The decision was “sadly necessary given the reduction of Canadian staff available to effectively manage and maintain in-country operations”, Canada's high commission in India said, adding that local staff disproportionately outnumbered the ~20 diplomats left in India.

While Muizzu’s difficulty in getting clear verdict in the parliamentary polls may be an uphill task, he would likely still be able to patch up a majority with cross-voting and defections after the elections, if necessary.

As the issue around Katchatheevu Island has been inserted into the campaign by the BJP, there is concern that it will gather its own momentum and put a spanner in India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.

Gaming, mining, real estate, pharma, infrastrutcure companies dominate the upper reaches.

The Taliban spokesperson also claimed that there was no persecution of Sikhs and Hindus in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

India has proposed connecting Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with a motorable road through Bhutan. But it is understood that Bhutan's government is not keen on the proposal until its border with China is demarcated.

Taiwan's labour minister Hsu Ming-chun's remarks that initial manpower from India would be recruited from the north-eastern states due to similarities in 'skin colour' dietary habits, and religion sparked controversy.

The Wire has learned that a four-member team from the Indian public sector company Wapcos is currently visiting Salma Dam, their hydroelectric project built on the Harirud River in a remote part of north-western Afghanistan.

In the first week of January, the Czech high court in Prague had overruled Gupta's appeal and ordered that his extradition could go ahead.

The Wire has learnt that China has finalised one of its assistant foreign ministers posted at headquarters in Beijing, Xu Feihong, as the next ambassador to India. 

The controversy – triggered by posts criticising Modi's visit to Lakshadweep – erupted on the same day that Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu embarked on a five-day visit to China.

This will make him the first democratically elected head of the Maldives to travel to Beijing before he gets to New Delhi.

The US extradition request to the Czech government includes the original sealed indictment against 'Nick' and accompanying affidavits which highlight a crucial event where an undercover agent, assuming the role of a 'hitman,' received a $15,000 advance payment through a middleman.

Last October, India was among 45 nations that had abstained on the voting of the resolution that had called for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza.

Indian official sources have said that the Quad summit is 'proposed to be held later in 2024'. The statement does not address the invitation to Biden, but it is highly unlikely that the US President would be considering two separate visits to India in one year.

The Supreme Court's judgement also upheld Ladakh's separation from Jammu and Kashmir as well as its status as a Union territory. However, China, which had deemed the move as “unacceptable”, is yet to react.

India's actions were listed alongside other cases of cross-border repression by Washington’s perennial adversaries, including China, Russia and Iran.

A municipal court in Prague issued an order on November 23 on the admissibility of the extradition order to the US. The case will now be referred to the high court.

A municipal court in Prague issued an order on November 23 on the admissibility of the extradition order to the US. The case will now be referred to the high court.

A municipal court in Prague issued an order on November 23 on the admissibility of the extradition order to the US. The case will now be referred to the high court.