Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held extensive discussions with China's Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying and other senior officials in Beijing, reviewing bilateral relations, trade, cultural exchanges, and emphasising peace and tranquillity in border areas. His visit aims to advance the vision of both nations as development partners.
The Indian government has amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) rules, introducing stricter regulations for NGOs receiving foreign funds. Key changes include mandatory selection of predefined purposes and areas of operation, restrictions on foreign nationals as key functionaries, and explicit exclusion of proselytisation from certain faith-based activities. The amendments also introduce minimum spending limits, enhanced financial accountability, and increased transparency requirements, including social media disclosure and ultimate donor identification.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 13 foreign nationals were among the 21 people who died in a recent hotel fire in south Delhi. The MEA is coordinating with respective embassies to provide assistance.
Iran has extended an invitation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other party leaders, including Salman Khurshid and Pawan Khera, to attend the burial ceremonies of its late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ceremonies are scheduled from July 5 to 9 across various Iranian cities. India will also be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Ata Hasnain.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are reportedly heading to Switzerland for a new round of US-Iran negotiations, following a recently announced memorandum of understanding to end hostilities in West Asia and a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The United States conducted retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting over 80 sites, after accusing Tehran of attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran condemned the US decision to revoke a temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales.
Donald Trump has issued a severe warning to Iran, threatening 'decimation' with '1,000 missiles' if the nation pursues alleged assassination plots against him, while Iranian officials accuse the US of violating a MoU amidst ongoing diplomatic talks.
Four Indian nationals have been killed in an attack on the vessel MV Golden Leo during departure from the port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday evening, while one is critically injured.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to attend the BRICS National Security Advisors meeting in New Delhi on June 22-23. The high-level gathering will address international security challenges, regional issues, and prepare for the upcoming BRICS Summit in India. Wang Yi is also expected to hold bilateral talks with India's NSA Ajit Doval, focusing on India-China border issues.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's, funeral due to security concerns stemming from Israeli threats. This decision follows a sharp warning from Iran's Foreign Minister to the United States, urging it to control Israel after its Defence Minister reportedly marked Khamenei for death. The incident highlights escalating tensions and ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate hostilities in West Asia.
India has lodged a strong protest with Russia following the killing of four Indian seafarers aboard a Guinea Bissau-flagged merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack on the civilian ship, MV Golden Leo, which also left one Indian national critically injured.
West Bengal's Bharatiya Janata Party government has moved to institutionalise its "detect, delete and deport" policy by directing all district administrations to set up "holding centres" for suspected illegal foreigners and foreign prisoners awaiting repatriation -- a step that appeared to give administrative shape to one of the party's most potent political themes in the state.
The Central Information Commission has said the blanket denial of information sought on Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act renewal applications by the Union ministry of home affairs "appears to be misplaced and without any basis", while observing that the CPIO prima facie "obstructed" the complainant's right to information.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi, stressing the importance of respecting each other's "core interests" and implementing leaders' consensus for stable bilateral relations. Wang highlighted that India and China should view each other as partners, not rivals, and properly handle sensitive issues like the border dispute to foster cooperation and accelerate the modernisation of the Global South.
The harsh truth is that the US is no longer a reliable partner, cautions Ramesh Menon.
US President Donald Trump announced that a deal to end the war with Iran would be signed on Sunday, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz immediately becoming 'open to all'. This follows indications from Pakistan that negotiations were in their final stages, though Iran has yet to comment on the timeline.
The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their initial round of talks in Switzerland on Friday, following a ceasefire agreement virtually signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a US-Iran peace deal is on the verge of finalisation, potentially within the next 24 hours, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough after months of intense negotiations.
A special NIA court in Ahmedabad has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the 2019 mid-sea seizure of 330 kg of 'brown heroin' off Gujarat's Jakhau coast. An Indian man, allegedly the intended recipient, was acquitted due to benefit of doubt. The National Investigation Agency had probed the case, alleging funds from the smuggling were intended for a terror organisation.
India has strongly condemned Pakistan's recent air strikes on Afghan territory, which resulted in civilian casualties. The Ministry of External Affairs labelled the strikes a "blatant act of aggression" and a "direct threat" to regional peace, reiterating India's support for Afghanistan's sovereignty.
India is navigating a complex diplomatic landscape, attempting to balance its 'forever honeymoon' with the Israel-UAE-Bahrain axis against its historical ties with Iran, as evidenced by recent high-level visits and evolving geopolitical realignments in the Middle East, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Nebex, founded by former Axiom Space executives, aims to build commercial infrastructure for the global space economy.
A central government committee has upheld the ban on the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film Satluj, citing concerns over India's sovereignty and integrity, sparking political debate in Punjab.
With Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif deciding to retain Pakistan's foreign affairs portfolio, former minister Sartaj Aziz will play a crucial role as his advisor in charting a way forward on issues like relations with India and the United States
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea from Uttar Pradesh police challenging a Bombay High Court ruling that absolved BrahMos Aerospace engineer Nishant Agarwal of major espionage charges under the Official Secrets Act. Agarwal was previously sentenced to life imprisonment by a Nagpur district court for spying for Pakistan's ISI, despite the High Court finding he only illegally stored sensitive data.
Legendary economist and former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has died at the age of 100 due to complications related to Parkinson's disease, his wife Andrea Mitchell confirmed.
'Our leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, are in touch with all Opposition parties, including the DMK and the AAP.'
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday deferred the selection of its first chief executive officer (CEO) by a month after receiving 5,200 applications for the post and decided to appoint a secretary in the interim to meet growing administrative requirements.
Following a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran to resolve the West Asia conflict, eleven India-bound vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. This development signals a positive shift for maritime trade, with more Indian-flagged ships expected to pass through the crucial waterway soon.
US President Donald Trump announced a finalised peace deal between the US and Iran, set for signing on June 19 in Switzerland, with key figures like J D Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner from the US side, and Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf representing Iran, alongside Pakistani mediators Field Marshal Asim Munir, Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, and Mohsin Naqvi, playing crucial roles in the diplomatic breakthrough.
Sagiv Steinberg, CEO of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), described the recent US-Iran peace agreement as a temporary 60-day ceasefire, not a genuine peace deal, suggesting it's timed for the upcoming US midterm elections.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will head all the three committees.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel to discuss the West Asia conflict and explore ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodriguez is in New Delhi on her sixth visit to India.
'Actual implementation of the 14-point agreement is proving hard to achieve let alone striking and sustaining a long-term treaty or deal.'
'Our discussions focused on the India-Nepal development partnership and people-to-people ties.'
Items include luxury watches, jewellery, carpets, shawls, silverware and collectible artefacts with bidding prices reaching up to Rs 20 lakh.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held "constructive" talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, focusing on the normalisation of bilateral ties. The discussions reviewed recent developments and progress towards rebuilding trust after the eastern Ladakh border standoff. Both sides have implemented measures, including disengagement pacts and high-level meetings, to improve relations.
Iran has criticised recent US attacks on merchant ships off the Oman coast, which resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals, calling them a threat to global peace. India has also strongly condemned the 'lethal and deadly' strikes and summoned the US charge d'affaires to express its concerns.
Bangladesh summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner to convey "deep disappointment" after Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to the Prime Minister, was stopped and questioned by immigration authorities at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The incident led to Rahman's decision to return home despite being cleared to proceed.
