FGN112 US-BESSENT-INDIA

India 'stopped' buying oil from Russia, claims US Treasury Secretary Davos: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that India has "stopped" buying oil from Russia after US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on countries purchasing oil from Moscow.

FGN95 UK-TRADE-INDIA

Staff cuts, non-tariff barriers pose India FTA delivery risks, warns UK Parliament panel London: Billions of pounds of tariff savings from Britain's free trade agreement with India could be jeopardised by deep cuts to UK export support staff helping firms use the deal in practice, an influential Parliament panel cautioned in a report on Wednesday.

FGN81 RUSSIA-PUTIN-WITKOFF

President Putin scheduled to meet Trump's Special Envoy Witkoff on Thursday: Kremlin Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday, the Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday.

FGN122 UK-CHINA-EMBASSY

UK residents hit crowdfund target to legally challenge Chinese super embassy plan London: An association of residents living on the China-owned Royal Mint Court site near the Tower of London is set to legally challenge a proposed Chinese super embassy after surpassing its crowdfunding target within hours of the UK government’s greenlight for the controversial project.

FGN80 PAK-FIRE-TOLL

Toll rises to 30 in Karachi fire, 16 minors among those missing Karachi: The death toll in the fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s Karachi increased to 30 on Wednesday even as 73 persons, including 16 minor boys, remained missing amid continued rescue operations, officials said here.

FGN116 PAK-GAZA-BOARD

Pakistan accepts Trump's invitation to join Board of Peace for Gaza Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said it has accepted US President Donald Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace for Gaza to support the effort for bringing peace to the troubled region.

FGN108 PAK-LAWMAKERS-BILL

Pakistan's NA passes bill to provide secrecy to assets of lawmakers Islamabad: Pakistan's parliament passed a bill on Wednesday to provide secrecy to the assets of lawmakers in case their publicity posed a risk to them, amid opposition from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party.

FGN72 CHINA-GAZA-BOARD

China wary of joining Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza without UN backing Beijing: China on Wednesday expressed reservations about joining US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza if it is not under the auspices of the UN, reaffirming its firm commitment to the international system with the global body at its core.

FGN101 CHINA-JAPAN-PANDAS

Twin Pandas to return to China amid diplomatic tensions with Japan Beijing: Twin pandas loved by the Japanese public are due to be sent back to their Chinese habitat next week amid the Beijing-Tokyo diplomatic spat, even as China on Wednesday hinted that it is unlikely to send replacements.

FGN28 US-TRUMP-UN

Wish the UN could do more, so we didn't need Board of Peace: Trump New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump wished the UN, which has “never lived up to its potential”, could do more so there would be no need for 'Board of Peace' on Gaza that he said “might” replace the world organisation.

FGN26 US-TRUMP-INDIA-PAKISTAN

India, Pak were going to go nuclear in my opinion: Trump repeats claim to end conflict in briefing New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump touted ending the conflict between India and Pakistan as among the accomplishments of the first year of his second term in the White House, saying the two countries “were going to go nuclear" in his opinion, and that he saved millions of lives by stopping the war.

PTI SKS SKS SKS

Trade measures, FTA delivery risks, and legal challenges to embassy plans highlight cross-border regulatory and transparency issues. Claims that India stopped buying Russian oil after a US tariff raise implicate trade sanctions and import sourcing; warnings that staff cuts and non-tariff barriers threaten UK-India FTA delivery emphasise administrative capacity and non-tariff barrier mitigation. Separately, a crowdfunded legal challenge targets a proposed China-owned embassy on planning and community-rights grounds, while Pakistan's new law granting secrecy to lawmakers' assets raises transparency and statutory secrecy concerns; participation in a US-proposed Gaza board is questioned absent UN auspices.