official said the government's stance had not changed and demanded the release of all hostages in any deal.

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of planned Gaza City offensive

TEL AVIV, Aug 20: The Israeli military says it is calling up about 60,000 reservists ahead of a planned ground offensive to capture and occupy all of Gaza City.

A military official said the reservists would report for duty in September and that most of the troops mobilised for the offensive would be active-duty personnel.

They added that troops were already operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas as part of the preparations for the plan, which Defence Minister Israel Katz approved on Tuesday and later it was put to the security cabinet.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City are expected to be ordered to evacuate and head to shelters in southern Gaza.

Many of Israel's allies have condemned the plan, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning on Wednesday that it "can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war".

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) meanwhile said further displacement and an intensification of hostilities "risk worsening an already catastrophic situation" for Gaza's 2.1 million population.

Israel's government announced its intention to conquer the entire Gaza Strip after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down last month.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt are trying to secure an agreement before the offensive begins and have presented a new proposal for a 60-day truce and the release of around half of the 50 hostages held in Gaza, which Hamas said it had accepted on Monday.

India, China To Seek Early Solution To Boundary Delimitation

NEW DELHI, Aug 19: In a big breakthrough in ties between the countries, India and China have decided to work on a settlement of the boundary question and an expert group will be set up to explore an early solution to boundary delimitation.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday and said the two sides have also decided to resume direct flights at the earliest and increase the scale of Indian pilgrimage to Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

The relationship, which hit a low after the Galwan clash in 2020 and a prolonged military standoff, has seen a marked thaw of late and the latest developments come in the wake of US President Donald Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on India and an additional 25% levy for buying Russian oil. The US and China have also faced off over tariffs.

Putin Dials Modi, Shares Insights On Meeting With Trump Over Ukraine War

NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Russia's Vladimir Putin spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday, days after he met US President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss a permanent end to the war on Ukraine.

The PM underlined India's position on the war raging since February 2022, and his office said he called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. India will offer its full support in this regard, Putin was told.

Modi and Putin also discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, the PMO said.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch.

Modi later posted on X. "Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard."

"I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come," the PM wrote.

Hamas Agrees To New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal: Report

GAZA, Aug 18: A Hamas source said on Monday that the Palestinian militants had agreed to a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, devastated by more than 22 months of war between the Islamist group and Israel.

"Hamas has delivered its response to the mediators, confirming that Hamas and the factions agreed to the new ceasefire proposal without requesting any amendments," the Hamas source said.

A Palestinian official earlier on Monday said that mediators had proposed an initial 60-day truce and hostage release in two batches.

Zelensky To Meet Trump On Monday After US President's Summit With Putin

KYIV, Aug 16: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will head to Washington on Monday to discuss "ending the killing and the war" with US President Donald Trump, he announced Saturday.

Zelensky said so after holding a call with Trump, during which the US leader informed him about the "main points" of his talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

‘Nothing, no one to recognise’: Israel minister's West Bank remark casts shadow on Palestinian state's future

TEL AVIV, Aug 15: Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday announced a new settlement construction in the Israel-occupied West Bank, which would effectively cut the territory into two parts. The announcement comes as many countries have said that they would recognise Palestine as a state in September.

“This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise,” said minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Palestinians and rights groups worry that if the West Bank is cut into two separate parts, then their plan for a future Palestinian state would be disrupted.

Smotrich warned that "anyone who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state — will receive an answer from us (Israel) on the ground".

Smotrich also informed that the development plan of E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, is expected to receive its final approval next week. The plan, which has been under consideration for over two decades, was frozen due to pressure from the previous US administrations.

However, on Thursday, the Israeli minister praised US President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before".

The E1 development plan includes thousands of apartments for the expansion of Maale Adumim settlement, Smotrich said. While some bureaucratic steps are still pending, the infrastructure work could begin in the next few months if the process moves quickly, and the construction of homes could also begin in about one year.

However, rights groups were quick to condemn the plan.

Pak's N-Rhetoric Will Have Painful Consequences: India

NEW DELHI, Aug 14: India on Thursday warned the Pakistani leadership that any "misadventure" will have "painful consequences".

Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referenced reports regarding "war-mongering" by Pakistan against India. He added, "Pakistan would be well-advised to temper its rhetoric as any misadventure will have painful consequences, as was demonstrated recently."

He also criticised Pakistan of whipping up "anti-India" rhetoric to "hide their own failures".

This comes after Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir issued a nuclear threat to India. During his visit to the US, Munir threatened that it would "take half the world down" if faced with an "existential threat" from India. The remarks were the first nuclear threats known to have ever been delivered from US soil against a third country.

Munir had also threatened to destroy India's infrastructure on the Indus water channels, which could impede water flow to Pakistan, and said that the water source is not "Indians' family property". He went on to claim that the decision of India to place the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack in April could put 250 million people at risk of starvation.

26 European Union Leaders Call For Ceasefire In Ukraine, Diplomatic Solution

BRUSSELS, Aug 12: Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their own future, European Union member states said on Tuesday, seeking to weigh in ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plan to speak with Trump on Wednesday, before the summit in Alaska, amid fears that Washington, hitherto Ukraine's leading arms supplier, may dictate unfavourable peace terms to Kyiv.

"Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities," the leaders of all EU countries except Hungary said in a joint statement, adding: "We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests."

Kyiv and its European allies fear that Trump, keen to claim credit for making peace and seal business deals with Moscow, could in effect reward Russia for more than 11 years of efforts to seize Ukrainian territory, the last three in open warfare.

"A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees," the European statement said, adding that EU nations were ready to contribute further to security guarantees.

India Condemns Pak Army Chief Asim Munir's N-War Threat

NEW DELHI, Aug 11: India on Monday condemned Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's threat of nuclear war. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade, and expressed regret that such remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country.

Addressing a gathering of people of Pakistani origin in Florida's Tampa, Field Marshal Munir reportedly made a nuclear threat in case his country faced an existential threat in a future war with India.

"The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforces the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups," the Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry also reaffirmed New Delhi's position of not giving in to "nuclear blackmail" and assured that it will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard national security.

Munir reportedly threatened to take down "half the world" if Pakistan faced an existential threat in a future war with India. The remarks were the first nuclear threats known to have ever been delivered from US soil against a third country.

"We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us," he said, according to reports.

Munir also warned of destroying any infrastructure that India builds on the Indus water channels-- which could impede water flow to Pakistan-- saying his country has no dearth of missiles. He claimed that New Delhi's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack in April could put 250 million people at risk of starvation.

"We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir das missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles]...The Indus River is not the Indians' family property. Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai, al-hamdulillah [we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God]," Munir reportedly said.

5 Al Jazeera Journalists Killed In Gaza Strike, Israel Says One Was 'Hamas Terrorist'

GAZA, Aug 11: At least five Al Jazeera journalists have been killed by an Israeli strike near Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital. Among the victims were Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, as well as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal, according to the broadcaster.

They were among seven people who died in an Israeli attack targeting a tent for the press outside al-Shifa Hospital's main gate, Al Jazeera said.

Shortly after the strike, the Israeli military admitted in a statement to targeting Anas al-Sharif, labelling the reporter as a "terrorist", saying he had "served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas".

Twenty-eight-year-old Al-Sharif appeared to be posting on X in the moments before his death, reporting intensified Israeli bombardment within Gaza City. A post, which appeared pre-written and posted by a friend, was published from his account after he was reported to have died.

The attack was the latest to see journalists targeted in the 22-month war in Gaza, with around 200 media workers killed over the course of the conflict, according to media watchdogs.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits western Turkiye, killing one

BALIKESIR, Aug 11: A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwestern Turkiye’s Balikesir province on Sunday evening, killing at least one person and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Four people were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed house, three of whom are being treated in hospital, while one man died of his injuries. Yerlikaya said the lone victim was an 81-year-old person who died after being rescued from the rubble.

Nearly 30 people were wounded in the quake, which occurred at about 7:53pm (16:53 GMT), Turkiye’s AFAD disaster management authority said on Sunday. Tremors were felt in multiple provinces, including the country’s biggest city, Istanbul.

The disaster authority reported six aftershocks in the first hour, including one measuring 4.6, and urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings.

After UK And Canada, Australia To Recognise Palestinian State In September

CANBERRA, Aug 10: Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations summit in September, breaking with its close ally the US as concern mounts over Israel's plans for a military campaign in parts of the Gaza Strip.

"A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters at Parliament House in Canberra following a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The recognition - to be made at the 80th UN General Assembly - lends legitimacy to the cause of Palestinian statehood and would see Australia join France, the UK, and Canada. The US, so far, has opposed recognition of a Palestinian state outside of a peace agreement with Israel.

The Netanyahu government on Friday authorised an advance on Gaza City, after talks on a third ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stalled in July. Israeli forces had previously skirted the area for fear that hostages believed to be held there could be hurt or lost in the chaos of combat. About 20 hostages are still believed to be alive.

Prior to Australia's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had described Canberra's planned recognition as "shameful." Albanese said at his press conference on Monday that the situation in Gaza "has gone beyond the world's worst fears," referring to the impact on civilians.

Australia's announcement came shortly after New Zealand said it is considering recognition of a state of Palestine, with a formal decision to be taken in September.

The Israel Defence Forces already control some 75 per cent of Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians whose towns and homes have been reduced to ruins.

'No Choice But To Finish The Job': Netanyahu On Gaza Takeover Plan

JERUSALEM, Aug 10: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel "has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas."

He is speaking to foreign media in Jerusalem and defending a planned military offensive. He asserts that "our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza." He is also pushing back against what he calls a "global campaign of lies" as condemnation of the plan grows both inside and outside Israel.

Netanyahu said there is a "fairly short timetable" in mind for next steps in Gaza.

The goals there, he said, include demilitarizing Gaza, the Israeli military having "overriding security control" there and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge.

The prime minister also said he had directed Israel's military in recent days to "bring in more foreign journalists" - which would be a striking development as they have not been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds.

Netanyahu again blamed many of Gaza's problems on the Hamas militant group, including civilian deaths, destruction and shortages of aid.

Won't Surrender Land To Buy Peace: Zelensky After US, Russia Agree To Summit

KYIV, Aug 9: Ukraine won't surrender land to Russia to buy peace, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Saturday, after Washington and Moscow agreed to hold a summit in a bid to end the war.

"Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," Zelensky said on social media hours later.

"Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing," he said, adding that the war "cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine".

Zelensky also urged Ukraine's allies to take "clear steps" towards achieving a sustainable peace, during a call with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

National security advisors from Kyiv's allies -- including the United States, EU nations and the UK -- were gathering in Britain on Saturday to align their views ahead of the Putin-Trump summit.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit could bring peace any closer as the warring sides' positions are still far apart.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes.

'Not Going To Occupy Gaza, Will Free It From Hamas': Netanyahu Amid Backlash

TEL AVIV, Aug 9: Israel's military will "take control" of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, touching off a wave of criticism Friday from both inside and outside the country.

Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a truce to pull the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Israel's foe Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, denounced the plan to expand the fighting as a "new war crime".

Staunch Israeli ally Germany meanwhile took the extraordinary step of halting military exports out of concern they could be used in Gaza, a move Netanyahu slammed as a reward for Hamas.

Under the newly approved plan to "defeat" Hamas, the Israeli army "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones", the premier's office said Friday.

Netanyahu in a post on X said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas".

He said that the territory's demilitarisation and the establishment of "a peaceful civilian administration would help free our hostages" and prevent future threats.

Israel occupied Gaza from 1967, but withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005.

Netanyahu's office said the cabinet had adopted "five principles", including Gaza's demilitarisation and "the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority".

The plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with China, Turkey, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a "dangerous escalation" that risks "deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians".

Modi, Putin Talk On Phone On Deepening Ties Amid Trump Tariff Row

NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a detailed conversation on several key issues including the latest development in Ukraine and progress in bilateral agenda.

The two leaders spoke amid the global trade uncertainty put into motion by US President Donald Trump's tariff announcements.

"Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year," Modi said in a post on X.

While thanking Putin for his detailed assessment, Modi reiterated India's consistent position for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. The phone call took place less than 24 hours after National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval called on the Russian President at the Kremlin on Thursday.

The important meeting also came in wake of US President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on India for importing oil from Russia.

Terming the move as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", India had made it clear that its imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India.

The last visit by the Russian President to India took place on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in Delhi.

Modi, meanwhile, held two high-profile visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and later participated in the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October.

Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Benjamin Netanyahu's Plan To Take Over Gaza

TEL AVIV, Aug 8: Israel's Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The decision taken early Friday marks another escalation of Israel's 22-month offensive launched in response to Hamas' October 7 attack.

The war has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed much of Gaza and pushed the territory of some 2 million Palestinians toward famine.

Ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting, which began Thursday and ran through the night, Netanyahu said Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.

The announced plans stop short of that, perhaps reflecting the reservations of Israel's top general, who reportedly warned that it would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel's army after nearly two years of regional wars. Many families of hostages are also opposed, fearing further escalation will doom their loved ones.

Trump-Putin Meeting In Next Few Days

MOSCOW, Aug 7: The Kremlin on Thursday said Putin is also scheduled to meet Trump in the coming days. The Russian President's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said the two sides are working on setting up a meeting, and that a venue for the meeting has been agreed on and will be announced later.

Next week is the target date for a summit, Ushakov said, while noting that such events take time to organise and no date is confirmed. The possible venue will be announced "a little later," he said.

He brushed aside the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining the summit, something the White House had said Trump was ready to consider. Putin has spurned Zelenskyy's previous offers of a meeting to clinch a breakthrough.

Western officials have repeatedly accused Putin of stalling for time in peace negotiations to allow Russian forces time to capture more Ukrainian land. Putin has previously offered no concessions and will only accept a settlement on his terms.

Putin To Visit India This Year

MOSCOW, Aug 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Thursday. Doval, who is in Moscow, did not specify the dates, but Interfax news agency reported it's likely to take place later this year.

"We have got a special, long relationship, and we value this relationship. We have had high-level engagement, and these high-level engagements have contributed very substantially. We are very excited and delighted to learn about the visit of President Putin to India. I think the dates are almost finalised now," the NSA said.

So far, there has been no official statement from Moscow about the visit.

But the tour's announcement comes amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Washington over India's trade relations with Russia. US President Donald Trump has accused India of aiding Moscow's war on Ukraine by purchasing Russian energy, derailing trade talks between India and the United States.

'Unfair, Unjustified, Unreasonable': India On Trump's 50% Tariff

NEW DELHI, Aug 6: India has made it clear that it stands firm on its national interests after US President Donald Trump's move to impose another 25 per cent tariff over the import of Russian oil.

In a calm pushback, New Delhi said the extra tariff was "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and declared that it would "take all actions necessary to protect national interests".

The latest "penalty" for Russian imports takes total duties on Indian exports to the US to 50 per cent - 20 per cent more than the tariff on China and 31 per cent more than on Pakistan. The tariff will take effect in 21 days.

After Trump's 35% Tariff Slap, Canada PM Says 'We'll Speak When It Makes Sense'

VICTORIA, Aug 6: Days after the United States slapped Canada with 35 per cent tariffs, raising it from the previous 25 per cent, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday said that he will speak with US President Donald Trump "when it makes sense".

The increased tariff, which the White House said was the result of Canada's "continued inaction and retaliation," comes after Trump told reporters that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reached out ahead of an August 1 tariff deadline, but no conversations between the two took place.

Trump has warned that any country that does not strike a deal with the US before Friday will be subjected to higher tariffs imposed on goods.

At a press conference in British Columbia, Carney said, "Canada is the second-largest investor in the United States today in the world. We have 40 million people."

"That puts in context the state of the relationship," he said. "Without an agreement, there will be less by definition."

The tariffs are not compliant with CUSMA - the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade. The tariff rates for Canadian steel, aluminum and copper stand at 50 per cent.

However, Trump said on Thursday that the Canadian Prime Minister called him regarding a trade deal. "We haven't spoken to Canada today. He's (Carney) called and we'll, we'll see," Trump told reporters during an event at the White House before the 35% rate was announced.

On Tuesday, Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, said that the country is looking for trade partners it can "trust", in a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Carney also told reporters that last week, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The agreement also gives Canada tariff-free access to 85 per cent of Canadian exports to the US.

Russia Exits Nuclear Treaty With US After Trump's Submarine Move

MOSCOW, Aug 5: Amid US President Donald Trump's increasing pressure to end the war in Ukraine, Russia has announced that it no longer considered itself bound by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with America-- a moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.

Moscow blamed "the actions of Western countries" for creating a "direct threat" to its security.

The move came days after US President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to "be positioned in the appropriate regions" near Russia.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the conditions for obliging to the soviat-era treaty had "disappeared," and Moscow is no longer observing its previous self-imposed restrictions.

"West's build-up of destabilizing missile potentials create a direct threat to security of our country," it said in statement, according to RT.

Later, Russian former President Dmitry Medvedev blamed NATO countries for the abandonment of a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles and said Moscow would take further steps in response.

Medvedev, who has been engaging in a exchange of acerbic barbs on social media with US President Donald Trump, said: "This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps."

Medvedev, who now serves as deputy head of Russia's powerful Security Council, did not elaborate.

The US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty in 2019, citing Russian non-compliance. Russia has since said it would not deploy such weapons provided that Washington did not do so. However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signalled last December that Moscow would have to respond to what he called "destabilising actions" by the U.S. and NATO in the strategic sphere.

"Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of US-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared," the ministry said in its statement.

The INF treaty, signed in 1987 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan, eliminated an entire class of weapons -- ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (311 to 3,418 miles).

Medvedev, seen initially in the West as a potential moderate and reformer, has become one of the most hawkish senior officials on foreign policy in Moscow.

Trump last Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved to "the appropriate regions" in response to remarks from Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.

Russia says 'be careful' over 'nuclear rhetoric' after Trump nuclear submarines move

MOSCOW, Aug 4: Due to the row between US president Donald Trump and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Russia has urged for caution amid the nuclear rhetoric.

“Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

The Kremlin spokesperson's remarks come after Donald Trump stated he would deploy two nuclear submarines near Russia due to his online spat with the former Russian leader.

Peskov's remarks also come amid Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff' visit to Moscow.

"We are always happy to see Witkoff in Moscow... We consider such contact important, substantial and helpful," the Kremlin spokesman told reporters, adding that a meeting with President Vladimir Putin was possible.

Explosions Reported, Smoke Seen At Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

KIEV, Aug 3: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that its team at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) heard explosions and saw smoke coming from a nearby location.

The nuclear plant said one of its auxiliary facilities was attacked today, IAEA said in a statement.

"The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the ZNPP's site perimeter and the IAEA team could still see smoke from that direction in the afternoon," the nuclear watchdog said.

Israel Army Chief Warns Of Combat 'Without Rest' In Gaza Unless Hostages Are Freed

TEL AVIV, Aug 3: Israel's top general has warned that there will be no respite in fighting in Gaza if negotiations fail to quickly secure the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.

"I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages," said army chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, according to a military statement.

"If not, the combat will continue without rest," he said, during remarks to officers inside Gaza on Friday.

Footage released by the Israeli military showed Zamir meeting soldiers and officers in a command centre.

Of the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of them dead, according to the military.

Palestinian armed groups this week released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and weak.

Negotiations -- mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar -- to secure a ceasefire and their release broke down last month, and some in Israel have called for tougher military action.

This comes against the backdrop of growing pressure -- both internationally and domestically, including from many of the hostages' families -- to resume efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly 22-month conflict.

Aid agencies have meanwhile warned that Gaza's population is facing a catastrophic famine, triggered by Israeli restrictions on aid.

Zamir nonetheless rejected these allegations out of hand.

"The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF (military), a moral army, of war crimes," he said.

"The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas."

Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures.

A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since ground troops were sent into Gaza, according to the military.

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.

'Digging My Own Grave': Israeli Hostage Breaks Down Inside Hamas Tunnel

GAZA, Aug 3: A video released by the Palestinian group Hamas shows an Israeli hostage visibly emaciated, digging what he describes as his own grave in an underground tunnel.

This marks the second such video of Evyatar David, 24, circulated by the Palestinian group within 48 hours. In the footage, David, who appears skeletal and barely able to speak, is seen using a shovel in what appears to be a confined underground tunnel. He speaks slowly and faintly to the camera, narrating his ordeal.

"What I'm doing now is digging my own grave," David says in Hebrew. "Every day my body becomes weaker and weaker. I'm walking directly to my grave. There is the grave where I am going to be buried in. Time is running out to be released and be able to sleep in my bed with my family."

David breaks down as he finishes the statement.

The family of Evyatar David has approved the video's release. In a statement, they said, "The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. He is being starved purely to serve Hamas's propaganda."

David is among 49 hostages still held by Hamas and allied Palestinian factions in Gaza, captured during the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians. In retaliation, Israel launched a devastating offensive against Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that the prime minister spoke with David's family after the release of the video and expressed his "profound shock" at the footage. The PM reiterated that the government's efforts to secure the release of all hostages were continuing "constantly and relentlessly."

Netanyahu accused Hamas of "deliberately starving our hostages" and publicising it "in a cynical and evil manner."

In addition to the footage of David, Hamas and Islamic Jihad released another video showing hostage Rom Braslavski, 21, a dual German-Israeli citizen, also appearing gaunt and weak. Both clips have intensified public calls in Israel for renewed negotiations to secure the hostages' release.

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to demand immediate government action on the hostages. The rally was one of the largest since the start of the war.

'India-US ties weathered many storms', India's Foreign Ministry

NEW DELHI, Aug 1: India on Thursday reaffirmed the strength and resilience of India-US relations amid a fresh tirade from US President Donald Trump, who announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports starting August 1, citing high trade barriers and India’s continued reliance on Russian oil and military hardware.

In response to Trump’s claims, the MEA emphasized that the India-US relationship has “weathered many transitions and challenges” and remains anchored in shared interests and mutual respect.

“We have strong defence ties with the US which have been strengthening over the last several years,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly press briefing. “There is potential for our defence partnership to grow further. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that both countries have committed to.”

Despite the latest tariff announcement, the ministry expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to progress. “We are confident our relationship with the United States will continue to move forward,” Jaiswal added.

The MEA also clarified that ties between two countries shouldn't be seen from the prism of a third nation. “Ties with any country, and all the ties that we have with various countries, stand on their own merit and shouldn’t be seen through the prism of a third country,” Jaiswal said.

His remarks came days after Trump referenced India buying oil and military equipment from Russia as he announced 25 per cent tariffs plus penalties for India.

The MEA spokesperson also asserted that India and Russia have had a steady and time-tested partnership.

When asked about India's sourcing of energy and military equipment, he said, “The sourcing of defence requirement is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments. Similarly, the sourcing of our energy needs...we are guided by what is available in the markets and by prevailing global circumstances.”

Putin Says Wants Lasting Peace In Ukraine

MOSCOW, Aug 1: Russia wants a "lasting and stable peace" in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said Friday, adding that Moscow's conditions for peace remained unchanged as Kyiv repeated its call for a leaders' meeting.

Putin has consistently rejected calls to pause his nearly three-and-a-half year assault on Ukraine despite growing pressure from US President Donald Trump, who issued a 10-day ultimatum earlier this week to stop the fighting.

"We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries," Putin told reporters.

But he added that "the conditions (from the Russian side) certainly remain the same".

Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.

Ukraine has been pleading with its Western backers to send more weapons for its troops to withstand Moscow's daily attacks and levy more sanctions on Russia and its trading partners.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for a meeting with Putin to end the conflict, with Kyiv proposing talks by the end of August.

Zelensky on Friday repeated that call.

"We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war," he said on social media.

Ukraine was ready "to meet at the level of leaders at any time", he added.

Taiwan is building a drone army to stop a China invasion

TAIPEI, Aug 1: On a bright morning last month, three sea drones skimmed across Su’ao Bay, off of Taiwan’s rugged northeast coast.

The tiny “stealth” Carbon Voyager 1, fast-moving Black Tide I, and explosives-carrying Sea Shark 800 were the highlight of an expo for companies vying to help Taiwan build up a maritime drone force.

Taipei believes drones could be pivotal in repelling China in the event its forces attempt to invade the self-ruled island, which Beijing has threatened to annex by force if necessary.

Su’ao is just 60km (37 miles) from Fulong, one of the so-called “red beaches” identified by defence experts as potential landing sites for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) due to their unique topography.

Whereas Russia sent tanks across land borders to launch its war on Ukraine in 2022, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would involve Beijing sending vessels across the 180-km- (112-mile) wide Taiwan Strait.

While the Taiwan Strait’s choppy waters and Taiwan’s mountainous geography and shallow beaches pose formidable challenges to an amphibious invasion, technological advances and a decades-long modernisation campaign by the PLA have steadily chipped away at the island’s natural defences.

Faced with a drastically larger and more powerful opponent, Taiwan’s defence strategy has steadily shifted towards honing the ability to wage asymmetric warfare so that an invasion is too costly for Beijing to consider.

Drones, from sea craft to single-use suicide weapons and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) vehicles, are a key element of Taipei’s so-called “porcupine strategy”.