In what could potentially be a major relief, Iran has said it will allow India to use the Strait of Hormuz, not only clearing the way for 20 Indian-flagged cargo ships stuck to its west to pass through the choke point, but also raising hopes that another 18 empty LPG tankers could pass through the conflict-hit 52 km strait to load cargo.According to Iranian state TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, “We have allowed some countries, which we consider friendly, to transit through (the Strait of Hormuz). We have allowed transit to China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan.” At the same time, he clarified that ships belonging to Iran’s adversaries will not be allowed to transit through the strategic waterway. “This area is a war zone and there is no reason to allow ships of our enemies to pass through here,” he said.

New Delhi: For many elderly people, a typical day starts with a handful of pills – for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and heart disease. But a new global review suggests that in very frail older adults, it may not always be necessary to continue all long-term medications – and in many cases, it may be safe to stop some of them cautiously.The findings, published in the journal ‘BMC Geriatrics’, come from an analysis of patients with advanced frailty, dementia or limited life expectancy – a group often prescribed multiple medications despite unclear long-term benefits. The researchers found that reducing or stopping such medications did not increase deaths or major complications in most cases.Many of these medications are meant to prevent problems years later. But for weak or seriously ill patients, those benefits may never be realized. Instead, taking multiple medications can increase the risk of dizziness, weakness, confusion, and falls, often leading to hospitalization.This pattern of “polypharmacy”, where patients take multiple medicines simultaneously, is becoming increasingly common among the elderly in India, doctors say. “They often see multiple specialists and prescriptions are not always reviewed together. In frail older adults, over-treatment can do more harm than good – for example, aspirin should be avoided for primary prevention, excessive blood pressure control can lead to deterioration, and drugs such as diuretics, insulin or sulfonylureas can cause electrolyte imbalance or hypoglycaemia. “The focus should be on reducing medications where the risks outweigh the benefits,” said Dr Pulin Gupta, professor in the department of medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.“In frail elderly patients, stopping some preventive medications is generally safe if done carefully, although those with a prior heart attack or stroke need to exercise caution,” said Dr Rommel Tikku, director of internal medicine at Max Hospital, Saket. Commonly overused medications include statins, controlled diabetes medications like insulin or sulfonylureas for primary prevention, many blood pressure medications, sleeping pills, long-term acid suppressants, and anticholinergics, he said.“The prescription should be structured — based on goals of care, frailty and life expectancy — with careful tapering and monitoring,” he said, adding that reducing medications often results in fewer falls, better cognition and improved energy levels.Families often believe that more medications means better care, but the opposite can also be true. Each added drug increases the risk of interaction. The review reflects a shift from aggressive prevention to patient-centred care, where treatment is tailored to health and preferences. Experts caution that medications should not be simply stopped; Depletion should be monitored, with each medication reviewed as required.

New Delhi: Learning from Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army is equipping its armored regiments with dedicated drone units known as ‘Saurya Squadron’. These units are being integrated into tank formations to support surveillance, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and logistics, thereby adding drone capabilities directly into armored operations.Just a few days ago, the Army tested the Shaurya Squadron in a realistic combat environment at the Babina Field Firing Range near Jhansi, where Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth witnessed a drone squadron in action. Led by the White Tiger Division under the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, the 13-day drill showed how drone support provided additional strength to the firepower of the armored regiments.At X, Southern Command said, “In a realistic combat environment, the Gallantry Squadron demonstrated seamless integration of real-time surveillance assets with mechanized forces, attack helicopters, swarm attacks and coordinated fires, enhancing battlefield awareness, compressing the sensor-to-shooter cycle and enabling fast, decisive battlefield response.”An army source said times of India That “5-6 Shaurya Squadrons have been activated so far.” “However, the concept of drone unit integration is still in the early stages and requires more trials for perfection. Formal installation of such units will happen after getting formal approval,” the source said.The army operates one of the world’s largest main battle tank fleets with 63 armored regiments. Each regiment is typically equipped with around 45 tanks, with a total fleet of around 4,500 tanks, including T-90s Bhishma, upgraded T-72 M1 ‘Ajeya’ and Arjun Mk1/Mk1A variants.Taking lessons from drone-centric global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian Army is gradually pushing to institutionalize UAV or drone capabilities in its forces.In the infantry, the Army last year deployed Ashni platoons, equipped with surveillance UAVs and rotating weapons for tactical ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and strike roles. In artillery, Divyastra batteries have been designed to integrate UAV-based targeting with conventional guns for faster and more autonomous engagement cycles.