US-Iran agreement could be finalised within few hours, says report

WASHINGTON: Efforts are ongoing to finalise the text of an agreement between Washington and Tehran, and its completion could be announced within the next few hours, Al Arabiya reported on Wednesday, citing sources. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he is “no hurry” for Iran deal and is going “to give this one shot”....more

Apache Choppers, Howitzers: US Clears $428-Million Defence Support To India

WASHINGTON: The Donald Trump administration in the United States has cleared two potential foreign military sales to India worth a combined $428.2 million, covering follow-on support for AH-64E Apache helicopters and sustainment assistance for M-777 A2 ultra-light howitzers, according to the US State Department. The proposed agreements were announced by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in separate congressional notifications....more

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to start first India visit on May 23

WASHINGTON; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will pay his first visit to India between May 23 and 26, the U.S. State Department said on Friday. The visit will be closely watched as it comes against the backdrop of the U.S.’s continued engagement in hostilities in the Persian Gulf region, which have had consequences for India’s energy security....more

India Needs a National Maritime Commission to Safeguard Strategic and Economic Interests: Experts

By Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig (Retd)

NEW DELHI: The growing instability in West Asia and the increasing weaponisation of maritime choke points have renewed calls for India to establish a National Maritime Commission (NMC) to strengthen maritime security, streamline governance and accelerate the country’s blue economy ambitions. Strategic analysts and maritime experts argue that recent geopolitical developments, including disruptions to oil and gas supply routes in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), have exposed vulnerabilities in India’s maritime preparedness and highlighted the urgent need for an apex-level maritime body....more

Vihaan Jain Clinches Maiden IGU Category A Title

VISAKHAPATNAM: Vihaan Jain clinched his maiden IGU Category ‘A’ (15–17 years) title with an impressive three-shot victory at the IGU Andhra Pradesh Junior Boys Golf Championship held at East Point Golf Club, Visakhapatnam. The 16-year-old displayed remarkable composure in the final round, carding a two-under 70 to finish the 72-hole championship at four-under 284....more

USA, China And Battle For Next World Order

By Sanjay Kaul

BOSTON: There are moments in history when meetings between leaders are not really about diplomacy, trade, or even conflict. They are to decide who will write the rules of the next era. The Summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping belongs to that category. Behind the carefully measured smiles, handshakes, and official statements lies a far deeper struggle, a contest between two powers attempting to shape the future of technology, global commerce, military influence, artificial intelligence, and even the political psychology of the modern world....more

'Will strengthen defence cooperation': Rajnath Singh during bilateral talks in Vietnam

HANOI: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a ministerial-level bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang in Hanoi, as India and Vietnam reviewed expanding defence ties and regional security cooperation. During the talks, Singh highlighted the historical foundations of the India-Vietnam relationship and underscored the significance of his visit coinciding with the 136th birth anniversary of former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh....more

Modi invites Dutch companies to design, innovate and manufacture in India

By Deepak Arora

THE HAGUE: On the first day of his visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy. Modi also held wide-ranging talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, focusing on trade, investment, and critical technologies....more

Pak Deploys Thousands Of Troops, Jets In Saudi: Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war. The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia's military if the kingdom comes under further attack....more

Modi concludes ‘very productive’ Italy visit

ROME; Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he concluded a ‘very productive’ tour of Italy as he thanked PM Meloni and the people of Italy for their friendship. He said key outcome of the visit was the decision to elevate India-Italy ties to a Special Strategic Partnership. The ministry of external affairs on Wednesday highlighted the success of Prime Minister Modi's five-nation tour and said it had been successful as he also met over 50 CEOs of large global companies....more

SC refuses to dilute stray dog directions, orders strict implementation

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to modify its November 2025 directions mandating the removal of stray dogs from institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, railway stations and bus depots, adding that such dogs cannot be released back into these locations even after sterilisation....more

US Drops All Charges Against Gautam Adani, Case Closed Permanently

NEW YORK: The US Department of Justice has permanently dropped all criminal charges against Indian tycoon Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar, bringing high-profile securities and wire fraud case in New York to a complete close after prosecutors concluded they could not sustain the allegations. With this, multiple US regulatory and legal investigations involving the group have all closed in the last couple of days....more

America at 250: Advancing Freedom Worldwide Still Matters

By Daniel Twining

WASHINGTON: America was built on a radical premise: that individual liberty is an unalienable, inherent right worth fighting for in the face of tyranny. Revolutionary at the time of our founding, this idea remains the bedrock of American democracy and strength. As we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, we should acknowledge the endurance of these ideals and their relevance today....more

From Fuel Shock to Supply Chain Strain: How the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Rippling Across Indian Industry

By Avica Kumar

NEW DELHI: India's energy security and industrial stability are coming under increasing strain as tensions around Iran continue to disrupt critical oil and gas supply routes. The fallout is no longer confined to global markets. Indian industries are now confronting escalating operational and financial risks, with cascading midstream and downstream impacts....more