India-US ties will determine whether this is 'century of light' or 'century of darkness': Trump's NSA nominee Mike Waltz

Seven mercenaries from Russia's Wagner private military contractor group were killed in an attack in central Mali, claimed by an al-Qaeda affiliate in North Africa. The assault underscores the dangers faced by Wagner forces supporting the military junta in Mali, where they combat insurgencies in the volatile Sahel region. Wagner's involvement has been criticized for exacerbating conflict and worsening security in the area. Full Article

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde thanked the voters for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's landslide victory in the assembly elections, attributing it to the approval of the work done in the last 2.5 years. Shinde emphasized that the decision on the next Chief Minister will be collectively made by the Mahayuti, guided by PM Modi and JP Nadda, highlighting the unity of the alliance. The ruling Mahayuti alliance is leading in 219...

North Korea condemned recent joint military drills by the US, South Korea, and Japan, warning of immediate actions to defend the state. The three-day exercise, "Freedom Edge", involved fighter jets and a US aircraft carrier, prompting North Korea to urge the US and its allies to cease provocations. The North's defense ministry stated it would preemptively control risks and closely monitor US and ally military activities. Full Article

Exit polls for the Jharkhand Assembly elections indicate a narrow race between the ruling JMM-led alliance and the BJP-led NDA, with varying predictions. While Matrize and TimesNow-JVC foresee a slight advantage for the NDA, People's Pulse predicts a clear win for the NDA. However, Dainik Bhaskar suggests a possible hung assembly as both alliances may fall short of the majority mark. Full Article

The unified command in Manipur held a meeting to establish new security measures, including a revised SOP for security forces and the deployment of 288 central force companies by the end of the month. The security advisor, Kuldiep Singh, emphasized the importance of protecting citizens' lives and properties, stating that over 258 people, including militants, have been killed since May 3 last year. NIA has initiated investigations, leading to the arrest of 32 individuals in...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused US President Joe Biden of disrupting Donald Trump's peace plans in Ukraine by allowing Kyiv to use ATACMS missiles against Russia, likening it to Obama's 2016 expulsion of Russian diplomats. Moscow responded to Ukraine's ATACMS use with new missile strikes, blaming Western nations for involvement, as Serbian officials warned of nuclear escalation and NATO allies reiterated support for Ukraine. Full Article