Oct 10, 2026
Last month, President Xi Jinping travelled to New Delhi to attend the Brics summit – his first visit in seven years. On the summit’s sidelines, Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an in-depth conversation that explored topics of shared interest between them, such as leveraging open-weight artificial intelligence (AI) for mutual benefit. Even so, such sanguine signals were soon drowned out by a spate of downbeat headlines. One recent story warned of the “asymmetric” relationship...
Delhi is currently experiencing heightened security measures in anticipation of a protest planned at Jantar Mantar. Approximately 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been mobilized to maintain law and order. Restrictions have been placed on entry and exit at 45 metro stations, impacting commuter access. Additional checks are being conducted at railway stations and city borders to deter large gatherings.
A new agreement aims to increase diesel supplies from Russia to the U.S., while experts doubt it will lower prices. The current high diesel prices have significantly impacted inflation and consumer goods, which have raised concerns before upcoming elections. Analysts indicate that the deal may shuffle existing supplies instead of increasing availability. While potentially stabilizing some markets, substantial price reductions remain improbable. This situation poses ongoing challenges for U.S.
Delhi Police have detained approximately 30 to 40 individuals with criminal records across all 15 districts. These arrests are part of preventive measures ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's planned protest at Jantar Mantar. Surveillance has increased around residences of those suspected of mobilizing potential participants for the demonstration. Additionally, security arrangements have been tightened across the city to maintain law and order.
One of the world’s biggest network service providers has opened a new subsea route between Taipei and Hong Kong to strengthen the system against repeated underwater cable disruptions around the island. Britain-headquartered RETN said the new route would take its total to six serving Taiwan: four connecting Taipei and Hong Kong, and two linking Taipei and Tokyo. “Like many island economies, Taiwan’s international connectivity relies heavily on subsea cables, which creates exposure to risks such...
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all Indian crew members aboard the MT GEM NO. 2 are safe. The vessel was targeted in a drone attack at Sharjah Anchorage on October 9. Concerns over maritime safety in the Gulf region have risen due to recent attacks on commercial vessels. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted a new initiative for enhancing the safety of shipping and seafarers.
Kurt Campbell is a veteran US diplomat and strategist who has played a leading role in shaping Washington’s approach to China and the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. He served as the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs from 2021 to 2024 and as US deputy secretary of state from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 and was a key architect of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia”. Often...
