Asia Now

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held talks with his Surinamese counterpart Melvin Bouva in Paramaribo yesterday. The Indian and Surinamese delegations engaged in a comprehensive review of India-Suriname relations, under the aegis of the 9th Joint Commission Meeting. They covered trade, investment, defence and energy, development assistance and capacity building, health and mobility, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Dr Jaishankar expressed confidence that the

France has deployed its carrier strike group to Red Sea as part of a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, French Army said that the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group, which is accompanied by an Italian and Dutch warship, is en route to the southern Red Sea. France and Britain have been working on a proposal for several weeks that aims to lay the groundwork for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz once the situation stabilises or the c

The Indian Literature and Arts Society has once again brought literary excellence into the spotlight by honoring Navoch Mohanayak from Odisha with the prestigious Indian Literature Award 2026 for his remarkable work, The Somewhat Biased Guide to Odia Food. This recognition is not merely a celebration of a single book but an acknowledgment of a writer whose voice continues to resonate across genres, themes, and audiences. Navoch Mohanayak stands as a compelling example of a mo

Abhinash Thundumannil, a distinguished writer from Kerala, has been honored with the prestigious Rashtra Ratna Sahithya Puraskar 2026, conferred by the Indian Literature & Arts Society. His celebrated work, Paranthriskuzhal, has earned top recognition in the Malayalam Novel category, highlighting his exceptional contribution to contemporary literature. Paranthriskuzhal, Thundumannil’s fourth novel, explores the powerful and often overlooked story of Muchilootte Madhavan, a co

We are proud to announce that Dr. Akshay Gupta, a distinguished dentist, entrepreneur, and author from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, has been honored with the prestigious World Icon Award 2026 and World Talent Award 2026 in recognition of his remarkable contributions to healthcare innovation, ethical entrepreneurship, and inspirational leadership. These esteemed honors celebrate individuals whose work creates meaningful impact and inspires progress on a global scale. With over 15 ye

We are pleased to announce that Ishant Sharma, hailing from the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with the prestigious Indian Literature Award for the year 2026. This esteemed accolade, presented by the Indian Literature & Arts Society, recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of literature, particularly in the realm of Hindi literature. Ishant Sharma’s remarkable talent, creative vision, and dedication to his craft have established him as a dis

We are delighted to announce that Viswanath Sashank Jajala from Maharashtra has been conferred with the esteemed Indian Literature Award 2026 by the Indian Literature & Arts Society. This prestigious honor recognizes his outstanding contribution to literature, particularly in the field of contemporary authorship. He has been honored for his impactful work, "Leadership After Success: Leadership When Stability Becomes the Risk," a compelling exploration of leadership in a rapid

The United States has extended by a month a waiver from sanctions to allow countries to buy petroleum products from Russia, days after it ruled out renewal of the special measure. According to an order issued by the US Department of the Treasury yesterday, the waiver now permits transactions involving Russian oil shipments that were already at sea on or before April 17 through May 16. Earlier, the US had granted an exemption from sanctions to India for buying Russian oil for

D Madhavi from West Bengal has been honored as the recipient of the prestigious Rabindra Ratna Puraskar 2026, awarded by the Veyil Foundation. This distinguished recognition celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society, particularly in the field of social work. Madhavi’s unwavering dedication to community upliftment stands as a powerful example of how committed leadership can create meaningful and lasting change. Serving as the President of the Ma

The Government has decided to provide full Customs Duty exemption on critical petrochemical products till 30th June, 2026, in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the consequent disruptions in global supply chains. The Ministry of Finance has said that this measure has been taken as a temporary and targeted relief to ensure the continued availability of critical petrochemical inputs for the domestic industry. It noted that the step will help reduce cost pressures on

According to Supreme Court directives, appellate tribunals are scheduled to commence proceedings today to hear cases of voters whose names were excluded from the list under consideration within the framework of the SIR. All applications, documents, and information submitted both online and offline will be made available to the tribunals for their decisions. Yesterday, during the hearing of the SIR-related matter, the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant an

US President Donald Trump has said that American forces will finish the job in Iran soon as core strategic objectives are nearing completion. In a televised address from White House, Trump touted the successes of the US campaign – Operation Epic Fury, saying the US is winning bigger than ever before. In his 20 minute speech, Trump said, every American can look forward to a day when they are finally free from the wickedness of Iranian aggression and the spectre of nuclear blac