The Indian government has challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticism of levying fees on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to merchants. The government highlighted that a parliamentary standing committee, which included Congress MPs, had previously backed a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI. This move aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the UPI ecosystem and reduce its dependence on government subsidies, a concern raised by the committee due to the significant funding gap between allocations and operational costs.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join US President Donald Trump's Gaza Peace Board and is currently considering the offer.
As the deadline for military action against Tehran approaches, US President Donald Trump has issued a series of provocative statements suggesting a monumental shift in the geopolitical landscape.
The Trump administration maintains the US is 'not at war' with Iran, despite military engagement reaching a critical legal threshold under the War Powers Resolution, potentially leading to a confrontation with Congress.
Putin has issued a stark warning to European nations, declaring that any deployment of troops to Ukraine would be met with 'war with Russia'.
US President Donald Trump stated that the decision regarding the conclusion of the conflict with Iran will be a 'mutual' decision made in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
'It beggars belief that Saudi Arabia would deploy military force against India, a top partner and market.'
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are actively pushing Trump to take the war to its bitter finish and 'erase' Iran's presence in the geopolitics of the region. Simply put, the two most powerful Sunni Arab oligarchies are on the same page as Israel. Such interference increases the risk of a breakdown in dialogue between the US and Iran, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
In his first major national address since hostilities began, Trump said the ongoing military campaign, dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury', has delivered 'swift, decisive, overwhelming victories'.
Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, threatening massive retaliation if it attacks Qatar again, following reports of an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field and an attack on Qatar's LNG facilities.
Indian stock markets rallied in early trade after US President Donald Trump announced a halt to planned military strikes on Iran, citing requests from Gulf leaders and ongoing "very big discussions" that could lead to a deal. This de-escalation, coupled with foreign fund inflows and gains in IT and Adani group stocks, contributed to the positive market sentiment. Track Sensex and Nifty on May 19, 2026.
Josh Kushner said Thrive Capital misjudged football's political dynamics, would have avoided FIFA's failed $20 billion rights plan, but still supports its aim of broader investment.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the UN General Assembly, strongly criticised Pakistan for its support of terrorism, asserting India's right to self-defence and stating that friendship cannot coexist with terrorism. He also highlighted India's global responsibilities, contributions to the Global South, and its stance on reformed multilateralism and AI.
Amid mounting speculation over his position within the Trump administration, FBI director Kash Patel reportedly could be the next senior official to exit Trump's cabinet in recent times, according to a Politico report.
The US Central Command announced a new wave of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, aiming to degrade Tehran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels. This comes as US President Donald Trump described the situation as a 'skirmish' and suggested Iran wants to 'make a deal,' while Iran's Foreign Minister warned of a 'decisive response' to any aggression.
Colorado election officials have said the matter needs to be settled by January 5, which is the statutory deadline to set the list of candidates for the GOP primary scheduled for March 5.
A new Pew Research survey reveals that a significant majority of Indians (54%) consider Pakistan their greatest geopolitical threat, while 43% of Pakistanis view India as theirs, highlighting deep-seated distrust between the two nations.
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, despite a controversial FIFA decision to suspend his red card ban, struggled in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium, leading to the U.S. team's elimination. The decision, which saw U.S. President Donald Trump claim credit, sparked accusations of political pressure on FIFA, while Balogun's birthright citizenship also came under scrutiny.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lodged a strong protest with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over US Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. India also summoned the US Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi regarding the incident.
President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual White House Correspondents' dinner after a gunman opened fire outside the hotel ballroom. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, has been arrested. World leaders have expressed relief that Trump and other guests were unharmed, emphasising that political violence has no place in a democracy.
India would confront a more entrenched China, a less dependable United States, and a regional order increasingly shaped by great-power bargaining over which it exercises limited influence, notes Amberish K Diwanji.
The United States military is scheduled to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, marking the end of a 23-year deployment that began with the 2003 invasion and later focused on combating the Islamic State group.
Hours after ceasefire, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned against any country supplying military weapons to the Islamic Republic, stating that he would impose a 50 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States.
'You can ascribe any ideology to him, and it will be equally right - or equally wrong.' 'Even though the comrades on the Left will never admit it, he seems as much Stalinist as capitalist.'
Former US president Donald Trump spoke just six times, including when he entered the not guilty plea, before a judge in a Manhattan court during the nearly hour-long hearing at his arraignment, according to court records.
Two Indian-origin individuals, Pritesh Walia, a jazz guitarist, and Venkata Vasamsetty, a green-card holder grandmother, have been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in separate cases, highlighting the Trump administration's intensified deportation and enforcement drive.
India and China are in what experts call 'a cooperation-versus-competition situation'.
US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of Pakistan, aiming to allow Tehran's leadership time to form a unified proposal to end the seven-week war.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran, on Saturday (local time), at the commander in chief, US President Donald Trump's direction.
President Trump is celebrating the US-India trade deal as a landmark achievement, with a major focus on boosting American coal exports to India and other trade partners.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that progress has been made in the Geneva talks with Iranian authorities, but the two nations stand 'far apart' on certain issues.
Iran has presented a multi-layered proposal to the US in an attempt to break the deadlock in peace talks, focusing on de-escalation and nuclear programme discussions.
As Cuba announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the United States military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, US President Donald Trump issued a warning, saying he believed the Cuban government was close to collapse.
Country music legend Dolly Parton, the iconic singer-songwriter known for hits like I Will Always Love You and Jolene, has passed away at 80, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy as the best-selling female country music artist of all time.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders and other nonimmigrants after job loss, a move expected to significantly impact Indian technology workers.
A controversy has erupted over remarks made by Maharashtra MLA Vijay Wadettiwar regarding the shooting incident at an event attended by former US President Donald Trump. The BJP has demanded a condemnation from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that Wadettiwar justified the incident and is hoping for a similar attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed a peace deal with the United States, stating that Tehran will enter a 60-day negotiation period only after verifying Washington's commitments to ending hostilities, lifting the blockade, and releasing Iranian assets.
The billionaire businessman beat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump outlined key goals of the campaign, including degrading Iran's missile capabilities, dismantling its defence industrial base, eliminating naval and air power, preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear capability, and protecting United States allies such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
