Category: International

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a major step towards deepening economic engagement between the two sides. The signing of the ToR formally commences negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade pact.  Framework for Negotiations According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the ToR will guide the Read More …

India and Bhutan have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the power sector, with a renewed emphasis on hydropower development and cross-border transmission planning, according to an official statement. A high-level delegation from Bhutan met Union Power Minister Manohar Lal in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed ongoing projects and discussed future collaboration. A key focus of the talks was the early commissioning of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, one of Read More …

India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and rights-based social development at the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Delivering India’s national statement, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said that the country’s approach to social justice and social protection is firmly rooted in constitutional guarantees and aligned with the long-term national vision of Read More …

The 13th edition of the joint military exercise KHANJAR between India and Kyrgyzstan commenced on February 4 at Misamari in the Sonitpur district of Assam. The 14-day-long exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the Special Forces of the two countries, with a focus on urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under a United Nations mandate. The exercise brings together India’s elite Parachute Regiment and Kyrgyzstan’s Scorpion Brigade, which will train in Read More …

India has joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) to provide integrated support services to manufacturing companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries. The announcement was made at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in New Delhi. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre Read More …

Japan has announced that it has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich seabed mud for the first time from depths of around 6 kilometres (4 miles), marking a major technological and strategic milestone in deep-sea resource exploration. The achievement came during a test mission near Minamitori Island, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to reduce its dependence on China for critical minerals, amid concerns over supply restrictions by Beijing. A Japanese scientific drill ship Read More …

India hosted 22 members of the League of Arab States (LAS) for the second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, marking a significant diplomatic engagement a decade after the inaugural meeting held in Bahrain. This was the first time India hosted the meeting in New Delhi. The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia, including escalating strains between Iran and the United States, Read More …

India will showcase the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka from February 4 to 10, as part of a major spiritual and cultural outreach initiative aimed at reinforcing the centuries-old civilisational and Buddhist ties between the two countries. The relics will be displayed for public veneration at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, and are scheduled to return to India on February 11. The public exposition follows the Read More …

Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on February 1, 2026, allowing a limited number of people to cross on foot. The move enabled a small number of Palestinians to leave Gaza, while permitting some who had fled the conflict to return to the enclave for the first time. The Rafah crossing, located in Israeli-held territory, was once part of a city that had a population of Read More …

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime gateway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has once again emerged as a flashpoint after Iran announced plans for a military drill that could involve firing into a shipping lane critical for global trade. The strait, which appears like a sharp bend when viewed from space, is only about 33 km wide at its narrowest point. It serves as the Read More …

Foreign ministers of the European Union have agreed to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU’s list of terrorist organisations, placing it in the same category as groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda. The move marks a significant and symbolic shift in Europe’s approach towards Iran’s leadership. Background of the IRGCThe IRGC was established in 1979 following Iran’s Islamic Revolution to protect the Shi’ite clerical Read More …

Japan has restarted a nuclear reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest nuclear facility, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 forced the shutdown of all reactors across the country. Details of the ReactorAccording to reports, Reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, located northwest of Tokyo, was restarted. The restart had been delayed by one day due to an alarm malfunction. The reactor Read More …

Greenland today is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. However, renewed interest by US President Donald Trump in acquiring the island has brought global attention back to Greenland’s political status and strategic significance. Early Human SettlementArchaeological evidence suggests that Greenland was first explored around 4,000 years ago, when Inuit communities reached its northwestern regions. The present-day population largely descends from migrants who arrived around the 1200s AD, associated Read More …

India’s Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has been selected as one of the six global finalists for the prestigious 2026 Franz Edelman Award for its innovative initiative, “Anna Chakra.” Anna Chakra is an operations research (O.R.)–based decision support system designed to strengthen India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) by optimizing state-specific logistics and supply chain operations. The initiative aims to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the timely movement Read More …