In response to Indian Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh's statement of downing five Pakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied any of their military aircraft being hit or destroyed by the Indian armed forces. Asif claimed that the timing of Singh's assertion was suspicious and insinuated that it was a strategic move by Indian politicians. He proposed that both countries should open their aircraft inventories for independent verification to know the truth.
In a recent report, 'The New York Times' claims that US President Donald Trump has cancelled his plans to visit India for the Quad Summit later this year, citing people familiar with his schedule. The strained relationship between the leaders has been further exacerbated by trade tensions and India's refusal to open its agriculture and dairy markets to US goods. The future of the Quad, a strategic alliance between India, the US, Japan and Australia, now hangs in the balance as China stands to benefit from its potential demise.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Disaster Prevention Division has released an AI-generated video showing the potential effects of an eruption from Japan's iconic Mount Fuji on the city of Tokyo. The video warns of the dangers of volcanic ash, which could reach the city within one to two hours and potentially cause extensive damage on transportation and daily life. As Japan lies on the Ring of Fire, authorities are stepping up warnings and urging citizens to be prepared.
A massive explosion at a petrol station in Rome's Prenestino neighborhood has caused widespread damage and left over 40 people injured. The incident was caused by a gas leak after a tanker truck hit a pipe, with a second, larger explosion occurring shortly afterwards. The Rome mayor has described the damage as "enormous" and emergency service workers were among those injured. The cause of the initial blast is still under investigation, and the area remains cordoned off as emergency services continue their work.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with enthusiasm by members of the Indian community upon his arrival in Tianjin, China. He had just concluded his visit to Japan and was met with great enthusiasm at his hotel, where he was welcomed with cultural performances by Chinese nationals who have been learning Indian music and dance for years. This warm welcome highlights the strong cultural ties between India and China and signifies the growing friendship between the two countries.
Amidst ongoing monsoon rains, a cloudburst struck Rajgarh in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in three fatalities and two missing individuals. Rescue operations are underway, but hampered by the adverse weather conditions that threaten to cause further damage. The disaster highlights the urgent need for measures to build resilience and better disaster management in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sendai, Japan, for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, where he travelled on the famous Shinkansen with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During the visit, PM Modi emphasized the potential of partnerships between Indian states and Japanese prefectures, with a focus on areas such as trade, innovation, startups, and emerging technologies. This was part of the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative launched between both countries to strengthen sub-national collaborations and foster deeper economic integration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing dream of bringing a Japanese bullet train to India is finally coming to fruition. During his recent visit to Japan, Modi rode in the state-of-the-art Shinkansen new ALFA-X train with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. They also visited a chip equipment manufacturing plant, where India’s mission to develop its own semiconductors is making significant progress. With Gujarat serving as the first leg of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Train project, the government plans to complete the stretch by December 2029, with the Gujarat section potentially becoming operational in the midst of the state’s 2027 assembly elections. Various construction and infrastructure works, including the completion of twelve thematically designed bullet train stations, are currently underway.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sendai city, Japan, with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on a bullet train. The two leaders have plans to visit a semiconductor facility and sign several MoUs covering defense, trade, technology, and business cooperation. This visit comes in the midst of tensions with the US over tariffs and PM Modi's attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. A warm welcome was given to PM Modi by locals chanting "Modi san welcome."
During his visit to Japan, PM Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack and called for action against all terrorist groups. They also reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. In an interview, PM Modi emphasized the importance of stable and amicable relations between India and China for regional and global peace and prosperity. The two leaders also discussed deepening cooperation in areas such as defence, cyber security, and innovation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced during a parliamentary debate that Turkey has taken measures to cut off trade with Israel and prohibit their planes from entering Turkish airspace in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This comes after Turkey demanded a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza and previously cut direct trade ties in 2024. The move has been praised by some and criticized by others, with President Erdogan comparing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler. Meanwhile, Reliance Industries and Meta Platforms have announced a partnership to make open-source AI models more accessible for Indian businesses, and Google and Reliance will establish a dedicated cloud region in Jamnagar.