Despite a ceasefire extension, Iran has rejected the United States' conditions for negotiations, creating uncertainty in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led online campaign turned protest movement, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the resignation or sacking of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests. The CJP, which organised a protest at Jantar Mantar, warned of nationwide agitation if their demands are not met.
The Indian rupee depreciated by 52 paise to settle at 93.35 against the US dollar, driven by failed US-Iran peace talks, surging crude oil prices due to a potential US blockade of Iranian ports, and a global flight to the greenback. This geopolitical uncertainty is also leading to foreign capital withdrawal from domestic equities.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington is considering a "joint venture" with Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz, following his announcement of a two-week ceasefire.
Trump's comment marks a shift in his repeated statements that Iran hand over its enriched uranium to the US as a sticking point of any potential deal.
Despite international crude oil prices falling to a four-month low, retail petrol and diesel prices in India are unlikely to be cut immediately because state-run refiners are still processing costlier crude purchased during the peak of the West Asia crisis, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities, has entered its 15th day, garnering support from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI(M) MP John Brittas. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike, while a student leader from AISA was hospitalised after her condition turned critical.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, rebounded on Wednesday, recovering intraday losses, primarily driven by strong fag-end buying and a significant rally in blue-chip Reliance Industries.
Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh expressed optimism following a meeting with the Kuki Zo Council, viewing it as a positive step towards restoring peace and trust between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state.
A local BJP functionary, Vinod, was allegedly beaten to death in Dehradun's Bairagiwala village following an irrigation dispute, leaving three family members critically injured. Authorities have razed "illegal" structures belonging to the accused, and police have registered a case against 12 named suspects and others, deploying forces to maintain law and order.
Former US President Donald Trump has criticised Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a form of 'extortion' amid ongoing negotiations for a peace deal. The remarks come as Iran considers imposing transit fees on vessels crossing the strategic waterway.
The spokesperson said India has "always advocated constructive, solution-oriented, and practical engagement with all stakeholders to achieve a negotiated settlement to this conflict".
In an interaction with PTI Videos in New Delhi, Iran's deputy chief of mission to India Mohammad Javad Hosseini also said Americans should "put pressure" and bring the other side back to the negotiating table.
The ICC Player Protection Programme, in partnership with AI moderator Freedom2hear, is actively shielding women cricketers from social media abuse. Over 100 players, including India's Radha Yadav and England's Amy Jones, have joined the initiative, which has already removed nearly 60,000 harmful comments during the ongoing T20 World Cup, ensuring player well-being and confident fan engagement.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation in West Asia. This follows Pakistan's offer to host talks between the US and Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Trump seems to have estimated that Ghalibaf is a pragmatic politician who is receptive to close relations with the US and is enthusiastic about fostering business and economic ties in particular, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
A US military Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with its crew successfully rescued, as US President Donald Trump confidently declared an imminent 'total victory' over Iran within two weeks and a new nuclear deal, despite ongoing regional volatility and a recent de-escalation between Iran and Israel.
The Indian rupee depreciated by 28 paise to settle at 93.44 against the US dollar, influenced by ongoing uncertainties surrounding West Asia peace negotiations, volatile crude oil prices, and the Reserve Bank of India's recent adjustments to non-deliverable forward market regulations.
China has denied any links to the Iranian cargo ship seized by the US in the Gulf, which allegedly contained chemical materials for manufacturing missiles. The denial follows allegations by former US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley, who claimed the ship was headed from China to Iran.
Prem Panicker's Must Read Blog On The Gulf War.
On the second day of the protest at Jantar Mantar, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke sought farmers' support to the youth-led agitation over alleged examination irregularities, NEET paper leak and the demand for education minister's resignation.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has strongly defended India's decision to purchase Russian crude oil, stating that the country's energy choices are based on cost and availability, and highlighting the West's 'hypocrisy' in criticising India while historically supplying weapons used against it.
Tensions in West Asia have dramatically escalated as Israel launched targeted military operations against Iran, triggering widespread blasts across strategic cities, following earlier Iranian projectile attacks on Israel.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, ended lower after a five-day rally, with the Sensex dropping 607 points and the Nifty falling to 24,013.10. The decline was primarily driven by heavy selling in IT firms following Accenture's trimmed revenue guidance and renewed geopolitical uncertainty, specifically the postponement of US-Iran negotiations.
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.
Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir held talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran to help resolve the conflict between the US and Iran, following a recent ceasefire agreement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow would not interfere in the "delicate" bilateral relations between India and China, expressing confidence in their ability to resolve border disputes amicably. He also discussed Russia's independent partnerships with both nations, touched upon India-Pakistan ties, and highlighted ongoing and proposed defence cooperation with India, including the BrahMos missile and a potential Su-57 fighter jet project.
The US has threatened to prosecute those buying or selling sanctioned Iranian oil and has announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks failed.
Historically, India was a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing significant volumes of Iranian light and heavy grades due to strong refinery compatibility and favourable commercial terms.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi spoke with Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to discuss the West Asia crisis, following discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Myanmarese territory would not be allowed to be used against India's security interests, as the two leaders held wide-ranging talks to boost bilateral ties in trade, defence, and energy.
The new interlocutor, AK Mishra, held talks with NSCN-IM chief negotiator Thuingaleng Muivah at Dimapur in Nagaland.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran and invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad for peace negotiations.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to host talks between the US and Iran to help resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, following reports of Pakistan's involvement in backchannel diplomacy.
A village in Sirohi district experienced tension after the suspicious death of a 30-year-old man led to angry villagers allegedly attacking the house of the family accused by the deceased's relatives. Police have deployed additional forces and are investigating the matter, awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the cause of death.
'Respect in a marriage doesn't come from adjusting more. It comes when the other person realises you won't keep accepting less,' says rediffGURU Kanchan Rai, mind coach and founder of Let Us Talk Foundation.
A female doctor in Pakistan's Balochistan province suffered severe burns in an acid attack by a hospital employee, leading to widespread protests by medical professionals. The suspect was later killed in a police encounter while attempting to flee. The Young Doctors Association is demanding improved security and accountability from health officials.
India and Israel have strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and reaffirmed their commitment to combating the threat.
India and Israel have elevated their relationship to a special strategic partnership, focusing on enhanced cooperation in trade, technology, and defense, while also addressing regional peace initiatives.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to mediate between the US and Iran to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in West Asia, following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran. Sharif has been in contact with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other nations to promote dialogue and diplomacy.
