The United States considers India its most essential international partner, US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor said on Monday, as Washington and New Delhi prepare to restart a new round of trade negotiations beginning Tuesday, January 12. Speaking at the US Embassy in New Delhi, Gor underlined the depth of the bilateral relationship and expressed confidence that both sides could overcome existing challenges to advance cooperation across multiple sectors. Gor, who also serves as Spec

Iran’s government said on Monday that it is prepared to enter negotiations with the United States, even as it warned that the country remains fully ready to defend itself militarily amid ongoing nationwide protests and rising international tension. The statement came after US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran’s leadership had expressed interest in talks following his repeated warnings of possible military intervention. Speaking at a conference of foreign ambassadors in

The Indian Space Research Organisation experienced a tense morning on Tuesday after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C62 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10.18 am carrying a total of 16 satellites. The mission initially appeared to progress as planned, with scientists closely monitoring each phase of the flight. However, around 30 minutes after liftoff, ISRO confirmed that the mission had encountered an anomaly during the third stage of the launch sequence, r

A 24-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh pursuing a master’s degree in the US state of Texas has been reported missing after undertaking a solo winter trip to Alaska during the Christmas holiday period. The student, identified as Karasani Hari Krishna Reddy, is a native of Guntur district and had travelled to Alaska on December 22 with plans to return within two weeks, according to information shared by his friends. Reddy, who was studying in Texas, had informed his friends and r

A once-unadorned parking garage wall in downtown Dallas has been transformed into a striking five-story mural, marking a significant addition to the city’s growing public art landscape. The new artwork now spans the west-facing exterior of The Adolphus Hotel’s parking structure, introducing a vivid and imaginative presence along Commerce Street. The mural, titled “The Time Keeper,” was officially unveiled this week as part of the Downtown Dallas Mural Initiative, an effort a

In a significant indication of easing tensions between Washington and Caracas, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has cancelled a planned second wave of military attacks on Venezuela, citing the release of political prisoners and increased cooperation on rebuilding the country’s oil and gas sector. The decision follows recent developments that the US president described as constructive gestures by Venezuelan authorities aimed at de-escalation. Trump said the mov

​Warships from China, Russia and Iran arrived in South African waters on Friday to participate in a week-long multinational naval exercise off the coast of Cape Town, drawing attention amid heightened global tensions and renewed scrutiny of South Africa’s foreign policy positioning. The exercise, titled “Will for Peace 2026,” is being conducted under the framework of the BRICS group of emerging economies and is scheduled to continue until next Friday. South Africa’s armed forces sa

Iran remained largely cut off from the global internet on Friday as authorities enforced a nationwide digital blackout while protests continued to spread across the country, intensifying an already volatile political and economic crisis. Internet monitoring data showed that connectivity across Iran had dropped to almost zero for more than 12 hours, severely limiting access to online communication platforms as demonstrators gathered in cities nationwide. According to internet trackin

The proposed India–US trade deal failed to materialise because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not personally call US President Donald Trump, according to claims made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Speaking on a podcast, Lutnick said the final step required to close the agreement was direct communication between the two leaders, which did not happen, leading to the collapse of the negotiations. Lutnick stated that the framework of the deal had been completed and was rea

President Donald Trump’s recently announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies are expected to have a limited effect on what most Americans pay for prescription drugs, according to health policy experts who say the scope and structure of the deals leave many patients unaffected. Since Sept. 30, the Trump administration has reached agreements with 14 drugmakers in exchange for relie

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to use his final State of the State address on Thursday to portray the state as a governing model for the nation, drawing a sharp contrast with what he describes as instability and dysfunction at the federal level under President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor plans to argue that California’s policy direction and values stand in opposition to those coming from Washington, positioning the state as both a counterweight and an alternative to the curre

Two Indian nationals working as truck drivers in the United States were arrested in Indiana following the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine during a routine highway inspection conducted earlier this month. Authorities said the seizure took place on January 3, when state police stopped a semi-truck traveling along Interstate 70 in Putnam County and uncovered approximately 309 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $7 million. According to law enforcement officials

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has accused the United States of using allegations related to drug trafficking, democracy, and human rights as a pretext to pursue control over the country’s vast oil resources. Speaking before the Venezuelan Parliament, Rodríguez said that external pressure on the country has long been driven by energy interests rather than genuine political or humanitarian concerns, while emphasizing that Caracas remains open to energy cooperation based on

plunging close to one percent amid rising global uncertainty and mounting trade-related concerns. The S&P BSE Sensex fell by more than 700 points during afternoon trade to hover around the 84,300 mark, while the NSE Nifty50 slipped over 225 points to trade near 25,915. Weak sentiment spread across sectors, dragging frontline stocks as well as the broader market lower, reflecting heightened investor caution. Market participants attributed the decline to a combination of weak glob

The Union government has sought additional information from social media platform X regarding the steps taken to address obscene and sexually explicit content linked to its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, and the measures planned to prevent similar incidents in the future, according to sources familiar with the matter. The request follows a detailed response submitted by the platform, which officials have assessed as insufficient in addressing key regulatory concerns. Sources in

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations and treaties, marking one of the most extensive reversals of US participation in global institutions in recent history. According to a White House memorandum, the administration determined that continued involvement in these bodies was contrary to the interests of the United States, citing concerns over sovereignty, ideological alignment, and financial comm

United States President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have taken a step toward resetting strained bilateral relations following a period of heightened diplomatic tension. The two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday, Jan. 7, in their first direct conversation since relations deteriorated sharply in early January amid wider regional developments. In a statement released by the White House, Mr. Trump said he invited President Petro to visit the White House in Washington for

Documents released under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act have shed new light on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during India’s Operation Sindoor in April last year, revealing an extensive and urgent campaign to seek Washington’s intervention as tensions escalated between the two South Asian neighbors. The filings indicate that Islamabad repeatedly appealed to US officials for assistance, offering a range of economic and strategic incentives in return for diplomatic engag

A River North restaurant has earned national attention for its distinctive blend of design and cuisine, marking another milestone for Chicago’s evolving dining scene. Crying Tiger, which opened in October at 51 W. Hubbard St., has been named among the most beautiful new restaurants in America for 2025, according to a recently released national ranking highlighting standout hospitality spaces across the country. The restaurant was recognized for its ability to merge Chicago’s ind