India has lodged a strong protest with the United States and summoned its top diplomat in New Delhi after a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman was attacked, leaving three Indian crew members missing. The vessel, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was struck during escalating tensions in the Gulf region. While 21 crew members have been rescued, search operations for the missing sailors remain ongoing. The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack, stressing that the safety of civilian seafarers must be protected. The incident has added diplomatic strain to already heightened regional tensions involving the US, Iran, and maritime security. (PC: Reuters)

India on Wednesday summoned the US Charg d’Affaires in New Delhi to protest a strike on the tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman. The vessel had 24 Indian crew members onboard.   The Ministry of External Affairs said 21 Indian sailors were rescued, while three remain missing. India condemned the attack and said its embassy in Oman is helping with search and rescue efforts.   Later, the US military confirmed it had targeted the tanker during its blockade operations against Iran. India called for immediate de-escalation and urged diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a strong diplomatic protest following an attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. The ship carried 24 Indian crew members, of whom 21 have been rescued while three remain missing. New Delhi expressed serious concern over the safety of Indian nationals and demanded accountability and clarity regarding the incident. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is coordinating with Omani authorities as search-and-rescue operations continue. The episode has heightened tensions amid ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz region. (PC: Reuters)

India has strongly condemned the attack on a commercial vessel near the Oman coast that left three Indian crew members missing. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 21 Indian sailors have been rescued and efforts are underway to trace the missing crew.   The government is closely monitoring the situation and is coordinating with local authorities for search and rescue operations. India also expressed concern over the safety of commercial shipping in the region and called for the protection of maritime routes.   The incident comes amid rising tensions in West Asia, raising fresh concerns over the security of international sea lanes and the safety of Indian seafarers working in the region. (PC: India Today)

An Indian-American engineer has come into focus after a drone boat developed by his company was used in a landmark US military rescue mission near the Strait of Hormuz. The autonomous vessel, Corsair, built by Texas-based Saronic Technologies, helped rescue the crew of a downed US Apache helicopter in what is believed to be the first personnel recovery operation involving an unmanned surface vessel. The company was co-founded by Vibhav Altekar, an Indian-origin technology executive. The mission highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in modern military and maritime rescue operations. (PC: X)

  Two developments on either side of the Line of Control have highlighted the contrasting situations in the Kashmir region. In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), protests over governance and economic issues have triggered unrest, detentions and violence, with reports of casualties during clashes with security forces. Around 100 km away, engineers in Jammu and Kashmir celebrated the breakthrough of the strategic 13.15-km Zojila Tunnel, a project that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. While POK grapples with recurring instability, India continues to push major infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and regional development. (PC: India Today)

  Scientists are closely tracking the development of a powerful El Nino weather pattern that could significantly affect India in the coming months. The climate event, driven by warming waters in the Pacific Ocean, has the potential to weaken the southwest monsoon and trigger widespread impacts on agriculture, water supplies and electricity demand.   Experts warn that reduced rainfall and higher temperatures could hurt crop production, push up food prices and increase pressure on power grids as cooling demand rises. Global agencies are also monitoring possible disruptions to shipping and supply chains linked to the changing weather pattern. (PC: NDTV)

Indian-origin engineer Vibhav Altekar is among the co-founders of Saronic Technologies, the US company that developed the autonomous drone boat used to rescue two American Apache helicopter pilots near the Strait of Hormuz. The operation marked the first known use of a remotely operated surface vessel for a US military personnel recovery mission.   Altekar serves as the company's Chief Technology Officer and leads the development of its autonomous systems and software. The AI-powered Corsair drone boat is part of the US Navy's Task Force 59 and is designed for long-range maritime operations and surveillance missions. (PC: NDTV)

India has accused Pakistan of spreading fake news to divert international attention from alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), amid escalating unrest in Rawalkot. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan was attempting to conceal reports of severe police brutality, which allegedly left several people dead and many injured. The violence followed a crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a protest movement opposing government policies and political representation arrangements in the region. Clashes between protesters and security forces reportedly resulted in multiple casualties, with conflicting death toll figures emerging. India said the developments reflected growing dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s governance and called for accountability.

India has significantly increased its imports of Russian crude oil to around 2–2.5 million barrels per day, up from 1.05 million barrels per day in February 2026, according to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Addressing concerns over Western pressure to reduce Russian energy purchases, Puri said India had never been instructed to stop buying Russian oil. He clarified that sanctions applied only to specific entities and that oil purchases are conducted by private companies rather than the Indian government. The minister also stated that recent US sanctions exemptions and policy changes concerning Russian oil, introduced amid Middle East tensions, have had no impact on India’s energy procurement strategy. (PC: News On Air)