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)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared the popular Bengali snack jhalmuri with NDA leaders during a meeting in New Delhi held to celebrate 12 years of the alliance government at the Centre. A video posted by the Prime Minister showed West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari serving jhalmuri to him before PM Modi asked that it be offered to other leaders as well. The snack had become a symbol during the BJP's West Bengal campaign. The NDA meeting also marked PM Modi becoming India's longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru's record.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face more military action, saying Tehran delayed reaching a nuclear agreement with Washington. His remarks came a day after US retaliation strikes targeted Iranian positions. According to reports, the White House is considering fresh attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. In a social media post, Trump claimed Iran's military had been severely weakened and described the country as the "bully of the Middle East". The comments signal rising tensions as diplomatic efforts over Iran's nuclear programme remain uncertain. (PC: X)

The Indian Army is set to seek approval for the procurement of more than 300 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery guns in a deal estimated at around Rs 23,000 crore. The proposal is expected to come up before the Defence Procurement Board this week. If cleared, the order is likely to go to Larsen & Toubro, which manufactures the guns in India with technology support from South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace. The move aims to strengthen the Army's long-range firepower along the borders with China and Pakistan as part of its ongoing artillery modernisation drive. (PC: India Today)

Congress has said that any proposal for a merger with the Trinamool Congress must come from Mamata Banerjee's party, amid speculation over closer ties within the INDIA bloc. The statement came after Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi for nearly 90 minutes. Sources said the Trinamool wants a stronger opposition alliance and accepts Rahul Gandhi's leadership. The meeting followed Mamata Banerjee's recent talks with Sonia Gandhi and comes as the Trinamool faces internal unrest, with several leaders and MPs distancing themselves from the party. (PC: NDTV)

  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)

The West Bengal BJP government on Wednesday allocated portfolios to its 41-member council of ministers, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari keeping charge of key departments, including Home and Hill Affairs, Land and Land Reforms, Power, and Information and Cultural Affairs. Former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta has been entrusted with the Finance ministry, while BJP MLA Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee will head the Health department. Former Union minister Nishith Pramanik received North Bengal Development and Water Resources, and senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh was assigned Panchayats, Rural Development and Agricultural Marketing in the new Cabinet. (PC: HT)

A year after the Air India AI171 crash, an unlikely friendship born out of tragedy continues to offer comfort to a grieving family in Gujarat. After Kamlesh Chaudhary and his wife died in the Ahmedabad-London crash, his Pakistani co-worker in London, Omar Ali, began calling Kamlesh's parents every day. The conversations often begin with a simple question: "Kaise ho aap... theek ho?" What started as a gesture of sympathy has turned into a bond that crosses borders and faiths. The family says those daily calls have become a source of strength as they cope with an unimaginable loss. (PC: The Indian Express)

  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)

Trinamool Congress MP Saayoni Ghosh, once one of Mamata Banerjee's strongest supporters, has reportedly joined the party's rebel camp amid the ongoing political crisis. Sources claim the Jadavpur MP is among the leaders backing a separate parliamentary bloc led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.   Ghosh had earlier projected Mamata Banerjee as a future prime minister and frequently defended the party against the BJP. Her reported shift comes after several senior TMC leaders and MPs distanced themselves from the party following its Assembly election defeat, deepening the crisis within the organisation. (PC: NDTV)