India Strengthens AML Framework for Virtual Digital Assets

India has reinforced its regulatory oversight of virtual digital assets (VDAs) by updating anti–money laundering (AML) and counter–terror financing (CFT) norms. The move, led by the Financial Intelligence Unit – India under the Ministry of Finance, reflects a sharper risk-based approach toward cryptocurrencies, particularly those designed to preserve user anonymity.

Ceasefire in Aleppo After Days of Heavy Fighting

The Syrian government has announced a ceasefire in Aleppo following three days of intense clashes with Kurdish forces that forced more than 140,000 civilians to flee their homes. The violence marked the most serious escalation in over six months and exposed the continuing fault lines between Damascus and Kurdish authorities over control, governance, and Syria’s political future.

Crew-11 Astronauts to Return Early from ISS as NASA Prioritises Health and Safety

In a rare and historic move, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced the early return of four astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical concern affecting one crew member. The decision marks the first such early crew return in the ISS’s 25-year history of uninterrupted human presence, highlighting NASA’s unwavering emphasis on astronaut health and safety.

India’s UNSC Aspirations Gain Momentum as Chile Backs Permanent Seat

Chile has formally backed India’s aspiration for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing New Delhi as a country capable of playing a stabilising and constructive role in global affairs. The endorsement adds momentum to India’s long-standing demand for reform of the UN system to better reflect present-day geopolitical realities rather than post–Second World War power structures.

India Opposes CPEC Through Shaksgam Valley, Calls 1963 China–Pakistan Pact Illegal

India has once again firmly asserted that the Shaksgam Valley is an integral part of its territory, rejecting any infrastructure projects, agreements, or understandings that involve what it considers illegally occupied land. The statement underscores New Delhi’s long-standing opposition to both the China–Pakistan understanding over the region and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which India views as violations of its sovereignty.