Category: Politics

Thailand and France recently unveiled an official logo to commemorate two historic milestones: 340 years since their first contact in 1685, and 170 years of established diplomatic relations in 2026. The event was held on January 15 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, in partnership with the French embassy.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Lalivan Karnchanachari emphasised the two countries’ long-standing friendship and collaboration, which has lasted more than three centuries. She stated that these ties originated when Chevalier de Chaumont, under King Louis XIV, paid a visit to King Narai the Great’s court in Siam.

Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, France’s ambassador to Thailand, joined Lalivan in announcing the winner of the logo design competition, Karakot Chaiyon, a student at Ubon Ratchathani University. Karakot’s design, titled “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,” depicts fireworks over Bangkok’s Wat Arun and Paris’ Eiffel Tower, symbolising the nations’ unification.

The Thai Association of French Teachers produced a historical exhibition for the event, which also featured musical performances by Thai and French artists. Karakot’s award included round-trip tickets to Paris sponsored by Air France.

The festival demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to developing relations with France through cultural and strategic collaborations.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has authorised a rise in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute for the 2025-26 marketing season. The MSP has been hiked to ₹5,650 per quintal, up ₹315 from the previous year’s price of ₹5,335 per quintal. This step attempts to raise jute farmers’ revenues and improve their financial security.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasised that the new MSP provides a 66.8% return on the All-India weighted average cost of production. The decision is consistent with the government’s objectives to promote sustainable farming practices and secure fair prices for farmers.

The steady increase in raw jute MSP throughout the years is noteworthy. Since the 2014-15 marketing season, the MSP was fixed at ₹2,400 per quintal. The rate has now increased by 2.35 times, demonstrating the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare.

Furthermore, the Cabinet has approved the continuance of the National Health Mission for another five years. Union Minister Goyal praised the NHM’s vital role in improving healthcare delivery nationwide. Between 2021 and 2022, almost 12 lakh healthcare personnel joined the mission, which was critical during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The High Commission of India, in partnership with the Singapore Film Society, is organising the Indian Film Festival 2025 (IFF 2025) to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. The festival will emphasise the rich cultural interchange between the two countries by showing 18 Indian films to the Singaporean audience.

Dr. Shilpak Ambule, the High Commissioner, declared that attempts will be made to make this occasion a yearly custom. The festival, which takes place from January 24 to March 2, 2025, will include a wide range of films, from well-known regional hits to timeless masterpieces.

“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation of India are supporting the non-commercial organisation of this festival,” Dr. Ambule said on Wednesday.

Every weekend, there will be screenings at Golden Village Cinema, which is situated in Singapore’s Central Business District’s busy Suntec City complex. To provide accessibility for Singaporean consumers, the films will be available in seven Indian languages with English subtitles.

The program will feature both contemporary cinematic treasures and timeless masterpieces by renowned Bengali director Satyajit Ray.

On Tuesday, Brazil will declare that Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago will preside over the 2025 COP30 global climate summit in Belem, a major Amazonian city. This decision, made by three people with knowledge of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s plans, highlights the country’s commitment to climate diplomacy.

Correa do Lago, a seasoned diplomat, has represented Brazil in global climate summits since 2023, having previously held this position from 2011 to 2013. With almost two decades of experience in climate diplomacy and sustainable development, his selection exemplifies the Brazilian government’s preference for seasoned leadership.

As COP30 president, Lago will serve as the primary facilitator and mediator between country delegations, overseeing negotiations to limit global warming below catastrophic levels. This function is regarded as critical, especially given recent record-breaking temperatures.

Hosting COP30 in Belem emphasises Brazil’s attempts to educate global leaders about the Amazon’s importance in climate debates. However, hurdles loom, including expanding accommodation in Belem to accommodate visitors.

President Lula has committed to eliminating Amazon deforestation and believes the meeting is critical to Brazil’s global climate leadership. “Why not host it in an Amazonian state, so you can truly know what the Amazon is?” he said during COP27 in Egypt.

Odisha has inked eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Singapore to strengthen partnerships in important industries. The state’s Electronics and IT Department collaborated with Singapore’s Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) to build a Global Competency Centre in Bhubaneswar, which will focus on boosting FinTech and InsureTech innovation.

The MoU was signed during Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s visit to Odisha in 2025, to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasised Odisha’s attempts to diversify its IT sector and position itself as a FinTech hub through startup support, incubation centres, and financial inclusion initiatives.

The agreement is consistent with India’s “Insurance for All” objective by 2047 and the Viksit Bharat 2047 project, which aims to improve financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Sopnendu Mohanty, GFTN’s Group CEO Designate, emphasised Odisha’s entrepreneurial potential for growing its digital economy.

Additionally, Singapore President Tharman paid a visit to Bhubaneswar’s World Skill Centre, where he toured labs and discussed collaboration in skill development, renewable energy, information technology, ports, and semiconductors. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja presented Odisha’s strategies for industrial and infrastructure development.

On Friday, Brazil’s government announced that Nigeria has been officially admitted as a partner country in the BRICS bloc, a coalition of emerging economies. As the BRICS chair in 2025, Brazil emphasised that Nigeria’s participation is consistent with its aims to strengthen collaboration in the Global South and advocate for global governance reforms. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) cited Nigeria’s important position as the world’s sixth most populous nation and Africa’s largest economy as a critical component in the country’s alignment with BRICS goals.

As a result of its partner status, Nigeria was able to join other nations from Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America that have similar objectives of fostering economic growth and working together with other economies that are on the rise. A statement was made during the sixteenth annual BRICS summit, which took place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. The statement centred on the future course of the group and was made at the summit.

The addition of Nigeria underscores the growing importance of African states in global economic issues, as well as BRICS’ commitment to expanding its impact by strengthening ties with critical countries throughout the world.

Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy leader, has collaborated with the Philippines to build 1 GW of renewable energy projects by 2030, including solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). This effort fits with the Philippines’ Energy Transition Program, which aims to attain 35% renewable energy in power generation by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

An Implementation Agreement with the Department of Energy and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Board of Investment were among the agreements signed at a ceremony in which UAE Minister HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla were present. Masdar’s CEO, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, and other officials emphasised the collaboration’s importance for energy security, long-term economic growth, and environmental responsibility.

This relationship builds on the Energy Transition Cooperation agreement made in 2024 during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to the UAE, strengthening bilateral ties. It emphasises the UAE’s expertise in renewable energy and the Philippines’ commitment to incorporating clean energy into its power mix.

Masdar’s Philippines initiative establishes a regional benchmark for energy transition and sustainable development, building on the success of Indonesia’s 145MW Cirata Floating Solar Plant.

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam was greeted ceremonially at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first state visit to India. The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations.

President Tharman emphasised Singapore’s strong relationship with India, citing India’s acceptance of Singapore’s independence in 1965. He hailed the bilateral relationship as a “natural partnership,” citing Singapore as India’s largest investor and vital defence ally.

During Prime Minister Modi’s September 2024 visit to Singapore, he mentioned the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries are currently investigating collaborations in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, net-zero industrial parks, and new industry training. Furthermore, digitisation and sustainability are major priority areas.

“Singapore is deeply invested in India’s ambition to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047,” President Tharman added.

On Wednesday, he held high-level meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar about semiconductors, industrial parks, digitalisation, and trade. He will meet with President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by a delegation of ministers and officials, before heading to Odisha.

The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated the strong ties between the two countries, which are founded on friendship and trust, and emphasised the importance of the visit in forging deeper cooperation.

India welcomed Israel and Hamas’ cease-fire agreement, expressing optimism for continued humanitarian supplies to Gaza, where over 40,000 Palestinians have died during the 15-month conflict. The Ministry of External Affairs remarked, “We support the agreement for hostage release and truce in Gaza. We hope that this assures safe and ongoing humanitarian aid. India has continuously called for a cease-fire, hostage release, and talks.

The arrangement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, comes ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, during which he warned Hamas of serious consequences if hostages remained captive.

The cease-fire, which takes effect on January 19, is divided into three parts. Phase one entails a six-week truce in which Hamas releases 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for Palestinian inmates. The second phase will see the release of all hostages, with the goal of achieving a permanent peace and complete Israeli disengagement. Egypt, Qatar, and the UN will oversee the third phase, which will include humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and the return of deceased victims to their families.

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam landed in New Delhi on Tuesday night on a five-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in a variety of areas. This is his first visit to India as President of Singapore, accompanied by a high-level team. Union Minister Jitin Prasada met him at the airport.

The visit commemorates the 60th anniversary of India and Singapore’s diplomatic ties. External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal emphasised the significance of the occasion, remarking on ‘X,’ “A special celebration of the 60th anniversary of #IndiaSingapore diplomatic relations.”

Tharman will be greeted ceremonially at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday before meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit would boost bilateral relations, which were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.

The visit will also officially kick off the celebrations of six decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Tharman is expected to visit Odisha from January 17 to 18.

This visit highlights India and Singapore’s long-standing and growing partnership, highlighting shared commitments to regional stability and economic cooperation.