CONGRESS SETS A NUMBER, TO FOCUS ON JUST 255 SEATS Amid pulls and pressures from allies of the INDIA bloc, the Congress leadership Thursday told state units the party would focus on 255 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, signalling perhaps its readiness to contest in a lesser number
US EXTENDS MILITARY PRESENCE AT QATAR BASE FOR 10 YRS: REPORT The US has reached a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The base in question is the Al Udeid Air Base, which is located in the des
CHINA, US ANNOUNCE MILITARY PATROLS IN DISPUTED SOUTH CHINA SEA BEIJING — Beijing and Washington both announced military deployments in the South China Sea on Wednesday, following heightened tensions between China and the Philippines in the disputed waterway. China's People's Li
AFTER RUSSIA VISIT, JAISHANKAR DIALS UKRANIAN COUNTERPART Days after returning from Russia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict besides talking about enhancing bilateral cooper
JAPAN GRAPPLES WITH DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI FALLOUT A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Noto region on New Year's Day, causing extensive destruction, including homes and highways. Over 50 aftershocks followed, triggering tsunami waves over a meter high. Urgent evac
PHILIPPINES, US DISCUSS REINFORCING COOPERATION MANILA — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke yesterday with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo about the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea as the two top diplomats exchanged ideas on how to reinforce bilateral co
QATAR COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 8 INDIAN NAVY VETERANS In a huge relief to eight Indian Navy veterans on death row, an appellate court in Qatar has commuted their sentence. "We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sente
RUSSIAN NAVAL SHIP IN CRIMEA DAMAGED IN UKRAINIAN AIR STRIKE In a significant development, Ukraine launched a cruise missile attack on a substantial Russian landing warship in Crimea, resulting in at least one fatality. The strike targeted the Crimean port of Feodosia, damaging the Novocher
PHILIPPINES PURSUES OIL EXPLORATION DESPITE DEADLOCK WITH CHINA MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affirmed the Philippines' commitment to advancing oil exploration projects in the West Philippine Sea despite stalled negotiations with China. Despite three years of talks, no substantial
MODI & MBS SPEAK: NEED PEACE, SECURITY IN REGION As the war in Gaza rages and drone and missile strikes disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the two leaders “ag
