India

India, a significant South Asian nation, is currently in the news due to several key developments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a historic victory in West Bengal, a state previously held by the opposition, marking a significant expansion of the BJP's political dominance. This win, alongside other state election results, indicates a weakening of the opposition across India, with the last left-wing government in Kerala also losing power. Concurrently, India is involved in a diplomatic dispute with Nepal over a long-standing border issue, particularly concerning a contested Himalayan pass. In terms of international relations and strategic positioning, India has signed a logistics pact with Russia, signaling ambitions for a greater presence in the Arctic region while also bolstering Russia's influence in the Indian Ocean. Separately, thousands in India's Manipur state marked three years since ethnic clashes began, highlighting ongoing internal challenges. The Quad summit planning also saw some diplomatic awkwardness as India proceeded without top leaders present.