Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his official visit to Seychelles, was conferred with the nation's highest environmental honour — the "Guardian of the Blue Horizon" Award — by Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie. This marks the first time the award has ever been presented, underscoring its historic significance.

 - Advancing green initiatives and sustainable practices.

 - Promoting the welfare of developing nations.

 - Championing the blue economy and climate change mitigation.

 - Ensuring sustainable management of marine resources.

 - Supporting the growth of small island nations.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the award to all nations committed to environmental protection and climate action. He emphasized that the recognition, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, would further strengthen bilateral friendship.

 - The International Solar Alliance.

 - The Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement.

 - The Mother's Tree Plantation Drive.

 - The Global Tiger Forum.

This honour joins a series of international recognitions previously awarded to Modi for his environmental and sustainability efforts, including the FAO's Agricola Award, the Seoul Peace Prize, and the UN's Champion of the Earth Award.

Seychelles highlighted that the award reflects India's growing role as a trusted partner in the Indian Ocean region, particularly in capacity building, environmental action, and sustainable development initiatives.

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has halted planned military strikes against Iran, claiming a diplomatic breakthrough in efforts to extend the fragile ceasefire. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump declared, "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," though he offered few details.

The ceasefire, in place since April, is seen as vital to preventing renewed hostilities and allowing talks over Iran's nuclear program to continue. Trump expressed confidence that an agreement would be finalized within days.

Iran, however, stopped short of confirming progress. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said mediators were still engaged and noted contradictions in the US position had complicated negotiations. Iranian media suggested Trump's announcement reflected a tactical retreat rather than a genuine breakthrough.

Earlier in the day, Trump had threatened to strike Iran "very hard" and seize control of strategic oil facilities, including Kharg Island. The nuclear program and Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz remain key sticking points in talks.

Despite uncertainty, global markets reacted positively, with stocks rising and oil prices falling after Trump's comments. Whether this marks a real step toward peace or another temporary pause in the volatile conflict remains unresolved.

The United States military launched a new wave of airstrikes early Thursday against Iranian military surveillance facilities, communication systems, and air defence sites. The attacks followed a day of Iranian fire directed at Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan — all of which host US troops.

US Central Command confirmed the strikes, stating they were carried out by the Air Force, Marines, and Navy. "The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression. US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready," the statement read.

Explosions were reported in southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Minab. Missile sirens sounded in Bahrain as tensions escalated. This marks the third round of back‑and‑forth strikes in a week, testing a fragile two‑month ceasefire.

President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would "pay the price" if negotiations remained stalled, while urging Iran to sign a deal to end the conflict. Iran's UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, countered that the country "has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit."

Despite the heavy bombing campaign, Iran has remained resilient, leveraging its ability to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global energy route — as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled uncompromising goals, including dismantling Iran's nuclear program and weakening Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Both Washington and Tehran appear to be seeking a way to end the conflict, though each side is determined to frame any agreement as a domestic victory.