India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the evolving security situation in the Middle East, according to a statement shared by the U.S. envoy in India. Sergio Gor said in a social media post that both leaders focused on regional stability and emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Ongoing tensions involving Iran have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the ro

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned United Kingdom that it could be considered a party to any military action against Iran if it allows the United States to use British bases for such operations. According to statements attributed to Araghchi, he said any cooperation enabling U.S. strikes would be viewed by Tehran as direct involvement. He also accused the United States and Israel of violating international laws and principles in carrying out attacks against Iran. The claims have not been independently verified. Araghchi described the United Kingdom and some European countries

Premium petrol and bulk diesel prices have increased in New Delhi, with officials linking the change to rising global oil and gas costs amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. According to information from India’s Petroleum Ministry, the price of premium petrol rose by ₹2 per litre on Friday. The revised rate brings premium petrol in the capital to ₹101.89 per litre, up from ₹99.89. The price of diesel sold in bulk to industrial users has also seen a sharp increase of about ₹22 per litre. Industrial diesel is now priced at ₹109.59 per litre in Delhi, reflecting higher input costs

The U.S. Department of Defense has submitted a request to the White House seeking an additional $200 billion in funding tied to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations, said the request has not yet been formally transmitted to Congress for consideration. It remains unclear whether the White House will advance the proposal. According to the official, the funding request would come on top of supplemental defence spending approved last year as part

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has issued a warning to Iran following reports of a drone strike targeting a major oil refining facility in Yanbu amid escalating regional tensions. According to regional media reports, the Samref oil refinery in Yanbu, a key Red Sea export hub, was hit in an aerial attack during ongoing hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The extent of damage and any disruptions to production have not been independently confirmed. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the kingdom has the capability to respond, cautioning Iran against test

Israeli authorities say a series of overnight airstrikes on Iran targeted senior intelligence leadership and key energy infrastructure, as hostilities continue between Israel and Iran. According to a statement from Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, the strikes killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, along with several senior officials from the ministry. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not confirmed any casualties as of publication time. Israeli officials also said their aircraft struck gas infrastructure in southern Iran. The re

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the death toll from Israeli air and ground attacks since March 2 has risen to nearly 900 as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 886 people have been killed and 2,141 others injured during Israeli strikes across parts of Lebanon over the past two weeks. The ministry said the attacks have also affected the country’s health-care system. Medical teams responding to emergencies were among those hit during the strikes. At least 38 health workers have been killed and another 69 injured w

The signing of a proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has been postponed for now, according to India’s commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal. Agrawal said the agreement will move forward only after the United States fully implements its new tariff policy. He said the timeline for finalizing the deal is tied to the outcome of tariff changes currently under consideration by U.S. authorities. According to Agrawal, previously imposed global tariffs that were struck down by a U.S. court must be replaced with new global tariff measures before the trade agreement can be finalize

Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday accused Pakistan’s military of targeting civilian homes during overnight airstrikes in Kabul and the southern province of Kandahar, as cross-border fighting between the two countries entered its third week. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement posted on X that women and children were among those killed in the strikes. The claim could not be independently verified. According to Mujahid, Pakistani aircraft also struck fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar’s airport. Pakistan’s military