K. R. Seetharama Sastry

US President Donald Trump made a surprise audio call during the US Embassy's 250th Independence Day celebrations in Delhi, expressing his admiration for PM Modi and calling him "great" and "my friend." Trump emphasized the close US-India relationship, stating India can count on the US "100%" and that the two nations have "never been closer".

Iran is reportedly eyeing to impose licensing fees on the global tech giants for using undersea internet cables, which pass through the Strait, even as Tehran remains engaged in back-channel negotiations with the US to end the conflict that began on Feb 28

Emerging US-Iran deal details spark alarm among hawkish Republicans, who expected Iranian collapse. Instead, Iran appears strategically intact, having demonstrated leverage by disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and surviving US-Israel military pressure. This outcome has exposed fractures within Trump's coalition and emboldened Tehran's negotiating stance.

US is finding out it needs India. That’s why Rubio is here. India should play its cards well, and leverage strategic complementarities, especially to balance China. Washington too knows the math doesn’t work minus New Delhi

Mark Zuckerberg's goodbye memo to 8,000 fired Meta employees on May 20 doubled as a message to the 70,000 staff still standing. The Meta CEO made two promises: no further company-wide layoffs in 2026, and better communication after weeks of internal anxiety. The memo lands as Meta funnels $125-145 billion into AI infrastructure, shifts 7,000 staff to AI projects, and cancels 6,000 open roles.

Mumbai Indians concluded their disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with a loss to Rajasthan Royals, finishing ninth. Batting coach Kieron Pollard acknowledged that skipper Hardik Pandya's leadership did not unfold as hoped, but emphasized the season's failure was a collective one. The franchise will now assess the reasons for their downfall before making future decisions.