Two commercial ships carrying 22 Indian sailors were hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents near Yemen and Somalia. The first ship, M/V LUTUF, was seized off Somalia on August 17. It had six Indians among its 10 crew members. The second ship, M.T. Sibu 1, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 20. It carried 16 Indian sailors among 20 crew members. Armed men took control of both ships and moved them toward Somalia. Indian officials said all 22 sailors are safe. India is in contact with local authorities to handle the situation and ensure the crew’s safety.

Two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked in separate piracy incidents off Yemen and Somalia, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region. The Eritrea-flagged oil-products tanker MT Sibu 1, carrying 16 Indians among 20 crew members, was seized by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, about 30 nautical miles off Yemen. Separately, the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF, with six Indians among its 10-member crew, was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on August 17. Officials said the Indian crew aboard Sibu 1 were safe, while the latest status of the LUTUF crew remained unclear. (PC: AFP)

NASA astronaut Donald Pettit has shared a striking nighttime photograph of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, captured from the International Space Station (ISS). The image shows the brightly illuminated festival grounds along the Ganga, highlighting the enormous scale of the religious gathering from orbit. Pettit described it as his “best shot” of the 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh. The astronaut, known for his astrophotography, had previously shared images of the event during the festival in January 2025. The photograph provides a rare space-based perspective of one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. (PC: X)

India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation in New Delhi on August 20, strengthening their growing defence partnership. Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi agreed to enhance maritime information sharing, naval exercises, personnel exchanges and coordination to protect vital sea lanes. The pact also covers search-and-rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Both countries will explore greater use of ports, maintenance facilities and reciprocal ship-repair arrangements, while considering cooperation in naval shipbuilding and design. The agreement reinforces their shared commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific amid evolving regional security challenges. (PC: X)

Weeks before RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to the United States, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called for sanctions against the RSS. The federal body, which monitors religious freedom worldwide, alleged that the organisation has been “perpetuating attacks on religious minorities”. The USCIRF is chaired by Asif Mahmood, a Pakistan-born American citizen. According to the report, Mahmood has maintained close ties with Pakistan’s political and diplomatic leadership and has previously testified before the US Congress on Kashmir. The development comes ahead of Bhagwat’s scheduled America visit, placing renewed focus on the USCIRF’s recommendation and its criticism of the RSS.

India urged Japan to withhold advanced defence technology from Pakistan during Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to New Delhi on Thursday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Koizumi discussed deeper defence cooperation, including joint naval manufacturing, while India raised concerns over possible technology proliferation. New Delhi cited the history of nuclear proliferation involving Pakistan and North Korea, including scientist A.Q. Khan’s supply of centrifuge designs, hardware and technical assistance to Pyongyang. The warning came as South Korean authorities reported another unidentified projectile launch by North Korea. Singh and Koizumi also issued their first joint statement dedicated entirely to defence collaboration, with maritime security central to the partnership between India and Japan.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the issue between Pakistan and the United States following US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir was a matter for the two countries. Gor, during his Srinagar visit on Wednesday, described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” after meeting Abdullah. Pakistan subsequently summoned a US diplomat to express its strong objections to the ambassador’s statement. Reacting to the development, Abdullah said, “This is between Pakistan and the US. Neither you nor I can do anything here,” according to news agency ANI. The remarks came hours after Pakistan’s diplomatic action over Gor’s comments.

India is diversifying crude imports as Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz uncertainty threaten Gulf supplies. Venezuelan crude surged in August to around 444,000 barrels per day, making Venezuela India’s fourth-largest supplier, while Russia remains the biggest at nearly 2 million bpd. Latin American crude accounted for 12.7% of imports between April and July, up from 3.5% a year earlier, while West Asia’s share fell from 43% to around 30%. India is also increasing domestic output, suppliers, shipping routes and inventories while expanding alternatives including gas, biofuels, electric vehicles and renewables. However, Gulf oil remains difficult to replace because of shorter, cheaper transport. India remains dependent on imports, making energy security critical. (PC: X)

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor arrived in Leh on August 20, 2026, a day after visiting Srinagar and meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. His arrival marks his maiden visit to Ladakh and a significant diplomatic engagement in the strategically important frontier region. During his Srinagar visit, Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as “an important part of India” and said the United States would reconsider its travel advisory for the region amid improved security. Gor was also expected to meet the Dalai Lama, although the meeting was reportedly removed from his schedule at the last minute. (PC: PTI)

Elon Musk’s Starlink has reportedly reapplied to India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe, for approval to deploy its next-generation Gen 2 satellite constellation. The proposed network could involve nearly 30,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites and includes direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, allowing compatible mobile phones to connect directly with satellites without specialised ground equipment. The fresh application marks Starlink’s renewed push into India’s satellite communications market after earlier regulatory hurdles. The move comes as India develops rules for satellite-based mobile connectivity and spectrum access. If approved, Starlink could expand connectivity in remote and underserved areas while competing with other satellite communication providers. (PC: Reuters)