India: Modi inaugurates new international airport in Noida

Indian cricket star MS Dhoni will likely miss the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a calf strain, according to his team, the Chennai Super Kings.

"MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of TATA IPL 2026," the team said in a statement.

Dhoni, who is 44, led Chennai to five IPL titles and has only played in the T20 tournament since retiring from international cricket in 2020. Last year, he played in all 14 matches, scoring 196 runs. However, Chennai finished at the bottom of the 10-team table.

Chennai, which last won the IPL in 2023, will play its opening match on Monday against the Rajasthan Royals. The 19th edition of the IPL begins on Saturday, with the final scheduled for May 31.

India has approved defense procurements worth about $25 billion (€21.65 billion), including additional Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense systems, authorities said.

The approvals were cleared by a council led by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, according to the defense ministry.

The ministry said it has cleared 55 proposals worth $71 billion in the 2025-26 financial year so far, with capital procurement contracts worth $25 billion this fiscal year, the highest on record, being signed.

The acquisitions planned include transport aircraft, drones and upgrades to Su-30 fighter jets for the air force, as well as artillery, surveillance systems and ammunition for the army.

The new S-400 orders and jet upgrades underscore Russia's continued role as a key defense supplier to India despite increased purchases from Western countries.

It turns out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party can agree on some things — namely, that lawmakers should receive free Indian Premier League (IPL) tickets for the season opener in Bengaluru.

The saga started with BJP leader and leader of opposition R Ashoka calling for free tickets for legislators in the Karnataka state assembly.

There was support for the proposal across the board, with Congress legislator Vijayanand Kashappanavar telling the media, "We are VIPs. We can't go in the queue and stand there."

Eventually, after a meeting with officials from the Karnataka cricket association, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said on Friday two tickets will be provided to each state lawmaker.

However, BJP's member of parliament Tejasvi Surya condemned the episode on X saying, "Why should elected representatives expect privileges denied to ordinary citizens?"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "‌productive conversation" US President Donald Trump on Tuesday on the escalating Middle East crisis, White House spokesperson Karoline ​Leavitt said.

"President Trump has a ⁠great ​relationship with ​Prime Minister Modi, and this ​was a ‌productive conversation," Leavitt ⁠said.

According to The New York Times, Elon Musk also joined the phone call between Modi and Trump although it was unclear why Musk was included in the call or whether he spoke, the report said.

Five Indians were injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile struck an area near Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), local authorities said.

According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the injuries ranged from "moderate to minor."

Iran's Gulf neighbors have faced a barrage of missile and drone attacks from Iran since the beginning of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Noida International Airport on Saturday. It is the second international airport to service the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Located in Jewar the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the airport is expected to see 12 million passengers a year in the initial phase and up to 70 million once fully operational.

According to authorities, about $1.2 billion (€1.04 billion) was invested in the first phase of the airport project that spans across 7,200 acres.

India on Wednesday announced plans to develop 100 new airports in the next 10 years with aims to increase the number of airports to 350–400 by 2047, up from 163 in 2025.

The government also plans to spend $1.07 billion in subsidies for airlines to operate unviable routes.

Hi! This is Shakeel from the DW's New Delhi Studio brining you the latest developments from all around India.

First thing first, India is getting a swanky new international airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the Noida International Airport on Saturday.

The Iran war continues to spill into the Gulf, with five Indian nationals injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile sparked fires.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Elon Musk joined the phone call between Modi and US President Donald Trump.

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