The PM's overseas visits in 2025 picked up sharply after May, particularly following Operation Sindoor.
The intriguing bit is that Trump is likely to attend the talks in Islamabad this weekend -- if he does, it will be the clearest signal yet that the US is ready to exit the war with some sort of win to show, since he cannot afford to go for the talks and return empty-handed, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War
The logic of war plus the gathering storms in US politics as the midterms loom large leave him with no real alternative but to negotiate, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
India's U20 Women's team, led by Shubhangi Singh, is prepared for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup after a month-long training camp in Europe. The team is focused on the group stage challenges against Japan, Australia, and Chinese Taipei.
The question is whether the clocks allow enough time for two deeply mistrustful sides to get there, and whether the surface calm holds long enough for the paddling to produce something before the ceasefire ends on April 22, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.
India's top sprinters are set to compete in the International Invitation Relay Competition in Chandigarh, aiming to qualify for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. Several national relay teams are hoping to secure their place at the World Relays in Gaborone.
Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England title ended in a narrow defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in a thrilling final marked by high-intensity rallies and attacking play.
'The tools of warfare are changing. The MoD must deepen its engagement with technology thinkers that can present compelling visions of where warfare may be heading.'
Chaffing under public ridicule in the US as well as internationally for having 'lost' the war, Trump is under immense pressure to do something, cautions Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu will miss the Swiss Open as she recovers from travel disruptions in Dubai. H S Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth will lead the Indian challenge.
The AIFF defends its preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup despite India's group-stage exit, citing extensive overseas exposure and matches. An inquiry has been ordered into a kit controversy.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa faces a tough challenge at the Candidates Tournament, where he will compete against top players for the chance to challenge for the World Championship title.
US President Donald Trump will travel to China in May for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, following a postponement due to the war in Iran. The White House has announced the new dates and indicated a reciprocal visit to Washington DC is planned.
Robin Liu steps down as India CEO of OnePlus. The company shares key updates on its India operations and future strategy. Here's what it means for the brand and market.
Both sides have now revealed a preference for escalation over strategic defeat, and each new provocation narrows the space for the next pause. The Touska seizure, Iran's refusal to negotiate under blockade, Israel's strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure -- all of these add up to an increasingly untenable situation. This makes the wild card -- Trump and his motormouth -- more consequential than ever, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.
India's recurve and compound archers showcased their skills at the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1, securing top qualification spots in multiple events despite fielding a relatively inexperienced team.
Bengaluru FC has appointed Spaniard Pep Munoz as their new head coach, signing him until the end of the 2026-27 season. Munoz brings experience from FC Barcelona's youth setup and a successful stint in Cambodia.
'We were in a heavily nuclearised environment. China had tested for Pakistan in the 1980s and helped their missile programme stay just one step behind us.'
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok began her week at the Blue Bay LPGA with a 4-under 68, placing her in T-7 after the first round. Chinese players Mary Liu and Weiwei Zhang, along with South Korea's Youmin Hwang, lead the tournament.
Vikram Doraiswami, a seasoned diplomat, has been appointed as India's new ambassador to China, succeeding Pradeep Kumar Rawat. This decision comes as both countries attempt to improve bilateral relations following a period of strain.
February 16 marked the start of the Chinese Year of the Dog.
Kiran George was defeated in the pre-quarterfinals of the Swiss Open, while Tharun Mannepalli advanced after his opponent retired. Other Indian players also faced setbacks in the tournament.
George Russell said Formula One's new engine and chassis regulations made racing feel more like karting after the Mercedes driver won Saturday's Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew against Wei Yi in the second round of the FIDE Candidates tournament, maintaining his joint lead. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh missed a chance to take the lead, drawing with R Vaishali.
India's compound archers, led by Rajat Chauhan and Chikitha Taniparthi, dominated the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament, while the recurve team faced disappointment.
'One Chinese interlocutor said India should realise that "China can do without India, but India could not do without China", pointing to its inability to do without Chinese intermediates and components,' former foreign secretary Shyam Saran discovers on a visit to China.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his New Year's message for 2026 in Hindi, among other languages, urging world leaders to prioritize development over destruction. He highlighted the staggering scale of human suffering and the disproportionate global military spending.
In Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had deployed additional squadrons of the Chinese-origin HQ-9 air defence systems, which could not do much against the Indian aircraft when they brought down multiple terror targets inside Pakistan.
Domestic institutional investors, on the other hand, made a net investment of Rs 1.13 trillion during this period.
Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
India face Vietnam in their opening match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, with concerns over India's lack of international game time.
Trump may strike. He may announce productive talks and extend again. He may do both at the same time. Iran will not open the Strait on someone else's terms, so no matter what happens, that problem will remain unsolved. And the IRGC will still be collecting its $2 million toll from every ship bold enough to ask permission to pass.
'Oil is still well below its all-time highs, and the world is gradually running out of known reserves.'
'For the first time in a hundred years, the army has been taken out of the political equation. And for the first time ever, there is only one man who calls the shots. Not even Mao had this kind of power.'
The India-EU free trade deal could help Indian-made cars enter Europe at lower costs and challenge Chinese dominance.
Security has been tightened around former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia as a medical team from China arrived to assist in her treatment. Zia is in critical condition at a private hospital in Dhaka, suffering from heart and lung infections.
Lakshya Sen battled through painful blisters and severe cramps to defeat Victor Lai and reach the All England Open final, bringing him one step closer to ending India's 25-year wait for the title.
Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen discusses the need to adapt his training and recovery strategies due to the physical demands of modern badminton, following his runner-up finish at the All England Open.
'Nehru was an idealist, he was certainly a visionary in one way, but Mao Zedong was not. Mao Zedong was a very down-to-earth strategist. He wanted to take Tibet, to take the plateau, to take the rivers, to take the minerals.'
India U20 women's team head coach Joakim Alexandersson expresses confidence in his team's progress ahead of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in Thailand, highlighting improvements in ball movement, passing, and defensive organisation.
