A Pakistani journalist got stuck on a key factual detail when asking US War Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday for Washington’s view on India’s alleged “Agni-6 ICBM test”, a missile test which India has not officially conducted.The question came amid discussions on nuclear deterrence and long-range missile programs in South Asia.Referring to recent US concerns over Pakistan’s potential intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ambitions, the journalist asked Hegseth: “Recently Pakistan’s potential ICBM program was identified as a threat to the US. I wanted your comment on India’s Agni-6 ICBM test with a range of ~12,000 km which could potentially put the US and parts of Europe within reach.”However, India has not announced or confirmed any testing of the Agni-6 missile.

Hegseth avoids taking the bait

In his response, Hegseth refused to consider either India or Pakistan a threat to the United States.“India and Pakistan are two nuclear-capable countries. I think both sides will see understandable threats coming from each other, maybe some of them we will see differently, and countries will want to develop ICBM threats,” he said.“But we, at least from our perspective right now, are not pointing the finger at any country and calling them a threat to us, and we are grateful for the benefits they have given to peace around the world, in each of their lanes.”His remarks echo comments he made earlier at the summit, where he said the two countries would continue to view each other through the prism of security concerns.

Confusion over India’s recent missile test

The question appears to stem from speculation surrounding India’s missile launch earlier this month.Ahead of the test, there was widespread discussion that Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Sameer V Kamat said that India is preparing to conduct the flight test of Agni-6 as the organization is technically ready and is awaiting government approval.India had also issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM), leading to speculation.

For several hours after the launch, defense observers speculated that India had finally test-fired the Agni-6, a missile often described as a future intercontinental-range system with a potential strike range of more than 10,000 kilometers.However, the Defense Ministry later clarified that the test involved the advanced Agni missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology instead of Agni-6.

what did india actually test

The ministry confirmed that the missile was successfully test-fired from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast and carried multiple payloads aimed at various targets spread over a large area of ​​the Indian Ocean region.

The launch marks the second publicly known test of the MIRV-capable Agni-5 variant, also known as “Mission Divyastra”. MIRV technology enables a single ballistic missile to carry multiple warheads capable of striking different targets, significantly increasing its effectiveness.India’s officially declared Agni-5 has a range of over 5,000 kilometres, covering large parts of Asia, including China. The government has not officially disclosed the existence, specifications or testing timeline of the Agni-6 missile.

Pakistan’s focus is on Indian missile capabilities

The questioning also comes in the backdrop of Pakistan rejecting a US intelligence assessment that cited Islamabad’s missile program as among the potential long-term threats to the United States.Responding to the allegations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry argued that its missile program was aimed solely at deterrence against India and claimed that “India’s development of missile capabilities of more than 12,000 kilometers reflects a trajectory that extends beyond regional security considerations”.The ministry’s comments came after then US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard identified Pakistan as one of the countries posing the greatest nuclear threat to the United States, along with Iran, China, Russia and North Korea.He said these countries are actively developing new missile delivery systems capable of carrying nuclear and conventional weapons, which could potentially target the US.While speculation about the Indian ICBM program has continued for years, New Delhi has not announced any testing of the missile, which has a declared range of about 12,000 kilometres.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (file photo)

The United States warned on Saturday that it is prepared to resume military operations against Iran if necessary, as President donald trump Reiterated that any deal with Tehran must meet key US conditions, including a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.A draft outline is awaiting Trump’s approval, according to US officials cited by AFP. However, the President stopped short of making a decision after a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday.Speaking at a defense summit in Singapore, the US Secretary of Defense pete hegseth Emphasizing Washington’s military readiness, he said the US is “very much capable” of resuming the war if needed and “our reserves are well suited for that.”US Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced that message, saying on Twitter that US forces “remain present and alert throughout the region.”The comments came amid conflicting signals on a possible breakthrough in the talks. While the White House has indicated that Trump is considering a possible deal, Iranian officials say the talks have not yet led to a final agreement.Although a ceasefire signed in April remains largely intact, tensions remain high. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that the country’s air defense systems intercepted a drone on Saturday and described it as “belonging to the American-Zionist aggressive enemy.”Diplomatic efforts are also continuing. Discussions have also focused on the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted on as a condition of any comprehensive agreement with Washington. Israeli troops are advancing into southern Lebanon, while military delegations from Israel and Lebanon met at the Pentagon on Friday.Trump has outlined several conditions for the deal, including guarantees that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. “President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official told AFP. “Iran can never possess nuclear weapons,” he said.However, Iran has rejected what it sees as US efforts to dictate terms. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said the Islamic Republic had “said goodbye to the ‘essential’ language 47 years ago.”Acknowledging that messages were continuing to be exchanged between the two sides, Bakai said that “no final agreement has been reached.”Tasnim news agency also reported that the US maritime blockade remained in effect and that ships attempting to pass through the strait were “receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line.”Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Nikkei Asia that the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is creating significant pressure on both Washington and Tehran. “The international impact – including energy security, food security and rising prices – is huge,” Fidan said.“It has become a situation that takes priority over the nuclear files,” he said.Meanwhile, fighting continues on the Lebanese front despite a separate ceasefire arrangement. The Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for villages in southern Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had advanced more than 30 kilometers into Lebanese territory.The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on April 17, but is being weakened by repeated violations, with both sides blaming each other.The latest tensions began in early March when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with widespread attacks across Lebanon and subsequently launched a ground offensive. Israel and Lebanon have since resumed direct talks, with a fourth round of talks expected to take place next week.

Defending champion Coco Gauff crashed out of the French Open on Saturday as Anastasia Potapova battled back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the third round at Roland Garros.

Fifty-one weeks after lifting Suzanne Lenglen on the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Gauff walked off the same court with her title defence. Potapova, who had enjoyed a resurgence during the clay-court season, produced a composed performance in the decisive moments to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Gauff appeared on course for a spot in the second week after recovering from an early loss in the opening set. After trailing 2-4, the American rallied from four consecutive games to win the set and take control of the contest.

The momentum changed dramatically in the second set. Potapova raced to a 5–1 lead and had two chances to serve out the set, only for Gauff to pull off another comeback by winning five consecutive games. With Potapova serving at 5–6, Gauff moved to within two points of victory, but the Austrian dominated the tiebreak 7–1 as the defending champion was finding errors in her game.

Gauff regained her composure early in the deciding set and took a 3–1 lead, while Potapova appeared to be physically weakening. Yet the 24-year-old once again held deep and clawed her way back into the match, while Gauff struggled to convert her lead into a winning position.

The decisive blow came from Gauff’s serve at 4-5 in the final set. A double fault and an ill-judged drop shot gave Potapova a chance for match point, and moments later Gauff sent a forehand into the stands, ending her bid for a second consecutive French Open title.

The defeat ended a mixed clay-court campaign for Gauff, who battled illness and an early exit in Madrid before finishing runner-up in Rome. Meanwhile, Potapova continued her stellar performance and booked her place in the fourth round.

Perry surprises Anisimova

While Gauff’s exit left the Paris crowd stunned, home favorite Diane Perry ensured there was still plenty to cheer about at Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The 23-year-old became the last Frenchwoman left in the women’s singles draw after beating sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Perry, ranked 92nd in the world, overcame a slow start in the opening set by winning five consecutive games to overcome the 1-3 deficit. Anisimova, a two-time Grand Slam finalist and former Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2025, responded by winning the second set to take the decider.

The final set proved to be tense. Perry led 4–3 but Anisimova quickly fought back and produced a dramatic finish. With the home crowd roaring, the Frenchwoman raised her level in the tiebreak, quickly regaining control and sealing victory on her first match point after two hours and 44 minutes.

As chants echoed around Philippe-Chatrier and supporters waved flags in celebration, Parry soaked in the moment. For the first time in her career, she reached the second week of a Grand Slam, giving the host nation a player to rally around after another eventful day at Roland Garros.

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Symbolic Image (Photo Credit: AP)

According to the Associated Press, Russian officials said Ukrainian drone strikes opened fire on several Russian oil facilities overnight Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks targeting Moscow’s energy infrastructure.Officials in Russia’s Rostov region said falling drone debris caused a fire that damaged an oil depot and a tanker in the port city of Taganrog. In the neighboring Krasnodar Territory, authorities reported another fire at an oil depot in Armavir, reportedly caused by drone debris.ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky Confirming the attack on Armavir highlights Ukraine’s growing ability to attack targets inside Russian territory.“Another facility of Russia’s oil industry has been reached – Armavir,” Zelensky wrote on X, noting that the city is located “500 kilometers from our state border.”“We are literally bringing the war back to where it began,” he said.Ukraine has significantly expanded its long-range strike capabilities during the war, using domestically developed drones and missiles to target Russian military and energy infrastructure.Attacks on oil depots, refineries and fuel facilities are increasing as Kiev seeks to disrupt a key source of revenue supporting Russia’s military campaign.At the same time, Russia continues missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Kiev is preparing for the possibility of intensified Russian bombardment after Moscow warned of upcoming “systemic attacks” on the Ukrainian capital earlier this week.Zelensky said Thursday that he remains “very firm” in urging the United States to provide additional Patriot air defense missiles capable of deterring Russian ballistic missile attacks.The latest developments come a day after a Russian drone involved in attacks on Ukraine struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people from the NATO member state.The incident renewed concerns about the war spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders and prompted criticism from several European countries.Meanwhile, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom claimed that a Ukrainian drone attacked the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on Saturday. According to Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev, the drone hit the wall of a turbine hall, leaving a hole but causing no damage to critical equipment.Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhia plant, has been under Russian control since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Although the plant is no longer operational, it still needs a stable power supply to cool its six closed reactors and spent nuclear fuel.

New Delhi: India’s Digital Health Mission has crossed a major milestone with over 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) created across the country, reflecting the rapid expansion of the nationwide digital health ecosystem that aims to make medical records accessible with a single click.The National Health Authority (NHA) on Saturday announced that Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed the 90 crore ABHA mark from 14.7 crore in 2021, becoming one of the world’s largest digital health records initiatives.ABHA is a unique 14-digit digital health identity that allows individuals to securely link, access and share their health records across hospitals, clinics, laboratories and digital health applications with their consent. It is designed to reduce reliance on physical medical records and improve continuity of care.Growth has been particularly rapid in the last five years. Cumulative ABHA creation is expected to increase from 14.7 crore in 2021 to 30.4 crore in 2022, 50.6 crore in 2023, 72.2 crore in 2024 and 84.5 crore in 2025, before crossing the 90 crore mark this year.State-wise data shows Uttar Pradesh leads the country with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra with over 7 crore, Bihar with 6.3 crore and West Bengal with 5.9 crore. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka are also among the top contributors.Many states and union territories have achieved almost universal coverage relative to their population. Andhra Pradesh recorded 98.5% ABHA saturation, while Odisha (91.9%), Chandigarh (90.8%), Rajasthan (89.7%), Himachal Pradesh (88.9%) and Chhattisgarh (86.6%) also reported high coverage levels. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have achieved full saturation.Digital health initiatives have also seen strong participation from women, who constitute 49.75% of all ABHA holders, indicating that almost half of India’s digital health identities are created by women.Dr. Sunil Kumar Baranwal, CEO of National Health Authority, said that the creation of ABHA worth more than Rs 90 crore reflects the growing involvement of citizens, states and health ecosystem partners. He said ABHA enables secure, consent-based access to health information and will help reduce reliance on physical records while improving continuity of care and transparency in health care delivery.

Rebecca SomervellMumbai: In a trial that lasted 15 years, a magistrate court this week acquitted a Bhiwandi doctor accused of fabricating a breast cancer diagnosis. Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) Letterhead for a woman who sought treatment after having a tumor removed.Based on the pathology report, Devaki Pujari and the treating doctors believed that the woman was suffering from a serious fatal disease, but the document was later flagged as a complete forgery.Devaki was not examined as a prosecution witness. As a result, in a 13-page judgment the court acquitted Dr Arshad Shaikh, a lab owner, of multiple charges including fraud and forgery. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove that the laboratory owner actually handled the woman’s breast tumor or created fake medical records for financial gain. “The prosecution will not be in a position to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused himself conducted the pathological examination of Devaki’s breast tumor and, accordingly, issued the fabricated pathological report. As a result, the accused will have to be acquitted by giving the benefit of reasonable doubt,” said Judicial Magistrate First Class PS Shinde.An FIR was lodged at Bhoiwada police station in 2010. The patient’s ordeal began in late 2009, when a tumor was surgically removed and sent off for pathological examination. Prosecutors alleged that instead of actually testing the tumor, Shaikh kept the diagnosis fee and prepared a fake breast cancer diagnosis on September 12, 2009. Police claimed that the doctor fraudulently scanned Tata Memorial Hospital letterhead and combined the diagnosis data of two genuine cancer patients to create a fabricated document, with the aim of dishonestly tricking the woman and the doctors into believing that the tumor had been officially diagnosed.During a confrontation by the vigilance department at the hospital on March 15, 2010, Shaikh reportedly admitted to hospital security and administrators that the report was made on a computer.The prosecution questioned Devaki’s son Rajesh Pujari. He said that after the initial diagnosis by his family doctor, he took his mother to Dr. Harish’s hospital for further treatment. Dr. Harish recommended a mammogram and upon reviewing the results, referred the patient to another doctor. That doctor later removed a tumor and sent the tissue sample for testing to Maxim Lab in Kalyan, a facility owned by the accused.The alleged fraud came to light months later when the woman was referred to TMH, Parel for radiation. Upon examining the patient, a doctor at the hospital found that the physical symptoms did not completely match the serious fatal disease mentioned in the pathology report. The hospital’s internal investigation revealed that the demands and case numbers on the woman’s documents actually belonged to two other patients, and no valid record existed for Devaki in the hospital’s system.Twenty days later, the accused sent Devaki’s lab reports to the surgeon, who started chemotherapy and later referred her to TMH for advanced care, including radiation. However, when Rajesh went with his mother to consult the doctor at TMH, the doctors there found discrepancies in the lab reports.During the trial, the defense argued against the prosecution’s timeline and motive. During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Rajesh admitted that the tumor was sent to the laboratory by the surgeon and that he had never met the accused before the alleged incident. He also admitted that the said report was sent to the hospital by Dr. Harish.Referring to this, the Magistrate said that in such circumstances, the prosecution is duty bound to examine Dr. Harish to prove the connection between the removal of the tumor by him and its pathological examination by the accused. “But, the charge sheet shows that no such statement of Dr Harish has been recorded by the investigating officer. Therefore, this lacuna goes to the crux of the matter and raises doubts as to whether any such tumor of Devaki was sent to the laboratory of the accused,” the magistrate said.The magistrate found serious lapses in the police investigation, primarily noting that they did not record the statement of the woman who was suffering from cancer. Furthermore, the physical slides produced during the interrogation at the hospital were never sent for DNA testing to prove that they originated from the woman’s tumor.Addressing the lack of digital evidence required to prove forgery and fraudulent motive, the magistrate said the investigating officers failed to seize the computers allegedly used to morph the hospital letterheads.