Spain has formally joined India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, marking a significant diplomatic development that strengthens India’s expanding leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region and deepens cooperation with European partners. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares handed over Spain’s Declaration of Accession to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi earlier this week, officially confirming Spain’s entry into the India-led framework launched in 2019. The m

The 2026 Solar Eclipse will occur on February 17, and it is set to be a remarkable celestial event. This eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse, often referred to as the Ring of Fire eclipse. Here's everything you need to know about this rare event: Eclipse Type: The eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse. In this type of eclipse, the Moon will cover about 96% of the Sun, but due to the Moon being farther from Earth, it will appear slightly smaller than the Sun. As a

China’s manufacturing success was attributed to cheap labour. That perception has now changed completely. Factory wages in China have climbed close to eight dollars per hour, far higher than those in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and India. By cost logic alone, China should have lost its position as the world’s manufacturing hub. Instead, it continues to dominate global production, contributing nearly 28 percent of worldwide manufacturing output. The reason lies not in wages, but in produc

China and Canada have announced a significant reduction in tariffs and signalled a broader reset in their bilateral relationship following high-level talks in Beijing, marking a notable shift after years of strained diplomatic and trade ties. The agreement was confirmed after a meeting on Friday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the first Canadian leader to visit China in nearly a decade. Under the deal, China is expected to reduce tariffs on Canad

China’s record-breaking trade surplus is increasingly reshaping global financial markets as export earnings that once accumulated primarily in state reserves are now being redirected into private investments overseas. The shift marks a notable departure from Beijing’s traditionally centralized management of foreign exchange inflows and introduces new dynamics into global capital movements at a time of heightened sensitivity over trade imbalances and financial stability. Last yea

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and armed conflicts across multiple regions, China quietly achieved two major economic milestones in 2025, underscoring its continued influence over global manufacturing and trade. Official data released this month shows that the country recorded the largest annual trade surplus in its history while further consolidating its position as the world’s leading automobile producer and seller. These achievements came despite persistent pressures

​Warships from China, Russia and Iran arrived in South African waters on Friday to participate in a week-long multinational naval exercise off the coast of Cape Town, drawing attention amid heightened global tensions and renewed scrutiny of South Africa’s foreign policy positioning. The exercise, titled “Will for Peace 2026,” is being conducted under the framework of the BRICS group of emerging economies and is scheduled to continue until next Friday. South Africa’s armed forces sa

China on Wednesday strongly criticized reported United States demands aimed at reshaping Venezuela’s oil partnerships, calling the move an act of coercion that violates both national sovereignty and international law. Beijing’s response follows media reports that Washington has sought exclusive control over Venezuela’s oil sector as part of its political and economic engagement with the South American nation. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spoke

China has issued a strong response to recent actions taken by the United States in Venezuela, sharply criticizing what it described as unilateral behavior and calling for the immediate release of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The remarks came amid growing international attention to Washington’s role in the South American nation and broader concerns about adherence to international law and diplomatic norms. Speaking during high-level talks in Beijing with

Amid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the United States State Department has urged China to halt its recent military activities near Taiwan, warning that the drills are unnecessarily heightening regional instability. The call followed a two-day military exercise conducted by China around Taiwan, which included missile launches and the deployment of fighter jets, naval vessels, and coast gua

Chinese President Xi Jinping used his annual New Year’s Eve address to reaffirm Beijing’s long-standing position on Taiwan, declaring that reunification with the self-governing island was inevitable. Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi said that bringing Taiwan under China’s control was “a trend of the times” that could not be stopped, reiterating a pledge that has become a central pillar of his leadership. The speech came just one day after the conclusion of large-scale

Tensions in Bangladesh have escalated sharply following the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, triggering widespread protests and renewed anti-India sentiment across the country. A radical student outfit linked to Hadi, Inqilab Moncho, has issued a strong ultimatum to the interim Yunus administration, demanding sweeping action within strict deadlines, including the suspension of work permits issued to Indian nationals. The group announced its demands during a protest gathe

India on Monday strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations of mistreatment of religious minorities, asserting that Islamabad lacks the moral authority to comment on such matters given its own record. Responding to remarks from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, New Delhi said attempts to highlight alleged incidents in India cannot mask Pakistan’s well-documented history of systemic discrimination and persecution of minorities. The response came after Pakistani Foreign Affairs spokespers

Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi has issued a public apology after facing widespread criticism over a viral video showing him celebrating with fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya in London. The video, which quickly spread across social media platforms, showed the two men referring to themselv

China has set a new global benchmark in rail transportation technology after successfully accelerating a superconducting magnetic levitation train to a speed of 700 kilometres per hour in just two seconds. The achievement marks the fastest acceleration ever recorded for a maglev system and positions China as the first country to demonstrate this capability using superconducting electric maglev technology. The experiment was conducted by researchers at the National University of Defe

China has strongly criticised a recent Pentagon report, calling it irresponsible, misleading, and an attempt to create divisions between Beijing and New Delhi while exaggerating the so-called China threat narrative. Responding sharply, Chinese officials accused the United States of distorting China’s defence policy and interfering in its internal affairs to justify Washington’s continued military dominance. Speaking at a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes

The United States has cautioned India about China’s evolving two-front strategic approach that combines diplomatic calm along the Line of Actual Control with an aggressive expansion of military support to Pakistan. The warning comes from the US Department of Defense’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China, a comprehensive assessment of Beijing’s military modernisation and regional ambitions. The report h

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced a major financial support initiative for pastors across the state, declaring that Rs 50 crore will be credited directly into their bank accounts on December 24. The announcement was made during the Semi Christmas celebrations organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Government in Vijayawada, marking a significant pre-Christmas gesture tow

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has publicly criticised the recently concluded India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a low-quality deal that undermines New Zealand’s economic and labour interests. His remarks come just days after India and New Zealand announced the successful conclusion of FTA negotiations, which both governments claim could significantly boost bil