Trump in Beijing on mission to enlist China in the West Asia and Hormuz crisis

BEIJING: US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for high-stakes talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. China rolled out a ceremonial welcome for Trump ahead of formal talks. A state banquet is scheduled for Thursday. The visit is Trump's first in nearly nine years. His second state visit to China, and the first of his second term, centres on convincing President Xi Jinping to help end the maritime strangulation caused by the ongoing US war on Iran....more

Modi Visit To Netherlands From May 15 To Expand Multifaceted Partnership

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a three-dan official visit to the Netherlands from May 15. The visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten. This will be Prime Minister’s second visit to the Netherlands after his previous visit in 2017, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. During the visit, Prime Minister will call on their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten....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

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

India ready to counter any cross-border misadventure: Navy chief designate

MUMBAI: Indian Navy chief designate Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has said the country has been a victim of terrorism for several years, and asserted that it remains prepared to counter and quell any "misadventure" from across the border. Operation Sindoor was targeted specifically at terrorists and terrorist camps that participated in a very dastardly incident in Pahalgam in 2025, said Swaminathan....more

Hamas Forced Captives From Israel To Have Sex With Family Members: Report

TEL AVIV: An independent Israeli investigation has detailed what it describes as a campaign of "systematic, widespread" sexual violence carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the October 7, 2023 attacks and throughout the hostage crisis that followed. The 300-page report alleges that rape, sexual torture and humiliation were used intentionally "to maximise pain and suffering", targeting not only individuals but entire families and communities....more

Lexus New Delhi Brings Japan to the Capital with ‘Whispers of Japan’ Evening

NEW DELHI: An evening of culture, cuisine and luxury came alive in the heart of the capital as Lexus New Delhi hosted “Whispers of Japan” recently, offering its customers an immersive experience inspired by the rich traditions of Japan. Around 75 Lexus guests gathered at the Janpath showroom for the exclusive event, which celebrated the spirit of Japanese hospitality and craftsmanship that defines Lexus....more

Tehran will welcome India’s peace push, one BRICS member is stalling consensus on Iran war: Deputy FM

NEW DELHI: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday said Tehran would welcome any peace initiative by India to help stabilise West Asia, while also claiming that a single BRICS member country was blocking consensus within the grouping over the ongoing regional conflict....more

Vijay Wins Floor Test With 144 Votes, 24 AIADMK MLAs Vote For Him

CHENNAI: 'Thalapathy' Vijay is safe, for now. The superstar actor - who upended Tamil Nadu politics by leading his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to victory in last month's election, breaking the DMK and AIADMK's 62-year stranglehold on the state's political landscape - was confirmed Wednesday as the new chief minister after winning a dramatic trust vote....more

Think of WFH, saving petrol, not buying gold for a year: Modi amid oil crisis

NEW DELHI: Amid the global oil shock triggered by the Middle East war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to revive work-from-home practices, cut fuel consumption and even avoid buying gold for weddings for one year to help the country save foreign exchange. The remarks come against the backdrop of record-high fuel prices in many nations, from the US to neighbouring Pakistan, due to the Iran war fallout. Indians have been mostly cushioned from the blow, though this might change in the coming days....more

Rahul Gandhi dissents on CBI chief selection: 'Leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp'

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his dissent over the CBI Director selection process, alleging that the exercise was “biased”. Gandhi said he could not “abdicate” his constitutional responsibility by participating in the process and asserted that the Leader of Opposition was “not a rubber stamp.”...more

India criticises China, raises 'reputation' question over support to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday tacitly criticised China for supporting Pakistan during a brief but intense conflict last year, saying responsible nations should reflect on how their efforts to shield terrorist infrastructure affect their global standing....more

Iran releases prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh on bail

TEHRAN: Iranian rights lawyer and Sakharov Prize winner Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released on bail after being arrested earlier this month, her daughter said. She was detained on April 1 during a crackdown on civil society amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights defender and former Nobel-related award recipient, has been repeatedly arrested over her work....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