NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The defence relationship between India and the US is accelerating and advancing in terrific and exciting ways, the Pentagon has said amidst the transition from the Joe Biden administration to that of President-elect Donald Trump.

"The US-India defence relationship stands on its own. It is accelerating and advancing in terrific and exciting ways, both as it relates to defence industrial base cooperation as well as operational cooperation across the services," Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told reporters at a news conference here.

"It (the India-US defence ties) is a continuing growth area, even as the India-China relationship waxes and wanes," Ratner said in response to a question.

India has been accorded the status of the Major Defence Partnership by the United States. Biden administration officials have described the defence ties as one of the key pillars of this relationship.

In October, India concluded an agreement with the US for the procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely-piloted aircraft and their associated equipment, which will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces across all domains.

India and the US concluded the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) this year, enhancing the mutual supply of defence goods and services.

During their meeting in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden committed to advancing ongoing discussions on aligning their respective defence procurement systems to further enable the reciprocal supply of defence goods and services.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing new sanctions related to nuclear-armed Pakistan's long-range ballistic-missile program, including on the state-owned defense agency that oversees the program.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the measures slapped on the National Development Complex and three firms were imposed under an executive order that "targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery."

The sanctions freeze any U.S. property belonging to the targeted entities and bars Americans from doing business with them.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that the U.S. action was "unfortunate and biased" and would harm regional stability by "aiming to accentuate military asymmetries," an apparent reference to the country's rivalry with nuclear-armed India.

A State Department factsheet said the Islamabad-based NDC has sought to obtain components for the country's long-range ballistic-missile program and missile-testing equipment.

It said the NDC "is responsible for the development of Pakistan's ballistic missiles," including the Shaheen family of missiles.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists research organization says the Shaheen series of missiles is nuclear-capable.

Pakistan conducted its first nuclear-weapons test in 1998, becoming the seventh country to do so. The Bulletin estimates Pakistan's arsenal at about 170 warheads.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: At least 24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids across the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.

Israeli warplanes bombed a house in Beit Hanoun town in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to Palestinian security sources.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Civil Defence in Gaza, told Xinhua that four people were killed in the strike, including two women, and several others are still missing under the rubble.

In a separate incident in northern Gaza, two more were killed and another seriously injured when an Israeli drone targeted a gathering of Palestinians in the Jabalia area, according to Basal.

In addition, a brief statement issued by Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza said that a paramedic was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a building in the town of Beit Lahia at dawn, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement added that the Israeli army detonated a "robot" near the hospital, causing injuries among medical staff and patients, without disclosing their exact number and condition.

Meanwhile, Kamal Adwan Hospital said in a statement in the morning that at least 10 people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli shelling on a residential house in Beit Lahia.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique has risen to 45. The National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management announced it today. In Malawi, the death toll from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Chido has risen to 13 while more than 45,000 people are affected by heavy rains.

Cyclone Chido’s rampage on the French territory of Mayotte and south-eastern Africa has left a wake of devastation in its path. Tens of thousands of people have been presumed dead in Mayotte, with a confirmed number of 22 deaths and 1,400 injuries so far. It upended and collapsed properties and vehicles after pummeling the French island and parts of the African continent for several days.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: At least 14 people have been killed and hundreds more injured after a major earthquake struck Vanuatu on Tuesday.

The Red Cross reported the updated death toll early Wednesday local time, citing government sources. Local media previously reported a death toll of seven, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu's capital city of Port Vila on Tuesday, causing widespread damage.

Several aftershocks hit the region following the initial quake, including one measuring a magnitude of 5.5 in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to the US Geological Survey.

The Fiji-based head of the Red Cross in the Pacific, Katie Greenwood, said on social media that more than 200 people have been injured.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it is aware of several Australians in the region but Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday that none are believed to have been injured.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said in a statement on Tuesday night that the earthquake caused significant damage and said Australia would send aid on Wednesday.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India, China Special Representatives for the border mechanism, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Wednesday to discuss a range of issues, including management of peace and tranquillity along LAC and restoration of bilateral ties frozen for over four years due to the military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Doval, who is heading the Indian delegation, arrived here on Tuesday to take part in the 23rd round of the Special Representatives' talks being held after a gap of five years. The last meeting was held in 2019 in Delhi.

The talks began at 10 am China time.

The two officials were expected to discuss a range of issues to rebuild the bilateral ties following the October 21 agreement of disengagement and patrolling in eastern Ladakh between the two countries.

On Tuesday, China expressed optimism about the talks saying that it is ready to work with India to implement the commitments based on the common understandings reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting at Kazan in Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on October 24.

China is prepared to settle differences with sincerity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a media briefing here when asked about the Special Representatives (SR) talks.

China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of China and India, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen mutual trust through dialogue and communication, properly settle differences with sincerity and good faith, and bring bilateral relations back to the track of stable and healthy development as soon as possible, he said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India extended its support in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, a devastating storm that struck the French archipelago of Mayotte on Saturday. Prime Minister Modi had earlier conveyed his condolences, stating, “Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte.” 

He added that under President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, France will overcome this tragedy with resilience and resolve. 

He further said that India stands in solidarity with France and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Responding to PM Modi’s message, President Macron thanked him on social media. Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, wreaked havoc as it swept through the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend. According to Meteo-France, Cyclone Chido was the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in more than 90 years.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Wednesday rejected the claims of Starlink devices being used in Manipur. Musk said in a social media post on X, “This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.”

A unit of Indian security forces, The Spear Corps of the Indian Army had seized the internet devices along with other arms and ammunition during a raid in Keirao Khunou in Imphal East district. The security forces also shared pictures of those seized items on X, and surprisingly social media users pointed out that one of the devices had a Starlink logo. This revelation sparked the debate over the illegal use of Starlink devices in Manipur and Starlink does not have license to operate in India. 

Pointing to it, an X user mentioned, “@Starlink is being used by terrorists. Hope, Elon @elonmusk looks into it and help control misuse of this technology.”

The state police reported seizing ‘an internet satellite antenna, an internet satellite router, and approximately 20 meters of FTP cables’ from the Keirao Khunou area of Manipur. The discovery of the device, resembling Musk’s Starlink, has prompted Indian authorities to investigate how such equipment reached the conflict-stricken region.
 
Starlink, known for offering satellite internet services, does not hold a license to operate in India. Since May last year, ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur have claimed over 250 lives and left thousands homeless.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The outgoing Biden administration is in the process of finalising a national security memorandum that will update America’s export control policies under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a move that is likely to facilitate more cooperation between India and US companies in the space sector, the White House said Tuesday.

The goal of updating export control policies under the MTCR is to be able to advance commercial space cooperation even further with close partners like India, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told reporters during a conference call here.

“We are continuing to take steps to further knock down barriers to private sector cooperation, and importantly, we are in the process of finalising national security memorandum that will update our own export control policies under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR),” Finer said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Donald Trump, the U.S. President-elect, announced his choice of George Glass as the ambassador to Japan. The former diplomat and investment banker is known for his previous criticisms of China's strategic investments during his time as the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal.

Glass will take on a significant role amid rising tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over various trade and territorial disputes. Japan, which hosts a large contingent of U.S. military forces, harbors concerns about potential financial and trade policies under Trump's administration.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed anticipation in working with the new administration to enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance. Glass, an Oregon businessman and a prominent fundraiser for Trump's campaign, brings a strong background in business to his new diplomatic post.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Embassy of India in Georgia has confirmed the death of 11 Indian Nationals in Gudauri, Georgia, and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families.

In a press statement posted on a social media platform yesterday, the Embassy said, it is working closely with local authorities to facilitate the prompt repatriation of the mortal remains to India. They are also in contact with the bereaved families and are committed to providing all possible support.

The incident is under investigation by Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The incident occurred in an Indian restaurant in Gudauri and as per initial reports, deaths were likely caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Earlier, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs in a statement said, the Police Department has started an investigation. It further said, out of the 12 deceased, 11 are citizens of foreign countries, and one is a citizen of Georgia.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In the French island territory of Mayotte on Indian Ocean, hundreds are feared dead after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc causing widespread devastation.

While officials have confirmed 20 deaths, local authorities stated that the number of victims could be in hundreds or even thousands. Mayotte’s prefect has warned that the final toll could reach close to a thousand or even several thousand.

The powerful Category 4 storm, with winds reaching 225 KM per hour, struck the region on Saturday. It is believed to be the worst to hit the island in 90 years – with waves up to eight metres high.

People are calling for aid, as the Island, located between Madagascar and the Mozambique coast, is left without power since the cyclone made landfall.

French President Emmanuel Macron said, he will declare a national mourning period. France’s poorest department and the poorest territory in the European Union, Mayotte is a hotspot for economic migration due to its better standard of living and the French welfare system, drawing people from neighboring countries like Comoros and Somalia.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Bangladesh celebrates its Victory Day today. It was on this day in 1971, that the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month-long War of Liberation. The nation would take a renewed pledge to translate into reality the hopes and aspirations of the War of Liberation and the dreams of the martyrs who made supreme sacrifices to liberate their beloved motherland from the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.

Tens of thousands of people belonging to different social groups and political, cultural, professional and academic organizations and institutions are expected to throng the National Monument at Savar, near Dhaka, to pay homage to the heroes who embraced martyrdom to liberate the nation.

President Muhammad Sahabuddin is to be the first to offer wreaths at the monument amid a ceremonial honour guard while Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is to follow him.

Political parties, socio-cultural and professional organizations and academic institutions are expected to follow them to place wreaths at the memorial. A 31-gun salute will herald the Victory Day celebrations recalling the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation on the world map with the surrender of Pakistani forces. To commemorate the Liberation War of 1971, India and Bangladesh invite each other’s War Veterans and serving officers to participate annually in each other’s Victory Day celebrations, said the High Commission of India in Bangladesh through an official Facebook post. 

On the 53rd anniversary of the Liberation War, eight valiant Muktijoddhas and two serving officers of Bangladesh Armed Forces departed for India on Sunday to participate in Vijay Diwas celebrations at Kolkata. Similarly, eight Indian War Veterans and two serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces reached Dhaka to participate in Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations, said the High Commission. These bilateral visits provide a platform for Bangladesh Muktijoddhas and Indian War Veterans to celebrate the unique friendship of the two countries and to renew memories of the Liberation War. This memory epitomises the shared sacrifices of the armed forces of India and Bangladesh for the cause of Bangladesh’s freedom from occupation, oppression and mass atrocities, said the High Commission. On this day in 1971, the Pakistani armed forces led by General A A K Niazi surrendered before the Indian army and the Mukti-Bahini liberation force of Bangladesh with over 90,000 of his troops.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President Xi Jinping dismissed internal divisions within the ruling Communist Party as unavoidable, while calling for greater efforts to instill discipline, according to newly disclosed remarks he made at an anti-graft meeting in January.

“Changes in the external environment and in the party membership will inevitably lead to various conflicts and problems within the party,” Xi said at the annual huddle of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. “It is necessary to eliminate all kinds of negative influences in a timely manner with the courage of turning the blade inward to ensure that the party is always full of vigour and vitality.”

The top leader’s remarks were revealed in the Communist Party journal Qiushi on Sunday, just weeks after another high-ranking military official was abruptly suspended from duty — that ousting was notable as Miao Hua has been considered a Xi loyalist. Other parts of Xi’s speech were previously reported by Xinhua in January, without such details.

China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong is deepening an anti-corruption campaign that he’s used to root out unscrupulous officials and eliminate political rivals since taking office in 2012.

That drive has ensnared a record number of senior officials for two straight years, and set off a purge that’s still roiling the defence establishment.

That widening crackdown has contributed to bureaucratic paralysis as officials scared of making mistakes refrain from taking risks to boost the nation’s slowing economy. Top leaders appear aware of the issue, as they last week reiterated the need to fully implement the party’s instructions and step up “positive incentives” for local officials.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Ritcher scale struck the Chile - Argentina border region on Saturday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

The NCS, in a post on X, stated that the quake's epicenter was 203 kilometers south of Santiago, Chile, and it had a depth of 110 kilometers, according to NCS. The earthquake struck the region at 5:08 am (IST).

"EQ of M: 6.2, On: 14/12/2024 05:08:17 IST, Lat: 35.28 S, Long: 70.65 W, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Chile-Argentina Border Region," NCS posted on X.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been admitted to the hospital after sustaining an unspecified injury during an official trip to Luxembourg.

Media reports said, Pelosi sustained injuries to her hip after she tripped and fell while at an event, citing sources that were unauthorised to speak publicly on the matter. 84-year-old Pelosi is currently receiving treatment from doctors.

The Democratic representative, who still serves California in the US House, was traveling with a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Luxembourg to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

Pelosi, a prominent figure in US politics, has had a career spanning seven presidential administrations.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A 26-year-old Indian-origin former employee of the artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has died by suicide in San Francisco, authorities said.

Suchir Balaji was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment in San Francisco on November 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner were quoted as saying by The Mercury News.

The medical examiner’s office determined the manner of death to be suicide and police officials said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President-elect Donald Trump has criticized Daylight Saving Time (DST), calling it inconvenient and costly for the country. He further stated that the Republican Party will make strong efforts to end the practice. 
  
In a social media post, Trump stated that while DST has a small but strong constituency, it should be discontinued, and his party will work to eliminate it. 
  
DST, which involves moving the clocks forward by one hour during the summer months to take advantage of longer evenings, has been in effect across nearly all of the United States since the 1960s. However, it has been a topic of debate in recent years.
  
Supporters of standard time argue that it is better for health, as more morning daylight can improve sleep cycles by providing more light during the early hours. 
  
They claim that DST can disrupt sleep schedules and negatively affect well-being.
  
On the other hand, proponents of permanent DST argue that longer evenings, especially for people commuting from work or school could reduce crime, conserve energy, and even save lives by decreasing the number of road accidents.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Over 1.1 million people have been displaced across Syria since the escalation of hostilities on November 27, most of them women and children, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. 

"Over 1.1 million people—mostly women and children—have now been displaced across Syria since the escalation of hostilities on 27 November, according to the IDP Taskforce. Nearly 640,000 people fled the Aleppo governorate, 334,000 left Idleb, and 136,000 fled Hama," the organisation said in a statement. The Syrian armed opposition captured the capital of Damascus on Sunday. Russian officials said that President Bashar Assad had stepped down after negotiations with participants of the Syrian conflict and left Syria for Russia, where he was granted asylum. Mohammed al-Bashir, who ran an Idlib-based administration formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other opposition groups, was named interim prime minister on Tuesday.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Romania and Bulgaria are set to fully join the European Union border-free Schengen Area on January 1, 2025. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament in a post on social media congratulated the people of both countries. She added a stronger Schengen signifies a safer & more united Europe.

Notably, the border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 425 million European Union citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU. The Schengen provisions abolish checks at the EU’s internal borders while providing a single set of rules for controls at the external borders applicable to those who enter the Schengen area for up to 90 days.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others injured in Israeli attacks at residential houses in the refugee camp of al-Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.

Palestinian Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua that the Israeli bombing targeted a residential block that contains the government post office building, which was sheltering displaced people.

Rescue operations are still ongoing amid a lack of equipment and heavy overflight by Israeli warplanes, Basal said, adding that the death toll could rise as many of the injured are seriously wounded, Xinhua news agency reported.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the attacks.

Earlier on Wednesday at least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on a gathering in central Gaza City, said the Palestinian civil defence in the Gaza Strip.

Civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said in a press statement that the victims include children and women, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli army has not commented on this incident yet.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Joe Biden has issued clemency to nearly 1500 people, including four Indian-Americans.

These four Indian-Americans are Meera Sachdeva, Babubhai Patel, Krishna Mote and Vikram Dutta.

"America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances. As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses," Biden said in a statement on Thursday.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, according to his spokesperson.

"This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too," the incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitte told Fox News in an interview on Thursday.

"We saw this in the first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around the world. He is willing to talk to anyone. He will always put America's interest first," she said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike with Western high-precision weapons on the Taganrog military airfield in Russia's Rostov region, the Russian Defence Ministry said Wednesday.

Six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were used, the ministry noted, adding that two of them were shot down and the rest were deflected by Russian electronic warfare systems, Xinhua news agency reported.

Falling missile fragments caused casualties among the personnel, the ministry said.

"This attack by Western long-range weapons will not go unanswered, and appropriate measures will be taken," it added.

In a major shift of policy on the Ukraine crisis, the US in November authorised Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia's territory. Russia has repeatedly called it an escalation of tension around the conflict.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A 32-year-old Indian student has died in a road accident in eastern England's Leicestershire while four other people were hospitalised with serious injuries, according to police.

Chiranjeevi Panguluri died on the spot as a passenger in a car that ended up in a ditch and three co-passengers, one woman and two men, and the driver were all taken to hospital, the Leicestershire Police said of the accident which was reported on Tuesday morning.

A 27-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has since been released on bail.

"Chiranjeevi Panguluri, 32, was the passenger in a grey Mazda 3 Tamura, which was travelling county bound from Leicester towards Market Harborough, before leaving the road and coming to rest in a ditch," a police statement read.

"Mr Panguluri, from Leicester, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other passengers, one woman and two men, in the vehicle and the driver were all taken to hospital. The two male passengers remain in hospital with serious injuries which have been described as not life-threatening," it added.

"Officers remain keen to speak to anyone who may have been travelling along the A6 on Tuesday morning and witnessed the collision. They would also like people to check whether they have captured any footage on dash cam equipment," the Leicestershire Police statement said.

All those involved in the collision reportedly hail from Andhra Pradesh.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, currently under arrest after last week's attempt to impose martial law in the country, has attempted suicide, Shin Yong-hae, the head of the correctional center where the minister is held, said on Wednesday. "Yesterday, at about 23:52 [local time, 14:52 GMT], a guard on duty reported that [Kim] attempted suicide in a toilet at an order awaiting room," Yonhap quoted Shin as telling the South Korean Parliament. 

The center's staff immediately interfered and prevented the attempt by the ex-minister, the penitentiary official said, adding that Kim is currently under guard and his health does not cause alarm.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Sudan, at least 65 civilians were killed in an artillery attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Omdurman, a city north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. According to a statement from the Khartoum State press office, a shelling strike killed 22 people in a passenger bus at the Karari locality bus station in northern Omdurman.

The statement said the remaining victims were casualties of simultaneous shelling that targeted a nearby market and a health center. Earlier on Monday, the RSF accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of bombing a market in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, resulting in at least 30 fatalities. However, the SAF denied the allegations. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF has seen both sides intensify their offensives. Sudan has been embroiled in a violent conflict between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023. According to estimates by International Organisations, the conflict has resulted in more than 27,000 deaths and displaced over 14 million people.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday. During the meeting, Mr Singh mentioned the friendship between India and Russia, saying New Delhi has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in future. The Defence Ministry said in a statement, the two leaders discussed various issues of bilateral defence cooperation.
  
They expressed that partnership between two nations holds immense potential and that combined efforts will pave the way for remarkable outcomes. Earlier, the Defence Minister co-chaired the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Making initial remarks, the Defence Minister emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is very strong, and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership.

In his almost hour long meeting with Putin at the Kremlin, Singh also stressed that India “has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in the future”, underlining the fine balance India has struck between Russia and the US-led western countries even during the ongoing Ukraine war.

“Putin and Singh were of the view that the bilateral partnership holds immense potential and their combined efforts will pave the way for remarkable outcomes,” an Indian official said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Syria, Mohamed al-Bashir has been appointed the caretaker Prime Minister of the transitional government. In a televised statement, Mr Bashir said, he will lead the interim authority till 1st of March, next year with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad few days ago. 

Al-Bashir ran the rebel-led Salvation Government before the 12-day lightning offensive swept into Damascus. Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria, previously ran an administration in a small pocket of the northwest controlled by rebels.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: UN humanitarians described the situation in Syria as chaotic and fluid, with more than 16 million people in the country requiring assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday said 1 million people were displaced from their homes in the west and northwest alone from November 28 to December 8. "There is an urgent need for more shelter, food, and sanitation facilities."

The office said the recently displaced were primarily women and children from Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Idlib governorates. The situation is very fluid, with reports of more people returning in the last couple of days. Transportation routes were disrupted, limiting the movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid, reports Xinhua news agency.

Some looting of civilian properties and factories, as well as warehouses holding humanitarian supplies, has been reported, according to OCHA.

"Despite the challenges and the volatile situation, we and our partners continue to provide emergency aid," the office said.

The office said that in northwest Syria, all humanitarian organisations in Idlib and northern Aleppo resumed regular operations and the three border crossings from Turkey used to deliver aid into Syria remained open.

"In the northeast, we are providing supplies for those who recently fled Aleppo," OCHA said. "In Aleppo, we are providing basic assistance including food, health and nutrition services, and support for access to clean water."

However, the office said that health facilities are overwhelmed, with major hospitals operating at limited capacity due to shortages of staff, medicine and supplies.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: At least 110 people were massacred in a slum in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The incident came after a gang leader appeared to have targeted people he suspected of causing his child’s illness through witchcraft. The National Human Rights Defence Network (RNDDH) reported today that gang leader Monel Mikano Felix ordered the killings after a voodoo priest claimed elderly people in Wharf Jeremie had cursed his son. According to media reports, gang members then reportedly butchered at least 60 people on Friday and another 50 on Saturday. Most of the victims were reportedly voodoo followers over the age of 60.

Cité Soleil, a densely populated slum in Port-au-Prince, is one of Haiti’s poorest and most violent areas, tightly controlled by gangs with restricted mobile phone use. Haiti has been wracked by brutal gang violence in recent years. Voodoo, with West African roots, has been practiced in Haiti since the late 18th century and is officially recognised as a religion equal to others.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Russia has expressed openness to peace talks after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump urged negotiations on his Social Media platform, saying, Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed.

The press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, welcomed peace efforts, especially from Global South nations and BRICS partners like China, Brazil, and South Africa. However, Peskov accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of rejecting negotiations and blocking talks through a decree.

In a social media post, Peskov emphasized that peace could resume if Ukraine revoked the decree and returned to discussions based on prior agreements. The Ukraine war, which escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has yet to see significant progress toward a resolution despite international calls for peace.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to testify on Tuesday for the first time in his trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges.

His testimony will begin in an underground room in the Tel Aviv District Court after being moved from Jerusalem for security considerations. He will then testify three times a week for the following two weeks at least, local media reported.

The trial marks the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting local media.

The court partially accepted Netanyahu's legal team's request on November 24 for a 15-day postponement for the start of his testimony but rejected the latest call for postponement by 12 ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet.

Netanyahu's domestic trial is further complicated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued in November against him and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024.

The trial, which began in early 2020, involves three separate cases in which Netanyahu is accused of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has denied any wrongdoing, calling the trial a politically-motivated "witch hunt."

After more than a two-month pause due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Netanyahu's trial resumed in early December 2023.

If convicted, Netanyahu is expected to face severe penalties, including imprisonment, which would make him the first incumbent Israeli prime minister sentenced for criminal offences.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A large number of Indian Americans held a march from the White House to the US Capitol over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Raising slogans like “We want Justice” and “Protect Hindus” the peaceful demonstrators urged the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration to ask the new government in Bangladesh to take steps to protect Hindus but also take action against those responsible for this.

The march was held on Monday over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Organisers of the event -- StopHinduGenocide.org, Bangladeshi Diaspora organisations and HinduACTion – demanded that the companies in the US stop buying garments from Bangladesh, which is heavily dependent on its exports to the US.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for director of national intelligence by President-elect Donald Trump, has been engaging with key Senators at Capitol Hill to discuss her prospective role. Gabbard shared her views that align with President Trump's stance on the current situation in Syria. Her past interactions with Syrian leader Bashar Assad, whom she met in 2017, have drawn criticisms and remain a focal point during her nomination.

Her meetings included prominent Republican Senators such as Mike Rounds, James Lankford, Lindsey Graham, and Joni Ernst. Senator Ernst praised Gabbard as a 'strong and proven leader,' reflecting a positive reception among some lawmakers. Tensions remain, however, due to her past visit to Syria and meetings with Assad, which have drawn skepticism from national security circles.

Gabbard, a former Democrat and current U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, is poised to make history as the first Hindu American in charge of overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies pending Senate confirmation. Her nomination has been met with mixed reactions, but she has also received commendations for her military service and dedication to constitutional rights.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow after escaping from the Middle East country, and they have received asylum in Russia, the media reported, citing top officials.

A leading Russian media outlet citing a Kremlin source said that Assad and his family have been granted asylum by Russia for humanitarian reasons.

Russia, an ally of Syria, has stressed the necessity to restart negotiations on the settlement of the situation in the Middle East nation under the 'overall guidance' of the United Nations.

Assad stepped down as the president of Syria and left the country, hours after rebel forces took control of the capital Damascus.

The BBC reported that early on Sunday morning, after their fighters entered the city without resistance, the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies declared that "the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled".

Assad has not been seen in pictures since he met the Iranian Foreign Minister in Damascus a week ago. He had then vowed to "crush" the rebels seizing territory at a brisk pace.

In a stunning turn of events on Sunday, opposition forces in Syria seized control of the capital, Damascus, following a rapid offensive that saw major Syrian cities falling like dominos within days.

After taking over, opposition fighters appeared on state television channels to announce what they described as the fall of Damascus and the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

A man in military fatigues, flanked by armed fighters, read a statement on air, calling it 'Statement No. 1.' He claimed that rebel units had captured Damascus.

Opposition activists said the rebel fighters entered the Syrian capital at dawn Sunday, according to the Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Xinhua news agency reported.

The monitor said hundreds of government soldiers were ordered to withdraw from Damascus International Airport and were seen removing their military uniforms and donning civilian clothing.

Multiple media outlets have reported that al-Assad has left the country, citing rebel forces.

Reporters of Xinhua news agency in Damascus witnessed intense gunshots reverberating through the streets with heavy traffic caused by cars departing the capital.

Civilians took to the streets, waving the 'revolution flag,' an older flag used in Syria before the rule of Hafez al-Assad, the late father of Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali announced his readiness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.

Opposition military leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad Al-Julani, declared Al-Jallali would oversee public institutions until an official transfer of authority is completed.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine and that there is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions.

The UN chief on Sunday reiterated his call "for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians, without distinction."

The inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the UN Secretary-General.

"We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity. Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored," said Guterres.

The United Nations will honour the memory of those who have borne the brunt of this conflict, he said. "We remain committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities for all. This is the path to sustainable peace in Syria."
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin, amid strained bilateral ties since August following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Misri arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on an Indian Air Force jet for a day-long visit, officials said. It is the first high-level visit from New Delhi after a massive uprising ended Hasina's 15-year rule in August.

A senior Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official received him at the airport. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was also present at the airport.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Joe Biden called the Bashar al-Assad regime's fall in Syria as a "historic opportunity" and outlined a blueprint for US support in the region, media reports said on Monday. 

Speaking at the White House in his first substantive comments since President Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell in the face of an astonishingly swift rebel offensive, CNN reported. 

Biden also announced the US had conducted dozens of airstrikes in Syria as it remains committed to preventing the resurgence of ISIS. “It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country,” CNN quoted Biden. “It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk, ” he added. 

According to reports, Biden vowed to support Syria’s neighbours during the transition and to protect US personnel in their continued mission against ISIS. The president plans to meet with his counterparts in the area in the coming days, and US officials will be deployed to the region. As part of that effort, US forces on Sunday conducted dozens of airstrikes, striking more than 75 ISIS targets using Air Force assets, including B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, and A-10 aircraft, according to US Central Command.

Biden’s comments come as President-elect Donald Trump — who takes the oath of office in just over six weeks has urged a hands-off approach to the conflict, saying Saturday that the US should not get involved. Early Sunday, as rebel groups took Damascus, he said the regime’s fall showed the “weakened state” of Russia and Iran, both of which supported Assad. “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” Trump said in a post to social media. 
 

NEW DELHI (Maha Media): A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in the State Capitol building in Nebraska, the first time a statue of the iconic Indian leader has been installed inside any such premise in the US Pacific Northwest states that come under the jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle.

Governor Jim Pillen unveiled the bust of Gandhi on Friday at his office in the iconic Nebraska State Capitol premises in Lincoln.

This marks the first installation of Gandhi’s bust in any State Capitol premise in the nine states that come under the consular jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Congress on Friday slammed the BJP for acussing Rahul Gandhi of conspiring to destabilise India and calling him a traitor, saying the truth is that BJP-RSS is the "biggest tukde-tukde" gang of this country and is spreading the "poison of communalism".

The opposition party said the truth is that the work of destabilising the economy is being done by the people of BJP.

The BJP on Thursday had claimed a link between Rahul Gandhi and international forces, including an investigative media platform, trying to destabilise India and that the Congress leader was a "traitor of the highest order".

Patra claimed that billionaire investor George Soros and some US-based agencies, investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and Gandhi occupy three sides of a "dangerous" triangle trying to destabilise India and stoke public disaffection for a regime change.

"I have no hesitation in saying he (Gandhi) is a traitor of the highest order," he said.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak said, "A very unfortunate incident happened yesterday. The Congress is the oldest party in the country. Former president of the party, five-time elected MP, leader of the opposition of this country, grandson of a martyred Prime Minister, a man whose family's sacrifice has irrigating the soil of the country. How did the BJP dare to call Rahul Gandhi a traitor? The people of the country want to know where do you get so much shamelessness from?"

Accusing the BJP of spreading the "poison of communalism, violence and hatred", Nayak cited slogans by BJP leaders such as 'batenge toh katenge'.

"In such a situation, Rahul Gandhi ji undertook tours from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from Manipur to Maharashtra, the aim of which was to unite India with love. A person who understands the struggles of all sections of society like labourers, farmers, cobblers, carpenters, drivers etc. and finds solutions to them. A person who raises the voice of Dalits, backward people, women, fights for their rights... these people call that person a traitor," she said.

Nayak alleged that the truth is that BJP-RSS is the "biggest tukde-tukde gang" of this country.

She said Rahul Gandhi has always raised public issues and will continue to do so, asserting that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is not afraid of the BJP's threats and allegations.

"When the country's food providers say - we will not tolerate black laws, we will protest, then for BJP it becomes a part of international conspiracy and funding. When Sonam Wangchuk comes from Ladakh with his companions and puts forward his demands, he becomes a part of an international conspiracy," she said.

Manipur has been burning for one and a half years, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not go there because that too is a part of the international conspiracy, Nayak said..

"If you ask Modiji questions on inflation and unemployment, you are a traitor. If the youth ask for employment, they will be beaten with lathis because they are also part of the conspiracy. Modi Ji, if there is so much international conspiracy going on in the country, then why don't you fire Amit Shah Ji?" she said.

Is the Modi government so weak that any international conspiracy can take place against it, she asked.

"If anyone has hatched an international conspiracy in this country, it is Gautam Adani, who has been accused of bribery, fraud and has worked to tarnish India's image," Nayak alleged.

The BJP people say that the Congress party is working to destabilize the country's economy but the truth is that the work of destabilizing the economy is done by the people of BJP, she said.

"When demonetisation and wrong GST were implemented in the country, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had warned Narendra Modi, he had said that if you go ahead with demonetisation then GDP will fall. Then Narendra Modi ji had made fun of him, but today the whole truth is in front of the country," she said.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:US threats about the possibility of exchanging limited nuclear strikes are a cause for concern, while Western statements about Russia's lack of "red lines" and their shifting are a very serious mistake, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

"And this kinds of threats are really worrying. Because if they are following the logic, which some Westerners have been pronouncing lately, that don't believe that Russia has red lines, they announced their red lines, these red lines are being moved again and again. This is a very serious mistake," Lavrov told US journalist Tucker Carlson. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: French President Emmanuel Macron said he will name a new Prime Minister in the coming days after Michel Barnier resigned following a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In an address to the nation yesterday, the French President rejected opposition pressure to stand down, vowing to stay in his post fully, until the end of the mandate in 2027. 

He thanked Mr Barnier for his dedication during his brief term as Prime Minister and accused the French far right and hard left of collaborating in an anti-republican front to bring down the government. French MPs voted overwhelmingly to remove Barnier on Wednesday, just three months after he was appointed by President Macron. The vote was the first time a French government had been voted down by Parliament in more than 60 years, a move the French President labelled unprecedented.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: South Korea and the US have put off key nuclear deterrence talks and a related exercise originally set to take place in Washington this week, a Pentagon spokesperson said, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of emergency martial law.

Seoul and Washington had planned to hold the fourth session of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in the US capital on Wednesday as part of efforts to strengthen their deterrence efforts in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The NCG meeting and NCG-Top Exercise are postponed until further notice. We do not have information on rescheduling," a spokesperson from the Department of Defense said on Tuesday in response to a question from Yonhap news agency.

Cho Chang-rae, South Korea's deputy defence minister for policy, and Cara Abercrombie, the US acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, had been set to lead the tabletop exercise this week, according to Seoul's Defence Ministry.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) party has won the country’s eighth presidential election, becoming its first female president. The electoral commission announced that she secured more than 57 per cent of the votes, while her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, garnered 26 per cent.

The 72-year-old Nandi-Ndaitwah, currently serving as vice president, has been a dominant figure in Namibian politics since the country gained independence from South Africa in 1990. With years of experience in leadership roles, including foreign minister, she is well-regarded both domestically and internationally.

Earlier, SWAPO also claimed victory in the National Assembly elections, winning 51 of the 96 elected seats.