WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said his Monday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin "went very well," adding that Moscow and Kyiv "will immediately start negotiations" aimed at reaching a ceasefire and ending the war. Posting on Truth Social, Trump noted that the Vatican "as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations." He added, "Let the process begin!"...more
TEL AVIV: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will "take control" of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a "basic amount" of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for "diplomatic reasons"....more

By Deepak Arora
NEW DELHI: In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a phone conversation with his British counterpart Sir Keir Starmer, Modi said "these landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies."...more
By Deepak Arora
RIYADH: US President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and lifted sanctions on Syria, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She informed that President Trump met the Syrian President at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. President Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone....more
By Deepak Arora
NEW DELHI: India's Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan met the British High Commissioner to India, Ms Lindy Cameron, and had engaging discussion on deepening academic collaboration between the two countries. The High Commissioner shared updates on the upcoming University of Southampton campus in Gurugram, set to open in July 2025....more
NEW DELHI: A fresh wave of COVID-19 infections is sweeping across parts of Southeast and East Asia, with Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand all reporting a noticeable uptick in cases. While the situation varies from country to country, the general trend is clear: the virus is once again on the move. But is this cause for concern?...more

By Daniel Twining
WASHINGTON: As Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team undertake their ambitious reforms to the U.S. development aid sector, they have a tremendous opportunity to dispense with the politicized ambitions of the previous administration and instead invest in diplomacy and strategies that will serve the country’s core interests. Countering China — with non-military methods — should be central to our approach....more
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, stating that the tensions escalated to a dangerously high level, nearly reaching what he preferred to call the “n word”, a reference to nuclear conflict. Donald Trump called his alleged role in the ceasefire understanding “one of the biggest successes he has ever been given credit for”....more

NEW YORK: Former US President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for the "love and support" he received after revealing his diagnosis with prostate cancer. His office announced Sunday that he was diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer, with "metastasis to the bone," adding that he was reviewing his treatment options. The finding came after the 82-year-old reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate....more
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday has agreed to reduce tariffs on UK automobiles, steel, and aluminum as part of a planned trade deal, in exchange for increased British imports of American beef and both sides gaining better access to agriculture markets. Trump said from the White House that his government has reached a trade agreement with the United Kingdom. The deal affirms that “reciprocity and fairness is a vital principle of international trade” and increases access for US agricultural products, Trump said, though he added that the final details were still being written up....more

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the government for "informing" Pakistan about targeting terror infrastructure as part of Operation Sindoor, saying it was a crime and asking who had authorised it. In a post on X, Gandhi questioned External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for publicly admitting that the government of India (GOI) had informed Pakistan of the action and asked how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost as a result....more
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump claimed that India offered to remove all tariffs on American goods, but added that he was in no rush to formalise a trade deal despite the apparent breakthrough. If confirmed, India's offer would mark a striking concession from the world’s fourth-largest economy. However, reacting to Donald Trump's claim that India has offered a trade deal with “literally zero tariffs”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the ongoing negotiations are complex and far from final....more

NEW DELHI: The UK and India have signed a Programme of Cultural Cooperation, enhancing cultural exchange through the arts, heritage and creative industries, helping drive growth and opportunity. India's Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy signed on Friday the India–UK Programme of Cultural Cooperation....more
LONDON: In an announcement that may impact tens of thousands of people who aim to make the United Kingdom their home, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to significantly reduce the net migration in the country by the end of this parliament. This is the first major move in years to overhaul the immigration system in the UK....more |