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Saturday, February 21, 2026
TopicBelt and Road Initiative

Topic: Belt and Road Initiative

Pokhara airport project: Nepal’s anti-graft body charges Chinese firm in ‘largest corruption case’

Nepalese officials, Chinese contractor colluded to deliberately inflate costs through fake invoices, overbilling & fraudulent procurement, says commission.

India must ‘underwrite’ infra projects in neighbourhood to ensure stable ties in long term—Jaishankar

India’s growing role in funding such projects gives it baseline for cooperation with neighbours, the EAM said, amidst looming shadow of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Bangladesh & ‘reliable friend’ China agree to negotiate FTA as Yunus meets Xi in Beijing

Yunus on his 1st bilateral visit to China, breaking with tradition of visiting India first. New Delhi-Dhaka ties have been tense since the ousting of Hasina's govt last year.

OIC losing credibility. It prefers ties with China over calling out repression of Uyghurs

Pakistan, which is heavily invested in the CPEC, is strategically silent on Uyghur Muslims. This complicity risks undermining the OIC’s credibility as a champion of Muslim rights.

From East to West, India is making a big push for transnational transport corridors. Here’s why

The corridors, viewed by Modi govt as critical for India's fast-paced economic growth & strategic alliances, will see multiple countries in action, some of whom are seen as adversaries.

‘No doubt China will be our closest partner’: Maldives President Muizzu praises BRI amid row with India

Muizzu, who is on a state visit to China, also encouraged the country to regain the top spot in terms of sending the most number of tourists to Maldives.

As Italy withdraws from BRI after 4 yrs, a look at whether it benefited from China’s initiative

Italy has reportedly notified China of its intention to exit Belt & Road Initiative. Since joining initiative in 2019, the move has been criticised by Italian politicians like PM Meloni.

‘Asian century’: China’s new foreign policy prioritises neighbours, India finds mention in footnote

China Wednesday released foreign policy document where it notes challenges facing Asia, progress in bilateral ties with neighbours & BRI plans, among other things.

Doval meets Central Asian counterparts, pushes for ‘transparent’ connectivity, ‘inclusive’ Afghanistan

National security adviser says Afghanistan 'remains a concern for all of us' and terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace & security.

Putin, Taliban and Xi to rub shoulders in Beijing today as China hosts 3rd Belt and Road Forum

Experts say, by having the Russian President come down, ignoring an international court's arrest warrant against him, Beijing wants to label international law as solely for Western powers.

On Camera

Youth Congress, your foolish protest helped the Modi govt climb out of the AI summit hole

In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

MoD, IAF agree on some exemptions to HAL for Tejas Mk1A, but no compromise on ‘must-have’ capabilities

IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.