In Focus

That’s what our city’s artists are asking on hearing about the R167-crore auction of Raja Ravi Varma’s Yashoda and Krishna. Mega art deals may bring global attention to the desi art market, but they’ve made very little difference for the starving artist on ground

US Vice President JD Vance said talks with Iran ended without a deal after 21 hours, adding that a “final and best offer” has been put forward

The United States said its naval ships had begun efforts to clear sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran swiftly denied the claim, heightening tensions between the two sides even as ongoing negotiations failed to reach a breakthrough

US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Iran just ahead of high-stakes negotiations, signalling that the strategic Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon. Trump claimed the vital global shipping route would resume automatically and warned Tehran has limited leverage beyond the temporary disruption of international waterways. As US negotiators prepare to meet Iranian officials, Washington has also reloaded warships, raising the possibility of renewed strikes if talks collapse. Iran, meanwhile, is demanding sanctions relief, an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon, and the unfreezing of assets before negotiations proceed.