Trump admin. wants key Afghan air base back
US President Donald Trump has stated that he wants to regain control of Bagram Air Base in northeastern Afghanistan.
Asia
Trump blocks arms deal with Taiwan: WaPo
US President Donald Trump has refused to approve a weapons package for Taiwan, the Washington Post has reported, citing five people familiar with the matter.
India ramping up Russian oil imports amid US trade negotiations: Bloomberg
Indian refiners intend to continue purchasing Russian crude to meet rising fuel demand, even as New Delhi restarts trade talks with the US for a bilateral deal, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. India’s imports of Russian oil are likely to remain strong…
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan ink mutual defence pact
Saudi Arabia signed on Wednesday a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, amid growing fears in the Persian Gulf over the US’s willingness to constrain Israeli belligerence.
India says it is looking into implications of Saudi-Pakistan defence pact
The Saudi-Pakistan defence mutual deal potentially could reshape regional dynamics
Analysts await forthcoming NDS to clear up defense policy ‘contradictions’
“If it is vague in any way, or they don’t follow through … then I think there is a danger that what we will have will be the same level of commitments, the same level of presence, but actually [with] alliance relationships and partner…
‘Already at war’: Palau’s president brings China-US competition for Pacific Islands to forefront
Separately, Papua New Guinea and Australia are set to sign a new security agreement.
Germany seeks major agreement with Taliban: Bild
Berlin is working on a deal that would create a mechanism to deport Afghans back to their home country, the tabloid Bild has reported. German officials are holding direct talks with the Taliban in Qatar and plan to send a delegation to Kabul, accordin…
Sushila Karki: How Gen Z protestors chose Nepal’s first woman prime minister on Discord
Over the week, multiple polls were held by representatives of the protest movement on Discord to nominate possible leaders and Karki emerged as a favourite, widely praised for her integrity
Lawyer for Air India families says one key theory has emerged to explain crash
Mike Andrews, an attorney for the families of more than 100 victims, tells Namita Singh that they do not buy the implication that pilot error was to blame