On Monday, thousands of military troops from Indonesia, the US, and eight other nations began two weeks of Super Garuda Shield exercises in Sidoarjo, East Java, emphasising joint capabilities in Asia-Pacific. Indonesia has deployed around 4,400 troops, with approximately 1,800 US forces and several hundred from other countries taking part. The exercise began in 2007 and has grown into a "world-class joint/multinational event designed to enhance our collective capabilities," according to Major General Joseph Harris, Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard. The program includes expert
The Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, has announced the formation of five additional districts in Ladakh, bringing the total to seven from two. The new districts—Sham, Nubra, and Changthang in Leh, and Zanskar and Drass in Kargil—are intended to enhance governance and bring services closer to inhabitants. A committee will evaluate several features of the new districts, including boundaries, headquarters, and administrative structures, and report back within three months. Political groups and organisations in Ladakh, including the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic A
On Monday, four high-ranking Indian ministers will attend the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, an event that aims to fortify bilateral relations between the two countries. Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw (Electronics and IT), Piyush Goyal (Commerce and Industry), S. Jaishankar (External Affairs), and Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance) will meet with their Singaporean counterparts and senior leadership for high-level discussions. Given that Singapore received around $11.77 billion in FDI for India's fiscal year 2023-24, making it the top source of FDI inflows, the timing of the roundtabl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian counterpart Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim recently strengthened bilateral relations by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements at Hyderabad House in Delhi. A joint statement emphasised the opportunity for more collaboration, particularly in new technologies such as finance, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing. A major statement included plans to integrate India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Malaysia's PayNet, to revolutionise cross-border digital payments. Malaysia's digital payment bu
Australia has approved a $13.5 billion solar project to send energy from a large solar farm in the north to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometre underwater cable. The SunCable Australia-Asia Power Link will create enough energy to power three million homes, establishing Australia as a global leader in green energy, according to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. The project, which includes solar panels, batteries, and an eventual cable link, intends to address the growing need for domestically and internationally green energy. Electricity supply is planned to commence in the early 2030s, wit
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. Ibrahim is on his first state visit to India, and this reception is the first stop on his journey as prime minister of Malaysia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the visit's significance by publishing images of the leaders' meeting on X. Malaysia plays a pivotal role in India's Act East Policy. Union Minister of State V. Somanna was there to receive Ibrahim upon his arrival in Delhi on Monday. After he met with Prime Minister Modi, Ibrahim
PM Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim are resetting bilateral relations years after ties soured over India's 2019 decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Ibrahim's visit to India marks his first since becoming Malaysia's Prime Minister in 2022. During their meeting, the leaders agreed to upgrade their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, financial technology, and defence production. This announcement is significant as Anwar has recently moved closer to China, a country involved in a border dispute with India.
The leaders of South Korea, Japan, and the United States have reiterated their commitment to addressing regional concerns through trilateral collaboration. On the anniversary of their summit at Camp David, South Korea's presidential office issued a joint statement emphasising the enduring values of their alliance. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's office made a statement emphasising the continuous commitment to consult on matters impacting collective interests and security. The leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, first met on August 18
Thailand's king has officially supported Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country's new prime minister, a watershed event in the country's political history. Paetongtarn, 37, becomes Thailand's youngest prime minister and the second woman to hold the role, succeeding her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai premier deposed in a 2006 coup. Her appointment comes after the Constitutional Court ousted her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, for ethical infractions. King Maha Vajiralongkorn's approval was read to her during a ceremony in Bangk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's desire to host the 2036 Olympic Games in his 78th Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. This news highlights India's increasing prominence in the global athletic arena. Prime Minister Modi stated, "It is the dream of India to host the 2036 Olympics, and we are making preparations for that." This is in line with the initial step of the bidding process, which is the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) ongoing dialogue with the International Olympic Committee's Future Host Commission. On behalf of 140 crore Indians, the prime minister cong