A US court has sentenced Indian-origin man Jashanpreet Singh, founder of the ‘Punjabi Devils’ motorcycle gang linked to the Hells Angels, to five years and four months in prison on firearms charges. Prosecutors said Singh illegally sold assault weapons, machine gun conversion devices and other firearms to an undercover officer in California last year. A search of his home uncovered more weapons, explosives and a silencer. Singh was arrested by the FBI at San Francisco International Airport in July 2025 while allegedly attempting to flee to India after missing a court appearance in a state case. (PC: X)

Pakistan has reacted positively to remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who said India should keep channels of dialogue open with Pakistan despite continued tensions and terrorism concerns. Speaking during a press briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described voices in India supporting dialogue as a “positive development” and said it would watch for any official response from New Delhi. Hosabale had said India must continue taking a firm stand against terrorism while maintaining diplomatic engagement, trade and communication. He cited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s outreach efforts and stressed that dialogue opportunities between the two neighbours should not be completely shut. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a brief two-hour stop in the United Arab Emirates, where India and the UAE signed several major agreements covering defence, energy and infrastructure. The two sides signed a framework for strategic defence partnership, an MoU on strategic petroleum reserves, and an agreement on LPG supplies. A separate pact was signed to develop a ship repair cluster in Gujarat’s Vadinar. The UAE also announced investments worth $5 billion in Indian infrastructure, RBL Bank and Samman Capital. The agreements come amid rising global energy concerns linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict and fuel price hikes in India. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special welcome in Abu Dhabi on Friday as UAE Air Force F-16 fighter jets escorted his aircraft while entering the country’s airspace during the first leg of his five-nation tour. Modi’s visit comes amid rising global energy concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East. During the one-day UAE visit, Modi is expected to hold talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on energy security, trade, investment and regional issues. His tour will also cover the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy as India looks to deepen strategic and economic ties with key partners. 

S. Jaishankar urged BRICS nations to safeguard maritime stability amid escalating West Asia tensions, stressing that uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remains critical for the global economy. Addressing BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi, including representatives from Iran and the United Arab Emirates, Jaishankar called for “practical ways” to navigate geopolitical uncertainty and unilateral sanctions. He emphasised that peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity must guide international relations and said dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path to conflict resolution. India also urged newer BRICS members to fully support the bloc’s consensus-driven framework. (PC: AFP)

US authorities are reportedly preparing to resolve major fraud and bribery-related cases against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and the Adani Group, according to Bloomberg and Reuters reports. The US Department of Justice may drop criminal charges linked to an alleged bribery scheme involving solar energy contracts, while the US Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly negotiating a civil settlement that could include financial penalties. The investigations began in 2024 over accusations that Adani executives concealed alleged payments to Indian officials while raising funds from US investors. Adani representatives have denied wrongdoing, and no final official announcement has yet been made. (PC: ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday issued a stern warning to Pakistan over terrorism, declaring that India would retaliate decisively against any future provocation. Addressing a gathering in Nagaur after unveiling a statue of Rajput ruler Rao Duda, Singh said Operation Sindoor had delivered a strong message to Pakistan. Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, he accused Pakistan-backed terrorists of targeting victims based on religion and said India had responded forcefully. Singh reiterated India’s “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism, citing the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrikes as examples of the country’s evolving security doctrine and military response strategy. (PC: X)

Eric Schmitt sparked controversy after criticising the US H-1B visa system and referencing Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji Temple, popularly known as the “Visa Temple.” In a series of posts on X, Schmitt alleged programmes like H-1B, L-1, F-1 and OPT suppress American wages and favour foreign workers, particularly Indians. He claimed the “Visa Cartel” uses networks that disadvantage US graduates and accused major technology firms of routing jobs through immigration pipelines. Schmitt also alleged Indian visa applicants circulate confidential interview questions among themselves. His remarks triggered online backlash, with critics accusing him of stereotyping Indians and targeting a religious site associated with visa aspirations among students and IT professionals.

The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting began in New Delhi amid rising tensions over the ongoing Iran war, highlighting divisions within the expanded bloc. India called for safe and uninterrupted maritime trade routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, as global oil and shipping concerns grow. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged BRICS nations to condemn the US and Israel over attacks on Iran, while tensions between Iran and the UAE complicated efforts for a unified statement. The two-day summit is expected to shape discussions for the upcoming BRICS leaders’ summit in September and test the bloc’s unity during a major global crisis. (PC: EPA)

Indian-origin philanthropist Anil Kochhar surprised 176 graduating students at North Carolina State University by announcing he would pay off all their final-year education loans. The emotional announcement came during the Wilson College of Textiles graduation ceremony in Raleigh and drew a standing ovation from students and families. Kochhar said the gesture honoured his late father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who came from Punjab to study at the university in 1946. Students said the support would change their lives and reduce financial pressure. Kochhar urged graduates to pursue their dreams freely and build meaningful futures without the burden of debt. (PC: X)