Asia

India’s Consul General meets Ant Group to boost tech ties

India's Consul General in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, met Ant Group leadership to discuss fintech and digital economy opportunities. This follows high-level engagements with Shanghai's Mayor, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Reform, Perform and Transform" mantra to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the SCO and BRICS.

2026-03-12T06:52:00.649579+00:00 IST

Liberian flagged vessel from Saudi port docks at Mumbai

Liberia-flagged ship 'Shenlong Suezmax' has reached Mumbai port, it was captained by an Indian and was loaded with crude oil from the Saudi port Ras Tanura

2026-03-12T06:14:21.237378+00:00 IST

Jatiya Sangsad set to convene for maiden session

Speaking to ANI, Jamaat-e-Islami legislator Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman said he hoped the new parliamentary session would usher in a different style of governance and political cooperation.

2026-03-12T01:30:21.975593+00:00 IST

IndiGo to operate flights to nine destinations amid West Asia...

"IndiGo continues to coordinate closely with the relevant authorities to progressively restore its flight operations across the Middle East, helping customers reconnect with their loved ones and proceed with their travel plans," the airline posted on X.

2026-03-12T01:01:30.835891+00:00 IST

War must end": Former Maldives President on West Asia conflict 

Speaking to ANI, Nasheed said the conflict could disrupt the country's fragile economic stability. "Tourist arrivals have come down. So that is going to have a very big impact on our economy and the prosperity of the people. So, yes, it is very, very difficult," he added.

2026-03-11T20:39:22.579698+00:00 IST

India "deplores" attacks on commercial shipping amid West Asia co

India on Wednesday expressed concern over attacks targeting commercial shipping in the ongoing West Asia conflict, following missile strikes on a Thai-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today.

2026-03-11T17:24:07.605463+00:00 IST

Japan hails IEA's decision to release 400mn barrels of oil

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu on Wednesday welcomed the decision made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to implement a collective release totaling 400 million barrels of oil by the member countries, a statement by Japan's Foreign Minister said.

2026-03-11T17:08:34.749238+00:00 IST

North Korea accelerates preparations for parliamentary elections

North Korea is intensifying preparations for its upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for next week, including forming election committees and reviewing candidates for the Supreme People's Assembly, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency citing North Korean state media on Wednesday.

2026-03-11T17:06:47.907389+00:00 IST

EAM holds talks with French counterpart on West Asia

Jaishankar said in a post on X, "Appreciate the exchange of assessments today with FM Jean-Noël Barrot of France on the West Asia conflict. Look forward to continuing it in person."

2026-03-11T17:05:31.501559+00:00 IST

Australia eyes Kerala’s Nursing talent

The high-level discussion focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, with Zaki announcing Australia's readiness to cooperate with Kerala in education and industry, focusing on job opportunities in healthcare.

2026-03-11T17:04:29.917989+00:00 IST

Nepal vote count complete; RSP two seats short of 2/3rd majority

The vote counting for the March 5 election in Nepal's House of Representatives has concluded late Wednesday, with Nepal's Election Commission (EC) making final preparations for the official announcement of results.

2026-03-11T16:56:49.028894+00:00 IST

India assisting return of its citizens from Iran via land routes

MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing an Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, said that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and is on high alert. The government is assisting Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who wish to leave the country. He further added that those choosing to exit Iran via land, the embassy is assisting citizens in crossing into Armenia and Azerbaijan, from where they can board commercial flights to return to India.

2026-03-11T16:29:13.443007+00:00 IST

Russian FM holds talks with Saudi counterpart on Middle East esca

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan on the need to make efforts to prevent further escalation of the Middle East crisis.

2026-03-11T16:17:37.610040+00:00 IST

EAM Jaishankar holds telecon with Russian FM Lavrov

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which both leaders exchanged assessments on the ongoing conflict in West Asia and reviewed related diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

2026-03-11T14:52:08.182764+00:00 IST

MEA hosts farewell dinner for Indonesia's Ambassador to India

Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) P Kumaran on Wednesday bid farewell to Indonesia's Ambassador, Ina Krisnamurthi, at a dinner attended by ASEAN country heads.

2026-03-11T13:57:26.659764+00:00 IST

MEA says welfare of Indian diaspora “utmost priority”

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jasiwal, on Wednesday confirmed that the two Indian nationals have lost their lives and one still remains missing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict.

2026-03-11T12:40:32.143763+00:00 IST

WUC condemns racist attacks on Japanese minister by Chinese media

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has strongly condemned what it described as racist and defamatory remarks made by Chinese media outlets against Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Arfiya Eri, calling the incident an example of discrimination and transnational intimidation targeting Uyghurs.

2026-03-11T12:18:57.758006+00:00 IST

US envoy congratulates Sandhu on being sworn Lt Governor of Delhi

Gor recalled Sandhu's stint as the former Ambassador of India to the United States, saying he has worked hard to promote US-India ties. A seasoned diplomat with over three decades of experience, Sandhu has played a key role in strengthening India-US ties, serving as India's Ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2024.

2026-03-11T11:27:15.156831+00:00 IST

S Korea says deterrence against North Korea unaffected

South Korea on Wednesday said its deterrence posture against North Korea would remain unaffected even if some military assets of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) are relocated from the Korean Peninsula amid the conflict in West Asia, Yonhap News Agency reported.

2026-03-11T11:05:28.593910+00:00 IST

'Important that Maldives starts talking with friends like India'

Speaking with ANI, she called for South Asian nations to "talk as one" and collaborate with partners like India to maintain regional stability, moving away from insular foreign policy slogans.

2026-03-11T10:56:58.174004+00:00 IST

Taiwan detects 6 Chinese naval vessels around itself

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels operating around their territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday. Taiwanese forces said they monitored the situation and responded.

2026-03-11T10:46:52.316164+00:00 IST