General Dwivedi (file photo)

New Delhi: Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said future conflicts will move beyond conventional battlefields and be fought across multiple domains, including cyber, space and cognitive warfare, and also said the armed forces are fully prepared for ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if needed.Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the NDA passing-out parade in Pune, General Dwivedi said, “As far as Operation Sindoor is concerned, first of all, it is still going on. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. So the Indian Army and all the three services are preparing well for Operation Sindoor 2.0, if it happens.” He said future warfare will not be limited to just land, sea and air, but will increasingly be influenced by emerging domains such as space, cyber and cognitive warfare.General Dwivedi said, modern battlefields have become highly transparent and military planners must remain vigilant about deployment and force protection measures.Explaining the need for AI-powered systems, the Army key technologies help optimize resource utilization and improve operational efficiency on the battlefield. To explain this he said, “In today’s environment, we also have a lot of drones coming. Now, you need counter-drone equipment, and you need to deploy your drones. So, the resources available on the battlefield are huge. To handle such resources, you need some kind of automation, and artificial intelligence plays a very important role.“On information war, the General said, “Victory is always in the mind. It is not on the ground. Therefore, information war is successful only when the entire country comes together and trusts the people providing information.” If that happens, I can assure you that the nation that trusts each other and all these stakeholders will always win the war.The General said that the Indian Army is fully conscious of modernization changes. “We are transforming ourselves into a future-ready force under the ‘Decade of Transformation’ in which the younger generation will play a vital role,” he said.

Singapore: US Secretary of Defense pete hegseth On Saturday he took another dig at Washington’s NATO and European partners, saying those who do not substantially increase defense spending “will face a marked change in the way we do business”.NATO members pledged last year to increase defense-related spending to five percent of gross domestic product, but despite increased efforts, many states say they may not be able to reach that goal.“For too long, polite pleas by our European allies to spend more on their defense have fallen on deaf ears,” the Pentagon chief told a defense summit in Singapore.“They’re finally playing catch-up,” Hegseth said in a speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue conference.“Allies who refuse to step up and carry their weight to protect our collective will face drastic changes to the way we do business.”Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month that NATO was facing U.S. troop cuts in Europe as Washington focused on other threats and European countries stepped up their security.In Asia, Hegseth reiterated that the region’s security “rests disproportionately on American military power, while many of our allies and partners have allowed their own defense capabilities to weaken”.Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are actually moving forward, Hegseth said, using South Korea as a specific example.“South Korea has continually invested in its defense because it does not have the luxury of treating war like an academic exercise.“They remain on the front lines, and so they constitute the real fighting force.”“This reflects a clear understanding of the threat environment,” he said.Hegseth also praised the spending policies of other countries, including Australia, the Philippines and Japan.“You don’t have a strong coalition unless everyone is in the game. No freebies,” Hegseth said.When Hegseth was asked by a New Zealand representative whether he considered the Pacific island nation’s plan to increase defense spending by one to two percent as “freebies”, he agreed.“If I’m being honest, two percent is not enough, and so two percent is freebies.“I have nothing against New Zealand, (but) I want the partners to step up,” Hegseth said.

New Delhi: A video is reportedly being shown Mamata Banerjee The case of clash with officials at Belle View Hospital in Kolkata has gone viral on social media. The incident reportedly took place in the presence of his nephew and TMC MP. Abhishek Banerjee Was undergoing treatment after the mob attack.In the video, Banerjee is seen talking sharply to the hospital officials and targeting Belle Vue Hospital CEO Pradeep Tandon. According to the viral clip, he can be heard saying, “You are running a hospital, you are arrogant.”The footage shows Abhishek Banerjee lying on a stretcher and being attended to by medical staff.Sharing the video on Twitter, BJP commentator Sudhanidhi Bandyopadhyay wrote: “Last night Mamata Banerjee was shouting against the hospital authorities of Belle Vue and especially Mr. Pradeep Tandon (CEO), his ego is also not going away.”The BJP West Bengal chief spokesperson also shared the video on Twitter and accused the TMC supremo of pressurizing hospital authorities even though medical assessment indicated that Abhishek did not suffer any major injuries.He wrote, “Mamata Banerjee should be ashamed for allegedly threatening Belle Vue Hospital CEO Pradeep Tandon and pressurizing hospital authorities to admit Abhishek Banerjee despite medical reports indicating no significant injuries.” He further wrote, “This represents a disturbing attempt to misuse medical institutions for political narratives. Hospitals exist to serve patients based on medical necessity, not political convenience. Any attempt to intimidate doctors, administrators or health care institutions undermines public trust and violates basic principles of democracy and governance.” The video surfaced amid the political storm over the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday.According to West Bengal Police, five people have been arrested in connection with the attack, ANI reported. “There are no serious physical signs of injury other than bruising on the chest. The patient is talking and fully conscious and oriented. Therefore, the patient does not require any admission,” Belle Vue Hospital said in a statement. Read this also ‘Rahul Gandhi called me’: Mamata says LoP offered to take Abhishek Banerjee to Hyderabad for treatmentAbhishek had gone to meet families affected by the post-poll violence when stones, eggs and shoes were allegedly thrown at him by protesters. Visuals from the scene show his shirt torn during the scuffle as security personnel take him away.After the incident, Mamata Banerjee alleged that pressure was being put on hospitals and doctors regarding the treatment of Abhishek Banerjee. Addressing reporters, he claimed that hospital authorities had received threatening calls and were allegedly being discouraged from admitting the TMC MP despite medical advice.“Those in power are threatening all hospitals and maximum authorities not to admit Abhishek Banerjee because they do not want him to be treated,” Banerjee alleged.“When I was sitting with the hospital administrator, he told me that he was getting threat calls from the police. The doctors are sad, but they are under pressure,” she said.The allegations triggered a new political controversy, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressing support for Abhishek Banerjee and condemning the attack. According to Mamata Banerjee, Rahul personally called her and offered assistance, including helping arrange for the TMC leader’s treatment outside West Bengal if needed.The BJP has denied any involvement in the attack, while several opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, have condemned the incident and demanded action against those responsible.

WATCH: US attacks another ship en route to ‘narco-trafficking’, killing three

Washington: The US military has launched another attack on a suspected drug-trafficking ship in the eastern Pacific, killing three people aboard a ship transiting “narco-trafficking” routes.“Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this operation. No US military forces were harmed,” US Southern Command said in a post on Twitter.The video shows a small ship moving in the sea before it is attacked and a huge explosion occurs and the boat turns into a ball of fire. The footage shows what happened next, with the ship bursting into flames and a large number of parcels or other items scattered in the surrounding waters.The strike is part of the Trump administration’s intensified campaign against Latin American drug cartels, which US officials blame for fueling the country’s deadly overdose crisis.Timeline of US Southern Commanderd strikeOn May 26, SOUTHCOM commander General Francis L. At Donovan’s direction, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducts a lethal kinetic attack on a ship operated by designated terrorist organizations.Southern Command said onIt further reads, “During this operation one male narco-terrorist was killed, and two survived.”On May 27, US Southern Command released footage of another attack, saying that intelligence confirmed that the ship was transiting known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific.“Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this operation. No US military forces were harmed,” the command said.On May 29, SOUTHCOM commander General Francis L. At Donovan’s direction, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted another lethal kinetic attack on a ship operated by designated terrorist organizations.“Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this operation. No US military forces were harmed,” the X-Post read.More than 200 people have been killed in the campaign since SeptemberThe Trump administration’s anti-drug trafficking campaign in Latin American waters began in September.The operation resulted in 200 deaths.However, the US military has not publicly provided evidence that the ships targeted in the attacks were carrying narcotics.

Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar (BCCI/IPL photo)

Ahmedabad: Many hearts were broken when Rajasthan Royals lost to Gujarat Titans by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 at New Chandigarh on Friday night, denying fans the chance to see cricket’s new sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi in his maiden IPL final. Still, few would deny that Sunday night’s summit clash promises to be a fascinating contest between two of IPL 2026’s best and most consistent teams.Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), chasing a second consecutive title, will take on 2022 winners and hosts Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Beyond the trophy, the stakes are bigger: the winner could establish itself as the IPL’s next major force, as Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians did in their era. RCB, in particular, will be aiming to become the third team after those two giants to win consecutive titles. On paper it is an equal contest. Both teams are being led by in-form captains, with each team inspiring their teams with contrasting but effective leadership styles knocking on the doors of India’s T20I team. Rajat PatidarHis calm, collected approach has brought stability to RCB in two seasons, and now he is on the verge of joining MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only captains to defend the IPL crown.The 32-year-old Madhya Pradesh batsman has backed up his leadership with excellent figures, scoring 486 runs in 14 matches at an average of 44.18 and a strike rate of 196.76, including five fifties. Long known for his prowess against spin, Patidar has added another dimension this season by dismantling pace attacks with equal ease.Second captain, Shubman GillLooks determined to regain his place in India’s T20 setup.The handsome opener has been in great form and has scored 722 runs in 15 matches at an average of 48.13 and a strike rate of 163.71. Both captains reached the final on the back of decisive innings: Patidar’s explosive inning of 93 off 33 balls gave RCB a 92-run win over GT in Qualifier 1, while Gill’s brilliant inning of 104 off 53 balls took the Titans ahead of Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.Gill and opening partner Sai Sudarshan may not attack like some of the young batsmen in the league, but their approach is no less effective. His fluent strokeplay and ability to bat deep was on full display in their 167-run partnership while chasing 215 in Qualifier 2.

Sudarshan, who scored 710 runs at an average of 47.33 and strike rate of 159, is also in the race for the Orange Cap along with Gill.With Jos Buttler (507 runs) providing strength at No. 3, Gujarat Titans have a top order that rarely fails. However, RCB can match that firepower with a strong batting line-up of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Venkatesh Iyer and Patidar. The champions have consistently scored over 200, helped in part by batting-friendly surfaces but also by fearless intent.The contest may ultimately depend on the bowlers and both teams have powerful pace attacks. RCB’s biggest strength is the experience and sharpness of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Bhuvneshwar has been exceptional, taking 26 wickets at an average of 18.15 and an economy of 8.00, while Hazlewood’s ability to strike early makes him a vital weapon against GT’s top order. Supported by Rasikh Salaam and all-rounder Krunal Pandya, RCB’s attack has both depth and variety.Gujarat Titans boasts of the most complete bowling unit in the tournament. Kagiso Rabada leads the way with 28 wickets while consistently touching the speed of 150 kmph. Rashid Khan, Jason Holder and Prasidh Krishna provide capable support. Home advantage may play a role, with the Titans having won five out of seven games in Ahmedabad this season. Nevertheless, RCB entered the final slightly ahead, having enjoyed more rest and having the confidence to have won the title at this venue last year.