Brahmos cruise missile deal with Vietnam already signed: Defence Secretary

IANS | May 30, 2026 6:34 PM

Singapore, May 30 (IANS) Highlighting India's expanding expertise in missile manufacturing and increasing outreach, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Saturday announced that a BrahMos missile deal has already been signed with Vietnam with another similar agreement with Indonesia currently in the final stages.

Japan discusses possibility of exporting advanced frigates to New Zealand

IANS | May 30, 2026 5:39 PM

Singapore, May 30 (IANS) Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pitched for the possible export of Japan’s advanced Mogami-class frigate to New Zealand on Saturday. Koizumi made the proposal during the first trilateral meeting with his New Zealand and Australian counterparts, Chris Penk and Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue regional security forum in Singapore, Japanese media reported.

Chinese firms control nearly 90 pc of Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves: Report

IANS | May 30, 2026 5:02 PM

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) The Select Committee on China of the US House of Representatives found that Chinese companies now control nearly 90 per cent of Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves, raising concerns about environmental damage and over-exploitation of local communities, a new report has said.

Beijing's control of Tibetan spiritual leader succession lacks legitimacy: Report

IANS | May 30, 2026 4:31 PM

Washington, May 30 (IANS) The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) selection of the 11th Panchen Lama stands as a case study in failure, underscoring that legitimacy cannot be imposed and authenticity cannot be manufactured. If Beijing proceeds with efforts to influence the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama in the similar manner, it risks the same outcome marked by rejection from Tibetans, sparking international criticism, and laying bare Beijing's insecurity.