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India’s Parliament remained paralysed on Tuesday as Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi escalated his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi , alleging that the recently announced India–United States trade agreement was concluded under “immense pressure” and linking the deal to what he described as two external “pressure points” involving industrialist Gautam Adani and the release of material connected to Jeffrey Epstein . Representational Image Source: LoP RaGa Speaking to reporters outside Parliament after repeated adjournments of the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said the Prime Minister had been “compromised” and accused him of “selling the country” through the trade agreement that reduced U.S. tariffs on Indian exports to 18% from 25% . Rahul Gandhi said the agreement, which had been stalled for several months, was suddenly finalised because of pressure that could damage the Prime Minister’s image.  “There is extreme pressure on him. Narendra M...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States and India had finalised a trade deal that lowers U.S. reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, linking the agreement to India’s future energy purchases and its role in global efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi . POTUS Trump with PM Modi, file photo; Via US Ambassador to India Announcing the agreement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said it was “an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi, of India, this morning,” describing Modi as “one of my greatest friends and, a Powerful and Respected Leader of his Country.”  Trump said the two leaders discussed trade and “ending the War with Russia and Ukraine,” adding that Modi had “agreed to stop buying Russian Oil , and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.” Trump said this shift “will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, ...

European leaders have condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to seize Greenland, warning that the continent stands at a critical juncture as Trump doubles down on his vow to bring the Arctic island under US control.  Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Trump of "useless aggressivity" and warned against "new imperialism or new colonialism," after the US president said there was "no going back" on the Greenland takeover. Image Source: Louis Duclos on X Trump has threatened 10% tariffs on key European economies—including France, Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia—unless they withdraw opposition to US control over Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory.  In a provocative social media post, he shared digitally altered images depicting the US flag planted in Greenland, declaring the island a “US territory est. 2026.” Macron criticised the use of trade threats as leverage against territorial sovereignt...

Sergio Gor formally assumed office as the United States Ambassador to India on Monday, pledging to deepen the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi while strongly hinting at a potential visit by President Donald Trump in the near future. Speaking after taking charge, Gor struck a tone of personal diplomacy and strategic intent. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump as “real friends,” noting that the bilateral relationship is rooted in mutual respect and sustained by direct ties at the highest political level.  Image Source: USAmbassadorIndia Gor’s remarks included repeated references to his proximity with Trump, whom he has accompanied across the world, and underlined the former president’s continued interest in India. “I spoke with President Trump just yesterday,” Gor said, “and I bring his warm wishes to all the people of India, especially his dear friend, the incredible Prime Minister Modi.”  He also suggested a visit by Trump could ...

In a noteworthy address delivered to the United Nations Security Council on 5 January 2026, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, expressed grave concern over the United States’ recent military operation in Venezuela.  File Photo: Antonio Guterres The remarks mark the UN's most direct assessment yet of the unfolding situation after the dramatic seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. According to the Secretary-General, U.S. troops operated in multiple Venezuelan states, including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, on 3 January, during what President Donald Trump later confirmed as a “large-scale strike.”  Trump’s declaration that the United States will "run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition" was noted in the session as raising serious questions about the violation of international legal norms. The Venezuelan ...

In a swift military operation that has shaken international norms and reignited global tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized by U.S. forces and transported to New York, where Maduro is now facing federal narcotrafficking and weapons charges.  Image Source: New York Post The operation, authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump and executed with the involvement of U.S. Navy warships, special forces, and intelligence assets, was described by the White House as part of a broader campaign to combat narco-terrorism and reestablish U.S. primacy in the Western Hemisphere. The early hours of Saturday saw at least seven coordinated explosions across Caracas, witnessed by residents and captured on video. Smoke billowed near a major military base, and several districts experienced electricity outages.  U.S. officials later confirmed that more than 150 aircraft had been deployed to neutralize Venezuela’s air defenses. Helicopter-borne troops de...

The United States Vice President JD Vance has publicly defended the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, framing it as a justified exercise of American power and a necessary strike against drug trafficking and the legacy of expropriated U.S. interests.  His comments, made via an extended social media statement, mark the most detailed response from a senior U.S. administration official since President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. File Photo of US VP JD Vance; Via ElonNewsUpdate Vance’s remarks come amid escalating global criticism of the raid, which saw U.S. special forces seize Maduro in a rapid pre-dawn operation from his fortified residence in Caracas.  The Venezuelan leader was then transported via a U.S. Navy warship to Guantanamo Bay before being flown to New York, where he is now in federal custody facing narco-terrorism and weapons charges. The Vice President addressed growing skepticism aro...

New Delhi has joined a growing international chorus urging restraint and diplomacy following the dramatic U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas this weekend.  In official statements issued over two consecutive days, India expressed "deep concern" over the developments and reaffirmed its support for the safety and well-being of the Venezuelan people, while advising Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to the country. Foreign Minister Jaishankar's file photo via MFA Russia The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an official travel advisory on January 3 , urging Indians already in Venezuela to exercise extreme caution, limit movements, and remain in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Caracas. Emergency contact details, including a WhatsApp-enabled phone line, were provided for consular assistance. A follow-up press release on January 4 further underlined India’s call for al...

Australia has joined the growing list of nations responding to the United States’ military operation in Venezuela , in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and flown out of the country.  In a measured statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for restraint, dialogue, and a commitment to democratic principles as the region grapples with the fallout of the sudden and unprecedented removal of Venezuela’s long-standing leader. Image Source: Anthony Albanese “The Australian Government is monitoring developments in Venezuela,” Albanese said via his official social media account. He called on all parties to avoid escalation and to support regional stability through diplomacy.  While not directly addressing the U.S. operation , the Prime Minister made clear that Australia maintains serious concerns about the situation in Venezuela, particularly the need to uphold human rights and democratic freedoms. Australia has not formall...

The fallout from the United States' dramatic military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has drawn sharp global reactions, with key Western allies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and France expressing cautious support for what they see as a long-overdue shift in Venezuela’s leadership.  File Photo: FrontPageMagazine While all three governments stopped short of explicitly endorsing the U.S. military strike, their statements reflect a shared relief at the downfall of a regime they have long opposed. Mark Carney, who leads Canada’s newly elected administration, underscored Ottawa’s longstanding position that Maduro’s presidency was illegitimate, referencing the contested 2018 election which Canada did not recognize.  Carney called Maduro’s regime “brutally oppressive” and emphasized Canada’s early sanctions from 2025 targeting the Venezuelan leadership. Framing the capture as an opportunity, he stated that “freedom, democracy, peace, and...