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Meeting under the shadow of recent attacks in India, the Quad’s Counterterrorism Working Group (CTWG) convened for its third high-level session in New Delhi this week. The gathering signaled a sharpened joint resolve to confront evolving terrorist threats across the Indo-Pacific region.  Senior officials from India, Australia, Japan, and the United States gathered on December 4–5, 2025, to reinforce the framework of cooperation that has come to define the Quad’s expanding security agenda. Image Source: Gemma Huggins, Australia's Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism The talks, hosted by India as part of its rotation ahead of the next Quad summit, marked a substantial push to operationalize counterterrorism measures beyond political declarations.  Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, opened the meeting with a pointed call to strengthen the Quad’s collective capabilities.  “The time has come to forge a common resolve within the Q...

Indian Ministry of External Affairs has strongly rejected Pakistan Army’s accusation that India was behind the June 28 attack in Waziristan.  India dismissed the charge as baseless and provocative, firmly asserted that  the claim is contempt-worthy.  A suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a Pakistani military convoy in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, killing at least 13 soldiers, verified sources attributed the Pakistan Army as saying on Saturday. #BreakingNews #India #Pakistan #MEA #Waziristan #SouthAsia #Diplomacy #Security

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged China to preserve the positive momentum in bilateral relations and refrain from introducing fresh tensions. Speaking after his talks with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting, Singh called the dialogue "constructive and forward-looking." Image Source: RM Rajnath Singh on X Singh emphasised the need for mutual restraint and sustained diplomacy, stating, “It is incumbent on both sides to avoid adding new complexities to the bilateral relationship.” This marks the latest engagement between India and China as ties gradually stabilise after years of border tension.  Notably, 2024 saw the final phases of disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops in the Depsang and Demchok sectors of eastern Ladakh—an area long fraught with friction since the deadly Galwan clash of 2020. The meeting also coincided with India’s decision to resume the Kail...

US President Donald Trump has signaled that a major trade pact with India could be imminent. He called it a “very big one” that could soon follow the US-China agreement signed earlier this month. Speaking at a White House event, Trump declared, “We’re going to open up India,” adding that trade talks were advancing significantly.  Image Source: PM NaMo on X The remarks coincided with high-level negotiations in Washington, where an Indian delegation led by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agarwal is holding talks to resolve key differences. The proposed deal aims to cover a broad range of issues including digital trade, pharmaceutical exports, electronic goods, agricultural access, and defense supply chains. However, sources familiar with the discussions say disagreements remain—particularly over tariff concessions for US agricultural products like maize and soybean. India remains wary of genetically modified imports, a major component of US agribusiness. Earlier this month, US Commerce S...

India has officially secured the bid to host the prestigious 2029 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG), with events scheduled across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. Announcing the win, Gujarat Minister of State for Home and Sports Harsh Sanghavi hailed it as a proud moment.  He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their role in clinching the global sporting event. Image Source: IndianInfraReports on X The WPFG, held biennially, is one of the world’s largest multisport competitions, welcoming over 10,000 athletes—all active or retired personnel from law enforcement and fire services.  It ranks just behind the Summer Olympics in participation and ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Established by the California Police Athletic Federation in 1983, the Games foster global camaraderie and excellence among first responders.  India’s hosting debut marks a major step forward for Gujarat’s global sporting a...

India’s evacuation drive under Operation Sindhu continued with a special flight from Yerevan, Armenia landing in New Delhi with 173 Indian nationals evacuated from conflict-hit Iran. With this, the total number of Indians brought home under the operation has reached 4,415.  Image Source: MEA/FM on X Of these, 3,597 were evacuated from Iran and 818 from Israel since the mission began earlier this month in response to the regional escalation following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 19 special flights — including three Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft — have been deployed to facilitate these evacuations.  The operation has also assisted 28 foreign nationals, including 14 OCI card-holders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals, and 1 Iranian spouse of an Indian citizen. The evacuation was coordinated via Armenia due to ongoing airspace restrictions and damage to key Iranian airports, following a wave of retaliatory st...

Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary has triggered strong backlash from large sections of the Indian-American community, in both the U.S. and India, over his record, rhetoric, and some controversial or bold public positions, depending on the onlooker's political outlook and leanings. Image Source: Amy Mek on X The 33-year-old first-time mayoral candidate, a self-described democratic socialist and son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, surged past former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a closely watched primary, riding a wave of progressive energy.  But his rise has sparked criticism over what many see as divisive politics and polarizing statements, especially regarding India, policing, and Israel-Palestine. In recent weeks, Mamdani has openly called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “war criminal”. He even drew parallels to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu over the 2002 Gujarat riots.  The remark has been widely condemned across Indian-Americ...

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday invoked a sharp rebuke of global power blocs and "hegemonism". He urged countries to resist what he called a return to Cold War-era frameworks while welcoming Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for high-level talks in Beijing. Image Source: David Madina on X “We must stand on the right side of history,” Xi said, positioning China and Singapore as potential anchors for a more balanced and inclusive global system.  His remarks, delivered during bilateral talks, were a clear pushback against what Beijing views as expanding military and economic coalitions under Western leadership, notably NATO’s increasing engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Without directly naming the United States, Xi decried growing polarization in global affairs and stressed that “development, cooperation and mutual benefit” must prevail over bloc-based rivalry.  He called for “an equal and orderly multipolar world” — signalling Beijing’s continued push to reposition ...

China has strongly objected to NATO's growing interest in the Asia-Pacific region, warning the alliance against using Beijing as justification for expanding its influence beyond Europe. At a press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang criticized recent comments from NATO Secretary General, saying they reflect an outdated, confrontational mindset.  Image Source: GeringTuvia on X He accused NATO of trying to justify its eastward expansion by naming China as a threat. Zhang said China remains committed to peaceful development and follows a strictly defensive military strategy. He added that China's cooperation with Russia is based on mutual respect and is not aimed at any other country. “China’s military growth is focused on defending its sovereignty and development interests,” Zhang noted, dismissing claims that Beijing seeks confrontation. In contrast, he said NATO has a track record of igniting instability. “It is NATO that stirs confli...

India has started reviewing data from the flight recorders of the Air India Boeing 787 that crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12. The tragic episode killed at least 270 people. This crash is one of the worst aviation tragedies in India’s recent history. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with help from U.S. experts at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is leading the investigation.  Image Source: Breaking Aviation on X The two black boxes — one recording flight data and the other cockpit conversations — were recovered from the wreckage a few days after the incident.  They were brought to New Delhi under tight security for analysis. The passenger plane was headed from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed into a neighborhood just minutes after takeoff.  Officials confirmed that 241 people on the plane and at least 29 people on the ground died. Only one person survived. Authorities say the black box data is key to understanding what happened....

Iran’s top military official has claimed that Tehran has imposed its will on both the United States and Israel following the recent 12-day military escalation. He warns that both adversaries remain under close surveillance. Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli assault—backed by U.S. logistical and intelligence support—was met with a decisive and effective Iranian counterstrike.  Image Via Official Channel of Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei “They attacked. We ended it,” he stated, before adding that Iran does not initiate wars but will finish them if provoked. Mousavi claimed that strategic Israeli military and research installations were devastated in the Iranian retaliation, despite what Tehran claimed was media censorship attempts by Tel Aviv.  The general further asserted that Iran’s missile and drone attacks exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s much-vaunted multilayered air defense sys...

Iranian investigators have found no evidence that Israel used depleted uranium (DU) munitions in its recent military strikes.  These have come out during the preliminary findings shared with local media. Image Source: saikirankannan on X Early reports had raised concerns that Israeli attacks on key Iranian sites may have involved DU-based ammunition. These had prompted environmental and health safety reviews. However, sources cited by the Tehran-based Fars News Agency has now confirmed that samples collected from the targeted areas have, so far, not shown any traces of DU. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of uranium enrichment, and is known for its armor-piercing capability and potential long-term health hazards.  Its use has long been controversial and discouraged by international bodies due to its toxic and radiological risks. One official noted that while initial environmental assessments ruled out DU contamination, more comprehensive analyses are still underway to co...

Heavy monsoon rains have battered Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours. These have triggered flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides across several districts.  At least five people have died, and several others are missing as rescue operations continue. Image Source: Stringer for IndianRepublic.in In Kangra district’s Dharamshala area, a flash flood in the Manuni rivulet swept away labourers living near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Project in Khaniyara.  Two bodies have been recovered so far, with six others unaccounted for. Emergency teams from the district administration, State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF), and the local police are conducting search operations.  Remaining workers have been relocated to safer sites. Kullu district reported multiple cloudbursts in Jeevanala (Sainj), Shilagarh (Gadsa), Snow Gallery (Manali), and Hornagarh (Banjar), causing major damage to homes and infrastructure.  In Sainj, three individuals were swep...

India has been continuing its evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu even a s tensions have eased following a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. A special flight from Mashhad landed in New Delhi at 00:01 hrs on June 26, carrying 272 Indian nationals and 3 Nepalese citizens. Image Source: MEA/FM on X This latest mission brings the total number of Indian nationals repatriated from Iran to 3,426 , according to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Launched in the immediate aftermath of the US-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, Operation Sindhu was rolled out to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens amid fears of escalation.  Earlier phases of the operation also included airlifts from other affected regions, including Israel and Qatar. The Indian government has maintained that the safety and well-being of its nationals remains its topmost priority during ongoing regional instability.  Coordination between Indian missions in Te...

A religious celebration in Irapuato, Mexico spiraled into horror late Tuesday night after gunmen opened fire on a street gathering, killing 12 people and injuring at least 20 others.  The attack took place during festivities marking the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, when residents were dancing in the street. File/Representational Image Source: Andy Vermout Disturbing footage circulated on social media showed the chaotic moment gunfire rang out, sending panicked revellers fleeing for cover. Rodolfo Gómez Cervantes, an Irapuato municipal official, confirmed the death toll in a press briefing on Wednesday. Victims include a 17-year-old, eight men, and two women, according to the Guanajuato state prosecutor's office. President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the attack and vowed a thorough investigation. This marks the second mass shooting at a religious event in Guanajuato in recent weeks. In May, seven people were killed during a Catholic Church gathering in San Bartolo de Berrios...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking after the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in The Hague, firmly backed the legitimacy of the recent Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations held in Istanbul.  He called the delegations from both countries "fully representative and competent," dismissing doubts raised in the West about the seriousness of the talks. Via: Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications  “Those sent to Istanbul had full authority. The negotiations were successfully conducted, and our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged with them. The outcome was very good,” Erdoğan said in remarks aired by TRT. His comments appeared aimed at countering skepticism from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who had earlier questioned whether the Istanbul talks were a “serious” diplomatic initiative. On the sidelines of the summit, Erdoğan also held a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The two leaders discussed regional stability and bil...

At least 627 people have been killed and nearly 4,870 others injured across Iran in the wake of Israeli airstrikes launched earlier this month, a senior Iranian Health Ministry official confirmed. Image Source: Iranian Health ministry PR dept Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at the ministry stated that Tehran and Kermanshah provinces suffered the highest casualties.  Other heavily affected areas include Khuzestan, Lorestan, Isfahan, Markazi, East Azarbaijan, Hamedan, Zanjan, and Gilan. According to Kermanpour, 86.1% of those killed died at the scene of the attacks, while the remaining 13.9% succumbed to injuries en route to or upon arrival at hospitals — showing the devastating impact of the airstrikes on civilian areas. The Israeli offensive began on June 13 with coordinated strikes targeting military installations, nuclear facilities, and residential neighborhoods in Iran’s capital and across multiple provinces.  The initial wave included targeted assassination...

Tehran is sharpening its diplomatic and nuclear posture even after a ceasefire paused 12 days of conflict triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.  Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh was quoted by Iranian media as saying that Iran will file a formal complaint at the United Nations demanding compensation from the United States for damages caused by American strikes on its nuclear sites.  Image Source: YousefHammash on X The US attacks on Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan on June 22 escalated the conflict after Israel first targeted Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites on June 13. While Washington claimed the strikes set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Tehran maintains that its program remains intact and fully operational.  Khatibzadeh dismissed any suggestion of a negotiated ceasefire, stating that no written agreement exists with Israel.  Instead, he described the pause in Israeli attacks as a result of Iran’s sustained military response, ...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday once again claimed he played a decisive role in preventing a potential military conflict between India and Pakistan. He asserted that he used trade leverage to force both sides to de-escalate. Image Source: PopBase on X Speaking at a public event during the ongoing NATO Summit, Trump said: "The most important of all — India and Pakistan — I ended that with a series of phone calls on trade. I said if you're going to go fighting each other, we're not doing any trade deal. The General from Pakistan was in my office last week. Prime Minister Modi is a great friend of mine. I got them to reason... We stopped the nuclear war." Trump’s statement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, including several tourists.  In response, India launched Operation Sindoor , a series of precision strikes on terror camps across ...

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, launched a blistering attack on the Congress Party on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. He accused it of dismantling India’s democratic institutions and later masquerading as protectors of constitutional values. Image Source: Munger MP on X In a sharply worded rebuke at the Congress party, Singh called June 25, 1975 — the day Emergency was imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — a “dark chapter” in India’s post-independence history.  “The Emergency revoked citizens’ fundamental rights, muzzled the press, restricted the judiciary, and brought the entire administrative machinery under Congress control,” he said in a post on social media that was originally written in Hindi. Without naming names, Singh took direct aim at opposition figures who today champion constitutionalism.  “These days, carrying the Constitution has become fashionable for some. But those who trampled over it in 1975 now shy away from e...