New Delhi, May 17: An Indian worker was among the three people killed in a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region, the Indian embassy in Russia said.

Indian Embassy officials visited the site of the attack and met the injured workers in the hospital,report stated.

A wave of almost 600 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, killing three people in the Moscow region and one in the Belgorod region, in what Ukrainian authorities said was the biggest attack on the capital during the conflict.

It comes days after a Russian missile and drone pummelling of Kyiv killed at least 24 people in the Ukrainian capital, an attack that Ukraine vowed a retaliation to.

New Delhi, May 17: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has been appointed as his country’s special representative for China .The proposal to enlarge the role of Mr. Qalibaf was made by President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Tasnim new agency reported.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf recently held a marathon round of talks with the American Vice President in Islamabad in an effort to end the ongoing conflict. However, the negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, and the two sides could not reach a peace agreement.

The nature of Qalibaf’s new appointment and responsibilities differs significantly from the authority he exercised in his previous role. Unlike his earlier position, which provided him wider operational and political influence, his present assignment appears to be more focused on diplomatic engagement and consensus-building aimed at easing regional tensions and reviving negotiations between the two countries.

Iran’s to Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, had previously served as the president’s representative for China affairs, while late Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani had acted as “the Leader’s special representative for China affairs.”

He will “coordinate various sectors of relations between Iran and China,” it added. Security chief Ali Larijani, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on March 17, held a similar position.

Larijani oversaw the advancing of negotiations with China which led to a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021.

Cairo, May 17: A drone strike caused a fire outside a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, authorities in the United Arab Emirates said.

The Abu Dhabi media office said in a statement that the fire broke out in an external electrical generator outside the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra.

There were no reports of injuries, and there’s no impact on radiological safety levels, it said.

The drone strike came as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has held, but tensions remain high and threaten to tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict.

New Delhi, May 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held official talks today with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Rob Jetten, at the Dutch Prime Minister’s official residence (Catshuis) in The Hague.

The two Prime Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening the India-Netherlands relationship. Reflecting the shared values and trust, as well as increasing convergence and growing cooperation between the two countries, the leaders decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership”. They also agreed to adopt an ambitious Roadmap for Strategic Partnership to deepen cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, defence and security, emerging and critical technologies, maritime sector, renewable energy and education. Taking note of expanding business, investment, technology and innovation partnerships, the leaders noted that opportunities presented by the Indian growth story offer promising business prospects to Dutch companies.

Both leaders noted with satisfaction the progress in bilateral cooperation driven by continuous high-level exchanges. Underscoring the significance of cooperation in WAH [Water, Agriculture and Health], they agreed to further intensify the Strategic Partnership on Water through collaboration on large-scale water projects. The Prime Ministers also welcomed the expanding cooperation across key sectors, including healthcare research, digital health, agriculture, and food safety.

During the talks, the leaders attached importance to expanding the trade and investment relationship between the two countries. Acknowledging the transformative potential of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, they called for its early signing and implementation. They also affirmed that India-Netherlands cooperation in critical minerals will support resilient supply chains.

The two leaders also called for greater collaboration in emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors. They also encouraged holding of hackathon involving the youths of the two countries. Committing to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, they highlighted the importance of cooperation in green hydrogen, biofuels, green shipping and maritime logistics to ensure a sustainable future. Both Prime Ministers expressed support for the new initiatives undertaken to strengthen mobility partnership and cooperation in higher education. In this regard, they took special note of the agreement concluded between Nalanda University and Groningen University.

Highlighting the strong cultural relations between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Dutch Government for facilitating the return of the 11th-century Chola plates. In this regard, the two leaders also welcomed the collaboration between Leiden University Library and the Archaeological Survey of India, which will help advance knowledge of these historic artefacts.

Following the official talks, 14 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were concluded in the fields of technology,green energy, trade, mobility, WAH, education and culture [Link]. A Joint Statement [Link] as well as the Roadmap on Strategic Partnership [Link] were adopted on the occasion of the Visit.

Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Jetten to visit India which he accepted.

India and the Netherlands enjoy a strong bilateral relationship grounded in shared democratic values and multi-faceted cooperation across diverse sectors. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Netherlands marks a significant milestone in this partnership.