A High-Stakes Visit Amid Global Flux S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Brussels marked a significant diplomatic moment, coming just weeks after the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Invited by Kaja Kallas, Jaishankar addressed all 27 EU foreign ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council—India’s first such engagement since escalating tensions in West Asia disrupted global supply…
USCIRF Flags India, Seeks Sanctions A fresh diplomatic row has emerged after the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended sanctions on India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) over alleged religious freedom violations. The 2026 report also reiterates its call to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), marking…
US Goes Solo After Allies Pull Back Snubbed by key allies, President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will act unilaterally to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery now effectively paralysed. His announcement follows failed efforts to build a multinational naval coalition, exposing growing divisions between Washington and its…
Dealers Asked to Pay Upfront India’s state-owned fuel giants have begun demanding advance payments from dealers for petrol and diesel, marking a major shift in how the country’s fuel retail system operates. Companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited—which together supply nearly 90% of India’s fuel outlets—have scrapped the…
A Widening Conflict Across the Gulf More than 200 American troops have been injured after a series of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted US positions across the Gulf, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. The attacks, described as precise and coordinated, have hit multiple locations simultaneously, exposing…
A High-Stakes Electoral Showdown in Odisha The Odisha Rajya Sabha elections have turned into a revealing political moment, exposing fractures within opposition ranks and reshaping the balance of power in the state. What was expected to be a straightforward contest evolved into a dramatic outcome, with the BJP clinching three out of four seats while the…
Abrar Ahmed’s £190,000 Deal Sparks Debate A fresh controversy has erupted in cricket after SunRisers Leeds signed Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 during the 2026 auction of The Hundred in England. The signing, which took place on March 12, immediately drew attention because the franchise is owned by India’s Sun Group, led by media tycoon…
A Devastating Strike on Civilians At least 400 people were killed and around 250 injured after a reported Pakistani airstrike hit a major hospital in Kabul, triggering one of the deadliest episodes in the region’s recent conflict. The strike allegedly targeted a 2,000-bed drug-rehabilitation facility, leaving large sections in ruins and rescue teams scrambling through debris to…
A Timely Arrival in Troubled Waters Another crucial shipment has reached Indian shores as the LPG tanker Nanda Devi, carrying nearly 47,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, docked at Vadinar Port on Tuesday. Its arrival follows closely on the heels of Shivalik, which had earlier braved the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz to reach Mundra…
State Steps Up Efforts as Lakhs of Odias Face Crisis in Gulf Amid escalating tensions in West Asia and disruptions to international travel, the Odisha government has intensified efforts to bring back thousands of its residents working in Gulf countries. Lakhs of Odia migrant workers—many employed in construction and service sectors—are currently spread across cities…
