During a delegation-level discussion with his Maldivian counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India's steadfast commitment to improving its ties with the Maldives. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation and identify opportunities for collaborative growth between the two countries. Singh reflected on President Mohamed Muizzu's recent state visit to India, recognizing its importance in altering bilateral relations. "President Muizzu's visit in October 2024 gave a new direction for our partnership. "The Joint Vision Document, which was released during the visit, serves a
Malaysia and Singapore have announced plans to establish a special economic zone at the Johor-Singapore border, to increase investment opportunities and streamline people and goods movements. The zone, located in Malaysia's southern Johor state and connected to Singapore by a bustling causeway, will benefit from one of the world's busiest land border crossings, which is utilised by over 300,000 people every day. The zone, which spans 3,571 square kilometres—nearly five times the size of Singapore—provides Singaporean enterprises with much-needed expansion space, access to low-cost labo
Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a full member, the group's presiding country, Brazil, declared on Monday. This milestone comes after Indonesia's endorsement by BRICS leaders in August 2023, as announced by Brazil's Foreign Ministry, which holds the group's leadership in 2025. Despite getting previous approval, Indonesia chose to register its entry only after forming a newly elected government last year. "The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia's entry into BRICS," the Brazilian government announced. "As Southeast Asia's largest economy and most
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatpol platform in New Delhi on Tuesday, signalling a transformative step in India's crime-fighting capabilities. Designed to improve international investigations, the site allows for seamless communication between Indian law enforcement authorities and Interpol, closing significant gaps in global crime-fighting efforts. Shah noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was previously the only agency that communicated with Interpol. BHARATPOL enables all Indian law enforcement agencies and state police forces to communicate directly wit
The United States is finalizing steps to clear hurdles for a civil nuclear partnership with Indian firms, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced on Monday. This move aims to reinvigorate a landmark deal between the two nations. Since the mid-2000s, Washington and New Delhi have been discussing the supply of U.S. nuclear reactors to India, which is in need of more energy. A key obstacle has been India's liability rules, which need to align with global norms. These norms require that any accident costs are borne by the operator, not the plant's manufacturer. The deal, init
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that Russia, the 2024 BRICS chair, confirmed Thailand's new status. BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, recently expanded to include nine new members: the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Thailand. Additionally, 13 countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia from Southeast Asia, have joined as partner nations. The MFA stated that Thailand's partnership with BRICS builds on its cooperation with the group since 2017, when it joined the
Romania and Bulgaria are now full members of the EU’s border-free Schengen area. They scrapped land border controls at midnight on Wednesday, marking this milestone with celebrations at border posts. “Welcome to Schengen, Bulgaria and Romania!” the European Parliament announced on X. “No more checks at land borders between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen countries.” At midnight, Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised the barrier on the Danube Bridge. This bridge, also known as the Friendship Bridge, connects the two countries and is vital for inter
Economist Lawrence Wong, 51, succeeded Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 72, in May after Lee’s nearly two-decade tenure. Both leaders belong to Singapore’s ruling party, which has driven the nation’s economic progress for over five decades. India and Singapore are set to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in September, the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, described 2024 as an "eventful year for India-Singapore relations.
Morocco unveiled major reforms to its family law on Tuesday in Rabat, the first review in 20 years. The changes aim to strengthen women’s rights in child custody, guardianship, and polygamy while addressing societal shifts. Key amendments include raising the minimum age for child marriage exemptions from 15 to 17. Women will gain shared parental guardianship during and after marriage, and divorced mothers can retain custody even after remarriage. Polygamy will face stricter conditions, requiring the wife’s consent and valid justifications like infertility or illness. The reforms sim
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom today, reaffirming the strong ties between India and the UK. Both leaders committed to enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Strengthening Historic Relations The discussion highlighted the historic relations between India and the UK. They also exchanged views on the Commonwealth of Nations and deliberated on outcomes from the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. Focus on Climate Action and Sustainability Climate action and sustainabil