live U.S. launches fresh Iran strikes as Tehran retaliates in Gulf
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
India and Germany have agreed a range of deals to deepen cooperation between the two nations, with defence, trade and technology high on the agenda.
The agreements were made during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit two day visit to India on Monday.
Merz met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the western state of Gujarat, where both leaders set out plans to build on what they described as an “ever-stronger partnership”.
The talks come as India pushes to diversify its strategic ties, and as Germany seeks new partners amid shifting global trade patterns and political uncertainty.
The two sides signed multiple agreements covering defence industrial cooperation, renewable energy, skills development, health and education.
A key topic of discussion was the expansion of defence collaboration, including a roadmap for co-production and innovation between Indian and German defence industries.
The defence cooperation areas discussed ranged from sub-sea capabilities to training exchanges and shared technology development.
In a joint statement Modi emphasised the long history of India–Germany relations, noting that this year marks 75 years of diplomatic relations. “Growing trade and investment ties have given new energy to our strategic partnership,” he said.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has surged past $50 bn, underlining Germany’s position as India’s largest European trading partner.
Chancellor Merz reiterated Berlin’s support for concluding the long-pending EU-India trade pact and described India as a “partner of choice” for Germany.
Mr Merz also visited Sabarmati Ashram, the former home of Mahatma Gandhi, and took part in the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, reflecting a broader soft-power dimension to the trip.
Mr Merz’s visit is expected to continue with business engagements in India’s tech hub of Bengaluru, where officials hope to attract further investment and cement industrial links.
By visiting India, Merz follows in the footsteps of the UK and Russia whose leaders also visted the South Asian country in the last quarter of 2025.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, has described fresh U.S. strikes on Iran as "absolutely necessary," in remarks at the start of the second day of the alliance's sumit in the Turkish capital Ankara.
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Germany has reached an agreement with the U.S. to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles and deploy them on German territory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin on Thursday.
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