Scientists have found a remarkable whale graveyard more than seven kilometres below the surface of the south-eastern Indian Ocean. The discovery includes hundreds of ancient whale fossil sites as well as modern whale falls that continue to support life in one of the darkest and most extreme parts of the planet. Researchers say the site offers fresh clues about extinct whales, deep-sea biodiversity and how marine life survives far below sunlight.

Seizure of Majestic X in Indian Ocean amid rising tensions The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Thursday, April 23, 2026, that it seized the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean while it was en route to Zhoushan, China. Officials said the operation is part of ongoing maritime enforcement aimed at disrupting networks linked to Iranian oil exports in violation of U.S. sanctions. The Pentagon released video footage showing U.S. troops boarding a

Port Louis, Mauritius — Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful announced that India is expected to supply approximately 1.2 million tonnes of petroleum products annually to the island nation, as global supply chains remain strained due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The agreement, currently in the form of a memorandum of understanding with the Government of India, is pending final approva

India granted docking permission to Iranian naval vessels following their participation in multinational maritime events earlier this year, even as regional tensions intensified after a United States submarine sank one of the ships in the Indian Ocean. The Iranian vessels IRIS Lavan, IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Dena had taken part in the Milan 2026 multilateral naval exercise and the International Fleet Review held in Visakhapatnam in February, events designed to highlight cooperation among dozens of

India has granted emergency docking permission to an Iranian naval vessel at Kochi and arranged accommodation for its crew after the ship reported technical difficulties, according to government sources. The Iranian vessel, identified as IRIS Lavan, arrived at Kochi on 4 March after receiving approval from Indian authorities earlier this month. Government officials said the request from Iran was received on 28 February 2026, stating that the ship required urgent docking due to technical issu

The Indian Navy launched a coordinated search and rescue operation in the Indian Ocean after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank near Sri Lanka earlier this week. The incident triggered a rapid maritime rescue response involving Indian naval aircraft and ships, working alongside Sri Lankan authorities to locate survivors and support ongoing recovery efforts. According to naval officials, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo received a distress signal from the Iranian warship early on March 4. At the time, the vessel was operating roughly 20 nautical miles west of the coastal city of Galle, within Sri Lanka’s designated search and rescue zone. Sri Lankan naval units initiated rescue operations immediately after receiving the alert. The Indian Navy soon joined the operation by deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at around 1000 hours to assist Sri Lanka’s ongoing search effort. Another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby to provide additional support if required. The Indian naval ship INS Tarangini, which was already operating in nearby waters, was redirected to the incident location and reached the search area by approximately 1600 hours on the same day. To further strengthen the maritime rescue mission, INS Ikshak sailed from Kochi and continues to remain in the region to assist in the humanitarian effort. Naval authorities described the deployment as a measure aimed at aiding shipwrecked personnel and supporting regional cooperation in emergency response operations. Coordination between the Indian Navy and Sri Lankan authorities remains ongoing as search operations continue in the surrounding waters. Meanwhile, the United States confirmed that the sinking of the Iranian frigate resulted from a military strike. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the operation was conducted under direct orders from President Donald Trump and described it as a decisive action carried out as part of a joint effort with Israel. The Iranian warship had reportedly been returning from a naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, India, when it was struck in the Indian Ocean, nearly 2,000 nautical miles from Iranian territory. Initial reports indicate that approximately 87 sailors were killed in the incident, while Sri Lankan rescue teams managed to save 32 survivors. Several crew members remain missing and are feared dead as search and recovery operations continue across the maritime zone.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the United Kingdom’s handling of the strategically important island of Diego Garcia, warning that London could be making a significant strategic error. In a post on Truth Social dated February 18, Trump said he had advised Starmer that entering into a 100-year lease arrangement concerning Diego Garcia was a “big mistake.” The island, located in the Indian Ocean and part of the Chagos Arc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a telephone conversation with Mauritian Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, during which both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the special and historic relationship between India and Mauritius. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral ties, expanding development cooperation, and ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region, underscoring the strategic significance of the island nation in India’s foreign pol

The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying warships to the Middle East, a move aimed at reinforcing American military capabilities in a region marked by escalating political and security tensions. The announcement was made on Monday, January 26, by US Central Command, which said the carrier strike group’s presence is intended to support regional security and stability while enhancing both offensive and defensive readiness. Accordin

Spain has formally joined India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, marking a significant diplomatic development that strengthens India’s expanding leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region and deepens cooperation with European partners. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares handed over Spain’s Declaration of Accession to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi earlier this week, officially confirming Spain’s entry into the India-led framework launched in 2019. The m

Reports have surfaced that Google is secretly building an artificial intelligence data centre on Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. According to a Reuters investigation, the facility is believed to be connected to a military cloud computing deal between Google and the Australian Department of Defence. The island, strategically positioned for maritime monitoring, is said to provide an ideal location for advanced AI and surveillance infrastructure. In

India has officially confirmed a six-month exemption from US sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, effective retrospectively from The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the exemption ensures uninterrupted Indian operations at the port, which plays a crucial role in connecting India with Afghanistan and Central Asia through the Indian Ocean. India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) had signed a 10-year, $370 million deal with Iran to develop the port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal. Cha

In a landmark ceremony attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Indian Navy commissioned two Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, on Tuesday. The warships, built under Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), mark a major milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding program with over 75 percent homegrown content. This is the first instance where two major warships from separate premier shipyard

Bangkok, April 4 — At the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled several bold proposals aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, economic integration, and disaster resilience among the seven member nations of BIMSTEC—India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. UPI Integration Across BIMSTEC In a major push toward financial connectivity, PM Modi proposed linking India’s UPI (Unified Pa