Jaishankar raises safety of Indian seafarers with Lavrov

A day after India summoned the Russian Charge d' Affaires and conveyed "unequivocal condemnation" and "grave concern" over the death of four Indian seafarers in a Russian missile strike on a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and reiterated Delhi's "strong concern regarding the safety of Indian seafarers in the region".

With eye on China, Quad commits to strengthen 'free & open Indo-Pacific'

With an eye on China's assertive behaviour in the region, the Quad foreign ministers committed to ASEAN's centrality and vowed to pursue peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.

This was one of the main takeaways from the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila on Wednesday, which was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

India underlines supply chain and market access with Wang

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and conveyed India's concerns on "predictability of supply chain", "market access" and facilitating "official and people-to-people exchanges". He also underlined that "peace and tranquility in the border areas" is the prerequisite for normal ties Delhi's position on the border standoff for the last six years.

Cooperation, common goals focus of talks with Canada

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held talks on bilateral ties with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand, focusing on cooperation and common goals.

Jaishankar's meet with the Canadian foreign minister comes days after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said investigators probing the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada have found no evidence linking Indian officials to the murder.

US says interim trade deal almost ready as Jaishankar meets Rubio in Philippines

The Interim trade deal between India and the US is "almost complete" and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to visit India before the end of the year, US officials said on Wednesday after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met America's top diplomat in Manila.

India using too many powerful antibiotics meant for specific infections: Study

India may be using too many powerful 'watch' antibiotics -medicines that should be reserved for specific infections when simpler antibiotics are unlikely to work-while underusing both first-line 'access' antibiotics and last-resort 'reserve drugs, according to a major international study published in The Lancet Public Health.

Indian pharma sees little immediate threat in Trump's 200% tariff plan

While the Indian generic pharmaceutical industry so far remained unscathed during several rounds of US tariff announcements, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said tariffs on economical generics from India will be raised to 200% over the next three years.

Trade deals need to be set in strategy, not expediency

India should eliminate exploitative labour practices because they weaken our economy, diminish our reputation and betray our own values, not because another country expects it.

Science thrives on a global outlook, an inclusive culture. FCRA makes it difficult

Successive Governments have proclaimed their vision for India to become a powerhouse of scientific research. The current NDA regime has launched new initiatives to catalyse the science ecosystem - these include the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, the introduction of national rankings of research institutions, and the institution of fellowships to attract diaspora scientists to work in Indian institutions. However, India continues to be a laggard amongst its peer nations in high-impact research productivity. None of the country's institutions figures in the top 100 of any global ranking. Many of our brightest minds continue to seek opportunities abroad, and the work of scientists is powering the rankings of their adopted institutions and, by extension, the countries in which they are located.

Al future needs responsible data-centre regulation

On July 14, New York became the first US state to halt construction of large new data centres, imposing a one-year moratorium as concerns grew that the facilities were raising power costs, straining water supplies and burdening local communities. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, too, announced that her administration would pause accepting data centre sales tax exemption applications until stronger protections are in place for Massachusetts residents, businesses and communities. Her administration is also releasing a comprehensive framework to guide responsible data-centre development to ensure projects do not drive up energy costs, strain local infrastructure or harm public health and the environment.

Tax exemption based on marriage, relation: Centre opposes same-sex couple's petition

The Union Government Wednesday opposed a petition filed by a same-sex couple seeking to declare the term 'spouse' as defined in the Income Tax Act as unconstitutional, by saying that the term 'relative'.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath argued, "The relatives are not classified on the basis of sex; they are classified on the basis of either a legally defined marital relationship or a direct family relation-ship. It is not based on sex, as wrongly misunderstood by the petitioners."

India & key WTO members remain at loggerhead on plurilateral pacts

As India remains among the few large countries opposing plurilateral agreements on e-commerce and investments, a group of countries across developed and developing nations blocks such as EU, Canada, UK, Cambodia and Gambia on Tuesday questioned its approach, alleging that New Delhi was holding up the WTO reform process.

Plurilateral agreements, which are negotiated and implemented by exclusive groups rather than by all members, have begun being featured prominently in various World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform-related proposals.

No locker theft reported in public sector banks in FY26

For the first time in five years, public sector banks reported no case of locker theft in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), government data showed.

It's quite an achievement as the country's 12 public sector banks (PSBs) had reported 40 cases of locker thefts from FY22 to FY25, with 75% of the cases reported in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

'Foreign inflow revival reflects confidence in Indian economy'

The Revival of foreign investment in recent months reflects renewed confidence in the economy, despite the on-going conflict in West Asia and elevated crude oil prices, according to a study by the Reserve Bank of India.

NSE's Ahimsa index: Where love for animals meets investing

The National Stock Exchange's (NSE) latest Ahimsa index captures the shifting trend of investors gradually moving towards more thoughtful, sustainable, and ethical investing. The index seeks to provide investors a way to invest in companies that do not engage in animal cruelty. Such thematic indices have gained popularity as a younger generation of investors, more thoughtful about their investment choices, comes into the capital markets.

Saudis reach deal with US that could let them enrich uranium

The Trump administration plans to announce Wednesday that it has reached a broad nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the country enriching its own fuel for nuclear reactors, US officials said.

Rubio, Wang meet as ASEAN grapples with Iran, South China Sea

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi discussed Wednesday a visit to the US in September by Chinese President Xi Jinping during an ASEAN gathering where ministers voiced concern about the Iran war and South China Sea tensions.

How daily cholesterol pill holds hope for those at risk

• The biggest beneficiaries of this pill would be patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk, such as those who have already had a heart attack.

• In these patients, the focus is on secondary prevention-preventing another cardiac event.