India and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their economic ties with an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to USD 25 billion by 2030. This announcement, made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 6, 2026, is part of a new strategic roadmap designed to expand economic and sector-specific cooperation between the two countries. The announcement was made following the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at Hyderabad House in Delhi by PM Modi and Vietnam's President To

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on April 20, shaking the northeastern coast and triggering widespread concern across the region. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located nearly 100 kilometres east of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture along the tsunami-prone Sanriku coastline. Authorities quickly issued tsunami warnings, cautioning residents

Former White House physician and retired US Navy doctor Ronny Jackson has emerged as a central figure in negotiations that led to a $500 million mining and rare earths agreement between American and Pakistani entities, according to recent disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice. The filings, submitted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, outline Jackson’s direct engagement with Pakistani officials and detail his involvement in shaping the deal at multiple stages.

Greenland has returned to the center of international attention following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said the United States needs Greenland from a national security standpoint. The comments triggered concern in Denmark and Greenland, reviving debate over the Arctic island’s growing geopolitical importance at a time of rising global tensions and strategic competition.   Denmark and Greenland reject takeover rhetoric Denmark, which is responsibl

The year 2025 has become one of the most turbulent in recent memory as Earth experiences a wave of overlapping natural crises. A rare volcanic eruption in Ethiopia sent ash drifting thousands of kilometres toward Asia, Indonesia recorded more than 1,400 earthquakes in just 30 days, and California battled massive wildfires that claimed hundreds of lives. Severe monsoon flooding washed through India and Pakistan, and the planet was struck by the strongest solar storm in over twenty years. These

India has taken a major step toward reducing its dependence on imported critical technologies by approving a new national programme for manufacturing sintered rare earth permanent magnets. These magnets are essential components used in electric vehicle motors, renewable energy systems, advanced electronics and defence platforms. The Union Cabinet cleared a financial package of Rs 7,280 crore to establish a fully integrated domestic supply chain capable of producing 6,000 metric tonnes per yea

As the world watches the evolving dynamics of U.S.–China relations, former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that a “fair trade deal” with Chinese President Xi Jinping could soon materialize during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Speaking ahead of the high-profile event, Trump described his relationship with Xi as “strong” and said he expects posit

The United States has warned that steep tariffs could soon be imposed on China if Beijing proceeds with its newly announced restrictions on rare earth exports, heightening concerns of another trade confrontation between the two largest economies in the world. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that the decision now rests largely on China’s next actions, suggesting that the situation remains fluid in the run-up to a crucial diplomatic meeting later this month. Pr

For many NRI families, international travel is a regular part of life. Whether it’s visiting relatives in India, exploring new destinations, or moving between countries for work, travel brings both opportunities and responsibilities. One area that often raises questions is vaccination, especially when it comes to vaccines that are not part of the standard childhood immunization schedule. Yellow fever and a few other rare vaccines fall into this category, and understanding when they are

Astronomers have confirmed the passage of a rare interstellar visitor comet 3I/ATLAS through our solar system. First detected on July 1, 2025, by NASA’s ATLAS telescope in Chile, it is only the third such object ever observed, following Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Traveling at an astonishing 208,800 km/h, 3I/ATLAS is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun on October 30 at a distance of 1.4 AU, just inside Mars’ orbit.

US President Donald Trump has announced a major breakthrough in trade relations with China, confirming that a new deal includes guaranteed upfront delivery of rare earth elements to the United States and a renewed visa pathway for Chinese students. Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared the agreement “done,” pending final approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping and himself. He emphasized that under the terms, the US would receive “full ma

The United States and China have reached a preliminary framework agreement to revive their stalled trade truce, aiming to ease export curbs and avoid a looming tariff escalation. Following two days of high-stakes negotiations in London, both sides announced they had come to terms on steps to lift restrictions on China's rare earth mineral exports and to roll back recent U.S. controls on advanced technology goods, including semiconductor software.

In a rare and fascinating event, a two-headed California kingsnake was born at a pet facility in Berkeley, and has already beaten the odds by surviving beyond the early stages of life. The creature, named Angel and Zeke, has two fully functional heads sharing one body—a condition known scientifically as bicephaly. Occurring in approximately one out of every 100,000 reptile births, the survival of such animals is exceedingly uncommon. The male kingsnake hatchling was discover

Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it

The rapid increase in satellites and space junk is threatening the future of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the most accessible region of space. Experts and industry insiders have raised alarms, stating that without international cooperation and data sharing, LEO could soon become overcrowded and unsafe. According to the United Nations, more than 14,000 satellites, along with over 120 million pieces of debris, are already in orbit, with many more expected in the coming years. This growing congestion

Recent studies by British scientists reveal that the Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving at an accelerating pace, shifting towards Russia. Over the past few decades, its movement has significantly increased from 15 kilometers per hour (kmph) between 1990 and 2005 to 50-60 kmph. This shift is particularly concerning for navigation systems like GPS, as the magnetic North Pole plays a critical role in guiding navigation tools, including compasses used by planes, boats, submarines, and smar