Daily Briefing: Return to diplomacy?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will soon make history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). After a 28-hour journey through space, the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Shukla and three other astronauts, is expected to dock at the ISS around 4.30 pm IST today. Shukla's feat is consequential in many ways. Besides the numerous scientific experiments the astronauts will carry out at the ISS, Shukla's space travel experience will be crucial for India's Gaganyaan program, which aims to send a human into space by 2027. Moreover, as space technology becomes a lucrative business, Shukla may inspire more youngsters to enter the space sector, sparking innovation, creating employment and boosting the economy.
On that note, let's get to today's edition.
A day after Iran and Israel agreed to a fragile truce, authorities were busy assessing the extent of damage to Iran's nuclear sites. An early assessment by US intelligence, a report since rejected by the Trump administration, states that the US airstrikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities and only set it back by a few months. Trump has claimed that the sites were 'obliterated' and the program was set back by decades. Differing versions have emerged, but no government has yet released a report on the true extent of the damage.
Researcher Bashir Ali Abbas, an expert on the Middle East, writes that Iran would have avoided the conflict altogether. Its measured attack against the US military base in Qatar was more symbolic than retaliatory. Unlike Israel, which had maximalist goals, the US refrained from escalating the situation. This indicates that Iran and the US may return to the negotiation table.
The Israeli ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, also emphasised a return to diplomacy. In an interview with The Indian Express, Azar asserted that Israel had achieved its goals, and was confident that 'the Iranians will not be able to, for several years at least, build a nuclear weapon'. He added that with ceasefires in India (with Pakistan) and West Asia, it was time to 'go back to things we are good at — promoting prosperity and peace'.
Also read: Thousands of Indian workers arrived in Israel to fill the construction industry void left by the Palestinian workforce after the October 2023 Hamas attack. Ritu Sarin spoke to some of the workers about their lives in Israel, especially during the conflict with Iran.
In an ongoing Express series, where we look back at the Emergency, 50 years on, today's spotlight is on one Chanderwati, a victim of the regime's brutality. Chanderwati, a mother of four, had joined a protest against the Indira Gandhi government's forced sterilisation drive in Haryana's Pipli on December 2, 1976. It wasn't until 42 years later that her family discovered what happened to her. Her autopsy report showed that she had a fracture in her skull, left by a bullet. But her name still doesn't figure in any official government record.
We also document the rise and fall of the Janata Party, which ousted the Indira government, only to tumble a short while later.
Turning point: NATO leaders have agreed to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of their countries' economic output by 2025, in line with a demand earlier raised by the US. However, contributing editor C Raja Mohan opines that Eurasian powers cannot 'solve their security problems by throwing money at the military.' As the Trump administration disrupts the global order, it may be time for a political realignment in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
Last wish: In 1929, social reformer Swami Sahajanand Saraswati founded the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha, spearheading a powerful peasant movement. Nearly three decades later, an American scholar, Walter Hauser, arrived in India and dedicated almost 60 years of his life to researching Saraswati's life and ideology. Now, six years after his death, the Hauser family has travelled from the US to Patna to fulfil his one wish—to scatter his ashes in the river Ganga.
Team India racked up five tons in the first Test at Leeds. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah single-handedly took five wickets. Yet, England cruised to a win. National sports editor Sandeep Dwivedi looks at the many questions the loss throws up. (Which bowlers should be replaced for the second test? Why did the middle-order and tail fail? And so on). But do captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir have the answers? Read.
🎧 Before you go, tune in to today's '3 Things' podcast episode, where we discuss why Indians go to Iran to study medicine, the row over Nehru papers, and a Bhopal bridge with a peculiar 90-degree turn.
That's all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take.
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First Post
8 minutes ago
- First Post
Was Trump-Putin Alaska meet a success? What next for Ukraine? The key takeaways
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, for their first face-to-face talks since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. While both leaders claimed 'progress', no ceasefire or deal was announced. The summit gave Putin symbolic wins and Trump political leverage, but left Volodymyr Zelenskyy sidelined US President Donald Trump goes to shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, US, August 15, 2025. Reuters The meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday marked the first in-person engagement between American and Russian leaders since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Expectations were high that the summit might at least produce a framework for a ceasefire or set the stage for substantive negotiations. Instead, the talks concluded earlier than planned and without a definitive agreement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both leaders highlighted 'progress,' but neither specified what that meant, leaving observers and allies uncertain about what, if anything, had been achieved. The summit carried strong symbolic weight — bringing Putin back onto US soil after years of isolation and providing Trump with another opportunity to assert his foreign policy approach. Yet the lack of concrete outcomes put into spotlight the lack of will in reaching a settlement to the ongoing war. Trump set the stage in Alaska The Anchorage summit was carefully choreographed, with fighter jet flyovers, a red carpet welcome, and the slogan 'Pursuing Peace' displayed prominently. For Trump, it was a chance to showcase statesmanship, while for Putin, the optics of being received with honours in the United States after years of pariah status represented a personal and diplomatic triumph. Putin's last visit to the US had taken place a decade earlier. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he had been effectively excluded from most Western capitals, with the International Criminal Court even issuing an arrest warrant against him. Anchorage was chosen partly because the United States is not an ICC member, eliminating the risk of complications linked to that warrant. Yet even as the two men exchanged smiles on the tarmac at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ukraine remained under assault. Reports of incoming Russian drones and aircraft were issued as the summit began. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inside the closed-door talks between Trump & Putin Originally planned as a one-on-one session with only interpreters present, the meeting's format was altered at the last moment. Instead, each side brought two senior aides into the room. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff joined Trump, while Putin was also flanked by top officials. The White House provided no detailed explanation for this change, but it likely aimed to ensure clarity on commitments and prevent ambiguity that had surrounded Trump's private meetings with Putin during his first term. The discussion reportedly lasted just under three hours — shorter than anticipated — and ended without the ceasefire Trump had demanded in the run-up to the talks. While both leaders emerged declaring that they had agreed on many issues, neither identified what those were. 'We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to,' Trump said afterwards. 'There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there. We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Putin echoed the sentiment, saying the two sides had agreed to 'pave the path towards peace in Ukraine,' but provided no further clarity. The missing Ukraine ceasefire Throughout the weeks leading up to Anchorage, Trump had pointed out that a ceasefire was non-negotiable for a deal. He suggested he would 'walk' away if Putin did not agree to halt hostilities, even threatening 'severe' consequences if the war dragged on. Yet by the end of the summit, no such outcome was announced. In fact, Trump shifted responsibility toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressing in interviews after the summit that Kyiv had to accept difficult compromises. 'Gotta make a deal,' Trump said when asked what advice he had for Zelenskyy. He indicated that discussions about potential territorial adjustments and US security guarantees had occurred and that 'those are points that we largely have agreed on.' This stance contrasted sharply with the Biden administration's approach, which had pushed unwavering military and financial support for Ukraine while insisting on Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Putin's victories While Anchorage did not deliver a peace deal, it represented a significant win for Putin on multiple fronts. First, his return to the US was in itself a breakthrough. Russian state television celebrated the handshake with Trump on the tarmac as 'historic,' portraying it as evidence that Moscow had reemerged on the global stage despite Western attempts to isolate it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Second, Putin left Alaska without offering any notable concessions. Instead, he reinforced his personal rapport with Trump, a relationship the American president described as consistently 'fantastic.' Third, Putin secured favourable public messaging. He praised Trump, declaring that he could 'confirm' the US president's claim that Russia would not have launched its 2022 invasion if Trump had been in office at the time. Such remarks bolstered Trump's narrative while simultaneously justifying Moscow's past actions in the eyes of Russian audiences. The Russian leader also scored a more personal victory: joining Trump in the armoured presidential limousine known as 'the Beast.' Their brief ride together — without aides or translators — became a symbolic image of trust and camaraderie, though its contents remain unknown. After years of being shunned in Europe and facing sanctions, restrictions, and legal threats, Putin was once again shaking hands with the leader of the world's most powerful nation. Trump's choice to host him — and to do so with military honours, a red carpet, and public warmth — weakened the Western effort to diplomatically isolate Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even if other European leaders remain unwilling to engage, the fact that Washington opened its doors carries far greater weight internationally. This rehabilitation was evident from Putin's demeanour. Smiling broadly as he peered from Trump's limousine, his reentry onto the world stage was unmistakable. Trump's political gains Trump may not have returned from Anchorage with a ceasefire, but he did extract political value from the event. The summit provided a platform for him to denounce once again the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Standing alongside Putin, he dismissed it as a 'hoax' and portrayed both leaders as victims of unfair scrutiny. Additionally, Trump gained momentum for his foreign policy agenda by positioning himself as the only Western leader capable of bringing Putin to the negotiating table. Even the absence of a concrete deal allowed him to argue that progress had been made and that further meetings could eventually deliver results. The idea of a follow-up summit in Moscow highlighted this point. When Putin suggested 'Next time in Moscow' in English, Trump responded with interest: 'Oooh, that's an interesting one. I don't know, I'll get a little heat on that one. But I could see it possibly happening.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If realised, such a visit would be the first by a US president to Russia since Barack Obama attended the 2013 G20 summit in St Petersburg. Ukraine and Zelenskyy? The person most directly affected by the summit — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — was not invited to Anchorage. Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and Nato leaders afterward to provide a readout. Zelenskyy, addressing his nation just before the summit began, voiced scepticism about Moscow's intentions. 'The war continues, and it is precisely because there is neither an order nor a signal that Moscow is preparing to end this war,' he said. 'On the day of negotiations, they are killing, as well. And that speaks volumes.' On the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing as well. And that speaks volumes. Recently, weʼve discussed with the U.S. and Europeans what can truly work. Everyone needs a just end to the war. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to bring the war to an end,… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 15, 2025 In interviews after the summit, Trump suggested there could eventually be a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, potentially with himself present. 'They both want me there, and I'll be there,' he told Fox News. Yet the Anchorage summit made clear that under current conditions. His suggestion to host Trump in Moscow, pointedly excluded the mention of the Ukrainian leader. The summit's key takeaways can be summarised as follows: No ceasefire : Despite Trump's insistence before the meeting, fighting in Ukraine continues. Symbolic gains for Putin : His return to U.S. soil marked a diplomatic breakthrough. Political opportunities for Trump : He used the event to dismiss past investigations and strengthen his image as a dealmaker. Uncertainty for Ukraine : Zelenskyy remains under pressure to 'make a deal,' while Moscow shows no sign of halting military operations. Possibility of further talks: Putin invited Trump to Moscow, raising the stakes for future negotiations. The Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may not have produced a breakthrough, but it was nonetheless significant. For now, the world is left with Trump's own words: 'There's no deal until there's a deal.' With inputs from agencies
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Oil settled nearly $1 lower as Trump-Putin talks loom
Oil prices closed down nearly $1 on Friday as traders awaited talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which could lead to an easing of the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Brent crude futures settled 99 cents, or 1.5 per cent , lower at $65.85 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures eased $1.16, or 1.8 per cent , lower at $62.80. Trump arrived in Alaska on Friday for his summit with Putin after saying he wants to see a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine "today." Trump has said he believes Russia is prepared to end the war, but he has also threatened to impose secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil if there is no progress with peace talks. Putin also arrived in Anchorage. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects the talks to bring results, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. "President Trump will likely threaten further tariff pressure on India and possibly China as far as oil imports from Russia if the meeting stalemates, which is keeping a nervous trade to crude," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. "If a ceasefire announcement is made, it will be taken as a negative to crude near-term," Kissler added. For the week, WTI dropped 1.7 per cent , while Brent eased 1.1 per cent . Weaker economic data from China, meanwhile, raised concerns over fuel demand. Chinese government data showed factory output growth slumped to an eight-month low and retail sales growth expanded at its slowest pace since December, weighing on sentiment despite stronger oil throughput in the world's second-largest crude user. Throughput at Chinese refineries rose 8.9 per cent year-on-year in July, but that was down from June levels, which were the highest since September 2023. Despite the increase, China's oil product exports last month were also up from a year ago, suggesting lower domestic fuel demand. Forecasts of a growing oil market surplus also weighed on sentiment, as did the prospect of higher-for-longer US interest rates. Oil rig count, an indicator of future supply, rose by one to 412 this week, Baker Hughes data showed. Bank of America analysts said on Thursday that they were widening their forecast for the oil market surplus, citing growing supplies from the OPEC+ producer group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other allies. The analysts now project an average surplus of 890,000 barrels per day from July 2025 through June 2026. That forecast follows this week's International Energy Agency predictions saying the oil market looks "bloated" after the latest increases to OPEC+ output.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Donald Trump signals U.S. may not impose secondary tariffs on India over Russian oil
New York President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. may not impose secondary tariffs on countries continuing to procure Russia crude oil. There were apprehensions that additional secondary tariffs would have hit India in case the U.S. decided to enforce them. Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Highlights "Well, he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) lost an oil client, so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40 per cent of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot…And if I did what's called a secondary sanction, or a secondary tariff, it would be very devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it. Maybe I won't have to do it,' Mr. Trump said on Friday (August 15, 2025). The U.S. President made the remarks in an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska for a high-stakes summit meeting with Mr. Putin. The meeting concluded without any agreement on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. On Wednesday (August 13, 2025), U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said if 'things don't go well' between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin at the summit meeting, then secondary sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil could go up. In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr. Bessent said, 'I think everyone has been frustrated with President Putin. We expected that he would come to the table in a more fulsome way. It looks like he may be ready to negotiate.' 'And we put secondary tariffs on the Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,' he added. On whether sanctions can go up or loosened, Mr. Bessent had said, 'Sanctions can go up, they can be loosened. They can have a definitive life. They can go on indefinitely.' Mr. Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50% on India, including 25% for Delhi's purchases of Russian oil that will come into effect from August 27. Responding to the tariffs, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' it said.
