Prime Minister Narendra Modi was formally received by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin after holding bilateral talks with Xi ahead of the summit. The meeting comes amid U.S. tariff pressures on India and China’s own strained ties with Washington, giving added weight to the engagement between the two Asian powers.
This marks Modi’s first visit to China in over seven years, and his first since the Galwan Valley clash. Modi arrived on Saturday to a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora, with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” Later, he attended a cultural performance where Chinese artists played Indian classical instruments such as the sitar, santoor, and tabla, highlighting gestures of goodwill.
CHINA BACKS INDIA ON TERROR FIGHT
China has expressed support for India in combating terrorism during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, India’s foreign ministry confirmed. The discussions come as New Delhi grapples with U.S. tariff pressures, adding weight to closer India-China dialogue.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters that Modi raised the issue directly, stressing that terrorism is a “scourge that both India and China are victims of.” Alongside counterterrorism cooperation, the two leaders also discussed boosting trade, ensuring peace along the border, and expanding people-to-people ties.
MEDVEDEV THREATENS MACRON, MERZ WITH WWII REFERENCE
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman **Dmitry Medvedev** launched a blistering attack on **French President Emmanuel Macron** and **German Chancellor Friedrich Merz**, warning they could “**end up being identified by their teeth**” like in 1945. In a scathing post, Medvedev mocked the two as “fraternal twins” — calling Merz revenge-driven and Macron a “rooster” afraid of predators — while accusing them of **blackmailing U.S. President Donald Trump with Putin**.
Medvedev added he had two pieces of “bad news” for European leaders: *“Trump is alive”* and *“Russia is advancing.”* He accused Europe of **stalling peace efforts in Ukraine**, saying that **unrealistic demands influenced by European leaders** are prolonging the conflict.
KREMLIN BLAMES EUROPE FOR BLOCKING TRUMP’S PEACE PUSH
The Kremlin has accused European powers of obstructing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media that the “European party of war” was preventing progress, saying, “We are ready to resolve the problem by political and diplomatic means. But so far, we do not see reciprocity from Kyiv in this. So we shall continue the special military operation.”
Russia insists it remains open to talks, though President Vladimir Putin has ruled out giving up any of the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine now under Moscow’s control. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Minister Andrei Belousov claimed its advance is accelerating, with the army capturing 600–700 sq km a month, nearly double its earlier pace.
ISRAELI ARMY CHIEF VOWS TO HUNT HAMAS LEADERS ABROAD
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir on Sunday vowed to pursue Hamas leaders abroad after the military confirmed killing Abu Obeida, the group’s military spokesman, in Gaza a day earlier. “This is not the end. Most of Hamas’s leadership is abroad, and we will reach them as well,” Zamir declared during a situational review at the IDF Northern Command.
The Israeli Defence Forces also announced strikes that killed top Houthi leaders, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and senior aides, as part of expanded operations. Zamir said the army was acting “offensively, with initiative and operational superiority across all arenas and at all times,” while reviewing intelligence and operational plans for the continuation of the Gaza campaign.
