US and Iran reach deal to end war, reopen Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to end the war in the Gulf has already been signed by the United States and Iran. 

After 2 failed bids, ISRO to try PSLV launch again soon

After Back-to-Back failure of its workhorse launch vehicle, the ISRO is likely to at-tempt another PSLV launch soon.

"As for PSLV, we are planning by the end of June or beginning of July," said Union Science Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday, on the sidelines of an event to celebrate 12 years of the PM Narendra Modiled government. 

India and Slovakia elevate bilateral ties to 'comprehensive partnership'

India and Slovakia elevated their bilateral ties to "comprehensive partnership", and signed pacts on labour migration, defence, digital technologies, higher education and research, quantum communication and student exchange programme with IIT Delhi after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico on Monday.

Serum's HPV vaccine to be included in immunisation programme after 2027

The HPV vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India, with support from the Department of Biotechnology, is likely to be included in the national vaccination drive after 2027-once the results of the trials to see the efficacy of its single dose become available.

US-Iran MoU: The elusive quest for 'New Middle East'

For decades, the Middle East has been trapped in recurring cycles of war, proxy conflict, and diplomatic breakdown.

The current negotiations suggest that many regional and external powers are searching for a different framework-one based less on permanent confrontation and more on managing rivalries. 

JCPOA: Another Iran deal a decade ago, the concessions it secured

Monday's Framework for a peace deal between the United States and Iran has invited comparisons with the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which, although signed under different circumstances, tested the limits of their cooperation.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and major powers in 2015. It went into effect in January 2016 and put restrictions on Iran's civilian nuclear enrichment programme.

For strengthened Iran, a 60-day window of opportunity, a test of resolve

Between the announcement of the United States and Iran memorandum of understanding and its signing and implementation, lies a four-day shadow.

The full text of the memorandum is to be published after Friday, but the draft is believed to include clauses that Iran would immediately open the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels while the US Navy would remove its blockade within 30 days of the MoU's signing; that the US (and regional allies) would release $24 billion in Iranian frozen assets, not impose new sanctions on Iran until a final agreement, waive oil sanctions temporarily, and negotiate a reconstruction and development plan (reportedly worth $300 billion) for Iran within 60 days of the MoU; that the US would militarily withdraw from areas surrounding Iran; and that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons and maintain status quo on its nuclear programme (no further enrichment) pending a final agreement within 60 days of the MoU's signing. 

Iran-US framework pact is a relief. Work lies ahead

The Framework agreement between Iran and the US to negotiate a deal comes as a relief. Thousands of lives have been lost across West Asia in the last three-and-a-half months. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the counter-blockade by the US triggered an economic shock, reminiscent of the Covid days. Oil prices have fallen, and stock markets worldwide have rallied after the announcement of the framework agreement. 

Only fraternity can bridge communal divide, douse flames of hate

BR Ambedkar introduced fraternity into the draft of the Preamble as he thought this was a core political necessity for a deeply divided society. Addressing the Assembly on November 25, 1949, he warned that political democracy would collapse if India failed to establish a social democracy. For him, liberty, equality, and fraternity were inseparable principles as they formed "a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. 

At G7 meet, India can be the voice of developing countries

At France's invitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join world leaders for the G7 Summit at Evian-les-Bains to discuss issues shaping economic power, technological advantage and development. The G7 is no longer the dominant body it was in the mid-1970s; the rise of emerging economies and the 2008 financial crisis changed that. Yet, it remains influential in setting standards and shaping financial flows, though far less cohesive today. Differences over trade, climate finance, industrial subsidies, energy policy and ties with Russia are evident, especially between the US and others. Evian will involve negotiations as well as coordination amongst G7 members. For India, that creates greater scope for issue-based partnerships.

Deal will lead to lot of success for world: Trump at G7

President Donald Trump started his visit to the G7 Summit on Monday by hailing his agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran as a potential break-through for global security. 

Social media ban for under-16s will give them back childhood: UK PM

British PM Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms, in a fightback against big tech that goes further than any other country. 

USTR heads to India on June 23 to give 'final touch' to trade deal

After Over a year of trade tensions between the US and India, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer is headed to India to hold talks over two days with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal next week and give a final shape to the first tranche of the trade deal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Monday.

Sarvam raises $234 mn in funding round from HCLTech, others

Sovereign AI company Sarvam has raised $234 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) at a post-money valuation of $1.5 billion, the firm said on Monday.

HCL Tech and Bessemer Venture Partners took part in the funding round, with continued support from existing investors Khosla Ventures and Peak XV Partners.

"Sarvam, India's full-stack sovereign AI company, has raised $234 million in the first close of its $300 million Series B at a post-money valuation of $1.5 billion," the company said in a statement. 

India's goods exports jump 18% in May; imports from US surge 54%

Indian Goods exports reported a sharp 18% jump in exports during May compared to last year, a six-month high, according to the trade data released by the Commerce and Industry on Monday. This comes in the backdrop of a steep decline of over 10% in the domestic currency during the last 12 months, and a partial recovery in exports to West Asia. 

US trade advocacy body forms task force on India-US critical mineral cooperation

Days After India and the US signed a bilateral Critical Minerals Framework, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) formed a Critical Minerals Security Task Force aimed at deepening cooperation across critical mineral supply chains.

While China controls 90% of global critical mineral processing, both India and the US are heavily dependent on their imports to meet their domestic demand. Highlighting overlapping interests of the two countries, USIBC said out of 30 minerals which India identifies as "critical", 26 overlap with the US priorities. These included rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, gallium, tungsten, among others. The task force has

identified five priority areas for engagement: lithium refining and cathode active materials, recycling, feedstock corridors, synthetic graphite production for battery applications, and rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing.