World Affairs

The conflict in southern Lebanon has taken another tragic turn as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 19 people on Tuesday. Among the victims were four women and three children, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. These strikes highlight the extreme fragility of the US-brokered ceasefire, which ... Read full article.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague, warning that the world faces a sequence of crises—from pandemics to wars and an energy shock—that could erode decades of progress and push a large share of the global population back into poverty. He framed these risks as a ... Read full article.

President Donald Trump raised expectations about a major Boeing sale to China, saying the plan calls for at least 200 aircraft with the potential to grow to as many as 750. He told reporters aboard Air Force One during a trip to Beijing that the deal was struck during his summit with President Xi ... Read full article.

After two days of talks in Washington, the United States said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their 45-day ceasefire as negotiators push for a lasting settlement along their shared border. The extension follows a broader push by U.S. mediators to restart the political track in June and to ... Read full article.

During a trip to China, President Donald Trump recounted a moment from his talks with Xi Jinping in which the Chinese leader directly asked whether the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of a conflict. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way back to the United States that ... Read full article.

The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi opened with a sharp back-and-forth between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the West Asia conflict, overshadowing efforts to craft a joint statement. The exchange highlighted the fragility of consensus among BRICS members on a highly charged ... Read full article.

Three U.S. destroyers came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with officials saying there was no damage. In response, President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning to Iran, saying the attackers were destroyed and that Washington would respond with even greater force if a deal with Tehran isn’t ... Read full article.

Marco Rubio opened a high-stakes diplomacy push this month, planning stops that cross the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean as part of a broader effort to reset fraught relationships with key global partners. A Rome stop is set to bring the senator face-to-face with the pope, a move intended to ease ... Read full article.

Keir Starmer arrived at the European Political Community summit in Armenia, where he said there is no denying that tensions between Trump and Europe are rising as the bloc grapples with Ukraine and Iran. The gathering is overshadowed by questions about US support for Kyiv and NATO's unity, and ... Read full article.

In a public message from Tehran, a leading figure tied to the regime framed the current moment as a Gulf-wide stand against Western pressure. He declared that the United States has been defeated in its 'war on Iran' and invoked a bold oath: 'By God's Help, A Future Without America.' The remarks ... Read full article.

In a move that surprised markets and industry watchers, the United Arab Emirates announced it would quit the OPEC oil cartel after 60 years of membership. The decision, described by the energy ministry as a shift toward a 'new energy age' and a more flexible approach to policy, marks a heavy blow ... Read full article.

The Trump administration has imposed economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. The move, announced on Friday (April 24, 2026) and first reported by The Associated Press, makes good on the ... Read full article.

Simon Weston, a Falklands War veteran, says he hopes King Charles III can persuade Donald Trump to back down over reports the United States might revisit its stance on the Falkland Islands. Weston told Newsnight that Trump's words and approach show a lack of regard for the human cost of war, and he ... Read full article.

Washington is witness to a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon as the United States prepares to host ambassador-level discussions, led by the secretary of state. Official briefings say the goal is to extend the recently fragile ceasefire and set out a roadmap toward a broader settlement, ... Read full article.

Iran says it seized two ships near the Strait of Hormuz, adding another flare to the high-stakes tensions in the Gulf. Tehran’s claim circulated through Iranian channels, with officials stating the vessels were seized after entering the strategic waterway under heightened security patrols. The ... Read full article.

Rajnath Singh used a high-profile stop in Germany to deliver a stern message to Pakistan on the Pahalgam attack anniversary, reinforcing a posture of tough deterrence. He cited Operation Sindoor to say that India’s military has grown stronger and that the country has the capacity to respond if a ... Read full article.

Ukraine is reportedly proposing to name a portion of the contested Donbas region after Donald Trump, calling the project Donnyland. The move is meant to signal Kyiv’s alignment with American support as it navigates war and diplomacy. Several outlets describe the proposal as a bold branding gambit, ... Read full article.

Islamabad has long hosted talks between Tehran and Washington, but fresh signs indicate Tehran is growing wary of Pakistan's neutrality as a mediator in US-Iran diplomacy. Iranian observers describe a sense of unease about Islamabad's alleged tilt toward Washington, complicating backchannel efforts ... Read full article.

Negotiations with Iran have a reputation for dragging. Analysts note that the current round is likely to unfold slowly as negotiators grapple with long-standing demands on enrichment, sanctions relief, and regional security. The historical pattern—sticking points, pauses, and careful step-by-step ... Read full article.

The Strait of Hormuz is at a standstill as Iran reversed course on reopening after recent attacks, delaying vessels and raising alarm across energy markets. Data from ship trackers show several Indian and foreign ships headed for Indian ports waiting for clearance near Hormuz, with dozens of ... Read full article.

LUCKNOW: Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, special representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, said that recent efforts to advance Iran-US peace talks have failed after Washington allegedly deviated from a mutually accepted framework. He noted that Iran had proposed a 10-point plan as the base for ... Read full article.

Budapest — Hungary’s incoming prime minister delivered a dramatic opening gambit, telling the nation’s state broadcaster that they are in the business of misinformation and that their days are numbered. In an extraordinary first interview, he declared to the newsroom, 'we are shutting down your ... Read full article.

Global financial watchers are bracing for another wave of uncertainty as the IMF unveils its first forecast after the conflict between US-Israeli and Iranian forces escalated. The projection flags risks that could push the world economy toward a downturn if energy markets stay volatile and demand ... Read full article.

In Islamabad, the latest round of talks between the United States and Iran stretched for 21 hours and ended without a breakthrough, underscoring how high the stakes are as negotiators pursue a path forward on a fragile ceasefire and a host of strategic differences. The encounter marked the first ... Read full article.

The city of Seattle was the place where the first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled on Saturday. The life-size bronze statue, the first of its kind ever to be installed by a city government in the US, is placed in a busy downtown Seattle location, Westlake ... Read full article.

A fragile ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz has eased immediate escalation risks, but shipping remains constrained and conditional. While limited vessel movement has resumed, it’s far from normal, with security considerations dictating transit and global energy markets remaining sensitive to any ... Read full article.

Two days before Hungary's elections, more than 100,000 people flooded the streets of Budapest for a megaconcert that doubled as a call to vote out Viktor Orbán. The sea of banners and flags transformed a square into a political rallying point, with musicians weaving messages about democracy and ... Read full article.

JD Vance, the US Vice-President, arrived in Budapest to publicly back Viktor Orbán’s re-election as Hungary heads into a tight race after 16 years in office. Standing beside Orbán, Vance said he was there to help in this campaign cycle, while noting the US would work with whoever wins the election. ... Read full article.

Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric, saying he would not hesitate to act if Iran does not meet demands, including a warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if leadership does not comply. The remarks came as a deadline for talks loomed, with officials signaling that a resolution was ... Read full article.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that continued attacks near Iran's southern Bushehr nuclear power plant could unleash radioactive fallout that would end life in GCC capitals rather than in Tehran, as tensions spike in the region after a string of strikes. Saturday's strikes near the ... Read full article.

Trump posted a message claiming that 'many of Iran's military leaders' were killed in a 'massive' Tehran strike, accompanied by a video of an explosion. The post offered no independent verification or official attribution and has fed into a spike of war-talk as regional exchanges continue. Context ... Read full article.

The Saffron Proposition – Can the BJP Gain Power? The BJP’s journey in West Bengal from a marginal player to the principal opposition has been a structural marvel. Going into the 2026 elections, the possibility of the BJP breaching the majority mark to form the government hinges on a complex ... Read full article.

India is set to participate in international discussions on the security of the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Gulf region intensify and the importance of safe navigation for energy shipments remains high. The United Kingdom has formally invited India to join the talks, signaling New Delhi's ... Read full article.

In a fast-moving, top-line update, President Donald Trump signaled a potential winding down of U.S. operations in the Iran conflict even as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. He said a ceasefire could be considered “when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear,” underscoring a pivot from ongoing ... Read full article.

Italy’s bid to reach World Cup 2026 ended in a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, denying the four-time champions another chance to feature on the world’s biggest stage. The playoff final extended into a tense conclusion after 90 minutes and extra time, with neither side able ... Read full article.

An Israeli envoy has pitched India as a superior mediator in the Middle East, casting doubt on Pakistan's role as a go-between in the region's volatile conflicts. The envoy warned that India’s engagement could offer a steadier channel for dialogue in a landscape shaped by rivalries and shifting ... Read full article.

Russia has expelled a British diplomat from Moscow, accusing the individual of attempting to obtain sensitive information about the economy. The claim comes from Russia's security service, which says the diplomat sought access to state economic data. The diplomat has been given two weeks to leave ... Read full article.

A text-message campaign urging Iranians to volunteer to defend the country against a possible US ground operation has begun circulating, with messages describing the initiative as a 'national campaign for those willing to sacrifice their lives' and inviting citizens to register to 'defend the ... Read full article.

Pakistan has offered to host talks aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict as tensions between the two countries persist. Iran has publicly rejected Pakistan's mediation role, insisting it did not participate in any talks brokered by Islamabad. The stance underscores a widening gap between Tehran and ... Read full article.

Thousands of US soldiers and Marines have arrived in the Middle East, marking a significant escalation in tensions as Washington faces sharp accusations from Tehran that a ground assault is being quietly planned even as public talks of ceasefire are touted. The conflicting signals come as the ... Read full article.

Israel's parliament has approved a law that would authorize the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, marking a hardening stance in a decades-long conflict. The measure cleared the Knesset in a vote that reflected a broad portion of public opinion deeming such crimes ... Read full article.

Mediators from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt gathered in Pakistan over the weekend to discuss a path toward ending the month-long Iran war, even as fighting persisted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian missile and drone attacks. The toll of the conflict has climbed to more than 3,000 ... Read full article.

PM Modi cautions a potential worldwide petrol and diesel crunch amid energy-region conflicts, thanks Gulf nations for aiding Indians abroad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Mann Ki Baat radio address to flag growing concerns about a potential global shortage of petrol and diesel as conflicts ... Read full article.

Nepal's politics are undergoing a metamorphosis after March elections, driven by a generation that communicates through rap songs and social media, moving away from vertically structured party hierarchies toward horizontal networks. The rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), formed in June ... Read full article.

In south Lebanon on Saturday, three journalists were killed when their car was struck during heavy fighting reported along the region’s outskirts. Ali Shoeib, a veteran correspondent for al-Manar, and Fatima Ftouni along with her brother Mohammed Ftouni of al-Mayadeen, were killed in the vehicle as ... Read full article.

At the Future Investment Initiative Priority Summit in Miami, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would love his legacy to be that of a great peacemaker, insisting he has helped stop eight wars, including a flare-up between India and Pakistan last year. He framed his record as evidence of restraint ... Read full article.

In a video conference with chief ministers, PM Modi calls for coordinated action to shield fuel, inflation, and logistics from Middle East disruptions, establishing inter-ministerial groups to monitor impacts. In a virtual meeting with chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country ... Read full article.

In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with chief ministers and union territory administrators to review preparations for ensuring gas, fuel and other essentials amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. He stressed that tackling the challenges requires robust coordination ... Read full article.