Prime Minister Narendra Modi  concluded a landmark two-day visit to Oman, a trip that strengthened diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations. His visit, which celebrated 70 years of India-Oman relations, marked a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation. PM Modi wraps up his Oman visit | Firstpost A Warm Send-Off As PM Modi  departed Muscat for New Delhi, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, who is also

Parliament on Thursday passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, marking a historic shift in India’s nuclear energy policy. The legislation, cleared by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session, aims to modernise the country’s atomic energy framework and accelerate the expansion of clean and reliable power generation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi  welcomed the passage of the bill, des

India’s decision to invite European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa as chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026 marks a significant diplomatic moment. It is rare for leaders representing an entire regional bloc to be accorded this honour, and the move reflects India’s growing emphasis on strengthening ties with the European Union as a collective strategic partner, rather than engaging only at the

The COVID-19 pandemic did more than disrupt economies; it fundamentally altered global geopolitics and trade priorities. Supply-chain breakdowns, rising protectionism, and growing strategic rivalries forced nations to rethink economic dependencies. For India, this moment became an opportunity. After years of cautious engagement with free trade agreements, New Delhi has adopted a far more assertive trade diplomacy, positioning FTAs as both economic tools and strategic instrume

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  was awarded the First Class of the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian honour, during his state visit to Oman. This distinction, previously conferred on global leaders such as Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Emperor Akihito, and King Abdullah of Jordan, marks a historic recognition of PM Modi’s contributions to strengthening international relations and global diplomacy. The award also represents the 29th international honour besto

India and Oman have entered a new phase of economic partnership with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking one of India’s most ambitious trade deals in the Gulf region. Finalised during high-level discussions in Muscat, the agreement reflects a shared intent to deepen commercial engagement at a time when global trade is increasingly shaped by tariff wars, protectionism, and supply-chain disruptions. The CEPA is designed to expand cooper

India and Argentina  have taken a significant step to deepen bilateral cooperation in agriculture by signing a comprehensive Work Plan for 2025–2027. The agreement, formalized between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), aims to promote research collaboration, technology exchange, and capacity building across a wide spectrum of agricultural domains. The formal exchange of the work plan took pl

India has temporarily closed its primary Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Dhaka following rising security concerns and provocative statements attributed to political and extremist elements in Bangladesh . The decision reflects New Delhi’s growing unease over the safety of its diplomatic infrastructure and personnel amid an increasingly volatile situation in the neighbouring country. The visa centre, located at Jamuna Future Park in the Bangladeshi capital, is one of the busie

India and Jordan  are moving toward a deeper and more strategic economic partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi  emphasizing that both nations can serve as powerful growth engines in an increasingly uncertain global economy. Speaking at the India–Jordan Business Forum in Amman, PM Modi  underlined the importance of building trusted and resilient supply chains, noting that the world is actively seeking reliable partners amid geopolitical disruptions and shifting trade

On the evening of December 14, 2025, the Bondi Beach  area in Sydney, Australia, became the scene of a horrific terror attack during the “Hanukkah by the Sea” festival, a joyful celebration of the Jewish festival of lights. Two gunmen opened fire on the crowd, leaving 15 people dead and dozens injured, including children and elderly attendees. The incident, now classified as a terrorist act motivated by hate and antisemitism, shocked Australia and the international community.

A fresh diplomatic controversy has emerged between India and Bangladesh after controversial remarks by a Bangladeshi political leader suggested the possibility of isolating or destabilising India’s northeastern states. The comments have drawn strong reactions in India, particularly from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who firmly rejected such narratives and underscored India’s geopolitical strength and sovereignty. The northeastern region of India, often referred to

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  was conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian award, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, during his landmark visit to Addis Ababa on 16 December 2025. The honour was presented by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at a formal ceremony, reflecting Ethiopia’s deep appreciation for Modiji’s  leadership and his role in strengthening ties between the two nations. The conferment marked a historic moment, as Modiji  became the first global head of gov

In a significant step for India’s maritime outreach, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak has made its first-ever port call at Iran’s strategically located Chabahar port . The visit marks an important milestone in India–Iran maritime engagement and reflects New Delhi’s growing emphasis on naval diplomacy and regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean and adjoining waters. Sarthak , an indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel, arrived at the Iranian port as part of its ove

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s  visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has marked a significant diplomatic milestone, as India and Jordan celebrated 75 years of formal diplomatic relations. The two-day visit reaffirmed the enduring friendship between the two nations and laid the foundation for a broader, future-oriented partnership. Invited by King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, the visit reflected the growing importance of India-Jordan ties in a rapidly changing regional and

India on December 16 observed Vijay Diwas , commemorating its historic victory in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, a defining moment that led to the liberation of Bangladesh and firmly established India’s military and strategic strength in the region. Leaders across the political spectrum paid tribute to the armed forces whose courage and sacrifice secured one of the most decisive victories in the nation’s history. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians, wrote P

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  arrived in Addis Ababa on December 16, 2025, beginning a two-day state visit to Ethiopia that underlined India’s growing engagement with Africa and the Global South. The visit formed the second leg of his three-nation diplomatic tour, following Jordan and ahead of Oman, and carried both symbolic and strategic significance. Ethiopia, as the headquarters of the African Union and a key African partner, occupies an important place in India’s evolving

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  embarked on a landmark visit to Jordan on December 15–16, 2025, marking the first full bilateral visit in 37 years and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Jordan. Hosted by King Abdullah II, the visit aimed to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties, while highlighting India’s economic growth and investment opportunities. This visit was part of a broader three-nation tour, which included stops in Ethiopia and Oman,

India and Mexico have initiated discussions on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) as New Delhi seeks to safeguard its exports from steep tariff hikes imposed by Mexico on countries without existing trade agreements. The move reflects India’s broader strategy of using targeted trade pacts to protect key export sectors while deepening economic engagement with strategic global partners. The talks come at a critical time, as Mexico prepares to implement higher import duties on

As India commemorated Vijay Diwas on December 16, marking its historic victory in the 1971 war, the Indian Army used the occasion to highlight not just past triumphs but present-day operational strength. During the celebrations in New Delhi, the Army showcased evidence of a recent battlefield success — the interception and destruction of a Pakistani kamikaze drone during Operation Sindoor , underscoring India’s preparedness for contemporary threats. The display served as a re

India is set to significantly reinforce its military posture along the western frontier with Pakistan  as the Indian Army prepares to complete the induction of its fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The arrival of the final batch marks a crucial milestone in India’s defence modernisation journey and enhances the Army’s ability to conduct swift, precise, and high-impact combat operations in sensitive border regions. The Apache helicopters are being inducted into the Ar