By B.V. Phani Kumar Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić formally resigned on Sunday, paving the way for him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections as a candidate for prime minister. Speaker Ana Brnabić has assumed the role of acting president. The move comes after widespread protests and tests Vučić’s long-standing grip on power in a nation
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their high-profile Washington summit with an extension of the bilateral trade truce until January and pledges to keep competition within bounds. Talks covered artificial intelligence safeguards, rare earths, Taiwan and the Iran conflict, yet produced few concrete breakthroughs beyond symbolism and personal rapport. Trump described
By B.V. Phani Kumar US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House in a high-profile summit marked by ceremony and carefully managed optics. The leaders extended a fragile trade truce by two months and discussed artificial intelligence safeguards, critical minerals, Taiwan arms sales and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Both
By. B.V. Phani Kumar Diplomatic and military activity around the Middle East remained intense as statements from multiple capitals addressed ongoing regional tensions. Officials tracked developments linked to maritime routes and energy infrastructure. Closed consultations continued among key players seeking to limit further escalation. Markets monitored potential supply disruptions while humanitarian agencies prepared contingency plans.
International markets opened mixed as traders digested fresh data on inflation and central-bank signals. Major indices in Asia and Europe showed limited movement while US futures pointed to a cautious start. Analysts noted that energy prices remained a key variable after recent supply updates. Diplomats and finance ministries continued informal contacts on possible coordinated responses.
United Russia, the party backing President Vladimir Putin, swept Russia’s parliamentary elections, securing a record haul of over 350 seats in the Duma. The vote, held under wartime conditions, drew limited genuine opposition. Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on Russian targets, including Moscow, on the final day of polling. Iran and the United States
· Ukraine launched what Moscow authorities described as its largest drone assault yet on the Russian capital region, with over 1,600 drones intercepted since Saturday, including about 450 directed at Moscow itself. The attacks damaged a major oil refinery and struck residential areas, killing at least two people and injuring around 20, according to regional
Global Highlights (Past 24 Hours) Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis traded fresh strikes across their border. Yemenis fled by boat in the Red Sea as fighting intensified, raising fresh risks to oil shipping lanes and global supplies. Debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed one person in Saudi Arabia. China pressed Iran to restrain the
Global Headlines (Past 24 Hours) Indian and Pakistani naval vessels collided in the North Arabian Sea late Tuesday. India said a Pakistani ship approached its warship at high speed during a routine surveillance mission in international waters, violating a 1991 agreement that requires a three-nautical-mile separation. No major damage or injuries reported on the Indian