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In a summit thick with strategic symbolism and sweeping bilateral action, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed 29 agreements and issued a joint declaration pledging to elevate their “time-tested progressive partnership” into a deeper geopolitical alignment rooted in sovereignty, stability, and multipolarity.  Indian PM NaMo with Russian Prez Putin At the center of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi on December 5, was a key policy milestone: the formal adoption of the Program for the Development of Strategic Directions of Russian–Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030.  This is  a forward-looking document that defines new rules of engagement across trade, defence, energy, migration, and critical technologies amid shifting global power centres. The two leaders met at Hyderabad House for in-depth talks before witnessing the signing of wide-ranging intergovernmental and institutional agreements, including on labo...

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States is “working very hard” to end the Ukraine conflict and expressed optimism that a peace agreement involving Russia and Ukraine could soon be reached.  Image Source: FanTrumpArmy Speaking ahead of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the White House on December 3, Trump stated, “We're making peace all over the world… We're settling wars at levels that nobody's ever seen before. Eight of them.  We're looking for one more. That's Russia-Ukraine… and I think we’ll get there eventually.” Trump’s comments came amid intensifying diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow, including a five-hour meeting at the Kremlin on December 2 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner.  According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the discussions focused on a revised US peace proposal com...

Germany has deployed five Eurofighter Typhoon jets and around 150 personnel from its Tactical Air Wing 31 “Boelcke” to Poland as part of NATO’s reinforced air policing mission on the Alliance’s eastern flank, the German Air Force confirmed this week.  Image Source: NATO Air Command The move underscores Berlin’s firm commitment to collective defence and comes amid ongoing regional security concerns stemming from Russia’s actions in Ukraine and broader tensions along NATO’s eastern perimeter. The German detachment will support NATO’s 24/7 Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) operations, a continuous peacetime mission designed to ensure that Allied airspace remains secure, controlled, and protected from potential intrusions or threats.  Operating under NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany’s Eurofighter pilots and ground crews will work in close coordination with the Polish Air Force, conducting regular training flights and readiness exercises.  These operati...

In a crucial state visit to Beijing on December 4, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed commitments to deepening bilateral relations, positioning the China-France partnership as a pillar of stability amid escalating global fragmentation.  Image Source: Visegrad24 As Europe’s most prominent advocate for strategic autonomy, Macron’s high-profile engagement with Xi highlights a deepening convergence between Paris and Beijing on key global governance issues, even as Western alliances face stress over Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and global trade realignments. President Xi, hosting Macron for the fourth time on Chinese soil, described the relationship as one between two “independent, visionary and responsible major countries,” and urged both sides to continue shaping a more “equal and orderly multipolar world” through strengthened cooperation in trade, green technology, global governance, and peace diplomacy.  During the visit, which in...

Malaysia will relaunch efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 later this month, the transport ministry said on Wednesday, announcing a new seabed search with UK-US marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity.  Image Source: GizimIlisirlar The operation, set to begin on 30 December, will run for 55 days, with intermittent deployment depending on weather and oceanic conditions. This marks the first official resumption of the search since April 2018, when a previous Ocean Infinity-led operation ended without results. Under a “no-find, no-fee” agreement, the company will be compensated only if it locates the wreckage.  The target area spans 15,000 square kilometres in the southern Indian Ocean, where experts believe the aircraft most likely went down. Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200, disappeared from radar on 8 March 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew.  The disappearance triggered one of...

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a long-anticipated plan to provide Ukraine with a multibillion-euro loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets. This move is framed as both an economic lifeline for Kyiv and a geopolitical message to Moscow that prolonging war will carry escalating costs. Image Source: Visegrad24 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is aiming to provide €90 billion to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s estimated funding needs for 2026 and 2027, using a dual structure: EU market borrowing and cash balances generated by Russian assets immobilised in European financial institutions. “Pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to,” von der Leyen told reporters. “We want peace, but peace must come from a position of strength.” The proposal, released ahead of a decisive EU summit later this month, comes amid signs of deadlock in international peace efforts.  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Wednesday that President V...

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a high-profile international investment forum in Moscow to reinforce his country’s defiant economic narrative and shift in geopolitical orientation, positioning India and China as key pillars of Russia’s external economic strategy.  At the same time, in a parallel engagement, Putin reviewed efforts to rebuild the conflict-affected Kursk region, linking local revival with broader themes of national resilience and historical memory. Addressing foreign investors and delegates at the 16th VTB Investment Forum and the “Russia Calling!” plenary, Putin laid out an assertive economic vision grounded in sovereignty, self-reliance, and what he described as the rejection of “anti-competitive practices” by Western powers.  He accused Western nations of attempting to preserve global dominance through “non-market restrictions” and reiterated that Russia would continue to pursue independent economic policies, deepen trade with non-Western partners, and a...

European leaders have issued a unified but cautious response to the newly revealed 28-point United States peace proposal for Ukraine, voicing support for diplomatic efforts while warning that the current framework is deeply flawed and risks undermining both Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.  Image Source: Zelenskyy The plan, widely reported to have been crafted by the Trump-led administration, has alarmed key capitals across the EU and G7 due to its heavy concessions to Russia, including recognition of annexed territories and long-term restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Washington’s engagement but asserted that the proposal must be significantly strengthened.  “No border can be changed by force, and Ukraine must never be left vulnerable,” Macron said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this view, stating that while the draft contains elements essential to a future settlement, any agreeme...

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese held a high-level meeting in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit , reaffirming their commitment to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership , which marks its fifth anniversary this year.  Image Source: MEA India Both leaders welcomed the significant progress made across a wide spectrum of cooperation, describing bilateral ties as “substantially deepened and diversified.” Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation. During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors,… pic.twitter.com/SjPixu4iek — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025 The two leaders reviewed ongoing collaboration in key areas including defence and security, critical minerals, trade and investment, education, and people-to-people linkag...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that his government is actively reviewing a US-drafted plan to end the nearly four-year war with Russia, as Kyiv grapples with renewed battlefield assaults and growing diplomatic pressure from Washington. Image Source: Zelenskyy In a post shared on Friday, Zelenskyy said his team was “working on the document prepared by the American side,” adding that discussions were ongoing with France, Germany, and the UK to ensure that “principled stances are taken into account.”  The plan, widely attributed to US President Donald Trump, outlines 28 points that include conditions Ukraine is expected to accept in exchange for peace, among them territorial concessions, limits on its military, and permanent exclusion from NATO. Reports suggest the proposal would allow Russia to retain control of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, and to maintain influence over parts of Zaporizhia and Kherson by freezing battle lines. In return, the West would lift ...

The UK government is in direct talks with LinkedIn to strengthen platform safeguards against Chinese intelligence activity targeting British institutions , following a rare public espionage alert issued by domestic security agency MI5. The warning came after investigators uncovered two LinkedIn accounts--operated under the aliases Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen-- allegedly linked to the Chinese intelligence services.  Image Source: Have I Got News For You The accounts, disguised as corporate recruiters, had been engaging in broad outreach across UK political and academic circles, including think tanks and policy researchers.  MI5 described the effort as a “covert and calculated” campaign aimed at obtaining insider access to British policymaking and security structures. Both profiles have since been removed, and LinkedIn confirmed it had taken enforcement action. A spokesperson said: “Creating a fake account or misrepresenting your identity is a clear violation of our terms of s...

The UK has accused Russia of escalating its intelligence operations after a Russian surveillance vessel, the Yantar , repeatedly entered British waters and targeted Royal Air Force pilots with lasers , in what Defence Secretary John Healey described as a “deeply dangerous” provocation.  Image Source: Deborah Hannes The incident, which unfolded in the UK's exclusive economic zone north of Scotland, is being treated as a significant breach of military conduct and a direct threat to British national security. Speaking from Downing Street, Healey confirmed the UK government was monitoring the Yantar’s movements closely, with a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 surveillance aircraft tracking the ship.  “We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF aircraft to monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots,” he said. “Anything that disrupts or endangers our pilots is taken extremely seriously.” This marks the first time Russia’s Yantar...

Poland has directly accused Russia of orchestrating a sabotage attack on its national rail network, calling it “an act of state terrorism” and taking the retaliatory step of closing the last remaining Russian consulate in the country.  The attack, which took place over the weekend near the town of Mika, targeted a strategic railway line linking Warsaw to eastern Poland, a critical logistics corridor to Ukraine. Image Source: Radosław Sikorski Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Gdańsk, stating that the explosive devices planted on the tracks were meant to cause mass casualties.  Although no injuries occurred--thanks to a vigilant train driver who spotted the damage in time--Polish authorities view the incident as part of a broader Russian campaign to destabilize European infrastructure. Polish security services have already arrested four individuals in connection with the attack. Two of the prime suspects, Ukrainian nation...

In a high-stakes address at the Kremlin’s Catherine Hall, President Vladimir Putin positioned the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a driving force for Eurasian integration and economic resilience amid escalating global volatility. Welcoming heads of government from SCO member states following the Council meeting chaired by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Putin asserted that the group’s future lies in “deepening sectoral cooperation, building logistics corridors, and accelerating financial sovereignty.” Russian President Putin along with Heads of SCO Delegations. Image Via: Indian EAM Jaishankar Highlighting the completion of Russia’s chairmanship of the SCO Heads of Government Council in 2025, Putin noted that over 30 ministerial and expert-level events took place under Moscow’s leadership this year, anchoring what he called a “multifaceted expansion of practical cooperation.” Russia’s trade turnover with SCO nations hit $409 billion in 2024, a figure led by Chin...

Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Dhaka tribunal for crimes against humanity linked to a brutal state-led crackdown on student-led protests last year that grew into what is now referred to as the “July Revolution.”  The tribunal found Hasina guilty of incitement, ordering lethal force, and failing to prevent mass killings that left an estimated 1,400 people dead—the worst political violence in the country since its 1971 war of independence. File Photo: MEA India The judgment, handed down by a three-judge panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, named Hasina as the architect of the crackdown.  The court cited intercepted audio directives, field reports, and widely circulated video evidence, including footage of the close-range shooting of university student Abu Sayeed, whose death became a rallying cry for the movement that brought down Hasina’s 15-year government. Our statement regarding the recent verdict in Bang...

The investigation into the Red Fort car bomb attack that killed 13 people on November 10 has revealed a white-collar, transnational terror network led by radicalised doctors, with digital trails linking the plot to Turkiye, Kashmir, and Haryana . Image Source: PM NaMo Key accused Dr Umar Un Nabi , a Kashmiri medical graduate, drove the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated near the Red Fort Metro station. His co-conspirators --  Dr Muzammil Ganaie , Dr Shaheen Shahid , and others -- allegedly operated from a covert cell at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, dubbed “ Room 13 ,” according to security officials. Authorities say the module was inspired and coordinated via encrypted apps like Threema and Signal, with instructions allegedly emanating from a Turkish-based handler codenamed ‘Ukasa’. CCTV footage and seized “Room 13 Diaries” revealed detailed plans for serial IED attacks in at least four Indian cities, including Ayodhya and Delhi, using modified vehicles and ammoni...

Chinese President Xi Jinping met King Felipe VI of Spain in Beijing on Tuesday in a high-level bilateral engagement that reaffirmed the two countries’ strategic partnership and produced a suite of new agreements spanning trade, tech, education and green energy. Image Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meeting at the Great Hall of the People during King Felipe VI’s state visit to mark 20 years of the China-Spain Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, President Xi said the relationship between the two countries "sets a model" for cooperation across different systems and cultures.  He noted the visit comes at a time of “global turbulence” and called for deeper collaboration to uphold multilateralism and economic order. The two sides signed 10 bilateral cooperation agreements , including deals in trade, science and technology, and education, aimed at building momentum in shared development goals.  China also announced it would extend visa-free access to Spanish citizens, ...

In a move to deepen India's engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean, India's Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, concluded a seven-day diplomatic tour across Ecuador, Bolivia and Cuba from November 4 to 10.  The visit marked a new phase in South-South cooperation, with the inauguration of Indian embassies in Ecuador and Bolivia, renewed strategic commitments with Cuba, and outreach across sectors ranging from health and digital to critical minerals and culture. MoS inaugurating the new Chancery building of the Embassy of India in La Paz, Bolivia In Ecuador, MoS Margherita called on President Daniel Noboa Azin and held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero, announcing the formal opening of India’s Embassy in Quito.  The visit saw the signing of an MoU between the two nations' diplomatic training institutes and discussion on strengthening cooperation in agriculture, technology, and digital transform...