New Chandigarh, June 4 (IANS) India’s left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has said his focus is ‘fully on playing red‑ball cricket’ as he prepares to lead the spin attack in the one‑off Test against Afghanistan, starting on Saturday.Kuldeep managed only 10 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 38.10 and an economy rate of 10.29, as the Delhi Capitals failed to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs. The early exit, however, gave him additional time to prepare for the rigours of a longer forma…
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Seoul, June 4 (IANS) The chiefs of the South Korean and US Marine Corps have discussed ways to expand military cooperation and joint drills in a bid to strengthen their combined defence readiness posture, officials said Thursday. Lieutenant General Ju Il-suk held talks with his US counterpart, General Eric M. Smith, at the Pentagon, near Washington, on Tuesday (local time), according to South Korea’s Marine Corps.The two sides shared the understanding that the allies’ Marines will make efforts t…
New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Global crude oil prices declined more than 1 per cent on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, raising hopes of a broader diplomatic breakthrough that could ease tensions surrounding the ongoing Iran conflict.International oil benchmark Brent crude fell 1.33 per cent to $96.50 per barrel. Similarly, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined over 1 per cent to $94.76 per barrel.The decline in oil prices came after both benchmarks had gai…
Washington, June 4 (IANS) India-US relations are undergoing a period of “tactical stabilisation” but remain constrained by lingering strategic mistrust despite recent progress on trade and civil nuclear cooperation, former White House and State Department India expert Basant Sanghera has said.Speaking to IANS after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first visit to India, Sanghera said the trip was important symbolically but unlikely to produce a major long-term shift in the relationship.”I think i…
Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS) The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN), NASA’s first mission devoted to observing the Martian atmosphere and its evolution, has officially come to an end after losing contact with its spacecraft last December, the agency has announced. Blasting off on November 18, 2013, the spacecraft entered Mars’ orbit on September 21, 2014. Originally designed for a one-year primary mission, the spacecraft operated at the Red Planet for more than 11 years and exceeded it…
Washington, June 4 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the United States is working to find third-country resettlement options for Afghan allies stranded abroad, including many currently in Pakistan, as the Trump administration continues to review relocation policies for those who assisted American forces during the Afghanistan war. The issue emerged during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday (local time) when Representative Julie Johnson criticised the adminis…
Tehran, June 4 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned that Iran would respond if Israel attacks Beirut, saying Tehran has informed all parties that it will not tolerate an assault on the Lebanese capital and that such a move could trigger a return to war.In an interview broadcast by Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen on Wednesday (local time), Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces are prepared to respond and remain ready to strike Israel if Beirut comes under attack.Araghchi a…
Washington, June 3 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday acknowledged that efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine remain stalled, saying neither Russia nor Ukraine appears prepared to make the concessions necessary to reach a peace agreement. Appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee during a hearing on the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, Rubio described the conflict as one of the administration’s most persistent diplomatic challenges.Respon…
Washington, June 3 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that reconstruction of Gaza cannot move forward unless Hamas is demilitarised, arguing that governments and investors will not commit billions of dollars to rebuilding the territory while the militant group retains military capabilities.At a Congressional hearing Rubio defended the Trump administration’s Gaza strategy amid criticism from Democratic lawmakers who questioned progress on a broader peace and reconstruction plan.”The go…
Washington, June 3 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States has seen no evidence of China providing military assistance to Iran during the ongoing regional crisis, while urging Beijing to support international efforts aimed at restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.Rubio’s said this during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing after lawmakers questioned him about China’s relationship with Iran and whether Beijing had provided support during…