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India-Venezuela Talks Focus On Digital Tech, Critical Minerals
India and Venezuela signalled a broadening of bilateral engagement across multiple sectors following the 5th India–Venezuela Foreign Office Consultations held in New Delhi on November 26.
The meeting, co-chaired by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Tatiana Josefina Pugh Moreno, Venezuela’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. focused on strengthening collaboration in digital technology, health and pharmaceuticals, trade diversification, critical minerals, agriculture, development cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
A key outcome of the consultations was Venezuela’s decision to initiate pilot projects based on India’s Digital Public Infrastructure systems. These pilots will be implemented in areas such as health, education, agriculture and digital payments, adapting Indian platforms including Aadhaar, DigiLocker and UPI for use in the Venezuelan context.
The move follows the September visit of Raul Hernandez, Venezuela’s Vice Minister for Information and Communication Technologies, who held discussions in New Delhi with Indian counterparts on digital identity, service delivery and fintech applications. During that visit, technical engagements were conducted with agencies such as UIDAI, NISG, NeGD, AI BHASHINI and NPCI to prepare frameworks for customised versions of AgriStack and HealthStack for Venezuelan institutions.
Health and pharmaceutical cooperation also featured prominently. Both sides reviewed ongoing collaboration, noting that India supplied nearly USD 110 million worth of medicines to Venezuela in 2024–25, meeting over 40 per cent of Venezuela’s annual requirement. Venezuelan officials confirmed that there are no outstanding payment dues to Indian pharmaceutical companies.
Discussions included scope for further collaboration in biotechnology, vaccine-related initiatives and steps to stabilise medical supply chains impacted by global disruptions, with India reiterating support through routine commercial shipments and emergency supplies of essential medicines.
Trade and critical minerals were central to the economic discussions. The consultations built on the recent bilateral interaction between Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Venezuela’s Minister of Ecological Mining Development Hector Silva during the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15.
Venezuela expressed interest in cooperation in critical minerals, mining technologies and investment partnerships. India proposed reviving the India–Venezuela Joint Committee Mechanism, which last convened a decade ago, and highlighted the continued presence of ONGC in Venezuela as an area with potential for deeper collaboration.
India also encouraged Venezuela to consider recognising the Indian Pharmacopoeia to facilitate smoother regulatory processes and expand pharmaceutical trade. Additional discussions covered potential cooperation in automobiles, engineering goods and industrial supply chains as both countries explore ways to diversify bilateral commerce.
Agriculture and development cooperation were further reviewed, with an emphasis on how forthcoming DPI pilots such as AgriStack could support Venezuela in modernising farm registries, improving crop data management and enhancing access to agricultural services.
The two sides also discussed expanding development partnership programmes, including capacity-building initiatives under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation framework, along with skill development, artificial intelligence and digital governance training.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges were reaffirmed as important components of the relationship. Both delegations underlined the role of academic collaboration, youth exchanges and institutional partnerships, while noting the contributions made by the Indian-origin community residing in Venezuela.
Multilateral coordination was also part of the agenda, including Venezuela’s interest in BRICS membership, which is expected to be discussed at the next BRICS Summit hosted by India. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination in multilateral forums and continue engagement aimed at strengthening South–South cooperation and broadening international outreach.
Modi’s Oman, Jordan Trip To Focus on Trade, Connectivity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake an official visit to Oman and Jordan during the December 15–19 period, although confirmed dates have not yet been issued by the government.
Preparatory work for the two-nation tour is underway, with discussions likely to cover trade, connectivity initiatives and maritime collaboration.
In Jordan, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit at the invitation of King Abdullah II. Diplomatic sources indicate that meetings in Amman will place significant emphasis on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and Jordan’s role along the corridor’s northern route.
Jordan’s geographic positioning between the Gulf region and the Mediterranean grants it strategic importance within the proposed corridor, which envisages maritime transport from India to the Arabian Gulf, followed by land-based networks passing through Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel before connecting to ports in Europe.
Indian officials have pointed out that while IMEC holds long-term promise, the regional security environment and technical complexities continue to influence progress. Harmonisation of customs procedures, regulatory frameworks and operational standards among participating countries has been identified as a central operational challenge in advancing the project.
India’s presence in the Mediterranean has also drawn attention in recent months, with the Indian Navy deploying assets for a range of missions that include joint exercises and maritime security operations. IMEC’s dependence on stable sea routes has prompted discussions on ensuring predictable maritime conditions, amid considerations over logistical access arrangements along the Mediterranean coastline.
Launched in 2023, IMEC is structured as a multimodal infrastructure network integrating ports, rail systems, digital connectivity and energy corridors. It is backed by the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The initiative is designed to streamline cargo movement between India and Europe, reduce logistics costs and support energy transmission through electricity grids and hydrogen pipelines.
International assessments have pointed to potential economic benefits for India, Gulf countries and parts of Europe if the corridor reaches full implementation, even as uncertainties linked to regional conflict and overlapping connectivity projects remain.
The Jordan leg of the visit comes as bilateral ties continue to broaden. Foreign Office Consultations held in April reviewed cooperation across political, security and economic sectors.
India is currently Jordan’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $2.8 billion in 2023–24. Fertiliser cooperation remains a cornerstone of the relationship, with recent dialogue between Jordan’s Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan and IFFCO leadership focusing on enhancing collaboration through the Jordan–India Fertiliser Company. Both sides have explored avenues to expand production capacity, update technology sharing and strengthen nutrient supply chains.
In Oman, discussions are expected to focus on the announcement of a long-pending bilateral trade agreement. Talks are also likely to address maritime cooperation, logistics and India’s strategic presence at key ports across the western Indian Ocean.
The Duqm port, where India already enjoys access for logistical and military purposes, is expected to feature prominently, given its strategic location near the Gulf of Oman and its connectivity to wider regional trade routes.
Energy cooperation, investment prospects and digital collaboration are also set to be reviewed during engagements in Muscat, with officials indicating that both sides are working towards a broader refresh of their economic partnership framework.
Bangladesh Is Divided, Conflicted As Elections Near: Deep Halder
There’s irony in the manner in which the Bangladesh political landscape is being shaped for the February elections, says Deep Halder, one of three authors of Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution.
In a conversation on The Gist, he said “When I covered the Jan 2024 elections for The Print, my headline was ‘Awami League Fights Awami League’ and Sheikh Hasina wins because it was an election where the second largest party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, decided to stay away. It was an election where the Bangladesh Supreme Court kept the Islamic parties out of the poll fray.”
Now the boot is on the other foot. All political activities of the Awami League are banned, the students wing of Awami League is banned. It is one thing to keep Sheikh Hasina away or give a verdict against her, but it is quite another to ban the Awami League from the elections.
The former ruling party is backed by an estimated 30% of the population and while some members have defected to other parties, it’s unlikely to make much of a dent in its public support.
The BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami, once political allies, now don’t seem to like each other very much. The former in fact is wary of the growth in influence of the latter, its influence particularly with the interim government of Mohammad Yunus and even the Election Commission.
Add to that the National Citizen’s Party (NCP), which is known as the ‘king’s party’ because of the backing of Yunus. But the large number of extortion cases against the National Citizen Party has made it very unpopular in Bangladesh and if one looks at the online polls, it is not even in contention.
“I sense on the ground huge anti-incumbency,” said Halder, “and I think even if she (Hasina) has not been fully forgiven there is a sense among common people that look that time was perhaps better than this time.”
There is growing suspicion over the interim leader Mohammad Yunus and his support for the Jamaat. Also, Bangladeshi youth appear disillusioned with India, convinced that Delhi was the puppeteer pulling Hasina’s strings, and disappointed over the rise of Hindutva in their biggest neighbour.
Tune in for more in this conversation with Deep Halder, one of the authors of Inshallah Bangladesh.
Taiwan Boosts Defence with $40 Billion Plan Amid Rising China Pressure
Taiwan announced a $40 billion supplementary defence budget on Wednesday, underscoring its resolve to strengthen national security amid mounting military pressure from China. President Lai Ching-te said the move reflects Taiwan’s determination to defend itself and safeguard its democratic values.
Strengthening Defence Against Aggression
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has intensified military and political pressure in recent years. Taipei, however, firmly rejects these claims, maintaining that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Presenting the T$1.25 trillion ($39.89 billion) defence package, Lai said that history had shown compromise in the face of aggression only led to “enslavement.”
“There is no room for compromise on national security,” Lai stated during a press conference. “National sovereignty and the core values of freedom and democracy are the very foundation of our nation.”
Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the budget, spanning from 2026 to 2033, would fund missiles, drones, and the new “T-Dome” air defence system.
Boosting Military Readiness and Deterrence
Lai, who detailed the plan in an op-ed in the Washington Post, said the initiative reflects Taiwan’s resolve to stand firm. “It is a struggle between defending democratic Taiwan and refusing to become ‘China’s Taiwan’,” he said.
The de facto US ambassador in Taipei, Raymond Greene, welcomed the announcement, saying it marked a major step toward maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Washington continues to encourage Taiwan to boost its own defence spending, mirroring pressure on European allies.
Taiwan has focused on an “asymmetric” defence strategy, aiming to make its smaller forces more agile and effective against China’s much larger military. For 2026, spending will reach T$949.5 billion ($30.3 billion), accounting for 3.32% of GDP — the first time since 2009 that it surpasses 3%.
Political Debate and Regional Tensions
The proposal must pass Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament. Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun urged President Lai to “step back from the brink,” stressing that Taiwan’s people “love peace and firmly desire peace.”
China, meanwhile, accused Taipei of following “external forces.” Peng Qingen, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan was “squandering funds that could improve livelihoods” and warned that such spending “will only plunge Taiwan into disaster.”
President Lai also criticised Beijing’s conduct toward its neighbours, saying its repeated threats and provocations were unworthy of a “responsible major power.”
Tensions remain high as China continues to oppose Lai’s leadership, labelling him a “separatist.” Despite Beijing’s resistance, Lai reiterated that Taiwan’s future must be determined solely by its people.
(with inputs from Reuters)
No Daylight On Israeli PM Netanyahu’s India Visit
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India is long overdue. Reports say he was due in 2019 but that was cancelled owing to internal political crisis, the Covid pandemic and the Gaza conflict.
In 2019 alone, Moneycontrol reports, he postponed plans twice due to parliamentary elections in Israel. He last visited India in 2018, during a six-day trip that became only the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to the country.
That visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic trip to Israel in 2017 and was seen as a milestone in bilateral ties.
So what is the issue this time? Israel has launched a major counter-terrorist operation in the northern West Bank, one which is expected to take several days. But other reports say that in the wake of the Red Fort blast, security concerns caused the trip to be cancelled.
But the Israeli leader’s office clarified that “Israel’s bond with India, and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in India’s security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.”
This year, his visit has been cancelled following domestic issues including political instability. Moneycontrol reports that “In both April and September this year, he called off scheduled visits due to mounting pressure from within Israel. Reasons cited included the threat of snap elections and growing unrest linked to the war in Gaza.”
Protests in April demanded a ceasefire and the release of all the hostages seized during the Oct 7,2023 Hamas attack on Israel. There were also demonstrations against Netanyahu’s sacking of the chief of Shin Bet, the internal security agency, and moves to remove the attorney general.
His feuding with coalition partners over the Gaza campaign, judicial reforms and exemptions for the ultra-Othodox Jewish groups were other reasons for not travelling overseas.
Israel Launches Major Counter-Terrorism Operation In Northern West Bank
Israeli security forces on Wednesday launched what the military described as a
counter-terrorism operation in the northern West Bank, which Palestinians said was targeting the city of Tubas.
Tubas Governor Ahmed Al-Asaad told Reuters Israeli forces, backed by a helicopter that had opened fire, were encircling the city and establishing positions across several neighbourhoods.
“The incursion looks to be a long one; occupation (Israeli) forces have driven people from their houses, commandeered rooftops of buildings, and are conducting arrests,” he said.
Al-Asaad said Israeli forces ordered those whom they forced to leave their homes not to return until the operation ends, which he anticipated could be several days.
The Israeli military said in an earlier statement that the operation, carried out with police and intelligence forces, began early on Wednesday morning.
Asked about the operation, a military spokesperson declined to comment, saying more details would be released soon.
Israel has said its security forces have been targeting Palestinian militancy in the West Bank, where hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians, granted limited self-rule under Israeli military occupation.
Hamas, which agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza last month, condemned the latest West Bank operation and called on the international community to intervene to stop it.
The assault on Tubas appeared to be an extension of a military operation launched by security forces in the northern West Bank city of Jenin in January, days after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
That operation has since expanded to other Palestinian cities in the north of the West Bank, forcing thousands from their homes, with Israeli forces maintaining their longest
presence in some West Bank cities for decades.
Israeli forces have cleared out refugee camps across the northern West Bank, with deadly raids destroying roads and homes. Human Rights Watch this month accused Israel of war
crimes and crimes against humanity over what it said were forced expulsions. Israel denies committing such crimes.
Malaysia: Graft Probe Targets Ex-Aide To PM Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysia’s anti-graft agency will investigate bribery allegations made against a
former senior aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has faced questions over his commitment to tackling corruption since coming to office three years ago.
Wednesday’s announcement came a day after Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin resigned as Anwar’s senior political secretary, citing an attempt to attack him with allegations that could damage the government. He did not detail the allegations, but said he would
defend himself “against this attack”.
Both Shamsul Iskandar and Albert Tei, the businessman who made the bribery allegations, will be summoned for questioning, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Azam Baki said in a statement.
“In addition, MACC will call all other relevant parties for the purpose of gathering the necessary evidence,” he said. Anwar, who took office in 2022 on an anti-corruption platform, has faced accusations of backsliding on promised reforms. He has said he remains committed to fighting graft.
On Wednesday, Anwar said in a statement he had accepted the resignation, and that the MACC was “free to conduct an investigation immediately, without any external
interference.”
Shamsul Iskandar is a senior member of Anwar’s People’s Justice Party, having previously served as a lawmaker and deputy minister. He had been Anwar’s senior political secretary since December 2022 and is regarded as one of the premier’s most trusted advisers.
News portal Malaysiakini reported on Tuesday that Tei had alleged he spent 629,000 ringgit ($152,000) on renovations and furnishings for two properties linked to Shamsul Iskandar, among other personal expenses.
Tei confirmed the allegations in the report to Reuters but declined to comment on the MACC probe, saying on Wednesday that he had not yet received any official notice from the anti-graft agency.
Corruption charges were filed against Tei in June after he admitted paying bribes to multiple lawmakers from Sabah state to try to secure mining licenses in the eastern state.
The allegations against Shamsul Iskandar come just before a regional election in Sabah on Saturday, which is seen as an early test of support for Anwar ahead of national polls that must be held by the first quarter of 2028.
French Police Arrest Four in Espionage Probe
French authorities detained four individuals, including two Russian nationals, on suspicion of espionage, the Paris prosecutor announced on Wednesday.
Suspect Under Surveillance
The prosecutor’s office identified one of the individuals as Anna N, a dual French-Russian national who has been under the surveillance of France’s DGSI domestic intelligence agency since January on the belief she was gathering intelligence.
“In particular, she was suspected of having approached executives of various French companies in order to obtain information relating to French economic interests,” the prosecutor said in an emailed statement.
The prosecutor’s office did not identify the country the four people are suspected of spying for.
The others were identified as Vincent P and Bernard F, who were born in France and Vyacheslav P, a Russian national.
Pro-Russia Association Links
According to the prosecutor’s office, Anna N founded SOS Donbass, a France-based association which says on its website that it campaigns for closer ties between Europe and Russia, and the end of arms deliveries to Ukraine. It often displays campaign posters in public places.
Anna faces up to 45 years in jail and 600,000 euros ($694,500.00) in fines for charges ranging from complicity to damage historic heritage sites, organised crime, spying and intelligence for a foreign power.
The others also face jail terms and fines on similar charges.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Trump Delays Ukraine Peace Deal Deadline
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump postponed a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept a U.S.-supported peace plan and dismissed reports that American negotiator Steve Witkoff had advised the Russians on how to raise the issue with him.
Deadline Postponed, Talks Continue
Trump, speaking to reporters on board Air Force One as he flew to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, said U.S. negotiators were making progress in discussions with Russia and Ukraine, and Moscow had agreed to some concessions. He did not detail them.
A U.S.-based framework for ending the war, first reported last week, prompted fresh concerns that the Trump administration might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted toward Moscow.
Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff would be traveling to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week and that his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped negotiate the Gaza deal that brought about an uneasy ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, was also involved.
Trump in recent days had set the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday as the day when he wanted to see Ukraine agree to a deal to bring about an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
But he and his aides have backed away from a firm deadline and now say they would like an agreement as soon as possible.
Ceasefire Plan
Bloomberg News reported that Witkoff, in an October 14 telephone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to Putin, said they should work together on a ceasefire plan for Ukraine and that Putin should raise it with Trump.
Bloomberg said Witkoff’s guidance included suggestions on setting up a Trump-Putin call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s White House visit later that week, and using the recently concluded Gaza agreement as a way in.
Asked about the report, Trump said he had not heard the recording of the call that Bloomberg based its story on but that he was not surprised because “that’s what a dealmaker does.”
Trump said it appeared that Russia had the upper hand in the war and that it would be in Ukraine’s best interests to reach an agreement.
He said some Ukraine territory “might be gotten by Russia anyway” over the next couple of months.
Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine were being negotiated with Europeans.
(With inputs from Reuters)
China Buys U.S. Soybeans After Leaders’ Call
China has purchased at least 10 shipments of U.S. soybeans — worth about $300 million — in deals signed since Tuesday, according to two traders familiar with the transactions. The buying came just one day after the two countries’ presidents held a phone call.
The purchases of the unusually large volumes extend a surge in Chinese buying after the recent thaw in U.S.-China trade relations. U.S. President Donald Trump touted relations with China as “extremely strong” after a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday.
Trump said he had pressed Xi to accelerate and increase Beijing’s purchases of U.S. goods during the call, and that the Chinese leader had “more or less agreed”.
One trader said China bought about 12 cargoes, while another estimated the volume at 10–15. Each cargo is about 60,000 to 65,000 metric tons.
All the cargoes are scheduled for January shipment from U.S. Gulf Coast terminals and Pacific Northwest ports, the sources said on Wednesday.
Higher Price
The purchases come despite U.S. soybeans being priced higher than Brazilian supplies.
China paid around $2.3 per bushel over the January Chicago futures contract SF26 for shipments from Gulf terminals and a premium of $2.2 per bushel from Pacific Northwest ports, well above the prices for Brazilian soybeans, which are around $1.8 per bushel over the January CBOT futures, traders said.
China, which had largely shunned U.S. soybeans for months amid a tense Washington–Beijing trade standoff, has stepped up purchases recently following late-October talks between the two countries’ leaders in South Korea.
Trade Commitments
State-run grain buyer COFCO has led the buying, booking nearly 2 million tons of U.S. soybeans since late October, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
The recent deals still remain well below the 12 million tons of purchases announced by the White House.
However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday Chinese purchases of American soybeans are “right on schedule,” citing an agreement for Beijing to buy 87.5 million tons of the U.S. product over the next three-and-a-half years.
(With inputs from Reuters)