India has begun Trishul 2025, a major tri-Service combat exercise involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force along the western border with Pakistan. The large-scale drill aims to test joint combat readiness amid renewed tensions around the Sir Creek region.

• The Madras High Court has officially recognised cryptocurrency as a form of “property” under Indian law, marking a key development in India’s crypto regulation. The ruling, delivered by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, came in response to a petition involving frozen XRP holdings on the WazirX exchange following a 2024 cyberattack.

• East Timor (The country officially called Timor-Leste) is the 11 th member to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This declaration was done during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur at which the flag of the country was hoisted with the flags of its neighbors.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced 2026 as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation,” reaffirming India’s focus on strengthening maritime ties and regional stability under its Act East Policy. The announcement was made during the ASEAN-India Summit, held virtually on Sunday.

• Russia has announced the successful final test of the Burevestnik (9M730), a nuclear-powered cruise missile said to have unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defence systems. President Vladimir Putin described it as a “unique weapon unmatched worldwide,” highlighting Moscow’s push for advanced strategic capabilities amid ongoing tensions with the West.