OPINION

"This is a natural synergy. Connectivity will always boost economic activities which include trade. It is important to ink the trade agreement which is expected to be a win-win for both India and the Gulf bloc," a person working on the trade agreement said. India and UAE have already signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, negotiations of which were completed in a record time of just 88 days.

Two events happened in quick succession. It began with a seething "butcher of Gujarat" personal attack on PM Modi by Pakistan's infantile foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto. It was soon followed up on a similar theme by a BBC documentary, in an apparent bid to reinforce Bhutto's diatribe. It would also not be surprising if these attacks have been coordinated for maximum impact.

The Constitution of Pakistan was approved by Parliament in 1973. It came into being after and as a result of popular revolt against the military that led to the breakup of its eastern wing which became Bangladesh in 1971. The Constitution was adopted after the masses of the country waged a bitter uprising against the military rule (1968-1971) of the former presidents General Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan.

The recent tete-a-tete in a press interview with Rohit Sharma in which he was livid when asked about his recent century in One-day International cricket against New Zealand. Although it was his 30th one for India, it was scored after a period of three years. Sharma, quite understandably, was upset and stood to explain the time gap vis-a-vis the number of matches he had played. One could gauge his anger and fury against the broadcasters and he made no bones about it.

In today's world, diplomacy goes beyond 'hospitality and smiles' to demand 'ideation' that provides the intellectual strength to create a convergence in the face of differing stands and safeguard mutual interests in bilateral relations while handling the world affairs. Think 20 (or T20), the forum of country's top Think Tanks, is the prime instrument of India's G20 Presidency for deliberating on ways and means of promoting the country's growth as part of the world economy, enhancing India's national security and elevating the country's position as a major power in a multipolar world.

President Biden's own handling of classified materials is now under scrutiny given the revelations that documents were stored at his private office and home. In his defence Biden said he was "surprised" to learn of the discovery of the records. Earlier, he had branded his predecessor, Donald Trump

Frederick Forsyth, however, did not write training manuals for terrorists or security forces, but suspense-laden stories, with intricate plots, meticulously researched background, and taut writing, seemed ripped from the headlines of the day.

Statements like these may seem to be depicting the all-is-getting-better scenario in J&K, but the fact is that these very one or few incidents exhibit the ability of the terror network to strike at will. The Dhangri killings in J&K's Rajouri district prove the strike-at-will capability of the terror network. Why the terrorists choose Dhangri may be a part of the probe, which has been taken over by the NIA. The village is Hindu-dominated and the attack was aimed to create fear.

On January 3, Singh inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, India's strategic northeast state claimed by China as South Tibet. The 100-meter steel arch bridge over the river Siyom - a part of the Along-Yingkiong road - will enable the faster induction of troops and heavy vehicles to the LAC in the eastern sector.

The war in Ukraine has shattered the dream of a cohesive and sustainable economic model called the European Union. It has brought Europe and NATO to the brink of a wider conflict that could bring about the collapse of the European Union as a viable economic project that was supposed to guarantee long term and sustainable peace in this part of the world.