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India presses tariff relief in U.S. talks
New Delhi has put forward what officials describe as a revised “final” trade offer to Washington, but the sharper priority appears to be securing the clean removal, or firm closure, of the additional 25% U. S. tariff tied to purchases of Russian oil, according to two people familiar with...
Dubai tanker strike jolts Gulf shipping
Flames tore through a fully loaded Kuwaiti crude tanker anchored off Dubai on Tuesday after what Kuwaiti state media and multiple international reports described as an Iranian strike, marking another sharp escalation in the widening conflict that has pushed the Gulf’s commercial lifelines deeper into danger. The vessel, Al-Salmi,...
Bengal poll shows Mamata ahead again
Mamata Banerjee appears on course to return to power in West Bengal for a fourth straight term, with the latest VoteVibe Vote Tracker projection putting the Trinamool Congress well above the halfway mark in the 294-member assembly, though with a noticeably reduced cushion compared with its 2021 performance. The...
Trump weighs uranium gamble in Iran
President Donald Trump is weighing a highly risky next step in the Iran conflict, with reports that he is considering sending US forces onto Iranian soil to seize or remove a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, even as Pakistan-led diplomacy seeks to open a path to a ceasefire and...
US report sharpens terror focus
A US Congressional Research Service assessment has reinforced New Delhi’s longstanding position that armed groups targeting Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country continue to operate from Pakistani territory, renewing attention on a security issue that has shaped relations between the two neighbours for decades. The CRS...
Putin flags Caspian risk in Iran war
Vladimir Putin has sharpened Moscow’s warning over the widening Iran conflict, signalling that any spillover into the Caspian Sea would be viewed by the Kremlin “extremely negatively” as Israeli military action pushes into an area of direct strategic interest to Russia. The warning has added a fresh geopolitical layer...
Fuel tax cut reshapes fiscal calculus
Government on Friday slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre each, sharply lowering the central tax burden and signalling a shift in its approach to managing inflationary pressures and consumer demand. The revision brings central levies on petrol down to about ₹3 per litre, while...
Energy fears rise amid West Asia strains
Heightened tensions across West Asia and continued swings in crude prices have sharpened focus on energy security, even as remarks by Narendra Modi referencing the pandemic period triggered a surge of online speculation about the possibility of a lockdown-like disruption. Oil markets have reacted nervously to developments spanning the...
Tehran signals shift towards US talks
Mojtaba Khamenei, identified in regional reports as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, has agreed to pursue negotiations with the United States, pointing to a potential diplomatic opening as tensions continue to shape the security landscape of West Asia. The move follows remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said Washington...
Top court flags probe delays in Ambani case
Supreme Court has sharply criticised central investigative agencies over what it described as a lack of urgency in probing alleged large-scale banking irregularities linked to the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, directing authorities to carry out a time-bound and transparent inquiry. A bench of the apex court expressed dissatisfaction with...
Iran signals limited access through Hormuz route
Iran has indicated a calibrated shift in its position on maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the strategic waterway will remain open to international shipping while restricting passage for vessels linked to what it described as “hostile” nations. The statement follows a sharply worded ultimatum issued...
Trump warns Iran over Hormuz blockade
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, threatening military strikes on its power infrastructure if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, escalating tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The warning, delivered through a social media post...
Hezbollah intensifies cross-border strikes amid escalation
Hezbollah claimed dozens of coordinated attacks on Israeli military positions within a single day, signalling a sharp escalation in hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel frontier as both sides expanded operations across multiple fronts. The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group said it carried out 55 strikes targeting Israeli troops stationed near the...
Europe urges Hormuz reopening amid tensions
European leaders meeting in Brussels have called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to attacks on critical energy and water infrastructure across the Middle East, as surging oil and gas prices deepen concerns over global economic stability. The European Council, representing all 27...
TMC grapples with widening internal rebellion
A wave of dissent within the Trinamool Congress has unsettled the ruling establishment in West Bengal, with several legislators signalling discontent that now threatens to disrupt party cohesion and administrative stability ahead of a demanding political cycle. Multiple party insiders indicate that the rebellion, once confined to muted grievances,...
US strikes Iranian missile sites near Hormuz
United States forces have targeted Iranian missile positions along the Strait of Hormuz using some of the heaviest conventional munitions in its arsenal, signalling a sharp escalation in efforts to secure one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. US Central Command said multiple 5,000-pound deep-penetrator bombs were deployed...
China urges restraint amid Hormuz crisis
China has called for an immediate halt to military operations in West Asia after escalating hostilities led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments, intensifying fears of a prolonged energy shock and wider economic disruption. Beijing’s appeal followed remarks by...
Iran links tanker release to Hormuz transit
Iran has urged New Delhi to release three seized oil tankers in exchange for assurances that vessels flying the Indian flag or carrying cargo to Indian ports will be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to officials familiar with the matter, highlighting mounting maritime tensions in...
