New Delhi

Chinese President Xi Jinping missed the dinner for world leaders at the G20 summit in New Delhi because he was unwell, according to people familiar with the matter. The report has fueled fresh speculation about the 70-year-old leader's health, coming just days before he was scheduled to travel to the United States, and has drawn wide attention and debate about his condition and absence from a key diplomatic gathering.

India has dispatched humanitarian support to Afghanistan, continuing a policy of providing assistance to the Afghan people despite not formally recognising the Taliban administration. The aid is part of New Delhi's ongoing engagement with Afghanistan, which has included wheat, medicines and other relief supplies in recent years. Observers see the move as a sign of India maintaining a humanitarian presence in the region.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is holding a live press conference at Indira Bhawan, the party headquarters in New Delhi. The event is drawing large live audiences, with viewers following his remarks on current political matters. Further details of what was announced were not immediately available beyond the live broadcast of the event.

Indian applicants for US visitor visas are facing long interview waits, with Hyderabad at around 12 months, Mumbai 11.5 months, New Delhi 10 months, Chennai 7.5 months and Kolkata 6.5 months. The figures are drawing attention as families planning travel for tourism, business or family visits face delays stretching close to a year before they can secure an interview appointment.

Pakistani security forces have killed dozens of alleged terrorists in operations in Balochistan, with officials claiming the fighters were backed by India. Islamabad has long accused New Delhi of supporting insurgent groups in the restive southwestern province, allegations India denies. The reported operation is drawing attention amid already heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

India has issued a warning to Pakistan that supporting terrorism will invite consequences, responding after Pakistani statements, including from Sharif, described potential Indian action as an 'act of war'. The exchange marks a further escalation in rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with New Delhi insisting it will respond firmly to any cross-border terror activity.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India will continue to strike terrorist hubs as long as its neighbour supports terrorists. The statement, reported by The New Indian Express, underlines New Delhi's stated policy of cross-border action against militant infrastructure. Singh did not name the country, but the reference is widely understood to point to Pakistan, amid long-standing tensions over terrorism emanating from across the border.

India has told the United Nations General Assembly that it will exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism. The statement, reported by Indian and Kashmiri media, underscores New Delhi's long-standing position that it reserves the right to act against terrorist threats. It comes amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan and broader UN debate over how member states may respond to cross-border militancy.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a pointed warning at the United Nations, questioning 'friendship with terrorism' in remarks aimed at what has been described as Trump's 'favorite general'. The hard-hitting statement signals India's continued pressure on Pakistan's military leadership over cross-border terrorism, a longstanding flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations that New Delhi keeps on the international agenda.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the country must become self-reliant in defence, from semiconductors to warships, in an interview with NDTV. He argued that India cannot depend on foreign suppliers for critical military technology and needs domestic capability across the board. The remarks underline New Delhi's ongoing push to build its own defence manufacturing base.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India halted Operation Sindoor on its 'own terms' and described Pakistan as the 'epicentre of terrorism'. The remarks reaffirm New Delhi's position on its military action and its accusations against Islamabad, drawing attention amid ongoing tensions between the two countries over cross-border militancy.

Russia's envoy to India has claimed that a "Freudian slip" by the United States revealed American anxieties about India's growing global power. The remark, reported by NDTV, frames Washington as privately worried about India's rise even as the two countries deepen ties. The comments add to Moscow's ongoing diplomatic outreach to New Delhi amid shifting geopolitics.

India's government has put out a statement on strengthening the country's space sovereignty, signalling continued state focus on self-reliance in space capabilities. The announcement, carried by the Press Information Bureau, underscores policy efforts to expand India's satellite, launch and space security capacity. Observers see it as part of New Delhi's broader push to establish itself as a major independent space power.