On Friday, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri conversed with OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais over the phone, reiterating India's dedication to backing endeavours aimed at attaining equilibrium in worldwide energy markets. Their conversation revolved around recent developments in the global oil market and their potential effects on international energy steadiness.
The Maldives’ pro-China President, Mohamed Muizzu, secured a landslide victory on Sunday as his People’s National Congress (PNC) emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections. PNC secured over two-thirds of the votes in the 93-member Parliament, winning a “super-majority” of 66 out of the 86 declared seats.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will arrive in Pakistan on Monday for a three-day visit as Tehran and Islamabad attempt to mend their ties following the tit-for-tat military strikes inside each other’s territories in January. Raisi will be the first head of state to arrive in Pakistan following the 8 February general elections.
On Sunday, TikTok once again voiced its concerns about freedom of expression regarding a bill passed by the US House of Representatives. The bill suggests prohibiting the popular social media platform unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its ownership within a year. Having passed the House with a vote of 360 to 58 on Saturday, the bill is now set for deliberation in the Senate, possibly facing a vote in the coming days
Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, said on Monday that China is committed to resolving maritime disputes through dialogue while asserting its stance against being exploited. He underscored that the sea should not serve as a platform for countries to display military prowess. Zhang also cautioned against deliberate provocations, tension escalation, or biased support, noting that such actions would ultimately be self-defeating.
A senior State Department official said that the US is ready to take action against Chinese enterprises aiding Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. This issue will be a focal point for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his upcoming visit to China. The official added that although bilateral ties have stabilised since the US shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, Washington remains committed to strengthening alliances and safeguarding its interests.