DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Thu, 21 May 2026 17:26:15 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-tightens-aviation-ebola-screening-after-who-emergency-declaration-674817.html Bangkok May 21 The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand CAAT said on Thursday that it has elevated surveillance and prevention measures for the Ebola virus disease within the countrys civil aviation system This move follows the World Health Organization WHOs declaration of the Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern due to the risk of crossborder transmission reports Xinhua news agencyThe Thai public health ministry on Wednesday designated both African nations as dangerous communicable disease zones for the Ebola virus prompting coordinated screening and response measures in civil aviationIn a statement the CAAT said it has joined planning sessions with the ministrys Division of International Communicable Disease Control and Quarantine alongside carriers and other stakeholders to align public health protocols across the sectorAuthorities have urged the public to avoid nonessential travel to Congo and Uganda and neighbouring highrisk areas Those who must travel are required to register through the Thai Health Pass system while foreign nationals must accurately complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card to support contact tracing and disease monitoringAirlines operating routes connected to affected regions have been instructed to inform passengers of public health requirements screen passengers at the point of origin and share passenger seating and travel data with diseasecontrol officers to enable rapid followupThe quarantine division has also rehearsed response plans for suspected cases identified on board or after arrival in Thailand establishing coordination procedures between airlines airports health authorities and supporting agencies to ensure continuity and limit operational disruptionSpeaking at a press conference WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a WHO Emergency Committee met on Tuesday and agreed with his earlier assessment that the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC and Uganda is a public health emergency of international concern PHEIC but is not a pandemic emergencyTedros early on Sunday declared the PHEIC for the Ebola outbreak in the two countries marking the first time a WHO chief had done so without first convening an Emergency Committee IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-tightens-aviation-ebola-screening-after-who-emergency-declaration-674817.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674819.html New Delhi May 21 India has managed to clearly establish a direct Pakistan hand in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost After a painstaking probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA it was established that the attack was handled from Lahore by Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias Langde a top operative of the LashkareTayiba A clear pattern has come to light before and after the terror attack that took place on April 22 2025 in which 26 people were killedInvestigations suggest that Pakistan had thought it would get away with the attack However as the international condemnation grew and India began preparing for a strong response the Pakistanis did not want to have anything to do with the attackAn official explained that it all began with the provocative statements made by Pakistanâs army chief Asim MunirMunir had said days before the attack during an Overseas Pakistanis Convention that Kashmir is our jugular vein it will be out jugular vein and we will not forget itHe also spoke about the twonation theory and highlighted explicitly the differences between Hindus and MuslimsThis was aimed at ideological division Prior to this he had spoken about war Munir said that three wars had been fought for Kashmir and if need be then ten more would be foughtAn official said that these statements were aimed at inciting violence and it went on to become the platform for the Pahalgam terror attack on IndiaThe official pointed out that the sequence of events post the Pahalgam attack had the Pakistanis worried All of a sudden they wanted to have nothing to do with the attack The NIA describes this clearly in its chargesheet when speaking about The Resistance Front The outfit which is an offshoot of the LashkareTayiba had claimed responsibility for the attack but immediately withdrewThe claim was made on a Telegram channel called âKashmir Fightâ However when the heat was up and the Pakistanis realised that the Narendra Modi government was planning harsh retaliation The Resistance Front withdrew its statement and claimed that its Telegram channel had been hackedAnother official explained that ideally The Resistance Front would have wanted to tomtom about the attack and its capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir However the outfit was advised by the Pakistani establishment to withdraw that statementAfter having withdrawn the statement the Pakistanis indulged in a false flag narrative It wanted to send out a message that the attack was carried out by someone else and there was no Pakistani link to itAnother key aspect that played on the minds of the Pakistanis was the change of doctrine India said that an act of terror would not be treated as crossborder terror but as an act of war It was clear that despite Asim Munirâs tall claims about being ready for ten more wars the Pakistan army was clearly not ready or prepared for a fight with IndiaThis explains the false flag narrative the official added The NIAâs probe found that the Telegram channel âKashmir Fightâ was being operated from Battagram area in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPA second channel called The Resistance FrontOfFcial which was also used to guide the Pahalgam attack was being operated from Rawalpindi according to the probe by the NIAThe mobile phones that were recovered from the Pahalgam attackers who were killed during Operation Mahadev also helped the NIA establish the Pakistan linkOne of the phones was purchased online and sent to an address in Lahoreâs QaideAzam Industrial Estate The second phone was purchased from Karachi the NIA foundThe NIA said that the entire operation was managed staged and handled from Pakistan by Saifullah and this suggests the direct role of the LashkareTayibaThe NIA also identified two Pakistani locals Bashir Ahmed and Parvez who helped the Pakistani terrorists carry out the attack Further the NIA said that on April 15 and 16 the LashkareTayiba sent Faisal Jatt alias Suleiman Habib Tahir alias Chhotu and Hamza Afghani all Pakistanis to carry out a reconnaissance of the Baisaran Valley This helped them understand the security arrangements in the areaThe Pahalgam attack was then carried out on April 22 and during the entire duration of the strike the terrorists were provided real time information that included coordinates and other logistical dataIndia hit back by carrying out Operation Sindoor during which a significant number of terror infrastructure belonging to the LashkareTayiba JaisheMohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen were razed to rubble IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674819.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-505-cases-of-violence-against-minorities-recorded-so-far-this-year-674822.html Dhaka May 21 A leading minority rights organisation on Thursday expressed grave concern over an alarming pattern of violence against minorities in Bangladesh documenting 505 incidents in the first four months of this year In its latest report titled The Persecution Continues Minority Communities Under Sustained Attack in Bangladesh the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities HRCBM recorded 505 incidents across 62 districts and all 8 divisions of Bangladesh between January and April 2026The report mentioned that these incidents included killings and suspicious deaths physical assaults kidnappings sexual violence attacks on temples and religious institutions land grabbing arson looting intimidation and blasphemyrelated persecutionAccording to HRCBM these incidents are not isolated or localised events but reflect recurring patterns of violence intimidation sexual abuse land dispossession religious attacks mob aggression and institutional protection failures affecting minority communities across the countryAs per the findings the major categories of documented violations included 144 cases of kidnapping and physical assault 132 incidents of property attacks land grabbing arson and looting incidents and 100 cases of murder and suspicious death Additionally it documented 95 temple attacks and incidents of religious violence 28 cases of sexual violence including rape and gang rape and 6 blasphemyrelated incidentsThe documented pattern reveals a continuing failure of protection accountability and equal access to justice for vulnerable minority communities The report highlights recurring concerns involving delayed response weak investigation intimidation of victims or families and lack of visible accountability in many cases said the HRCBM criticising the persistent failure of Bangladeshi authorities to ensure adequate protection for minority communitiesBangladesh has witnessed escalating violence against minorities including Hindus during the eighteenmonth tenure of the former Muhammad Yunusled interim government sparking outrage among people and human rights organisations across the globeThe recurring incidents under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP government have further underscored a sharp rise in targeted attacks on minority communities in the countryEarlier in April the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council a human rights organisation against religious discrimination voiced serious concern over the continuation of communal violence across the country in the period before and following this years national elections documenting 133 incidentsIn a press release the organisation citing media reports stated that between January 1 and March 31 a total of 133 incidents of communal violence were recordedThese included 25 killings 4 incidents of rape and violence against women 35 incidents of temple attacks and looting and 69 other incidents including attacks on indigenous communities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-505-cases-of-violence-against-minorities-recorded-so-far-this-year-674822.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-arrives-in-delhi-after-successfully-concluding-five-nation-tour--674826.html New Delhi May 21 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday morning after concluding a highprofile fivenation diplomatic tour that covered the United Arab Emirates UAE the Netherlands Sweden Norway and ItalyThe Prime Minister began his overseas visit on May 15 from the UAE and completed the final leg in Italy on May 20 marking a closely watched diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening Indias global partnershipsThe tour was strategically focused on securing longterm energy supplies expanding technology collaborations and enhancing Indias economic and strategic engagement with European and West Asian partnersIn the UAE India signed key agreements to ensure longterm LPG supply arrangements and strengthen strategic petroleum reserves The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was also permitted to expand crude storage capacity in India to 30 million barrels The UAE further committed investments worth USD 5 billion in IndiaIndia and the Netherlands signed 17 agreements spanning defence cooperation critical minerals and green hydrogen initiatives During the visit PM Modi also visited the Afsluitdijk dam to study Dutch expertise in flood control and water management systemsDuring his visit to Sweden from May 1718 India and Sweden elevated their bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership Prime Minister Modi also addressed the European Round Table for Industry alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and was conferred Swedens prestigious Royal Order of the Polar Star Degree Commander Grand CrossPM Modi arrived in Norway on May 19 marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years He participated in the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit in Oslo where he engaged with leaders from Denmark Norway Finland Iceland and Sweden on cooperation in areas such as green technology and artificial intelligence He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of MeritDuring PM Modis visit to Italy both nations upgraded their bilateral ties to a Special Strategic Partnership with an ambition to expand trade to 20 billion by 2029nbspThe two sides signed agreements covering agriculture financial crime prevention and mobility of Indian healthcare professionals to Italy Highlevel discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also advanced cooperation on the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMECThe visit underscored Indias growing diplomatic engagement with key global partners with a strong emphasis on energy security innovation climate cooperation and expanded trade relations across regionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-arrives-in-delhi-after-successfully-concluding-five-nation-tour--674826.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/tech-world-mourns-indian-origin-microsoft-veteran-soma-674754.html Washington May 21 The global technology community is mourning the death of S âSomaâ Somasegar the Indian American former Microsoft executive and Madrona Venture Group managing director who was widely credited with shaping Microsoftâs developer ecosystem and mentoring a generation of engineers founders and investors âWith heavy hearts we share the passing of beloved husband and father S Somasegar fondly known as Soma on May 19th 2026â a family memorial message said TuesdayTributes poured in from across Silicon Valley and Seattle after news emerged that Somasegar had died at the age of 59 He spent nearly 27 years at Microsoft before joining Madrona Venture Group in 2015IndianAmerican entrepreneur and White House AI adviser Sriram Krishnan described Somasegar as a mentor who transformed careersâItâs hard to articulate how much of an impact Soma had on aarthir and meâ Krishnan wrote on X âHe spotted us out of under grad made sure we got our first jobs spent time with us though he was a senior executive at Microsoft and we were random junior people and showered us with kindnessââWe genuinely wouldnât have the lives and careers we have now without himâ he addedAutomation software company UiPath where Somasegar served on the board of directors from September 2024 called him âa trusted advisor and leaderââWe are saddened to hear of the untimely passing of S âSomaâ Somasegarâ the company said in a statement âOur hearts go out to Somaâs wife Akila his daughters and to his colleagues at MadronaâJournalist Tom Warren said Somasegar âspent 27 years at Microsoft and led the companyâs Developer Divisionâ adding that he âwas also a big part of the Seattle tech sceneâSeveral former Microsoft employees and startup founders remembered him as a quiet but influential force behind Microsoftâs transformation into a cloud and developerfocused companyA lengthy tribute published by GeekWire described him as âa champion of developers and startupsâ and highlighted his role mentoring founders and investors across Seattleâs technology ecosystemSomasegar joined Microsoft in January 1989 and later led the companyâs Developer Division overseeing products including Visual Studio and NET He also helped establish Microsoftâs India Development Center in Hyderabad in 1998âHe played a key role in Windows NT founded the India Development Center in Hyderabad and led the Developer Division championing NET and millions of developers worldwideâ wrote Chinnu Senthilkumar an alumnus of Chennaiâs College of Engineering GuindySomasegar later joined Madrona Venture Group focusing on investments in artificial intelligence machine learning cloud infrastructure and intelligent applicationsâHe was one of the kindest people I have knownâ Vijayee Raj CTO of OpenAI Applications wrote in a tribute cited by GeekWire âHe helped everyone around him gave generously of his time and wisdom and made people better simply by being in their cornerâThe GeekWire tribute said Somasegarâs death sent âa wave of shock and grief across Microsoft Madrona the VC firm where he worked the past 11 years the many startups he invested in and guided and the countless people he befriended and mentoredâSomasegar studied engineering in Chennai before moving to the United States for graduate studies at Louisiana State University He became one of the most prominent Indianorigin technology executives in the Seattle regionHis influence extended beyond Microsoft into the broader startup and venture capital ecosystem including investments in AI cloud computing and enterprise software firms He was also associated with the Seattle Orcas cricket franchise according to several tributes posted online IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/tech-world-mourns-indian-origin-microsoft-veteran-soma-674754.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/25-years-after-911-attacks-lawmakers-warn-us-security-framework-is-fraying-674755.html Washington May 21 Twentyfive years after the September 11 attacks reshaped Americaâs national security architecture lawmakers and counterterrorism experts have warned that the United States faces a more complex and dangerous threat landscape driven by artificial intelligence cyber warfare drones foreign espionage and decentralised terror networks During a hearing of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday local time bipartisan lawmakers and witnesses revisited the impact of the 911 Commission reforms while cautioning that America risks âtaking its eye off the ballâ amid mounting threats from China Russia Iran North Korea and extremist groupsCommittee Chairman Rick Crawford said the United States was once again in a âblinking red situationâ echoing warnings issued before the 2001 terror attacksâWe must be prepared and forwardlooking about the threats we faceâ Crawford said citing advancements in AI quantum computing cyber warfare and drone technology alongside renewed great power competitionFormer FBI Deputy Director John Pistole told lawmakers that the 911 Commission identified two major failures a âfailure of imaginationâ and the absence of a âunity of effortâ across government agenciesâHow is it that we did not envision such an attack as the 19 hijackers on 911â Pistole askedHe said intelligencesharing reforms following 911 significantly strengthened the countryâs ability to identify and disrupt threats but warned that the dangers remain âhighâCounterterrorism expert Bruce Hoffman said America had successfully avoided another catastrophic attack on the scale of 911 calling it a âtowering achievementââThe United States has not experienced another major terrorist attack like 911 nor anything even closeâ Hoffman said âIt is proof of how important the 911 Commissionâs recommendations have beenâHowever Hoffman warned that the security framework built after the attacks was now âfraying being dismantled or falling into disrepairâHe argued that threats have evolved from primarily foreign terrorist organisations to a blend of international networks lone actors and domestic extremism He specifically pointed to ISISKâs ability to expand operations beyond Afghanistan into Turkey Iran Russia and the United StatesNational security law expert Jamil Jaffer delivered one of the starkest warnings of the hearing saying America currently faces âthe highest state of threatâ in its historyâWeâve never been at a point where so many countries in the world that are opposed to us are on the verge of nuclear capabilityâ Jaffer saidJaffer urged Congress to permanently reauthorise Section 702 surveillance powers calling them âthe single most valuable intelligence collection authorityâ available to the US government He argued that repeated political battles over the programme weaken national security and risk rebuilding the legal âwallâ that hampered intelligencesharing before 911Hoffman warned that terrorist organisations could increasingly exploit inexpensive commercial drones to target crowded American citiesâWhatâs to stop any terrorist group anywhere from importing commercial drones and carrying out an attack on a major urban centreâ he askedThe hearing comes as Congress conducts a broader bipartisan review of the 911 Commission recommendations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks in September The original commission led to sweeping reforms including the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/25-years-after-911-attacks-lawmakers-warn-us-security-framework-is-fraying-674755.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/political-manoeuver-with-no-legal-basis-says-cuban-president-on-us-indictment-of-raul-castro-674756.html Havana May 21 The charges by the US government against Cuban Revolution leader Raul Castro are a political manoeuver with no legal basis whatsoever Cuban President Miguel DiazCanel has said DiazCanel said on X on Wednesday local time that the charges only reveal the arrogance and frustration of the empires representatives in the face of the unwavering resolve of the Cuban Revolution and the unity and moral strength of its leadershipEarlier on Wednesday a grand jury from the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida indicted Raul Castro for his alleged role in ordering the downing of two planes operated by a Cuban exile group in the United States named Brothers to the Rescue in 1996DiazCanel said the indictment is intended solely to enlarge the file they are fabricating to justify the folly of a military aggression against CubaWashington is lying and manipulating the events surrounding the downing of the small planes belonging to the narcoterrorist organization Brothers to the Rescue he saidThe president recounted what happened on February 24 1996 saying Cuba acted in legitimate selfdefence within its territorial waters after members of the Miamibased group repeatedly violated the island countrys airspace reports Xinhua news agencyCuba issued more than a dozen warnings about the violations but the US government ignored the warnings and allowed the violations to continue he said adding that documentary evidence demonstrated that Cuba did not act recklessly or violate international lawCastro as a guerrilla leader and statesman won the love of his people in addition to the respect and admiration of other leaders in the region and the world These values are his best defence and a moral shield against the ridiculous attempt to diminish his stature as a hero DiazCanel saidCastro 94 served as Cubas minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces at the time of the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/political-manoeuver-with-no-legal-basis-says-cuban-president-on-us-indictment-of-raul-castro-674756.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-targets-chinese-tech-firms-over-national-security-concerns-674757.html Washington May 21 Republican Senator Rick Scott has introduced legislation that would require the US government to determine whether several Chinese technology firms pose threats to national security The proposed âBlocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026â targets a group of Chinese companies known as the âSix Little Dragonsâ including DeepSeek Game Science Unitree Robotics DEEP Robotics BrainCo and Manycore TechThe companies are based in Hangzhou China and are seen as part of Beijingâs push into artificial intelligence robotics and digital technologiesUnder the bill US national security officials would have one year to investigate whether equipment or services from the companies threaten US national security or public safety If deemed a risk the firms could be added to the Federal Communications Commissionâs âCovered Listâ which identifies communications equipment and services considered a security threatThe legislation comes as Washington increases scrutiny of Chinese technology companies over concerns related to surveillance data collection and ties to the Chinese governmentScott said the United States must prevent companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the Peopleâs Liberation Army from gaining broad access to American marketsâCommunist China is not our friend They have chosen to be our enemies and want to destroy usâ Scott saidâThatâs why itâs imperative that we ensure that any company or entity connected with the Peopleâs Liberation Army PLA and the CCP are not given unfettered access to the US economyâScott added âBy prohibiting Communist Chinese companies from accessing American markets US manufacturing will get a fairer playing field to create familysustaining jobs We canât let China steal from us without accountability and this bill makes sure China canât keep taking advantage of hardworking AmericansâThe Senatorâs office in a statement cited recent reporting alleging that Unitree Robotics integrated an undocumented remote access tunnel called âCloudSailâ into its robotics systems potentially allowing connections to servers in ChinaIt also cited concerns about BrainCo a neurotechnology company that reportedly collected brainwave activity data and tested headsets on students at a Boston school in 2019According to the release BrainCo also worked with several Chinese universities identified by the United States as linked to Chinaâs defence industrySenator Tom Cotton who supports the bill said Chinese technology poses risks to American privacy and securityâChinese technology threatens Americansâ privacy and national securityâ Cotton saidâOur bill would ban any Chinese technology that poses an unacceptable risk to security and safety from being sold in the United Statesâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-targets-chinese-tech-firms-over-national-security-concerns-674757.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-reviewing-us-views-as-exchange-of-messages-continues-674758.html Tehran May 21 Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said that the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States is continuing through the Pakistani mediator and Tehran is reviewing the latest US views In an interview with staterun IRIB TV Baghaei said messages have been exchanged on several occasionsBaghaei said that Iran is focused on ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon with clear demands including releasing Iranian frozen assets and ending the US maritime piracy and hostile actions against Irans shippingHe added that Iran has entered the diplomatic process with goodwill and seriousness but views Washington with deep distrust due to its very bad track record over the past 18 monthsBaghaei said that Iran in cooperation with Oman seeks to create a mechanism to guarantee lasting security in the Strait of Hormuz and is ready to develop protocols for safe maritime traffic in the waterway in coordination with other coastal statesCiting a source close to Irans negotiation team the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that Washington has sent a new draft proposal to Tehran after Iran submitted its 14point proposed plan three days ago reports Xinhua news agencyThe mediator is currently in Tehran seeking to bring the two sides drafts closer though nothing has been finalised according to the sourceAlso on Wednesday Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on social media platform X that Iran has consistently honoured its commitments and sought to avert warAll paths remain open from our side Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion Pezeshkian saidIran the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with joint USIsraeli attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28Following the truce Iranian and US delegations held one round of negotiations in Pakistans capital Islamabad on April 11 and 12 which failed to yield an agreementFollowing the eruption of the war Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz barring passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States After the Islamabad talks collapsed the United States imposed a naval blockade on the strait preventing ships from and to Iranian ports from transiting the waterway IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-reviewing-us-views-as-exchange-of-messages-continues-674758.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/no-faith-no-law-no-morality-india-calls-out-pakistan-over-brutal-attacks-on-afghan-civilians-674760.html United Nations May 21 India called out Pakistanâs hypocrisy in claiming to champion international law while brutally killing civilians in Afghanistan even during the Islamic holy month and targeting civilian patients leaving the mosque after evening prayers Indiaâs Permanent Representative P Harish reminded the Security Council on Wednesday local time âThe United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA has reported that in the first three months of 2026 750 civilian deaths and injuries were documented in Afghanistan as a result of crossborder armed violence perpetrated by Pakistani military forces most of which occurred due to air strikesâParticipating in an open debate convened by the monthâs president China on âProtection of civilians in armed conflictâ Harish responded to Pakistanâs Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmadâs diatribe against India as he brought up KashmirHarish said âWith no faith no law and no morality the world can see through Pakistanâs propagandaââIt is ironic that Pakistan with its longtainted record of genocidal acts has chosen to refer to issues that are strictly internal to Indiaâ he saidHe added âIt is hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law while targeting innocent civilians in the darkâQuoting extensively from UNAMAâs Human Rights Service report âCrossborder civilian casualties in Afghanistanâ released on May 10 Indiaâs Permanent Representative highlighted a Pakistani attack on a drug rehabilitation hospital in AfghanistanâIt was during the holy month of Ramadan in March this year at a time of peace reflection and mercy that Pakistan conducted a barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabulâ he saidâAccording to UNAMA this cowardly and unconscionable act of violence claimed the lives of 269 civilians and injured a further 122 in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military targetâ he saidQuoting UNAMA he emphasised that âthe air strikes by Pakistan occurred at the conclusion of tarawih evening prayers when numerous patients were leaving the masjidâOver 94000 people became refugees due to Pakistanâs crossborder violence perpetrated against Afghan civilians he said âSuch heinous acts of aggression by Pakistan should not come as a surprise from a country that bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocideâ Harish said referring to the genocide committed by Islamabad during Bangladeshâs freedom struggle âDuring Operation Searchlight in 1971 Pakistan sanctioned the systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400000 women citizens by its own armyâ he said âSuch inhuman conduct reflects Pakistanâs repeated attempts over decades to externalise internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence both within and beyond its bordersâ he added The UNAMA report covering the first three months of the year recorded Pakistanâs attacks across AfghanistanIt said that 72 women 48 girls and 95 boys were among the victims of Pakistani attacksThe report pointed out that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian facilities and requires that âparties to the conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and combatantsââMedical personnel and facilities are explicitly afforded special protections under international humanitarian lawâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/no-faith-no-law-no-morality-india-calls-out-pakistan-over-brutal-attacks-on-afghan-civilians-674760.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-reviews-pakistans-reform-commitments-budget-strategy-674761.html Washington May 21 The International Monetary Fund IMF has said its staff mission had held âconstructive discussionsâ with Pakistani authorities on the countryâs economic situation including the fallout from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East while reviewing Islamabadâs reform commitments and budget strategy for fiscal year 2027 An IMF mission led by Iva Petrova visited Islamabad from May 13 to 20 The talks focused on recent economic developments implementation of reforms and the formulation of Pakistanâs next federal budget a media release said on Wednesday US timeâWe had constructive discussions with the authorities on recent economic developments including the impact of ongoing disruptions from the conflict in the Middle East the FY2027 budget formulation and progress on the reform agenda under the Extended Fund Facility EFF and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility RSFâ Petrova said in a statement issued after the visitThe IMF said Pakistani authorities had âreaffirmed their commitment to a primary surplus target of 2 per cent of GDP in FY2027â describing the target as necessary to support fiscal sustainability and economic resilienceAccording to the statement the planned fiscal consolidation would be backed by efforts to âbroaden the tax base improve tax administration enhance spending efficiency and public financial management at both federal and provincial levelsâThe IMF said discussions on Pakistanâs FY2027 budget would continue in the coming daysThe statement also underlined concerns over inflation and energy prices amid regional instabilityâThe State Bank of Pakistan reiterated its commitment to maintaining an appropriately tight monetary policy stance to anchor inflation expectations and will continue to closely monitor potential secondround effects from energy price increasesâ Petrova saidThe IMF added that exchange rate flexibility should continue to play a stabilising role for Pakistanâs economyâExchange rate flexibility should continue to serve as a key shock absorber and efforts should continue to build a deeper foreign exchange interbank marketâ the statement saidThe talks also covered a broad set of structural reforms including Pakistanâs energy sector stateowned enterprises product market liberalisation and financial sector reforms aimed at encouraging longterm private investmentThe IMF said progress under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility was also reviewed including work on a disaster risk financing framework integrating climate priorities into budget planning and reforms related to power subsidiesThe IMF said its next mission to Pakistan expected in the second half of 2026 would likely include the Article IV consultation along with reviews under both the EFF and RSF programmes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-reviews-pakistans-reform-commitments-budget-strategy-674761.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-create-economic-social-council-674762.html La Paz May 21 Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has announced he will make changes to his cabinet and create an economic and social council to bring together various social and regional sectors of the country The announcement represents the governments first attempt at political restructuring since protests broke out in late April with demonstrators demanding the resignation of the president who took office in NovemberI want to announce that we are going to reshuffle the cabinet which must have the capacity to listen The president cannot be everywhere the president cannot solve all the problems but he must address all the problems Paz told reporters at a press conference in Bolivias capital La Paz on Wednesday local timeHe said that the goal is to form a cabinet that is more agile more accessible and willing to listen with a greater capacity for dialogue and for addressing the accumulated social grievancesThe proposed economic and social council will be composed of representatives of farmers trade unions the selfemployed transport workers artisans and other social segments who will take part in monthly meetings with the Bolivian governmentThe council will be tasked with evaluating how public policies are implemented debating reforms promoted by the president and countering misinformation about government measuresThe presidents announcement came as Bolivia faces the most severe unrest it has seen in recent years For more than three weeks farmers miners teachers and factory workers along with the Bolivian Workers Central union and groups aligned with former Bolivian President Evo Morales have been protesting and putting up roadblocks in various parts of the country Additionally Bolivias government has told the Organization of American States OAS that weeks of road blockades protests and violence pose a threat to the countrys democratic order institutional stability and basic rightsSpeaking during a virtual session of the OAS Permanent Council on Wednesday local time Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo said Bolivia is facing rising political and social unrest with some protesters demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo PazAramayo called on the OAS and its member states to reaffirm support for Bolivias constitutional order and condemn political violence and actions aimed at disrupting state institutions reports Xinhua news agencyBolivia has seen weeks of protests led by farmers miners factory workers teachers the Bolivian Workers Central and groups aligned with former President Evo Morales What began as sectoral demands has escalated into political mobilisation calling for the resignation of PazTensions rose after police and military operations last weekend in El Alto near La Paz to clear roads and restore access to food and fuel supplies Officials said more than 100 people were detainedSince Monday protests have moved into central La Paz where clashes looting and damage to public and private property have been reportedAramayo said the government respects the right to peaceful protest and political participation but added that no demand can justify violence intimidation or violations of citizens rightsHe requested the dispatch of an international OAS mission to assess the political and social situation on the ground IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-create-economic-social-council-674762.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-civilian-killed-every-14-minutes-in-armed-conflicts-worldwide-in-2025-un-674763.html United Nations May 21 One civilian was killed every 14 minutes in armed conflicts around the world last year the chief of the UN global humanitarian response unit has said Edem Wosornu director of operations and advocacy of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Wednesday local time revealed the figures to the Security Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflictWe know the real toll is far higher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Sudan in Ukraine in the occupied Palestinian territory and beyond she addedIn a related statement released on Wednesday principals of the InterAgency Standing Committee highlighted growing and blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in hostilities around the world reports Xinhua news agencyAcross conflicts civilians including children are killed injured and displaced at an alarming scale they said Sexual violence is used as a tactic of war overwhelmingly affecting women and girls and devastating lives Homes schools places of worship hospitals including maternal wards are destroyed or damaged as are civilian infrastructure and assets such as water systems transport networks markets and food productionThe principals warned that conflictdriven hunger and famine are spreading often linked to siege tactics and the deliberate starvation of civilians They also highlighted the unprecedented toll on aid workers with more than 1000 humanitarian personnel killed in the past three yearsWars have rules that apply to all parties to conflict the statement said The problem is not a lack of law The problem is the failure to uphold them consistently the erosion of accountability and inaction even in the face of atrocities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-civilian-killed-every-14-minutes-in-armed-conflicts-worldwide-in-2025-un-674763.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-gas-to-groceries-rising-prices-weigh-on-us-consumers-674773.html Washington May 21 Americans are paying more for groceries gasoline and other everyday necessities as inflation accelerates again with economists increasingly pointing to geopolitical conflict and energy disruptions as key drivers of rising living costs The latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS show the Consumer Price Index a broad measure of inflation rose 38 per cent over the 12 months ending in April the fastest annual rate since 2023Monthly inflation increased 06 per cent in April while energy prices climbed sharply and grocery costs continued to rise leading to consumer dissatisfaction reports Xinhua news agencyEverything costs more now Maxi Baker a Glendale resident and mother of two told Xinhua echoing growing consumer concerns over rising prices for almost everything Food gas clothes rent you name it its going upEconomists say one of the biggest contributors to inflation has been surging energy costs linked to conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most important energy corridorsThe energy index increased 179 per cent for the 12 months ending April while gasoline prices jumped 284 per cent said the BLS noting that energy accounted for over 40 per cent of Aprils monthly inflation increaseAverage gasoline prices nationally have risen above 450 US dollars per gallon according to the American Automobile AssociationHigher fuel prices ripple through the economy because transportation costs affect nearly every consumer product from groceries to shipping and air travelEnergy inflation acts like a tax on consumers economists have long argued When trucking costs rise supermarkets and retailers often pass those increases on to customersFood prices have also become a pressure pointThe BLS reported that the index for food at home which measures inflation for groceries rose 07 per cent in April alone Beef coffee fruits and vegetables recorded noticeable increases according to inflation analysesFor lower and middleincome households groceries consume a larger share of income so even modest increases can significantly alter budgets and force cutbacks in family shopping habitsMeanwhile shelter costs another major inflation component continued climbing The index for owners equivalent rent and the index for rent both increased 05 per cent in April according to the BLSPerhaps most concerning for consumers is that inflation has begun to overtake earnings growthReal average hourly earnings for all employees fell 05 per cent from March to April and were down 03 per cent compared with April 2025 according to the BLS That means purchasing power is shrinking despite nominal pay increasesWhen wages fail to keep pace with prices households often compensate by reducing discretionary spending increasing credit card use or postponing major purchasesEverythings more expensive so money doesnt stretch as far I dont know how Im going to make up the shortfall said Denise Cohn a retail shop employee in Los Angeles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-gas-to-groceries-rising-prices-weigh-on-us-consumers-674773.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674813.html New Delhi May 21 IANS India has managed to clearly establish a direct Pakistan hand in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost After a painstaking probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA it was established that the attack was handled from Lahore by Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias Langde a top operative of the LashkareTayibanbspnbspA clear pattern has come to light before and after the terror attack that took place on April 22 2025 in which 26 people were killedInvestigations suggest that Pakistan had thought it would get away with the attack However as the international condemnation grew and India began preparing for a strong response the Pakistanis did not want to have anything to do with the attackAn official explained that it all began with the provocative statements made by Pakistans army chief Asim MunirMunir had said days before the attack during an Overseas Pakistanis Convention that Kashmir is our jugular vein it will be out jugular vein and we will not forget itHe also spoke about the twonation theory and highlighted explicitly the differences between Hindus and MuslimsThis was aimed at ideological division Prior to this he had spoken about war Munir said that three wars had been fought for Kashmir and if need be then ten more would be foughtAn official said that these statements were aimed at inciting violence and it went on to become the platform for the Pahalgam terror attack on IndiaThe official pointed out that the sequence of events post the Pahalgam attack had the Pakistanis worried All of a sudden they wanted to have nothing to do with the attack The NIA describes this clearly in its chargesheet when speaking about The Resistance Front The outfit which is an offshoot of the LashkareTayiba had claimed responsibility for the attack but immediately withdrewThe claim was made on a Telegram channel called Kashmir Fight However when the heat was up and the Pakistanis realised that the Narendra Modi government was planning harsh retaliation The Resistance Front withdrew its statement and claimed that its Telegram channel had been hackedAnother official explained that ideally The Resistance Front would have wanted to tomtom about the attack and its capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir However the outfit was advised by the Pakistani establishment to withdraw that statementAfter having withdrawn the statement the Pakistanis indulged in a false flag narrative It wanted to send out a message that the attack was carried out by someone else and there was no Pakistani link to itAnother key aspect that played on the minds of the Pakistanis was the change of doctrine India said that an act of terror would not be treated as crossborder terror but as an act of war It was clear that despite Asim Munirs tall claims about being ready for ten more wars the Pakistan army was clearly not ready or prepared for a fight with IndiaThis explains the false flag narrative the official added The NIAs probe found that the Telegram channel Kashmir Fight was being operated from Battagram area in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPA second channel called The Resistance FrontOfFcial which was also used to guide the Pahalgam attack was being operated from Rawalpindi according to the probe by the NIAThe mobile phones that were recovered from the Pahalgam attackers who were killed during Operation Mahadev also helped the NIA establish the Pakistan linkOne of the phones was purchased online and sent to an address in Lahores QaideAzam Industrial Estate The second phone was purchased from Karachi the NIA foundThe NIA said that the entire operation was managed staged and handled from Pakistan by Saifullah and this suggests the direct role of the LashkareTayibaThe NIA also identified two Pakistani locals Bashir Ahmed and Parvez who helped the Pakistani terrorists carry out the attack Further the NIA said that on April 15 and 16 the LashkareTayiba sent Faisal Jatt alias Suleiman Habib Tahir alias Chhotu and Hamza Afghani all Pakistanis to carry out a reconnaissance of the Baisaran Valley This helped them understand the security arrangements in the areaThe Pahalgam attack was then carried out on April 22 and during the entire duration of the strike the terrorists were provided real time information that included coordinates and other logistical dataIndia hit back by carrying out Operation Sindoor during which a significant number of terror infrastructure belonging to the LashkareTayiba JaisheMohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen were razed to rubbleIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674813.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-xi-promised-no-arms-for-iran-674595.html Washington May 20 US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that Beijing was not supplying weapons to Iran as he defended ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon Speaking to reporters during a visit to the White House ballroom construction site Trump said he had received direct assurances from Xi amid rising tensions in the Middle EastâPresident Xi has promised me that hes not sending any weapons to Iranâ Trump said âThats a beautiful promise I take him at his wordâTrump said he and Xi had developed a strong personal relationship during recent engagements âWe had an amazing time in Chinaâ he said âPresident Xi and I had really an amazing timeâThe Presidentâs remarks came as he discussed Iranâs military capabilities and broader regional security concerns involving the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf nationsTrump argued that China also had a strong interest in preventing instability in the region because of its dependence on Middle Eastern energy suppliesâYou know if you think about it he gets 40 per cent of his oilâ Trump said referring to Xi âHe wants it open Like me I want it openâTrump accused Iran of using strategic waterways as leverage for decades âIran has used the straits as a military weapon for 47 yearsâ he said âThats not their strait thats international waterwaysâThe President said regional governments including Saudi Arabia Qatar the UAE Bahrain and Kuwait were working with Washington in ongoing negotiations involving IranâWe are negotiating togetherâ Trump said âIsrael has been a great partnerâTrump also claimed Iranâs military infrastructure had suffered extensive damageâTheir missiles are 82 per cent gone we estimateâ he said âTheir Navy is completely gone their Air Force is completely goneâHe said Iran still retained âa little capacityâ to retaliate but argued its military rebuilding capability had been significantly weakenedâTheir capacity to build is very little right now because we hit all of their manufacturing areasâ Trump saidTrump revealed that the United States had been close to launching additional military strikes before regional allies urged more time for diplomacy âI was an hour away from making the decision to go todayâ he saidThe President maintained that Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons under any circumstancesâIf they had a nuclear weapon they would start with Israelâ Trump said âIt would be nuclear holocaustâTrump also linked the issue to global energy markets saying any prolonged conflict in the region could affect oil supplies and fuel prices âOne of the things that is happening is these big ships are coming up to Texas Louisiana and Alaska and theyre loading upâ he saidThe comments reflected the Trump administrationâs attempt to balance pressure on Iran while also keeping communication channels open with major powers including ChinaChina remains one of Iranâs most important economic partners and a major buyer of Iranian oil despite years of US sanctions Beijing has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions and has called for diplomatic engagement over Iranâs nuclear programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-xi-promised-no-arms-for-iran-674595.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/vance-accuses-biden-of-asylum-fraud-674596.html Washington May 20 US Vice President JD Vance accused the previous Biden administration of allowing widespread abuse of the American asylum system and said the Trump administration was prosecuting immigrationrelated fraud while tightening border enforcement Vance told reporters at a White House news conference that one of the âbiggest immigration fraudsâ under former President Joe Biden was the handling of asylum claims at the southern borderâThe biggest immigration fraud that existed under the Biden administration its not just that they let a flood of people across the southern borderâ Vance said âBut its also that they allowed the asylum and refugee claimant process to become totally fraudulentâVance claimed that many migrants entering the United States had falsely presented themselves as asylum seekers in order to gain entry and receive work permitsâYou would take a person who in normal cases would just be a traditional economic immigrantâ he said âThey would come into the country and say that they were fleeing persecutionâAccording to Vance the previous administration then released many of those migrants into the interior of the country while they awaited immigration hearings that could take yearsâHeres a work permit Maybe come back in 10 or 12 years for your hearing on whether you actually have a legitimate asylum claimâ he saidThe Vice President argued that the process effectively amounted to âamnestyâ and said the system failed to adequately screen migrants entering the countryâWhat if that person was a criminal What if that person actually had a violent historyâ he asked âWe didnt do any of the work necessary to ensure that the people coming into our country claiming to be asylum claimants actually had anything legitimate or anything good in their backgroundâVance said the Trump administration had now âfixedâ the loophole and was investigating individuals who allegedly exploited the asylum processâIt is something that we have fixed in the Trump administrationâ he said âWeâre very focused on in the fraud task force is making sure that the people who exploited that loophole are actually prosecuted for itâThe Vice President also linked illegal immigration to broader economic and cultural concerns in the US and EuropeâOne of the problems that we have in all of Western societies is that we have a lot of people whove decided â Wall Street bankers corporate lobbyists and government officials â that what the United States and what the West need is more and more cheap labourâ he saidâWhat we believe in this White House is what we need more and more of is high wages for American workers and investing in our own peopleâ Vance addedCommenting on antiimmigration protests in the United Kingdom Vance defended tighter border controls and said Western nations had the right to protect their identity and labour marketsâItâs okay to wanna defend your culture Itâs okay to wanna live in a safe neighbourhoodâ he said âIt is reasonable for the people in western societies to want to control who comes into their country and who doesnâtâVance also reiterated his opposition to broad immigration amnesty proposals being debated in CongressâI donât like giving amnesty to anybodyâ he said when asked about legislation that would provide work visas to undocumented immigrants IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/vance-accuses-biden-of-asylum-fraud-674596.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-admiral-says-iran-significantly-weaker-after-strikes-674597.html Washington May 20 Admiral Brad Cooper on defended the Trump administrationâs military campaign against Iran telling lawmakers that Tehranâs military capabilities had been âsignificantly degradedâ following weeks of USled operations across the Middle East Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee the commander of US Central Command repeatedly argued that Operations âEpic Furyâ and âMidnight Hammerâ had dismantled much of Iranâs ability to project power across the regionâWe are unquestionably safer as a result of US military actionsâ Cooper said during sharp exchanges with lawmakersThe hearing came amid growing political scrutiny over the nearly threemonth conflict with Iran rising oil prices and the continuing disruption of shipping through the Strait of HormuzCooper told lawmakers the US military had âsignificantly degraded Iranâs ballistic missiles and drones while destroying 90 per cent of their defence industrial base ensuring that Iran cannot reconstitute for yearsâHe said Iranâs regional proxy network had also been severely weakenedâToday Hamas Hezbollah and the Houthis are cut off from Iranâs weapons supply and supportâ Cooper testifiedAccording to Cooper Iranbacked groups had attacked US troops and diplomats more than 350 times over the past twoandahalf years before the latest military campaign beganThe Centcom commander also defended the continuing US naval blockade around Iran describing it as a major source of leverage in ongoing negotiationsâTo date weâve turned away 88 shipsâ he said âThere has been zero trade into Iranian ports and zero trade out of Iranian portsâCooper argued that the blockade and sustained military pressure were imposing severe economic costs on TehranBut Democratic lawmakers repeatedly challenged his assessment arguing that despite the military operations Iran still retained the ability to disrupt global commerce through the Strait of HormuzRepresentative Adam Smith said the broader strategic picture had deterioratedâWe are in a disaster right nowâ Smith said âThe regime is in place Itâs not going anywhereâLawmakers also pressed Cooper on civilian casualty allegations linked to US strikes inside Iran including a reported strike on a girlsâ school in MinabCooper acknowledged that an investigation into the incident was continuing but insisted the US military followed the law of armed conflictâThe United States does not deliberately target civilians Period Full stopâ he saidâWe follow the law of armed conflict to the teeâ he saidThe admiral also highlighted the role played by US allies and Gulf partners during the campaign calling the regional military coordination unprecedentedâWe literally served side by side in this broad Middle East air defence network with five Middle East partnersâ Cooper said citing Saudi Arabia Bahrain Qatar UAE and KuwaitCooper said the US military remained fully prepared for further contingencies if negotiations with Tehran failedâAs I sit here weâre cleareyedâ he said âThe situation in front of us is complexâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-admiral-says-iran-significantly-weaker-after-strikes-674597.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/africa-terror-threat-alarms-us-lawmakers-674599.html Washington May 20 Senior US military commanders warned Congress that Africa has become the new global centre of terrorism with extremist groups rapidly expanding across the continent and posing growing threats to American and allied interests The warning came during a House Armed Services Committee hearing where General Dagvin Anderson said the threat from ISIS and alQaeda affiliates in Africa had reached alarming levelsâToday the epicentre of global terrorism is in Africaâ Anderson told lawmakersAnderson warned that ISIS leadership and alQaedaâs financial networks were now deeply rooted in Africa especially in West Africa and the Sahel region âBoth groups share the will and intent to strike our homelandâ he saidThe Commander of US Africa Command pointed specifically to the growing instability in Mali Niger and Burkina Faso warning that terrorist groups were increasingly controlling territory and exploiting weak governance structuresâThe capture of a capital city would provide al Qaeda with all the trappings of a nation state to sponsor global terrorismâ Anderson saidThe hearing also revealed deep US concerns over expanding Chinese and Russian influence across AfricaâChina views Africa as its second continentâ Anderson said accusing Beijing of securing strategic control over critical minerals and infrastructureHe also described Africa as âPutinâs purseâ saying Russia was exploiting instability to extract resources and manpower for its war machineLawmakers heard that the US military recently conducted a joint operation with Nigerian forces that killed ISIS global operations leader Bilal alMalikiAccording to Anderson the operation demonstrated the importance of regional partnerships and intelligence cooperationâThe Nigerians have been instrumental throughout the last several months developing the target helping us with the intelligence and providing supportâ he saidSeveral lawmakers raised concerns that reduced Western engagement in Africa could create opportunities for China Russia and extremist groups to expand their influenceRepresentative Austin Scott warned that the US had lost important intelligence access in parts of West Africa following military withdrawals from NigerâThe biggest concern I have is the growing black hole of intelligence in the Sahelâ Anderson respondedThe discussion carries significance for India which has strengthened defence cooperation and development partnerships across Africa over the past decade India has growing investments in mining energy pharmaceuticals and infrastructure projects across East and West AfricaIndian naval deployments have also expanded in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden region amid concerns over piracy terrorism and maritime securityThe hearing reflected broader geopolitical competition unfolding across Africa where the United States China Russia Turkey Gulf countries and India are all seeking greater influence through trade infrastructure defence and strategic partnershipsUS officials warned that the continentâs rapidly growing population weak governance structures and expanding extremist networks could reshape future global security challenges if left unchecked IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/africa-terror-threat-alarms-us-lawmakers-674599.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/california-wildfire-puts-over-17-000-residents-under-evacuation-order-674600.html Los Angeles May 20 More than 750 firefighters are battling a fastmoving winddriven Sandy Fire in Southern Californias Ventura County which has put over 17000 residents under evacuation orders The Sandy Fire ignited Monday morning near Sandy Avenue and Rudolph Drive in Simi Valley roughly 48 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles According to the Simi Valley Police Department the blaze was sparked accidentally just after 10 am local time when an individual operating a tractor struck a rock during property clearance creating a spark that ignited the surrounding dry brushFueled by low humidity and terraindriven wind gusts the fire quickly exploded scorching through 1385 acres about 56 square kilometers with 5 percent containment by Tuesday morningEmergency personnel launched an aggressive air and ground assault to protect threatened suburban neighborhoods Crews were aided overnight by a temporary easing of the winds allowing firefighters to establish defensive lines Waterdropping helicopters have been utilizing a nearby lake for quick turnaround times while ground crews scramble to prevent the flames from cresting slopes toward nearby communitiesThe state is taking no chances California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday evening that the state secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure local agencies receive 75 per cent reimbursement for suppression costs Xinhua news agency reportedIn the meantime local disruption remains severe The Simi Valley Unified School District canceled all classes Tuesday and regional environmental officials issued a widespread air quality advisory for both Ventura and Los Angeles counties as thick plumes of gray smoke blanket the region as nervous residents hope for early containmentAustralia experienced its secondlargest fire year in the past decade in 2025 driven by severe weather and stormrelated ignitions according to a new national fire mapping report IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/california-wildfire-puts-over-17-000-residents-under-evacuation-order-674600.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/thousands-rally-in-tokyo-against-takaichi-governments-push-to-revise-pacifist-constitution-674606.html Tokyo May 20 Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Japans National Diet Building in Tokyo to protest the governments attempts to undermine the countrys pacifist constitution through constitutional revision and military expansion policies According to the organisers about 10000 people attended the rally voicing strong opposition to the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and its recent security and defence initiativesProtesters held placards reading Stop constitutional revision and military expansion and Do not destroy Article 9 while chanting slogans such as Stop missile deployment and Takaichi must resignYuki Hoshino a participant at the rally told Xinhua that the people do not want constitutional amendments and that the Takaichi government is pushing the agenda without sufficient public consentSo many people have gathered here to protest hoping that the government will change its mind Hoshino saidAnother protester Ryosuke Tanji said Japan must never again repeat the tragedies of warAbsolutely no war should be allowed to happen he saidJapan committed terrible acts in the past and perhaps many Japanese are gradually forgetting that history But the more I learn about it the more strongly I feel that such things must never happen againHiroshi Onishi professor emeritus at Keio University told Xinhua at the rally that the governments recent military buildup contradicts the pacifist principles enshrined in Japans constitution and should be stoppedJapanese media reported on Monday that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had drafted proposals to revise the countrys three key national security documents The proposals reportedly call for strengthening Japans air defense systems and sustained combat capabilities as well as the early deployment of submarines powered by advanced propulsion systems and designed to carry longrange missiles to bolster Japans socalled counterstrike capabilitiesJapans current constitution which took effect in 1947 contains the famous Article 9 under which the country renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes The article also stipulates that Japan will not maintain war potential leading the constitution to be widely known as the pacifist constitution Xinhua news agency reportedTakaichi and other rightwing forces in Japan have long advocated revising Article 9 The prime minister has repeatedly expressed her support for constitutional revision this year sparking growing concern and opposition among the Japanese public and various sectors of society IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/thousands-rally-in-tokyo-against-takaichi-governments-push-to-revise-pacifist-constitution-674606.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-stays-worlds-fastest-growing-economy-recording-64-pc-rise-despite-iran-war-fallout-674621.html United Nations May 20 India will remain the worldâs fastestgrowing major economy recording a rise of 64 per cent this year showing resilience in a world buffeted by Iran warâs fallout according to the world organisation We have seen structurally very robust growth in India which has been driven by consumer demand by public investment but also by strong performance in services exportsâ Ingo Pitterle the UNâs senior economist heading its Global Economic Monitoring Branch said on TuesdayâThese main drivers will largely remain intactâ he said briefing reporters on the midyear update to the World Economic Situation and Prospects reportThe report downgraded the growth rate of Indiaâs gross domestic product by 02 per cent from the projection of 66 made in January but it said that it will catch up to that figure next yearâBack in January we were expecting quite significantly more growth for India so this is a downgradeâ Shantanu Mukherjee the director of UNâs Economic Analysis and Policy Division saidBut he added âIndia is a large economy well diversifiedâ and there have been improvements like some structural changes recently and improvements in tax revenuesOn dealing with the energy crisis from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and its farreaching impact the report said âIndiaâs diversified energy sourcing and structural buffers including its refining infrastructure ample foreign exchange reserves and fiscal space to manage fuel prices may limit the direct passthrough of higher crude pricesâThe report lowered the world growth rate to 25 per cent also by 02 per cent from the projection made in January before the Iran war which led to Tehran choking off most energy supplies sailing through the Strait of HormuzâThe crisis in the Middle East has delivered another major shock to the world economy testing the resilience of global growth stoking inflationary pressures and further challenging the prospects for sustainable developmentâ the report saidBut it pointed out that there is substantial variation among countries and the projections are pulled up âby the performance of large economies most notably China and IndiaâAfter India the next fastestgrowing major economy is China clocking a rate of 46 per cent this year before dipping to 45 per cent next year according to the reportAmong the major developed countries the US economy is projected to grow the fastest with a rise of two per cent this year and the nextThe projection for the European Union is 11 per cent this year and 14 per cent next yearDespite the high growth rate of India the overall projection for South Asia is pulled down to 46 per cent this year and 56 per cent next year by the expected performance of other countries of the regionIndia does face problems spawned by the Iran warâFor exampleâ Pitterle said âremittances add to some vulnerability also a global financial tightening will make monetary policy more complicatedâWe do acknowledge some vulnerabilities and risks going forward but in our baseline we assume what I would characterise as solid growth of around 6465 per centâ he addedIn the longrange Mukherji said âwhen import costs go up if these are going into producing your exports into your manufacturing your exports could also suffer because import costs are going upâWhen things like freight costs logistics costs or prices of industrial petrochemicals like naphtha or diesel fuel start increasing so does the cost for businesses he saidThats why we think that looking not just at the consumer price index but the producer price index is important to get a gauge on whats going onâ he saidBut Mukerjee said âLike many other large economies India has some space to manage these which is why I think weve been saying all along that a lot depends on whether you can manage these shocks within existing buffers before sort of your inventories your fiscal space et cetera run outâ âThats crucialâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-stays-worlds-fastest-growing-economy-recording-64-pc-rise-despite-iran-war-fallout-674621.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-music-getting-very-popular-pm-modi-on-italian-artists-performing-hamsadhwani-raga-674623.html Rome May 20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Italian artists who performed Indian classical music to welcome him in Rome during his visit to Italy The artists performed Hamsadhwani which means the cry of the swan This is a bright auspicious and pentatonic raga shared by both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music Created in the 18th century by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar it is frequently used for opening concerts and invocations Sharing a video of the performance on X PM Modi said Indian music is getting very popular in Italy During the community welcome in Rome last evening five Italian artistes performed the Hamsadhwani Compliments to Mr Valerio Bruni Santoor Mr Leo Vertunni Sitar Mr Simone Mattiello Bansuri Mr Francesco Gherardi Tabla and Mr Nicolo Mellochi BansuriArtists who performed during the welcome ceremony also expressed joy over meeting Prime Minister Modi and talked about their admiration for himFrancesco Gherardi said PM Modi actively engaged with the performers during the eventHis participation was there we could feel it He was clapping during the performance and gave us a lot of good vibes We were able to shake hands with him and also had nice pictures together he saidArtist Simone Mattiello described the event as joyful and said the Prime Minister appeared to connect with the performersOur performance was very joyful and I think he connected with us He clapped so I think he enjoyed it he saidMusician Nicolo Melocchi called it a great opportunity to perform before the Prime Minister and interact with him brieflyArtist Valerio Bruni added that PM Modi seemed genuinely enthusiastic during the cultural presentation and appreciated the teams effortsPM Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday local time for his final leg of the fivenation tour He was warmly welcomed by his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-music-getting-very-popular-pm-modi-on-italian-artists-performing-hamsadhwani-raga-674623.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-hails-global-appeal-of-indian-classical-dance-after-five-italian-women-perform-674638.html New Delhi May 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it was wonderful to see Indian dance forms drawing global interest as he shared a video of five Italian women performing Kuchipudi Bharatanatyam and Kathak to welcome him in Rome during his visit to ItalynbspPM Modi took to social media X and said Five Italians passionate about Indian dance Svamini Atmananda Giri Ms Martina Meenakshi Argada Ms Lucrezia Maniscotti Ms Valeria Vespaziani Ms Rosella Fanelli performed Trigalbandi which included Kuchipudi Bharatanatyam and Kathak It is wonderful to see Indian dance forms drawing global interestArtist Martina Argada spoke to IANS and said He told us the performance was excellent We are very thankful to the Indian Embassy in Rome for giving us the opportunity to perform in front of the Indian Prime MinisterKathak artist Rosella Fanelli said It was very nice for me and for my friends We were waiting for a long time so the emotions were very high I consider this opportunity a very nice experience and I hope we can meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in IndiaMeanwhile PM Modi also visited the Colosseum in Rome along with his Italian counterpart Giorgia MeloniThe Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built situated in the historic centre of Rome It was completed in 80 AD under the Flavian dynastyThis iconic elliptical structure made of stone and concrete could accommodate up to 80000 spectators who came to watch gladiatorial contests and public spectaclesItalian PM Giorgia Meloni warmly welcomed Prime Minister Modi to Italy as he arrived in Rome on Tuesday night local time for the final leg of his fivenation tourExtending a personal greeting to the Indian Prime Minister Meloni posted on X Welcome to Rome my friend underlining the close rapport between the two leadersEarlier PM Modi also attended a dinner hosted by Italian PM Giorgia MeloniHe also shared pictures from the dinner in a post on XPM Modi said he is looking forward to holding talks with Meloni during which they will continue discussing how to strengthen IndiaItaly friendshipUpon landing in Rome had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects Looking forward to our talks today where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the IndiaItaly friendship PM Modi posted on XPM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with PM Meloni and meet President Sergio MattarellaPrime Minister Modi also shared details of his arrival saying he had landed in Rome for an official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili where both leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to further deepen the IndiaItaly strategic partnershipIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-hails-global-appeal-of-indian-classical-dance-after-five-italian-women-perform-674638.html Wed, 20 May 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/inside-isis-rs-500-espionage-network-and-why-it-is-so-hard-to-detect-674658.html New Delhi May 20 Indiaâs Operation Sindoor dealt a mighty blow to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan Since the operation that was carried out to avenge the Pahalgam attack the ISI has focused heavily on its espionage network within India The agencies have busted several networks including a CCTV spying operation and a network of influencers While these are the big fries the agencies are worried about a larger network of youth who are ready to fish out information for as little as Rs 500These lowcost operatives charging in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1000 are a worry because they are present in larger numbers and are the ones who hardly ever come under the radar The information that the ISI is seeking from them may be small but it is very significant A youth is asked to sit outside a railway station and monitor the movement of Indian troopsThe Indian army relies on the railways for the movement of its troops It also relies on the railways for the movement of tanks artillery and heavy logistics across the country It routinely operates dedicated Military Special Trains and uses the railway network to rapidly mobilise forces both during peacetime and conflictTo monitor such movement not much training is needed The ISI recruits just have to provide the timings of the train details about its movement and destinationAn Intelligence Bureau official said that for such operations the ISI looks out for youth who roam around aimlessly at the railway stations These are the lowcost operatives that have become the strategic assets of the ISI More importantly there is hardly any investment for the ISI as hiring such persons is cheap and the training required to gather information is almost nilAnother official explained that even the recruitment strategy is relatively easier in such cases The handlers in India are told to identify just a handful of youth for such an espionage operation These boys are in turn told to identify more such persons from their friendsâ circles For these youth it is just the lure of money that brings them into the network The low payments are sufficient for these persons to get the job done the official explainedThis lowcost network also relies on cheap phones with no GPS or recording capabilities This means that the phones are extremely hard to track All these people have to do is collect the information and then pass it on to their handlers Once the job is done the SIM cards are disposed of and they are provided with new ones another official explainedAnother official said that the ISI wants to create espionage networks in multiple layers It also has other networks that install solarpowered CCTV cameras at sensitive locations These operatives are paid in the range of Rs 10000 to Rs 15000 per installationThere is also the whitecollar network who are paid in the range of Rs 50000 to Rs 75000 These operatives are hired to gather highlevel information This is the same network that is also used to set honey traps and gather very sensitive information about Indiaâs defence and science and technology sectorsOfficials say that the ISI wants as much information as possible on the country It is desperate for an image makeover after the Operation Sindoor embarrassment The spy agency is attempting to gather as much information so that it can plan strikes on the Indian military and strategic locations officials also say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/inside-isis-rs-500-espionage-network-and-why-it-is-so-hard-to-detect-674658.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/khalistan-networks-replicate-mumbai-underworld-model-groom-juveniles-for-low-cost-high-success-attacks-674664.html New Delhi May 20 The crime landscape in Punjab is fast changing with terror groups and criminal networks deploying new strategies almost daily to disrupt law and order While the larger push that is being made is for a separate Khalistan nation these syndicates at play are carrying out low intensity explosions to keep the state on the boil The Khalistan networks are also trying to replicate the Mumbai underworld model of grooming juveniles for lowcost highsuccess attacks The police and Intelligence agencies have stated that the target audience is the youth and these gangsterterror networks are taking advantage of the massive drug problem in the state to undertake recruitmentsHowever a particular area of concern that has now come to light is that these syndicates are largely targeting juveniles to be part of their network In recent weeks these networks have even recruited boys who are in their 12th standard to undertake attacksAn Intelligence Bureau official said that these criminal and terror syndicates are using the various loopholes in the law and hence are targeting juveniles As per the intercepts that the agencies have picked up there are several mentions made by the recruiters to spot juveniles and rope them into their networksThe law defines a juvenile as any person under the age of 18 Children above the age of 7 who commit heinous offences are tried by the Juvenile Justice Board The trial is also held depending on the childâs mental capacities and the circumstances of the crime These persons have the right to anonymity under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015Another official explained that the Khalistan terror networks are replicating what the underworld in Mumbai did several years back In addition to all these safeguards these juveniles enjoy under the law they also have the advantage of not coming under the scanner of the law enforcement agenciesA school or college going boy hardly ever is a suspect and hence they have become the preferred choice for recruitments the officials explainedOfficials say that in addition to all these safeguards children of such young ages hardly ask any questions Even their enumerations are not high and this works as an added advantage officials say Moreover they do not even understand the consequences of their actions and with ideology not mattering to them either there is every chance that these persons would get the job done at least 90 per cent of the time the official explainedTake for instance the May 6 case that was reported from Chandigarh A class 12 student was picked up by the police after it was found that he was on his way to Tarn Taran allegedly to carry out a murderHe was operating at the behest of gangsters based abroad He was in contact with gangsters Prabh Dasuwal and Gurvinder Singh alias Afridi Tootawala through the social mediaThe gangster network learnt that he had got into a fight with another person and was looking for revenge The gangsters kept in touch with him and groomed him to commit a murder of a rival of the gangster network investigations foundAn official said that this is one case of where a juvenile was being used to commit a murder of another gangster Hiring such people also brings in the surprise element into an attack as these persons are unassuming and the suspicion levels are very low the official addedThe official added that the push to hire more juveniles is also being done with the aim of them being used to carry out grenade attacks This has been the latest strategy of the ISIbacked Khalistani elements where the modus operandi is to carry out lowcost grenade attacks at strategic locationsA student would be recruited and be asked to carry a grenade in his school bag He would then be instructed to hurl it at a location that is designated by the terror group While doing so the boy would hardly come under scrutiny and hence the chance of the strike being successful is very high the official also explainedIn Punjab a massive push is being made by the ISI to ramp up terror attacks It has over the last couple of years being pushing the Khalistan outfits to carry out strikes in the state and then push for the creation of a separate Khalistan nation carved out of Indiaâs Punjab officials point out IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/khalistan-networks-replicate-mumbai-underworld-model-groom-juveniles-for-low-cost-high-success-attacks-674664.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pragati-2026-12-countries-join-multinational-military-exercise-in-meghalaya-674665.html Shillong May 20 A multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 involving armed forces personnel from 12 friendly nations commenced on Wednesday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya officials said The twoweeklong exercise has brought together participants from Bhutan Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Maldives Myanmar Nepal the Philippines Seychelles Sri Lanka and Vietnam to strengthen regional cooperation interoperability and strategic coordination among the participating countriesDefence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that the multilateral military exercise âPRAGATI 2026â which stands for partnership of regional armies for growth and transformation in the Indian Ocean Region is being conducted in the spirit of equality friendship and mutual respectThe exercise provides a common platform for participating armies to engage in professional exchange learn from one anotherâs experiences and build closer militarytomilitary ties he saidThe opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries In his address Major General Sunil Sheoran Additional Director General of Infantry Indian Army welcomed all contingents and highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing contemporary security challengesHe encouraged all participants to engage with openness mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one anotherâs experiences while highlighting that the strengths and perspectives brought by each nation would contribute meaningfully towards achieving the collective objectives of the exerciseAccording to Lt Col Rawat the objectives of the exercise include enabling seamless coordination among participating nations in joint operations and identifying common areas of cooperation sharing expertise and establishing an institutionalised mechanism for the exchange of best practices evolved through individual experiencesThe exercise is being held to strengthen defence ties and camaraderie through joint training and cultural exchange and evolving common concepts for management and sharing of intelligence in a multinational environmentThe twoweeklong exercise will focus on counterterrorism operations in semimountainous and jungle terrainThe defence spokesman said that the training programme will include joint planning exercises tacticallevel drills and coordinated operations designed to improve adaptability endurance and tactical proficiency of participating troopsEmphasis will be laid on physical fitness discipline and coordination while operating in challenging conditionsAs part of the exercise Indian technology and defence companies will showcase indigenous equipment and innovations under the âAatmanirbhar Bharatâ initiative providing a platform for knowledge exchange and highlighting Indiaâs growing capabilities in defence production innovation and selfreliance the official saidExercise âPRAGATI 2026â is expected to further strengthen militarytomilitary cooperation deepen professional bonds and contribute towards a shared approach to common security challenges among regional partners Lt Col Rawat pointed out IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pragati-2026-12-countries-join-multinational-military-exercise-in-meghalaya-674665.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cyprus-president-nikos-christodoulides-to-arrive-in-india-today-for-four-day-visit-674676.html New Delhi May 20 Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides will be on a State visit to India starting Wednesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Christodoulides will be in India till May 23During the visit PM Modi and President Christodoulides will hold discussions on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest including trade investment technology education culture mobility defence and security Artificial Intelligence AI FinTech innovation and research according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs MEABoth leaders will also discuss issues of regional and global importance including cooperation in multilateral fora PM Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitaryFor his visit to India Christodoulides will be accompanied by a highlevel delegation including the Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos the Minister of Transport Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades senior officials and business leaders This will be President Christodoulides first visit to India after assuming officeThe visit of President Christodoulides is taking place within a year of the historic visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Cyprus on 1516 June 2025 which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades This visit assumes added significance in view of Cyprusâ ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union the MEA said in a statementPresident Christodoulides will meet President Droupadi Murmu who will also host an official banquet in honour of the visiting dignitaryExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also call on President ChristodoulidesDuring his visit to India President Christodoulides will participate in a Business Forum in MumbaiIndia and Cyprus share a close and timetested partnership The visit will build upon the ongoing momentum in bilateral relations reflecting the shared commitment of both sides to further deepen cooperation including in the wider IndiaâEU context The two countries will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations on 10 February 2027 the MEA said in a statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cyprus-president-nikos-christodoulides-to-arrive-in-india-today-for-four-day-visit-674676.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-killed-several-injured-as-heavy-rainfall-wreak-havoc-in-pakistans-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-674677.html Islamabad May 20 At least two people were killed and 11 others were injured in rainrelated incidents in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed parts of the province local media reported on Wednesday The Provincial Disaster Management Authority PDMA stated that fatalities were reported from Mardan in rainrelated incidents while injuries were reported in Battagram Swat and Mardan Pakistans daily The Express Tribune reportedAccording to the PDMA report four people were injured in Battagram one in Mardan and six in Swat Houses and infrastructure have also suffered damage due to severe weather conditions in several districtsAs per the report three houses in Shangla and one house in Battagram were completely destroyed while another 27 houses suffered partial damage including five in Torghar two in Swat one each in Upper Dir and Mardan The Express Tribune reported A school in Shangla also suffered damage due to adverse weather conditionsThe Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted dust thunderstorms and rain with occasional gaps in the upper parts of Pakistan till May 23Earlier in April three people were killed and 14 others injured in rainrelated incidents in Peshawar Mohmand and Nowshera districts of Khyber PakhtunkhwaRescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said that a child died and two others were injured in a roof collapse incident in the Mattani area of Peshawar Faizi said that three members of a family were injured in a rainrelated incident in Mohmand tribal district Pakistans daily Dawn reportedFive people were injured in a similar incident in Ekkaghund tehsil A man died after a room collapsed due to heavy rain in the Sra Khawa area of Baizai According to rescue officials four people were injured in a roof collapse incident in the Dawezai Dawat Kor area of Mohmand districtSimilarly livestock were killed and standing crops were destroyed in rainrelated incidents causing financial losses to people as per the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-killed-several-injured-as-heavy-rainfall-wreak-havoc-in-pakistans-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-674677.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/parole-jumper-convicted-in-murder-case-arrested-after-24-years-in-up-674678.html New Delhi May 20 The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has apprehended a life convict in a murder case who had been absconding for nearly 24 years after jumping parole granted by the Delhi High Court in 2002 The accused identified as Rakesh Patel alias Pappi had allegedly changed his identity and was living in Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh under the name Nandlal Verma to evade arrestAccording to a press release issued by the Crime Branch on Wednesday the accused was convicted in a sensational murder case registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station in Delhi Police said Rakesh Patel along with two coaccused had âbrutally stabbed to death his neighbour over a trivial issueâ He was convicted in 1995 in connection with FIR No 3871990 under Sections 302 and 120B of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonmentThe Crime Branch stated that sustained efforts were being made to trace parole jumpers released from Delhi jails who had failed to surrender after availing parole or furlough During scrutiny of such cases Rakesh Patel was identified for focussed action A special team was constituted under the supervision of senior officers to trace him through technical surveillance manual tracking and repeated raids in Delhi and Uttar PradeshPolice said a breakthrough came after a team was sent to Allahabad where âreliable secret informationâ revealed that the accused was residing in Prayagraj with his family after changing his identity to Nandlal Verma Acting on the information the team successfully apprehended himDuring interrogation the accused initially denied his real identity and insisted that his name was Nandlal Verma However after sustained questioning and confrontation with details of the murder case âRakesh Patel Pappi Nandlal Verma finally broke down and confessedâ to his involvement in the case the release statedPolice said the accused disclosed that he was first granted parole in 1999 for his marriage and had surrendered afterwards However after being granted parole again in 2002 following the birth of his second child âhe never surrendered before the Jail Authorities and intentionally jumped parole and remained absconding continuously for about 24 yearsâAccording to investigators the convict kept shifting locations before finally settling in Prayagraj where he started an auto spare parts business under his new identity The Crime Branch said the operation reflected the commitment of Delhi Police towards tracing absconding convicts and ensuring the execution of the lawful punishment awarded by courtsThe accused has now been handed over to the jail authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/parole-jumper-convicted-in-murder-case-arrested-after-24-years-in-up-674678.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/looking-forward-to-celebrate-americas-250th-birthday-with-partners-in-india-rubio-674715.html New Delhi May 20 IANS US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that he is looking forward to celebrating Americas 250th birthday with partners in IndianbspnbspIn a video message shared ahead of his visit to India Rubio said As America gets ready to celebrate our 250th birthday we look forward to doing it with our partners in India India is the worlds largest democracy and we are worlds oldest So we look forward to celebrating it togethernbspWhile sharing the video on social media platform X the US Embassy in India stated Were looking forward to celebrating with you Mr SecretaryThe US will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4nbspRubio is scheduled to travel to India from May 2326 visiting Kolkata Agra Jaipur and New Delhi as Washington and New Delhi prepare for talks expected to focus on the Quad partnership energy security trade and defence cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions in the IndoPacific and the Middle EastnbspThe State Department announced Rubios travel plans on Tuesday saying he would first travel to Helsingborg Sweden on May 22 to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting before heading to IndiaThe Secretary will discuss energy security trade and defence cooperation during meetings with senior Indian officials State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statementnbspApart from bilateral meetings with Indian leaders in New Delhi Rubio is also expected to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting involving India the United States Japan and AustraliaLast month Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation during which they discussed the current situation in West Asia as well as ways to further strengthen the bilateral partnershipnbspReceived a call from my friend President Donald Trump We reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas PM Modi posted on X after the phone call on April 14nbspWe also discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure he wrote further https://dailyworld.in/international/looking-forward-to-celebrate-americas-250th-birthday-with-partners-in-india-rubio-674715.html Wed, 20 May 2026 20:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-italy-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-billion-euros-by-2029-674717.html Rome May 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday agreed to leverage the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement to expand bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029 according to a joint statement after their talksnbspThe leaders took note of the renewed momentum in bilateral economic and commercial ties growing investments and efforts to build longterm collaborations In this context they welcomed the exchange of three Business Forums last year They also met select Italian and Indian CEOs representing sectors such as defence digital energy transition infrastructure and logistics the joint statement saidBoth leaders agreed to leverage the opportunities from the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement and called for its early implementation it saidnbspThe leaders also expressed satisfaction with growing engagements between researchers and scientific institutions from both countries They welcomed ongoing collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation and efforts to strengthen commercial space collaboration They also called for greater collaboration in the fields of AI semiconductors critical minerals and other cuttingedge technologies synergising Indias talented workforce and Italys technological prowessBoth leaders expressed their keen desire to build connectivity infrastructure through concrete projects and reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC according to the statementnbspThey welcomed the signing of MoUs between India and Italy on cooperation on the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal Gujarat and on the recruitment of nurses from IndiaBoth leaders acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Indian diaspora in Italy and agreed to facilitate mobility of students researchers and academia They agreed to celebrate 2027 as the Year of Culture and Tourism between India and ItalynbspPrime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Meloni for the warm hospitality extended by the Italian government and people and invited her to visit India at a mutually convenient timenbspThe two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent in the defence sector an Industrial Roadmap for collaboration in codesign codevelopment and coproduction of defence products https://dailyworld.in/international/india-italy-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-billion-euros-by-2029-674717.html Wed, 20 May 2026 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-among-worst-affected-as-uk-reduces-aid-spending-report-674562.html New Delhi May 19 Pakistan is among the worstaffected countries as the United Kingdom has reduced its foreign aid spending cutting development assistance from 05 per cent to 03 per cent of gross national income GNI by 2027 a report has said A report by The Borgen Project said that the UK government has announced foreign aid cuts of more than 6 billion with the deepest reductions expected in bilateral aid programmesPakistan and Mozambique are set to face the steepest cuts while countries such as Yemen Somalia and Afghanistan will also see reductions in direct grant funding it saidMoreover UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Parliament that âhard choices and unavoidable tradeoffsâ were necessary as the government shifts resources toward defence spending amid global security challenges including the war in UkraineBefore the COVID19 pandemic UK aid spending stood at 07 per cent of GNI highlighting a steady decline in development assistance in recent yearsThe government said it plans to focus more on âpartnerships for investmentâ to attract private capital and expertise into developing countries while multilateral organisations will be expected to take on a larger role in areas such as healthcare and infectious disease controlThe report further stated that the cuts along with similar reductions by other major donor countries are expected to strain development programmes across several regions and increase reliance on alternative funding sources including remittancesIn Pakistan remittances from over eight million overseas citizens have risen significantly reaching around 30 billion helping to partially offset earlier declines in aid fundingIn Mozambique which has limited diaspora inflows development efforts are expected to depend more heavily on multilateral agencies including United Nations bodies particularly in the aftermath of recent flooding that displaced hundreds of thousands of people IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-among-worst-affected-as-uk-reduces-aid-spending-report-674562.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-expected-to-visit-new-zealand-in-july-kiwi-media-reports-674580.html Wellington May 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit New Zealand possibly in July local media reported Earlier this year the governments of India and New Zealand indicated that preparations were being made for PM Modis visit which would mark his first visit to the country Radio New Zealand RNZ reportedWhen asked on First Up if PM Modi would visit New Zealand in July New Zealands Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said they might be able to confirm it very soon RNZ reportedLast month India and New Zealand signed a historic Free Trade Agreement FTA in New Delhi that removes tariffs on 100 per cent of Indiaâs exports to New Zealand and either sharply reduces or removes tariffs on 95 per cent of the countryâs imports from New Zealand The agreement was sealed in the presence of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClayLast year New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon travelled to India for a fiveday visit During the visit Luxon attended the 10th Raisina Dialogue as Chief Guest and held a meeting with PM Modi During the meeting PM Modi and Luxon held discussions on various sectors related to IndiaNew Zealand tiesIt is a matter of immense joy to be welcoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Delhi It is equally gladdening that such a youthful dynamic and energetic leader will be the Chief Guest at this yearâs Raisina Dialogue We had wide ranging talks earlier today covering all important sectors relating to IndiaNew Zealand friendship PM Modi had posted on XPM Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon had also visited the historic Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi paying obeisance and their respect to the religious and cultural heritage of the Sikh communityIndia and New Zealand share warm and friendly ties Diplomatic relations between two nations were established in 1952 According to Ministry of External Affairs MEA the two countries share similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-expected-to-visit-new-zealand-in-july-kiwi-media-reports-674580.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-clears-4282-million-military-support-package-for-india-covering-apache-helicopters-m777-howitzers-674438.html Washington May 19 The United States has approved two possible Foreign Military Sales to India worth a combined 4282 million covering followon support for AH64E Apache helicopters and sustainment support for M777A2 ultralight howitzers the State Department said The proposed deals were announced by the Bureau of PoliticalMilitary Affairs in separate congressional notifications issued on May 18The larger of the two involves longterm sustainment support for M777A2 UltraLight Howitzers valued at an estimated 230 millionâThe US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India sustainment support for M777A2 UltraLight Howitzersâ the notification saidAccording to the State Department India has requested âlongterm sustainment support for M777A2 UltraLight Howitzersâ The package includes âancillary items spares repair and return training technical assistance field service representative depot capability and other related elements of logistics and program supportâThe principal contractor for the howitzer support package will be BAE SystemsIn a separate notification the State Department approved a possible 1982 million sale linked to Apache helicoptersâThe US Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India for its purchase of Apache Helicopters followon support services and related equipmentâ the statement saidIndia has requested âAH64E Apache sustainment support services US Government and contractor engineering technical and logistics support services technical data and publications personnel training and other related elements of logistics and program supportâThe principal contractors for the Apacherelated package are Boeing and Lockheed MartinBoth notifications stressed that the proposed sales would support Washingtonâs broader strategic objectives in the IndoPacific regionâThis proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the USIndian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability peace and economic progress in the IndoPacific and South Asia regionsâ the State Department said in identical language in both notificationsThe US also said the proposed sales would âimprove Indiaâs capability to meet current and future threats strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threatsâThe notifications added that âIndia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forcesâThe State Department further noted that the proposed sales âwill not alter the basic military balance in the regionâ and would have âno adverse impact on US defence readinessâThe approvals come amid expanding defence cooperation between India and United States which have steadily deepened military ties over the past decade through arms sales joint military exercises and technologysharing initiatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-clears-4282-million-military-support-package-for-india-covering-apache-helicopters-m777-howitzers-674438.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-races-to-contain-ebola-outbreak-674439.html Washington May 19 The United States announced a sweeping diplomatic humanitarian and public health response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC and Uganda mobilising emergency funding tightening travel restrictions and coordinating with international partners to contain the deadly disease before it spreads further In a media note the US Department of State said it moved quickly after learning of confirmed Ebola cases in the region earlier this monthâBy working to contain the outbreak before it reaches American shores the United States is protecting the health of Americans at home and abroadâ the Department saidAccording to the State Department an interagency coordination cell and incident management system was established in Washington within 24 hours of confirmation of the cases on May 15American embassies in the DRC Rwanda South Sudan and Uganda have also formed monitoring groups to track developments and communicate with US citizens in the regionâThe Department is convening a daily leadershiplevel meeting to ensure the response remains a top priorityâ the statement saidThe Biden administrationâs immediate focus officials said is to protect Americans overseas and prevent the outbreak from reaching the United StatesThe State Department said it worked closely with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC on a Title 42 order issued on May 18 prohibiting travel to the United States for foreign nationals who have visited the DRC Uganda and South Sudan within the previous 21 daysThe Department said it is also coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security on implementing the order globally along with any quarantine and isolation guidance issued by the CDCOfficials added that the United States is working with the CDC and the US military on the âpotential repatriation of affected Americans based on assessed exposure and health needsâWithin 48 hours of activating its response plan Washington mobilised an initial 13 million in foreign assistance for emergency outbreak effortsThe funding will support surveillance systems laboratory capacity risk communication safe burials border screening and clinical case management in affected countriesThe State Department said additional bilateral assistance for outbreak response and humanitarian support is being prepared as officials gain a clearer understanding of the scale of the crisisâThis additional funding builds on US investments in disease surveillance and outbreak detection and response efforts made through bilateral health MOUs signed with both the DRC and Uganda under the America First Global Health Strategyâ the statement saidWashington also said it is leveraging investments in United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA pooled funds to speed up humanitarian assistance and coordinate with the UN systemSenior State Department officials have already spoken with UN Secretariat leadership and humanitarian coordinators in affected countriesThe Department said it is leading donor coordination efforts with the European Union the United Kingdom and other international partners to ensure what it described as a âcoordinated and effective responseâThe statement noted that the US announcement on May 14 of 18 billion in additional funding for OCHA pooled funds includes 250 million earmarked for the DRC and UgandaHealth experts have long warned that Ebola outbreaks in Central and East Africa pose a major global health risk because of porous borders fragile healthcare systems and limited medical infrastructure in conflicthit regions Previous outbreaks in the DRC have killed thousands and triggered largescale international emergency operations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-races-to-contain-ebola-outbreak-674439.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-ties-at-inflection-point-american-lawmakers-674442.html Washington May 19 Senior American lawmakers diplomats and policy experts warned that the USIndia relationship was at an âinflection pointâ even as they reaffirmed bipartisan support for stronger defence technology and economic cooperation between the worldâs two largest democracies At the annual Capitol Hill Summit 2026 organised by the USIndia Friendship Council participants from bothside of the aisle highlighted concerns over trade tensions visa restrictions and strategic uncertainty while stressing that the longterm trajectory of the relationship remained strongRepublican Senator Steve Daines a member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Finance Committee described India as one of Americaâs most important geopolitical partners and stressed the importance of trust in the relationshipâWhen trust was in the room good things happenedâ Daines said quoting former Secretary of State George Shultz âWhen trust was not in the room good things did not happenâIndian American Congressman Ro Khanna said the partnership should be rooted in democratic ideals rather than narrow geopolitical calculationsâWe must as the United States build a multiracial democracy and work with India as a multiracial democracyâ Khanna saidCongresswoman Deborah Ross argued that educational exchanges remained central to the future of bilateral tiesâIndian students form the largest group of international students in the United Statesâ Ross said âThese bright students should be able to continue their education and research hereâFormer US Ambassador to India Richard Verma warned that recent tensions had exposed vulnerabilities in the relationshipâThe system is flashing a bit yellowâ Verma said citing declining student visas rising antiIndian sentiment and tariff disputesAt the same time Verma emphasised that no other bilateral relationship had grown as rapidly as USIndia ties over the past 25 years Bilateral trade had risen from almost nothing to more than 200 billion while defence cooperation had expanded dramatically he notedDuring a later panel discussion Congressman Ami Bera said temporary political disagreements should not obscure deeper strategic alignmentâNothing fundamentally has changed about our longterm strategic interestâ Bera saidIndiaâs Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the relationship continued to enjoy bipartisan backing in WashingtonâWe are natural partners not because of geography or compulsions of geography but because of our shared valuesâ Kwatra said He pointed to expanding cooperation in trade semiconductors defence artificial intelligence and critical mineralsKwatra also credited the Indian American diaspora as a âfoundational anchorâ of the partnership and highlighted Indiaâs economic transformation since 2014 as a major driver of closer ties with the United StatesOpening the summit former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce Ray Vickery said the relationship had once appeared to have âits own momentumâ after years of rapid growth but now required renewed engagementâWeâre gathered here today to try to refocus on the relationship between the two largest democracies in the worldâ Vickery said âThere really is absolutely no issue facing the world today whether it be economic commercial strategic which canât benefit from closer cooperation between the United States and IndiaâUSIndia Friendship Council chairman Swadesh Chatterjee recalled the transformation in bilateral ties since the 1990s when India faced American sanctions after its nuclear testsâOur most prominent success of the Indian American community is the USIndia civil nuclear deal which was signed in 2008â Chatterjee said âIt ended Indiaâs 34 years of nuclear isolationâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-ties-at-inflection-point-american-lawmakers-674442.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-forces-seize-humanitarian-aid-flotilla-carrying-south-korean-activist-civic-group-674443.html Seoul May 19 Israeli forces have seized a humanitarian aid flotilla carrying a South Korean activist headed for the Gaza Strip a civic group said Tuesday According to the group advocating for Palestinian liberation the Kyriakos X boat carrying activist Kim Donghyeon was intercepted late Monday Seoul time by the Israeli Navy near CyprusKim is now presumably detained aboard an Israeli warship along with other activists from around the world the group saidKim departed for Gaza earlier this month despite a government travel ban on the territoryBefore him another activist Kim Ahhyun headed for Gaza despite the governments revocation of her passport over an earlier attempt in October to enter the territory without authorizationAt the time she was detained by Israeli forces and later releasedThe civic group said the boat she is traveling on is near the Kyriakos X and at risk of also being seizedSouth Koreans are barred from traveling to or staying in the Gaza Strip without government approval and violators can face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won 6685 under the Passport ActThe civic group later held a press conference in front of the Israeli Embassy in Seoul to demand the immediate release of the detained activist Yonhap news agency reportedThe group also urged the South Korean government to make utmost efforts for his swift release saying their campaign was a response to the international communitys silence on Israels genocide over more than two yearsThe organisationâs livestream on Monday showed activists aboard several vessels putting on life jackets and raising their hands before a boat carrying Israeli troops approached Wearing tactical gear they boarded the ship and the livestream abruptly ended Many of the ships are currently off the coast of Cyprus IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-forces-seize-humanitarian-aid-flotilla-carrying-south-korean-activist-civic-group-674443.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australias-victoria-state-warns-of-rising-climate-risk-to-infrastructure-674444.html Melbourne May 19 More than 57 billion Australian dollars about 4084 billion worth of infrastructure in the Australian state of Victoria is at risk from climaterelated extreme weather said a report released Tuesday The amount of infrastructure at risk is projected to rise by nearly 25 per cent over the next four decades said the report by Infrastructure Victoria the Australian states independent infrastructure adviserThe report examined 318 billion Australian dollars worth of assets across Victoria and identified bushfires floods and extreme heat as the greatest risksIt estimates that more than 23 billion Australian dollars in infrastructure is currently exposed to bushfire risk rising to over 30 billion Australian dollars by 2070 while flood risk already affects assets worth over 22 billion Australian dollars Xinhua news agency reported Infrastructure exposed to extreme heat is projected to more than double between 2030 and 2070 the report showedRoad and rail networks are expected to bear the highest damage costs particularly in the state capital Melbourne and key regional corridors it said adding that energy infrastructure and health assets are also at risk from floods bushfires and extreme heatExtreme weather cost Victoria an average of 27 billion Australian dollars a year in the decade to 2016 with the 2022 floods alone triggering 35 billion Australian dollars in government spending on relief and recovery the report saidVictoria has already experienced rising climate impacts with average temperatures increasing by 12 degrees Celsius since 1910 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reportedInfrastructure Victoria said targeted adaptation measures such as improved drainage maintenance and climateresilient road materials could significantly reduce future damage noting that every dollar invested in resilience can yield multiple economic benefitsAustralia spans multiple climate zones with the northern third featuring a tropical climate wet and dry seasons and the southern twothirds experiencing temperate conditions About 70 per cent of the continent is arid or semiarid desert The seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australias-victoria-state-warns-of-rising-climate-risk-to-infrastructure-674444.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australias-diphtheria-outbreak-spreads-beyond-northern-territory-674447.html Canberra May 19 A diphtheria outbreak in Australias Northern Territory has become one of the countrys largest in decades and is spreading into the neighbouring states of Queensland and South Australia health authorities said on Tuesday A total of 133 cases have been recorded in the Northern Territory since the outbreak began alongside six cases in South Australia and up to five in Queensland according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance SystemHealth Minister Mark Butler told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC that the outbreak was probably the biggest seen in decades and confirmed authorities were investigating a suspected diphtheriarelated deathThe outbreak has disproportionately affected Indigenous communities particularly in remote areas Health officials are working with Aboriginal medical services to expand testing and vaccination effortsDiphtheria once a major cause of childhood mortality is preventable through vaccination but can resurge when immunity wanes Authorities now recommend booster shots every five years for atrisk adults shortened from the previous 10year interval Xinhua news agency reportedLocal health leaders said thousands in Central Australia remain overdue for boosters despite strong uptake in recent weeks Around 15 to 20 new cases have been reported weekly across the Northern Territory the ABC reportedOfficials urged anyone with symptoms including sore throats or skin infections to seek immediate testing as efforts intensify to contain the outbreakAccording to the World Health Organization Diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by toxin producing bacteria It can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes Some people may not develop disease manifestations but can still transmit the bacteria to others Others will develop mild disease although severe disease complications and death can also occurDiphtheria can affect anyone but was most common in unvaccinated childrenThe diphtheria toxin causes damage to the respiratory tract and can spread throughout the body Common symptoms include fever sore throat and swelling of the neck glandsBeing vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with diphtheria or spreading it to other people The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the infection IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australias-diphtheria-outbreak-spreads-beyond-northern-territory-674447.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-cant-avoid-global-responsibility-us-congressman-674449.html Washington May 19 US Congressman Ro Khanna said India must increasingly act like a global power and take on greater international responsibilities as it rises economically and strategically on the world stage Speaking at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026 organised by the USIndia Friendship Council Khanna said Indiaâs growing influence carried obligations beyond regional politics and economic growthâIndia has to decide who it wants to be as it enters this place of world leadershipâ Khanna said during a panel discussion on defence technology and energy cooperation âYou canât say you want to be a world leader but then shrink away from responsibilityâKhanna specifically pointed to the Ukraine conflict arguing that India could play a constructive diplomatic role because of its longstanding ties with RussiaâIâve been very vocal in India as well as here that India can play a very constructive role in helping bring the war in Ukraine to an endâ he said âIt has lines of communications with RussiaâNoting that India historically sought to maintain a nonaligned position in global affairs Khanna suggested the geopolitical realities of the 21st century required New Delhi to take clearer positions on international crisesâIndia has its own aspirationsâ Khanna said âFastest growing economy in the world It has to decide who it wants to beâDespite recent tensions over tariffs and trade policies under President Donald Trumpâs administration Khanna said the broader strategic logic of the USIndia relationship remained unchangedâNothing fundamentally has changed about our longterm strategic interestâ he saidKhanna argued that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress continued to strongly support closer engagement with India particularly on defence technology and IndoPacific security cooperationAt the same time he criticised what he described as antiIndian voices within sections of the Trump administrationâI do think thereâs folks like Peter Navarro and others inside the administration that are very antiIndianâ Khanna saidEarlier in the summit Khanna delivered a broader philosophical defence of a valuesbased USIndia partnership warning against nationalism and authoritarianismâIt is what are the values that will undergird the USIndia relationshipâ he said âAre we going to form an alliance of convenience based on nationalismâKhanna called for the two democracies to work together in promoting pluralism democratic governance and international cooperationâWe must as the United States build a multiracial democracy and work with India as a multiracial democracyâ he saidThe congressman also reflected on his own political journey as an Indian American recalling that he was once told an Indian American of Hindu faith would struggle to win elected office in the United StatesâOne of the very few people who would say âYou keep at it you keep working this country will make space for youâ was Swadeshâ Khanna said referring to USIndia Friendship Council chairman Swadesh ChatterjeeKhanna represents Californiaâs Silicon Valleybased 17th Congressional District and has emerged as one of the most prominent Indian American voices in Congress on technology democracy and foreign policy issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-cant-avoid-global-responsibility-us-congressman-674449.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/natural-ally-congressman-tim-moore-backs-stronger-us-india-partnership-674453.html Washington May 19 US Congressman Tim Moore described India as a ânatural allyâ of the United States and called for deeper cooperation in technology energy and advanced manufacturing between the two democracies Speaking at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026 organised by the USIndia Friendship Council Moore said North Carolinaâs growing Indian American community and expanding business ties with India had reinforced his belief in the longterm importance of the relationshipâIndia and the United States are joined together as two democraciesâ Moore said âIndia is absolutely one of the prime countries to do that withâMoore a Republican representing North Carolinaâs 14th Congressional District said his state had seen significant economic gains from Indian investment and talent particularly through universities and technology industries in the Research Triangle regionâIndian American companies have invested over 1 billion in North Carolinaâ he said adding that the partnership had created thousands of jobs in the stateThe congressman said sectors such as artificial intelligence data centres energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing offered major opportunities for future USIndia cooperationâThe growth in STEM has been a natural home to so manyâ Moore saidHe particularly highlighted nuclear energy and small modular reactor technology as promising areas for collaboration between Washington and New DelhiâMy belief is that nuclear power actually solves this problem a lot for both countriesâ Moore said âIndia is a natural partner on thatâMoore said both India and the United States faced rising energy demands because of expanding economies and growing artificial intelligence infrastructureâWe canât as Americans afford to fall behind in any kind of technological advancementâ he said âRight now AI is that thingâThe congressman also praised the role of Indian Americans in North Carolina saying the community had contributed significantly to the stateâs economic and educational growthâNorth Carolinaâs relationship with the Indian American community is really one that a lot of other states would probably be jealous ofâ Moore saidHe recalled that while serving as Speaker of the North Carolina House he had hosted Indiaâs ambassador during celebrations marking the anniversary of Indiaâs independenceâIt was more than symbolicâ Moore said âIt was a true recognition of the contributions that the community has madeâMoore also addressed concerns over visa and immigration issues affecting Indian students and professionals in the United StatesâGetting to know your member of Congress is extremely important on these issuesâ he said encouraging Indian Americans to become more politically engagedDuring the discussion Moore stressed that Indiaâs democratic system and stable governance made it an increasingly important strategic and economic partner for the United States particularly amid intensifying global competition with ChinaâYou have a stable government you have a similar framework of being a democracyâ he saidMoore was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2024 after serving for a decade as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/natural-ally-congressman-tim-moore-backs-stronger-us-india-partnership-674453.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/green-steel-may-save-india-1-trillion-in-coal-imports-report-674461.html Washington May 19 Indiaâs shift towards green steel production could help the country avoid nearly 1 trillion in longterm coking coal import costs and strengthen its position in future export markets according to a new study released by the India Energy and Climate Center IECC at the University of California Berkeley The report said Indiaâs next phase of steel expansion could otherwise lock the country into around six billion tonnes of coking coal imports over the next four decades if conventional blast furnacebased steelmaking continues to dominateâIndia is at a strategic decision point in steelâ said Neelima Jain Director for Industrial and Trade Policy at IECCâIf future capacity is built around imported coking coal the country would hardwire currency and price volatility risks into one of its most important industrial sectors Green steel offers an alternative pathâIndia is expected to roughly double its steelmaking capacity over the next decade The report estimates that about 60â65 per cent of the planned expansion under Indiaâs National Steel Policy could still follow the coalintensive blast furnacebasic oxygen furnace routeAccording to the study operating such capacity at scale would require nearly 161 million tonnes of coking coal annually with around 90 per cent likely to be importedThe IECC study argues that Indiaâs lowcost renewable energy resources provide a strong foundation for green hydrogenbased steelmaking where hydrogen replaces imported coking coal in iron production It projects that by 2030 green hydrogen in India could cost about 3 per kilogram allowing green steel production at around 562 per tonne â roughly 5 to 10 per cent above conventional steel from new plantsHowever the report said conventional steel remains exposed to imported coking coal priced in US dollars while green steel could rely on fixedprice rupeedenominated renewable power contractsâA static cost comparison misses the central economic pointâ said Jose Dominguez Research Manager at IECCâConventional steel depends on imported coking coal priced in dollars Green steel can be powered by domestic renewable electricity under longterm rupee contracts Over time that makes it far more resilientâ it saidThe study said that once historical coking coal price increases and rupee depreciation are factored in green steel could reach cost parity with or even undercut conventional steel production by around 2030The report also warned that Indiaâs carbonintensive steel exports could face growing pressure from international carbonrelated trade barriers especially in EuropeThe European Unionâs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism CBAM which entered its definitive phase in January 2026 already covers steel imports and imposes additional costs linked to embedded carbon emissionsâIndiaâs green hydrogen costs are among the lowest globallyâ said Nikit Abhyankar CoFaculty Director of IECCâIndia could be one of the few countries where green steel becomes economically viable within this decade giving domestic producers an edge in export markets It could also strengthen competitiveness in downstream manufacturing sectors such as automobiles and machineryâIt called for a âmarketcreation frameworkâ to support early green steel projects The Berkley report among other things recommended longterm green steel procurement contracts reliable access to clean power emissions verification standards and targeted risksharing mechanismsâIndiaâs experience scaling renewable energy and energy storage shows that welldesigned public policy can accelerate cost reduction unlock private investment and speed early deploymentâ said Amol Phadke Faculty Director IECCâGreen steel will require a similarly deliberate marketcreation effortâIndia is currently the worldâs secondlargest steel producer after China and has set a target of reaching 300 million tonnes of installed steel capacity by 203031 The country remains heavily dependent on imported coking coal mainly sourced from Australia and other global suppliers The European Unionâs CBAM is expected to have significant implications for carbonintensive exports from emerging economies including India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/green-steel-may-save-india-1-trillion-in-coal-imports-report-674461.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-calls-on-china-to-release-panchen-lama-674477.html Washington May 19 The United States has called on China to immediately release the Panchen Lama one of Tibetan Buddhismâs most important spiritual figures marking 31 years since his disappearance at the age of six In a statement State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Chinese authorities disappeared Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family days after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as an important future Tibetan Buddhist leaderâYesterday was the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of the Tibetan religious leader known as the Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyimaâ Pigott saidâDays after the Dalai Lama recognized this child as an important future Tibetan Buddhist leader Chinese authorities disappeared him and his family He was six years oldâ he addedThe statement renewed longstanding American criticism of Beijingâs policies in Tibet and its control over Tibetan religious affairsâChinese authorities should immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family and stop persecuting Tibetans or others in China for their religious beliefsâ Pigott saidThe State Department also reiterated Washingtonâs support for the religious and cultural rights of TibetansâThe United States supports religious freedom for Tibetans and the freedom to preserve their unique cultural and linguistic identityâ the statement saidThe US further stressed that Tibetan Buddhists should be allowed to choose their own spiritual leaders without interference from the Chinese Communist PartyâTibetan Buddhists like members of all religious communities should have the ability to freely select their own leaders â like the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama â according to their beliefs and without partystate interferenceâ Pigott saidThe Panchen Lama is regarded as the secondhighest spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai LamaChina has long maintained tight control over Tibet and Tibetan Buddhist institutions Beijing rejected the Dalai Lamaâs recognition of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in 1995 and instead installed another boy Gyaincain Norbu as the statebacked Panchen Lama IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-calls-on-china-to-release-panchen-lama-674477.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fake-notes-from-the-sky-isis-latest-drone-plot-alarms-indian-agencies-674488.html New Delhi May 19 Pakistanâs ISI and its stooges have been making a massive push to flood the Indian markets with fake currency the agencies have learnt The key areas of concern remain the TripuraBangladesh border and PunjabWhile couriers are being used to push fake currency into the Indian market along the Bangladesh border in Punjab the menace is rising due to the use of dronesIt is a twopronged strategy that the ISI has adopted when it comes to fake Indian currency On one hand it wants to hurt the Indian economy and on the other the intention is to raise funds for terror groups in Pakistan an official said The problem is however higher along the IndiaBangladesh border when compared to Punjab an official saidAgencies such as the National Investigation Agency NIA which is at the forefront of battling this problem have also been probing cases within the country The NIA is not only trying to stop the menace at the border but is also probing several cases within West Bengal The area of focus in the state has remained Malda where scores of units that print fake currency have come upAn Intelligence Bureau official said the ISI would eventually move to using drones to drop off fake currency Almost all attempts that have been made to drop fake Indian currency using drones have been foiled so farThe official however added that it is not the time to remain complicit as these attempts may be just dry runs These elements are trying to study the security apparatus and hence are undertaking dry runsFake currency that has been coming in is in lower quantities Once they are able to dodge the security mechanism these elements would look to push in fake currency using drones in much larger numbers the official further addedAnother official said the main focus would first be to shut down fake currency printing units in West Bengal Once the Malda module is shut down it would solve a large part of the problemThe focus could then shift to the borders through which fake currency is being smuggled into the country the official added Officials say that the ISI is aware that the main focus would be on the couriers who carry the fake currencyWith the NIA upping the ante the ISI would move completely towards the drone module to send fake currency to India officials also saidInvestigators who are dealing with the menace say the challenge would be immense going forward The choice of drones to further this racket will be a big test for the security agencies The border forces have been successful in tracking drones that have been used to drop off drugs arms and ammunition However fake currency would be a real testSmaller payloads of fake currency are harder to detect These drones carrying smaller payloads are capable of evading the radar and also dodging surveillance an official saidThe ISIbacked elements are trying to utilise every loophole within the system to drop fake currency into India Currently this modus operandi is in testing mode Once all tests are conducted and multiple dry runs are attempted then these elements will go in for the big operation This would involve using multiple drones at regular intervals However the payload would be smaller as this would help in avoiding detection the official addedThe agencies are bracing up for this new modus operandi and it would be crucial to get the better of these elementsThe ISI has long pushed fake currency into India using the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate with the clear intention of undertaking economic sabotage in India apart from also using the money generated to fund terror groups officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fake-notes-from-the-sky-isis-latest-drone-plot-alarms-indian-agencies-674488.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/23-year-old-councillor-becomes-youngest-indian-origin-mayor-in-uk-674498.html London May 19 A 23yearold councillor Tushar Kumar has created history by becoming the youngest Indianorigin mayor in the United Kingdom after being appointed mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Originally hailing from Haryana Kumar was officially appointed at the councilâs MayorMaking Ceremony held at Fairway Hall in Borehamwood on May 13Several councillors civic leaders community organisations residents family members and friends attended the eventTaking to his social media platform X following the ceremony Kumar said An incredible honour to officially become Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood and at 23 years old the youngest ever Indianorigin Mayor in UK history From studying political science at Kingâs College London to now serving the town I love this journey feels surrealâReflecting on his political journey during his acceptance speech Kumar said he was first elected as a councillor at the age of 20 while pursuing political science at Kingâs College LondonHe spoke about the significance of assuming the mayoral role at a young age and expressed hope that it would inspire more young people to participate in local democracy public service and community work London Daily reportedKumar also expressed gratitude to outgoing Mayor Councillor Dan Ozarow for his support and guidance during his tenure as deputy mayorHe further congratulated Councillor Linda Smith on her new appointment as Deputy Mayor and said he looked forward to working together with her in serving the communityMayor Kumar thanked his family and friends for their enduring support throughout his journey into local politicsOutlining his vision for the year ahead he said he aimed to be âa mayor who is present for the communityâ and remain actively engaged with residents and local organisations across Elstree and BorehamwoodâIt is the privilege of a lifetime to serve the town I loveâ he saidThe appointment has generated considerable interest because of Kumarâs age with the 23yearold now regarded as the youngest serving mayor in the UKHis election highlights the increasing involvement of the younger generation in local government and civic affairs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/23-year-old-councillor-becomes-youngest-indian-origin-mayor-in-uk-674498.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pak-heads-for-civil-military-showdown-over-asim-munirs-massive-defence-demands-674504.html New Delhi May 19 Field Marshal Asim Munir is in complete control of Pakistan The country may be ruled by a democratic government but the fact is that the Pakistan Army under Munir is in complete control However even as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir put up a united front in reality there are tensions brewing over massive military spending For the outside world it appears as though everything is hunkydory between the government and the Pakistan ArmyWhile to a certain extent it may be the relationship is about to be tested in a big way soon Officials say that while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir put up a united front in front of the cameras in reality there are tensions that are brewingThe tensions are over military spending and now the government feels that Munir is seeking a bit too much while completely ignoring the economy of the countryThe current military spending stands at Rs 2500 billion This according to the experts itself is huge While the Sharif government has approved military spending in large numbers this time it is objecting to the new demand by the militaryAhead of the federal budge for the fiscal year 202627 the military has been pressuring the government to increase the funding by 20 per cent The government however is questioning this demand The finance ministry is questioning the logic behind such a massive allocation especially after it hiked the military spending by 20 per cent in the previous fiscalAnother official said that given the current economic mess that Pakistan is in the finance ministry can afford to increase the military spending by just 5 per centOfficials say that Islamabad is under immense pressure from the International Monetary Fund IMF to clear off loans At such a time if the government gives into this demand there is bound to be pressure from the IMFPakistan watchers say that it is the governmentâs headache to deal with the IMF The military will casually wash its hands off when such pressure mounts the experts also sayFurther the demand for a 20 per cent increase comes at a time when a team of the IMF is camping in Pakistan The team is holding discussions with Islamabad over the framework of the budget The IMF is carefully examining all expenditures which includes military spendingThe fund managers of Pakistan would find it very hard to convince the IMF about the military spending hike that has been soughtOfficials say that the situation that Pakistan is facing currently is nothing new Even in the past there have demands for enhanced military spending and the government has always given inAn official explained that this time around it would be different and the finance ministry is set to put up a fight There is no option but to resist this demand an official said This is bound to lead to a confrontation between the government and the military the official addedAnother official said that even if the government wants to give in to the demands of the military it may not be able to do so The IMF has been stern in its message to the Pakistan government especially when it comes to military spendingOfficials say that for Munir the enhanced spending is necessary He has been trying to provoke India and has falsely claimed gains during Operation SindoorThe operation undertaken by the Indian armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed showed how vulnerable and weak the Pakistan military isThe experts say that Asim Munir is aware of the vulnerabilities of his military He realises that major upgrades are needed and hence the enhanced millinery becomes important This time however he may face hurdles as the finance ministry is ready for a confrontation with the army chief over this issue officials also said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pak-heads-for-civil-military-showdown-over-asim-munirs-massive-defence-demands-674504.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-flags-rising-enforced-disappearances-extrajudicial-killings-in-balochistan-674517.html Quetta May 19 A leading human rights organisation highlighted escalating abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan citing the continuing pattern of enforced disappearances torture and extrajudicial killings across the province In its latest report Paank the Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department documented 29 cases of extrajudicial killings throughout March this year highlighting the âlethal consequences of unchecked state powerAdditionally a total of 56 cases of enforced disappearances were recorded reflecting widespread and systematic targeting of civiliansâThe cases recorded during March 2026 reveal a deeply concerning pattern of state repression arbitrary detentions physical and psychological torture and unlawful executions carried out by Pakistani security forces These abuses underscore a continuing climate of impunity and fear across Balochistanâ Paank statedPaank called on international human rights organisations the United Nations and civil society to take immediate notice of the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan and to press for accountability justice and the protection of civiliansMeanwhile human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC strongly condemned the brutal killing of academician Ghamkhar Hayat describing the incident as a continuation of repression by Pakistani authorities against knowledge the pen and consciousnessHayat a prominent poet literary scholar and educator was reportedly shot dead by individuals linked to Pakistanbacked death squads on May 16 in the Killi Mengal area of the Nushki district of BalochistanâThe savage killing of the renowned writer intellectual and professor Professor Ghamkhar Hayat Baloch is a continuation of the ongoing policy in Balochistan where knowledge the pen and consciousness are being silenced through state coercion This tragic incident is not merely the murder of an individual but a brutal assault on the intellectual foundations of the Baloch nation the promotion of mother tongues and the collective national consciousnessâ the BYC statedAccording to the BYC for decades Balochistan has witnessed continuing genocide of civilians with teachers intellectuals journalists students and political activists targeted under a systematic policyâFrom Professor Saba Dashtiyari to Professor Razzaq and now Professor Ghamkhar Hayat this is the ongoing genocide of Baloch knowledge and consciousness Although Professor Ghamkhar Hayats voice has been physically silenced his scholarly legacy his writings and his consciousness will forever remain alive to guide the Baloch nation and future generationsâ the rights body noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-flags-rising-enforced-disappearances-extrajudicial-killings-in-balochistan-674517.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-section-144-imposed-in-balochistan-over-security-threats-674321.html Quetta May 18 Section 144 has been imposed in Pakistans Balochistan province which the authorities have said is a precautionary measure against potential terrorist threats local media reported on Monday The notification issued by the Home Department stated that the restrictions which have come into immediate effect and will remain in force for 30 days include a ban on the display of weapons double riding on motorcycles and gatherings of five or more individuals Pakistans daily The Express Tribune reportedAccording to the notification a ban has been imposed on covering faces with masks mufflers or any other material in public places to ensure unhindered identification All divisional commissioners deputy commissioners police officials and relevant authorities have been ordered to ensure strict implementation of the ordersPillion riding on motorcycles and gathering of over four persons have been prohibited according to media Assistant to the Home Department Babar Yousafzai The Express Tribune reportedSecurity forces have been placed on high alert to counter any possible attack by Fitna alKhawarij and Fitna alHindustanOn May 16 the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP expressed concern over the sharp deterioration in security in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where residents were increasingly caught between enforced disappearances targetted killings and militant attacksIt stated that the alleged kidnapping of the vicechancellor provice chancellor and two other Gwadar University employees in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta sparks questions about the states ability to secure major highways and protect residentsIn a statement posted on X HRCP stated HRCP is deeply alarmed by the sharp deterioration in security across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where citizens are increasingly caught between enforced disappearances targeted killings and militant attacksIn Balochistan the alleged abduction of the vicechancellor provice chancellor and two other Gwadar University employees in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta raises serious questions about the stateâs ability to secure major highways and protect civilians HRCP is equally disturbed by the killing of Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat in Noshki earlier today and reminds the government that when teachers and academics are abducted or shot dead the consequences extend far beyond individual tragedies it addedAccording to the statement shared by HRCP on X the deadly attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Bannu Bajaur and Lakki Marwat highlight worsening pattern of militant violence that continues to take lives indiscriminatelyIn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deadly attacks in Bannu Bajaur and Lakki Marwat including the bombing of a crowded market in Sarai Naurang point to a worsening pattern of militant violence that continues to take lives indiscriminately including those of civilians police officers and security personnel HRCP posted on XWe urge the state to move beyond statements of condemnation and demonstrate that human life and public spaces can still be protected The recovery of the missing university officials credible investigations into all such attacks and accountability for perpetrators are immediate and necessary first steps it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-section-144-imposed-in-balochistan-over-security-threats-674321.html Mon, 18 May 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/saudi-arabia-intercepts-three-drones-entering-its-airspace-from-iraq-674237.html Riyadh May 18 The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced the interception of three drones after they entered the kingdoms airspace from Iraq The ministrys official spokesperson Brigadier General Turki AlMaliki said on social media platform X that the ministry reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place Xinhua news agency reportedHe noted that it will take and implement all necessary operational measures to respond to any attempted attack targeting the kingdoms sovereignty security and the safety of its citizens and residentsThe Saudi ministry had announced in recent months the interception and destruction of a number of drones that entered the kingdoms airspace The region has witnessed instability amid the conflict involving the United States Israel and IranRegional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf including the United Arab Emirates along with the closure of the Strait of HormuzA ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitelyLast month Saudi Arabiaâs foreign ministry summoned Iraqâs ambassador to Riyadh over what it described as continued attacks and threats targeting the Kingdom and other Gulf states using drones launched from Iraqi territoryMeanwhile Saudi Arabia on Sunday strongly condemned the drone attack on the United Arab Emirates that caused a fire outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plantThe UAEâs defence ministry said it had âsuccessfullyâ intercepted two drones while a third struck an electrical generator near the nuclear facility in Abu Dhabiâs alDhafra Region The ministry said the drones entered from the âwestern borderâ but did not provide further details IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/saudi-arabia-intercepts-three-drones-entering-its-airspace-from-iraq-674237.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahu-trump-discuss-possible-renewed-fighting-against-iran-over-phone-674239.html Jerusalem May 18 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of renewing fighting against Iran over phone Israels stateowned Kan TV news reported The broadcaster citing a senior Israeli official said the United States is expected to carry out attacks jointly with Israel if it resumes the war against Iran Xinhua news agency reportedLater in the evening Netanyahu convened a cabinet meeting during which the multiple fronts on which Israel is fighting were discussed a government official told XinhuaThe developments came after Trump signaled that Washington could escalate its confrontation with Iran warning in a post on his social media platform that for Iran the clock is ticking and they better get moving fast or there wont be anything left of themIran the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28Following the truce Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Pakistans Islamabad on April 11 and 12 which failed to yield an agreementOver the past weeks the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistani mediationMeanwhile Trump warned that if Tehran failed to reach a peace agreement with the US it would face a very bad timeâIf they donât theyâre going to have a bad time A very bad time They had better make a deal Trump told French media He also shared an AIgenerated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters and the line It was calm before the stormIt comes after Trump spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu about Iran on Sunday as the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a security meeting with his cabinet Israeli media reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahu-trump-discuss-possible-renewed-fighting-against-iran-over-phone-674239.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-confirms-first-hantavirus-case-674241.html Ottawa May 18 The Public Health Agency of Canada PHAC has confirmed a case of hantavirus in a cruise passenger currently isolating in British Columbia following laboratory testing PHAC said in a statement on Sunday that samples from British Columbia were sent to the agencys National Microbiology Laboratory NML in Winnipeg for confirmatory testingAccording to the agency one individuals sample was confirmed positive for hantavirus on Saturday A second individual a travelling partner of the confirmed case was confirmed negative Xinhua news agency reportedNo additional cases have been identified so far PHAC said all highrisk contacts are isolating and will continue to be closely monitored by local public health authorities adding that the overall risk to the general population in Canada remains low at this timeThe outbreak occurred aboard the polar expedition cruise ship MV Hondius and has resulted in three deaths so far The incubation period for hantavirus generally ranges from one to eight weeksEarlier health authorities in Canadas British Columbia province announced that a Canadian cruise passenger currently in isolation has tested presumptive positive for hantavirusBonnie Henry a provincial health officer said the patient began developing mild symptoms including fever and headache two days ago and was taken to a local hospital The presumptive positive result came back on Friday and the person is currently being treated in isolation as a positive patientMeanwhile the Dutch government announced earlier that the hantavirushit cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the Port of Rotterdam next Monday with most crew members set to undergo a sixweek quarantine in Rotterdam the NetherlandsRotterdam has been designated in the Netherlands as the port for the handling of infectious diseases in shipping according to a letter sent to parliament on Friday local time and signed by Sophie Hermans Dutch minister of health welfare and sport and Tom Berendsen the countrys foreign ministerAccording to Oceanwide Expeditions the Dutch operator of the vessel there are currently 27 people on board including 25 crew members and two medical personnel The group consists of 17 Filipinos four Dutch nationals four Ukrainians one Russian and one Polish national IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-confirms-first-hantavirus-case-674241.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-norway-today-for-third-india-nordic-summit-bilateral-engagements-674242.html New Delhi May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Norway on Monday to participate in the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and hold bilateral engagements with Norwegian leaders The visit marks PM Modiâs first trip to Norway and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years During the visit he is scheduled to call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja besides holding bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StorePrime Minister will also address the IndiaNorway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian Prime Minister According to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA the visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in IndiaNorway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them with a focus on trade and investment capitalizing on the India â EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement as well as on clean amp green tech and blue economy The visit will also be an opportunity to induce momentum in bilateral trade worth around USD 273 billion 2024 and investments by Norwayâs Government Pension Fund GPFG of close to USD 28 billion in the Indian capital market the MEA statedThe 3rd IndiaNordic Summit will take place in Oslo on May 19 2026 PM Modi will be joined by the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr StÃre Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo Prime Minister of Iceland Ms Kristrun Frostadottir and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson for the Summit The Summit will build upon the two previous Summits held in Stockholm in April 2018 and in Copenhagen in May 2022 and will impart a more strategic dimension to Indiaâs relationship with the Nordic countries especially in technology and innovation green transition and renewable energy sustainability blue economy defence space and the Arctic The visit will also provide an impetus to Indiaâs bilateral trade USD 19 billion in 2024 and investment ties with Nordic countries as well as help build resilient supply chains following the IndiaEU FTA and IndiaEFTA TEPA the MEA stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-norway-today-for-third-india-nordic-summit-bilateral-engagements-674242.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-lee-says-rights-of-management-should-be-respected-as-much-as-labor-rights-674249.html Seoul May 18 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday that companies management rights should be respected as much as labor rights Lee posted the message on his X account as Samsung Electronics Co and its unionized workers began negotiations for a lastminute breakthrough ahead of the unions planned 18day strike starting ThursdayIn South Korea which has adopted the basic orders of democracy and free market economy labor should be respected as much as companies and corporate management rights should also be respected as much as labor rights Lee wroteWorkers are entitled to fair compensation for their labor while shareholders are entitled to a share of corporate profits in return for bearing the risks and losses Lee saidSamsungs management and labor union have remained far apart over performancebased bonuses tied to the companys recordhigh earnings from the artificial intelligence AIrelated semiconductor business with the union said to be demanding 15 per cent of the companys operating profits as such bonusesDue to the companys recordbreaking earnings on the AIdriven semiconductor boom the demanded bonus pay could amount to as much as 45 trillion won 299 billion on an annual basis more than four times the amount the company paid in dividends to all shareholders last year and also far higher than the amount the company is expected to pay in dividends this yearAlthough the basic rights of all people are guaranteed under the Constitution they may be restricted for the sake of public welfare within the limits that do not undermine their essential foundations the president notedThe president also warned that asking for too much may lead to negative consequences stressing the need for solidarity responsibility and shared prosperity Yonhap news agency reportedLees call came a day after Prime Minister Kim Minseok warned that a possible strike could cause serious damage to the national economy He said the government will have no choice but to consider all possible response measures including emergency arbitration in order to protect the economyUnder South Korean labor law the labor ministry can invoke an emergency adjustment measure that could suspend a collective action for up to 30 days if the strike is deemed likely to cause serious harm to the national economy or disrupt the daily lives of citizens IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-lee-says-rights-of-management-should-be-respected-as-much-as-labor-rights-674249.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-norway-for-india-nordic-summit-bilateral-talks-674260.html New Delhi May 18 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Norway on Monday to participate in the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and hold bilateral engagements with Norwegian leadersnbspnbspThe visit marks PM Modis first trip to Norway and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years During the visit he is scheduled to call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja besides holding bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StorePrime Minister will also address the IndiaNorway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian Prime MinisternbspAccording to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA the visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in IndiaNorway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them with a focus on trade and investment capitalizing on the India EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement as well as on clean ampamp green tech and blue economynbspThe visit will also be an opportunity to induce momentum in bilateral trade worth around USD 273 billion 2024 and investments by Norways Government Pension Fund GPFG of close to USD 28 billion in the Indian capital market the MEA statedThe 3rd IndiaNordic Summit will take place in Oslo on May 19 2026 PM Modi will be joined by the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo Prime Minister of Iceland Ms Kristrun Frostadottir and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson for the SummitnbspThe Summit will build upon the two previous Summits held in Stockholm in April 2018 and in Copenhagen in May 2022 and will impart a more strategic dimension to Indias relationship with the Nordic countries especially in technology and innovation green transition and renewable energy sustainability blue economy defence space and the ArcticnbspThe visit will also provide an impetus to Indias bilateral trade USD 19 billion in 2024 and investment ties with Nordic countries as well as help build resilient supply chains following the IndiaEU FTA and IndiaEFTA TEPA the MEA statedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-norway-for-india-nordic-summit-bilateral-talks-674260.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-student-killed-in-tragic-road-accident-in-us-674262.html Chicago United States May 18 A 25yearold Indian student lost her life while six others were injured in a tragic road accident near Chicago in the United States officials confirmed on Monday Indian time The fatal accident occurred late on Saturday night US time along Interstate 65 near Crown Point in Lake County Indiana according to the policeAccording to local media reports the deceased student has been identified as Navya Gadusu The Lake County Coroners Office confirmed that she was pronounced dead at 1216 am on SundayOfficials stated that Gadusu died due to blunt force traumatic injuries suffered in the crashReacting to the incident the Indian Consulate General in Chicago expressed grief over the students death and said it is in constant touch with the bereaved familyWe are deeply saddened by the tragic passing away of Indian student Navya Gadusu in a road accident near Chicago Our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time The Consulate is in touch with the family of the deceased We are also in touch with friends and members of community who are assisting those injured in the accident the Consulate said in a post on XAccording to the Indiana State Police the accident took place at approximately 1115 pm on Saturday Investigators said a red minivan carrying seven adults was travelling at a very slow speed of around 10 to 15 miles per hour behind another vehicle that was reportedly facing mechanical issuesPolice said the driver of another car approaching from behind failed to realise how slowly the minivan was moving and attempted to swerve left in an effort to avoid a collisionHowever the vehicle struck the left side of the minivan with force causing the van to veer off the roadway and plunge into a ditch officials addedAuthorities clarified that the vehicle suffering from mechanical trouble which the minivan had been following was not involved in the collisionFurther details released during the investigation revealed that the minivan was fitted with only two front seats Police said the remaining five passengers were seated on boxes of mangoes without wearing seat belts at the time of the accidentThe circumstances surrounding the crash are currently under investigation by the Indiana State Police IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-student-killed-in-tragic-road-accident-in-us-674262.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-heads-to-oslo-after-productive-sweden-visit-674285.html Gothenburg May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Gothenburg on Monday after successfully concluding his visit to Sweden during which he elevated the bilateral ties between the two countries to a Strategic Partnership He is now en route to Norway for the fourth leg of his fivenation tour In a post on X the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said A visit advancing innovation sustainability and strategic cooperation PM Narendra Modi departed from Gothenburg for Oslo after a productive visit marked by the elevation of IndiaSweden ties to a Strategic Partnership The visit opened a new chapter in IndiaSweden tiesPrime Minister Modi arrived in Sweden on Sunday for a twoday official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nationsEarlier in the day Prime Minister Modi thanked the people and the Government of Sweden for the warmth and friendship The Sweden visit was marked by several important outcomes that will add new momentum to relationsFrom elevating our ties to a Strategic Partnership launching the Joint Innovation Partnership 20 and the IndiaSweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor to setting an ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade in the next five years the discussions were highly productive PM Modi said in a post on XDuring his visit PM Modi also addressed the European Round Table for Industry ERT in GothenburgThe Prime Minister said his speech focused on the growing convergence between India and Europe the opportunities emerging from the IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement FTA and Indias reformdriven economic growth journeyHe also held wideranging conversations with the business leaders in Sweden on how economic linkages between India and Sweden can be enhanced particularly in futuristic technologies RampD AI security and healthcare During the visit PM Modi was also conferred with the Royal Order of the Polar Star Degree Commander Grand Cross in recognition of his exceptional contribution to IndiaSweden relations and his leadership in deepening cooperation between the two countriesPrime Minister Modi and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson also exchanged special commemorative gifts honouring the enduring legacy of Rabindranath Tagore highlighting the deep cultural ties between India and SwedenPM Modi is now heading to Oslo where he will hold discussions focusing on strengthening the bilateral cooperationHe will participate in the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and hold bilateral engagements with Norwegian leaders The visit marks PM Modis first trip to Norway and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years During the visit he is scheduled to call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja besides holding bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StoreThe Prime Minister will also address the IndiaNorway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian Prime Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-heads-to-oslo-after-productive-sweden-visit-674285.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/tibetan-east-turkistani-exile-groups-urge-us-action-against-chinese-colonial-occupation-674287.html Washington May 18 Several exiled Tibetan and East Turkistani representatives held a joint advocacy event at the United States Congress calling for the independence of Tibet and East Turkistan also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China from what they described as âChinese colonial occupationâ According to the East Turkistan National Movement ETNM the event held on May 15 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building brought together representatives of the Tibetan Patriots for Independence the East Turkistan Government in Exile ETGE the ETNM and the East Turkistan National Fund ETNF In an address to members of the US Congress the speakers raised concerns over the repressive actions by the Chinese authorities in both Tibet and East TurkistanThe advocacy teams also met with the offices of six senators and over twenty House membersAddressing the gathering ETNM President and ETGE Foreign Minister Salih Hudayar said that China is not a nationstate but a colonial empireâ alleging that Beijing is pursuing a colonial project in the twentyfirst centuryHe argued that the global human rights framework alone has failed and the international community must address the root cause of the Chinese colonial occupationâ of East Turkistan and Tibet rather than merely its symptomsâYou cannot stop a genocide while preserving the occupation that created it Independence is not a radical demand it is the only way to guarantee the human rights and very survival of our peopleâ said HudayarâWe call on the United States and all freedomloving nations to recognise East Turkistan as an occupied country support the recovery of East Turkistans and Tibets independence and empower East Turkistanis and Tibetans to end Chinas colonial occupation and genocideâ he addedFurthermore Tibetan Patriots for Independence submitted a formal petition calling for support for Tibetâs independence and official recognition of February 13 as Tibet Independence Day The petition also called for opposition to Chinas forced assimilation policies protection of Tibetan religion language and culture the release of all Tibetan political prisoners and the protection of Tibetâs environmentâHistorically Tibet was an independent and sovereign nation with its own government language culture religion currency and national identity We ask members of US Congress to stand with the Tibetan people in support of freedom human rights religious liberty and the recovery of Tibets independenceâ said Tenzin Wangdu leader of Tibetan Patriots for Independence and former secretary of the Tibetan Youth CongressAs America celebrates 250 years of its own independence the ETNM said that East Turkistan enters its âthirteenth year of genocide under 76 years of Chinese colonial occupationâ and Tibet enters its âseventyfifth year under Chinese occupationâThe Captive Nations Law calls on the United States to stand with peoples still seeking the recovery of their freedom and independence East Turkistan and Tibet are among themâ it noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/tibetan-east-turkistani-exile-groups-urge-us-action-against-chinese-colonial-occupation-674287.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Rome May 17 Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said Incredible India on the move in Rome Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said on social media platform X on SaturdayAccording to the Embassy the campaign was flagged off by Deputy Chief of Mission Gaurav GandhiHop On Hop Off HOHO buses are red tourist buses that offer a panoramic tour of Rome with multilingual commentariesTourists can hop on and hop off the buses as many times as they wantThe campaign was launched by the Indian Embassy ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Italy from May 19 to May 21Prime Minister Modi is visiting Italy at the invitation of PM Giorgia MeloniThe Prime Minister had last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 SummitDuring the visit PM Modi will call on the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister MeloniThe visit comes after intense leaderlevel engagement and is anchored by the Joint Strategic Plan of Action 202529 which serves as the operational roadmap for the partnershipItaly increasingly views India not just as a market but as a major power and an indispensable partner for EuropeItalys championing of IndiaâMiddle EastâEurope Economic Corridor IMEEC as a founding member with the SparkleAirtel BlueRaman submarine cable to Genoa now activated makes it the western anchor of the corridorIMEEC ensures not just stability of supply chains but also gives a boost to Indias energy securityItaly is Indias fourth largest trading partner in the EU with bilateral trade reaching 1677 billion in 2025 and a target of â20 billion by 2029Tata Motors â38 billion acquisition of the Iveco Group is the largest Indian investment in Italy till date while Italy has opened a SIMEST office in Delhi with a â500 million funding line and SACE has added â200 million for SMEsThe postIndiaEU Free Trade Agreement environment unlocks fresh scale for both sides IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-welcomes-extension-of-lebanon-israel-ceasefire-674157.html United Nations May 17 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of a 45day extension of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel said his press office Guterres reaffirmed the support of the world body to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line a border demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel established by the United Nations in 2000 said the press office in a note to correspondents Xinhua news agency reportedThe secretarygeneral urges all actors to fully respect the cessation of hostilities cease any further attacks and comply with their obligations under international law including international humanitarian law at all times said the press officeThe United Nations is committed to supporting all diplomatic efforts to advance the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 which is intended to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War fought between Hezbollah and Israel it saidIsrael and Lebanon have agreed to a 45day extension of their ceasefire that took effect last month a spokesperson for the US State Department saidThe April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said on X on Friday local timeIsrael and Lebanon will resume political negotiations at the US State Department on June 23 while their military delegates are set to launch parallel security talks at the Pentagon on May 29 Piggott saidThe two countries held their third round of direct talks here on Thursday and Friday which Piggott described as highly productiveDespite the ceasefire clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon have continued Israeli strikes killed at least nine people and wounded dozens in southern Lebanon on FridayHezbollah said it targeted Israeli drones troops military bulldozers and a Merkava tank in several areas of southern LebanonLebanons Public Health Emergency Operations Center said that Israeli attacks between March 2 and May 15 killed 2951 people and wounded 8988 othersDuring the talks Israel was represented by its ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and senior security officials while Lebanons delegation included its ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh Mouawad and former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Simon Karam IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-welcomes-extension-of-lebanon-israel-ceasefire-674157.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/canadian-in-isolation-tests-presumptive-positive-for-hantavirus-674158.html Vancouver May 17 A Canadian cruise passenger currently in isolation has tested presumptive positive for hantavirus health authorities in Canadas British Columbia province announced Bonnie Henry a provincial health officer said the patient began developing mild symptoms including fever and headache two days ago and was taken to a local hospital The presumptive positive result came back on Friday and the person is currently being treated in isolation as a positive patient Xinhua news agency reportedThe result still awaits final confirmation from a microbiology laboratory over the weekend said HenryThe patient is among 10 Canadians nationwide currently placed in isolation due to the cruise ship outbreak Of the total four are undergoing a 21day monitored isolation in British Columbia while the remaining six are isolated in Alberta Ontario and Quebec The presumptive positive case is one of the four isolated in British Columbia while the partner has tested negativeHenry emphasized that none of the individuals in isolation had come into contact with the public during their transfer and all involved healthcare workers wore full personal protective equipment She reassured the public that the virus does not have pandemic potential and there is no need for widespread panicThe outbreak occurred aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius and has caused three deaths so far The incubation period for hantavirus generally ranges from one to eight weeks Meanwhile the Dutch government announced earlier that the hantavirushit cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the Port of Rotterdam next Monday with most crew members set to undergo a sixweek quarantine in Rotterdam the NetherlandsRotterdam has been designated in the Netherlands as the port for the handling of infectious diseases in shipping according to a letter sent to parliament on Friday local time and signed by Sophie Hermans Dutch minister of health welfare and sport and Tom Berendsen the countrys foreign ministerAccording to Oceanwide Expeditions the Dutch operator of the vessel there are currently 27 people on board including 25 crew members and two medical personnel The group consists of 17 Filipinos four Dutch nationals four Ukrainians one Russian and one Polish nationalThe ministers said that some crew members would enter home quarantine upon arrival while those unable to return immediately to their home countries would be housed in designated quarantine facilitiesRegarding the vessels 17 Filipino crew members the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM recommended that they remain in the Netherlands for the entire sixweek quarantine period IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/canadian-in-isolation-tests-presumptive-positive-for-hantavirus-674158.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/who-declares-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-uganda-global-public-health-emergency-674161.html Geneva May 17 The World Health Organisation on Sunday determined that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern The WHO said on social media platform X that the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency The DirectorGeneral of WHO expresses his gratitude to the leadership of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda for their commitment to take necessary and vigorous actions to bring the event under control as well as for their frankness in assessing the risk posed by this event to other States Parties hence allowing the global community to take necessary preparedness actions In his determination the DirectorGeneral of WHO has considered inter alia information provided by the States Parties â the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda â scientific principles as well as the available scientific evidence and other relevant information and assessed the risk to human health the risk of international spread of disease and of the risk of interference with international traffic Earlier hundreds of suspected cases have been reported in Ituri Province according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC Xinhua news agency reportedPreliminary tests by the National Institute of Biomedical Research detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples Africa CDC said in a statement citing consultations with the DRCs Ministry of Health and National Public Health InstituteAbout 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been recorded mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara with four deaths among confirmed cases Suspected cases have also been reported in BuniaAfrica CDC warned of a high risk of further spread due to urban settings population movement mining activities insecurity and proximity to Uganda and South SudanThe agency is convening an urgent meeting on Friday afternoon with health authorities from the DRC Uganda and South Sudan as well as key international partners to strengthen crossborder coordination surveillance and response efforts IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/who-declares-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-uganda-global-public-health-emergency-674161.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/calm-before-storm-trumps-warning-sparks-alarm-over-possible-iran-strikes-signals-escalation-in-middle-east-674166.html Washington May 17 US President Donald Trump issued a veiled warning over rising tensions in the Middle East posting an AIgenerated image and message that read âIt was the calm before the stormâ amid reports that he is in discussions with top aides on potentially resuming air strikes on Iran The image shared on his social media shows Trump wearing a Make America Great Again hat alongside a US Navy Admiral standing on a naval ship amid rough seas and lightning Iranian ships can be seen in the background intensifying the symbolic tone of confrontation The post has been widely interpreted as a signal directed at Tehran at a time of fragile regional stabilityTrumpâs message comes as reports suggest his administration is weighing critical decisions on Iran policy The New York Times claimed that Trump is preparing to make a major decision on Iran with aides reportedly discussing contingency plans for renewed air operations if diplomatic efforts failIn recent remarks Trump has also warned of a âvery bad timeâ for Iran if a peace deal is not reached soon Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV in a telephone interview he said âThey have an interest in reaching an agreementâ Meanwhile Iranâs Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his government has received messages indicating willingness from the Trump administration for new talks but stressed that âdistrustâ toward Washingtonâs intentions remainsAlthough a ceasefire was reached last month the region continues to witness heightened tensions particularly around the Strait of Hormuz a critical maritime chokepoint through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil trade flows The United States continues to maintain a strong naval presence in the Gulf even as its largest carrier USS Gerald R Ford recently concluded an extended deploymentEarlier Iranian officials have maintained a firm stance Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reportedly warned that alternative proposals to Tehranâs 14point peace plan would be âcompletely inconclusiveâ Iran has also proposed a new mechanism to manage shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with parliament committee chair Ebrahim Azizi stating on X that certain routes would remain closed to operators of the âProject Freedomâ while commercial vessels cooperating with Iran would be allowed passage under regulated conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/calm-before-storm-trumps-warning-sparks-alarm-over-possible-iran-strikes-signals-escalation-in-middle-east-674166.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-netherlands-deepen-tech-partnership-with-major-push-in-semiconductors-ai-and-research-674170.html New Delhi May 17 India and the Netherlands have unveiled an ambitious roadmap to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies innovation science and higher education with semiconductors emerging as the centerpiece of the strategic partnership between the two countries The agreement seeks to strengthen trusted and resilient semiconductor supply chains by expanding collaboration between industries research institutions and governments in both nations Building on the Memorandum of Understanding on semiconductors and related emerging technologies India and the Netherlands will jointly explore opportunities in artificial intelligence photonics quantum technologies and cybersecurity while promoting technology valuechain partnershipsA major focus of the partnership is talent and ecosystem development in the semiconductor sector The two countries will connect the Dutch Semicon Competence Centre with the India Semiconductor Mission to support startups SMEs scaleups and suppliers through technology sharing skill development and innovationled cooperationIn a significant academic collaboration Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente have partnered with six premier Indian institutions â Indian Institute of Science Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Indian Institute of Technology Madras â to establish a âbrain bridgeâ in semiconductors and related technologies The initiative is backed by leading industry players including NXP Semiconductors ASML Tata Electronics and CG SemiThe two sides also agreed to intensify collaboration in scientific research and innovation by aligning national research priorities in areas such as energy materials biomolecular and cell technologies AI and cybersecurity through the existing Joint Working Group on Science Technology and InnovationBeyond technology India and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening higher education ties through regular institutional interactions and a joint working plan under the existing MoU on higher education cooperation Both countries will also encourage deeper STEMbased academic exchanges and explore platforms for institutional partnershipsThe partnership additionally expands cooperation in the space sector with both nations looking to leverage spacebased applications to address global challenges including climate change water management food security and air quality IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-netherlands-deepen-tech-partnership-with-major-push-in-semiconductors-ai-and-research-674170.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-homelessness-could-quadruple-by-2035-under-climate-pressure-study-674174.html Canberra May 17 Australia could see homelessness quadruple within a decade under a highemissions climate scenario a new study finds highlighting the growing intersection between climate change and housing affordability The study finds that even wellintentioned housing policies could significantly worsen housing affordability and homelessness under the impacts of climate change according to a statement from Australias University of Sydney released FridayResearchers found that climatedriven pressures rising insurance costs disrupted construction supply chains and shifting investment behaviours are likely to intensify housing stress nationwideThe study projects that homeownership could become twice as expensive while rents may rise by as much as 45 per cent under a highemissions trajectoryEven in a lowemissions scenario homelessness could double and rental affordability decline by 23 per cent compared to 2020 levels reports Xinhua news agencyUsing nearly two decades of national housing income and demographic data the researchers modelled how climatedriven shocks and policies interact to shape affordability homelessness and rental pressuresThey found that poorly designed policies that focus on insurance premiums or mortgage rates could deepen inequality by shifting financial pressure onto rentersAny new housing policies need to undergo climatechange simulations to make sure they dont deepen inequality said Peyman HabibiMoshfegh from the University of Sydney School of Project ManagementFuture climate shocks need to be factored in when developing new housing policies and plans said HabibiMoshfegh lead author of the study published in the journal Cities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-homelessness-could-quadruple-by-2035-under-climate-pressure-study-674174.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/everest-legend-kami-rita-breaks-own-record-with-32nd-everest-summit-674184.html Kathmandu May 17 Kami Rita Sherpa the record holder for the highest number of ascents of Mount Everest broke his own record by scaling the worldâs tallest peak for the 32nd time on Sunday The veteran Nepali mountaineer 55 successfully reached the 884886metre summit at 1012 am Nepal time during the Spring 2026 mountaineering season Nepalâs Department of Tourism said in a statement on SundayâBased on information received from the departmentâs field office at Everest Base Camp the ascent was completed while leading an expedition organised by 14 Peaks Expeditionâ the department saidPasang Dawa Sherpa is his closest competitor having reached the summit of the worldâs tallest peak 29 times These two have been competing to achieve the highest number of Everest ascentsExpedition organiser 14 Peaks Expedition also confirmed Kami Ritaâs ascent to the summit of Mount Everest in a Facebook postâCongratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa kamiritasherpa on achieving an incredible 32nd successful ascent of Mount Everest today at 1012 am on May 17 2026â the company saidThe company also lauded his achievement âAt 55 years old he once again proves that determination experience and resilience can continue to achieve success even at the highest peaks on Earthâ it said âYour achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a proud moment for Nepal and the global climbing community Thank you for carrying the spirit of the Himalayas to the worldâKnown worldwide as the âEverest Manâ Kami Rita has continued to redefine human endurance courage and dedication Since his first summit in 1994 he has inspired millions through his unmatched passion for the mountains and his extraordinary contribution to Himalayan mountaineeringBorn on January 17 1970 in Thame Solukhumbu District of Nepal Kami Rita has been working as a highaltitude mountain guide on Everest for many years He is currently engaged as a mountain guide on Mount Everest under Climbing Permit No 70 issued by the Department of TourismHe first summited Mount Everest in 1994 and has since become one of the most celebrated figures in global mountaineeringBesides being a celebrated mountaineer Kami Rita is also an advocate for environmental sustainability and has undertaken several initiatives to help preserve Mount Everest and the Himalayan regionRecognising the alarming effects of climate change on the Himalayan mountains Kami Rita has also been actively raising awareness about melting glaciers and their impact on local ecosystems and communitiesSimilarly Lhakpa Sherpa popularly known as the âMountain Queenâ scaled Mount Everest for the 11th time at 930 am on Monday setting a world record for the highest number of ascents by a female climberBorn in 1973 in Makaluâ2 of Sankhuwasabha district in Nepal Lhakpa Sherpa has added another significant chapter to Nepalâs mountaineering history IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/everest-legend-kami-rita-breaks-own-record-with-32nd-everest-summit-674184.html Sun, 17 May 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-voices-concern-over-deteriorating-security-situation-in-balochistan-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-674193.html Islamabad May 17 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP expressed concern over the sharp deterioration in security in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where residents were increasingly caught between enforced disappearances targetted killings and militant attacks It stated that the alleged kidnapping of the vicechancellor provice chancellor and two other Gwadar University employees in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta sparks questions about the states ability to secure major highways and protect residentsIn a statement posted on X HRCP stated HRCP is deeply alarmed by the sharp deterioration in security across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where citizens are increasingly caught between enforced disappearances targeted killings and militant attacksIn Balochistan the alleged abduction of the vicechancellor provice chancellor and two other Gwadar University employees in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta raises serious questions about the stateâs ability to secure major highways and protect civilians HRCP is equally disturbed by the killing of Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat in Noshki earlier today and reminds the government that when teachers and academics are abducted or shot dead the consequences extend far beyond individual tragedies it addedAccording to the statement shared by HRCP on X the deadly attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Bannu Bajaur and Lakki Marwat highlight worsening pattern of militant violence that continues to take lives indiscriminatelyIn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deadly attacks in Bannu Bajaur and Lakki Marwat including the bombing of a crowded market in Sarai Naurang point to a worsening pattern of militant violence that continues to take lives indiscriminately including those of civilians police officers and security personnel HRCP posted on XWe urge the state to move beyond statements of condemnation and demonstrate that human life and public spaces can still be protected The recovery of the missing university officials credible investigations into all such attacks and accountability for perpetrators are immediate and necessary first steps it addedOn Saturday Paank the Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department mentioned that Ghamkhwar Hayat a prominent poet literary scholar and educator was reportedly shot dead by individuals linked to Pakistanbacked death squads in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki districtThe rights body expressed deep concern over the repeated attacks on intellectuals educators poets and civilians in the provinceNaseem Baloch chairman of the Baloch National Movement BNM said that the targeted killing of Hayat was not an isolated incident but part of the ongoing Baloch genocide and the collective punishment against the people of BalochistanâBy targeting scholars and voices of awareness the aim is to destroy the intellectual and cultural foundation of the Baloch nation But such acts of brutality cannot erase the truth or silence a people struggling for dignity justice and freedomâ said the Baloch activist IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-voices-concern-over-deteriorating-security-situation-in-balochistan-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-674193.html Sun, 17 May 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-expresses-commitment-to-maintaining-status-quo-and-contributing-to-regional-peace-674199.html Taipei May 17 Taiwans Presidential Office has expressed Taipeis commitment to maintaining the crossstrait status quo and contributing to regional peace and security local media reported on Sunday âIt is an undeniable fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent democratic nationâ Taiwans Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo reiterated adding that China has no right to claim sovereignty over Taiwan Taipei Times reportedThe Presidential Offices statement came after US President Donald Trump warned against Taiwans independenceRecently Trump was on a state visit to Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping told him not to support TaiwanTrump said he and Xi talked a lot regarding Taiwan and the Chinese President does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation Taipei Times reportedSpeaking to Fox News Trump said that he wants China and Taiwan to cool downWhen asked whether the people of Taiwan should feel more or less secure following his meeting with Xi Trump said Neutral This has been going on for years stressing that US policy about Taiwan has not changedNothings changed I will say this Im not looking to have somebody go independent And you know were supposed to travel 9500 miles to fight a war Im not looking for that I want them to cool down I want China to cool down Trump told Fox NewsNotably Taiwan relies heavily on security support from the US to deter China from carrying out attack on TaipeiChina maintains that Taiwan is a part of its territory and needs to be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary Despite Chinas efforts Taiwan backed by strong public support continues to assert its sovereignty and responds to Chinas incursionsDuring his talks with Trump in Beijing on Thursday Xi Jinping said that the USChina ties will have overall stability if the Taiwan issue is handled properlyThe statement released by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said President Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in ChinaUS relations If it is handled properly the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability Otherwise the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy Taiwan independence and crossStrait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and waterDuring the meeting Xi termed safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait the biggest common denominator between China and the US He stated that the US side must exercise extra cautionâin handling the Taiwan issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-expresses-commitment-to-maintaining-status-quo-and-contributing-to-regional-peace-674199.html Sun, 17 May 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-visits-afsluitdijk-dam-praises-netherlands-for-pioneering-work-in-water-management-674208.html Amsterdam May 17 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Netherlands counterpart Rob Jetten visited the Afsluitdijk Dam on SundaynbspFollowing this PM Modi took to X and said An area in which the Netherlands has done pioneering work is water resources There is a lot the entire global community can learn from them This morning I had the opportunity to visit the Afsluitdijk and understand the salient features of this project I am thankful to PM Rob Jetten for accompanying me hereWe are working to bring modern technology to India aimed at helping in irrigation flood control and expanding the inland waterway network he addedMinistry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that PM Modis visit to the dam highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise for Indias Kalpasar Project in GujaratA symbol of engineering excellence and innovation Accompanied by PM Rob Jetten of the Netherlands PM Narendra Modi visited the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam a symbol of Dutch excellence in water management flood protection and freshwater storage Jaiswal posted on XThe visit highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise for Indias Kalpasar Project in Gujarat which aims to create a freshwater reservoir and dam near the Gulf of Khambhat The visit underscored opportunities for deeper IndoDutch collaboration in climate resilience water technology and sustainable infrastructure he addedOn Saturday PM Modi held a meeting with Rob Jetten at the latters official residence Catshuis in The Hague the MEA said in a statementThe two Prime Ministers held wideranging discussions on strengthening the IndiaNetherlands relationship the ministry statement addedReflecting 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 PartnershipThey 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 the MEA statement saidTaking note of expanding business investment technology and innovation partnerships the leaders of the two countries noted that opportunities presented by the Indian growth story offer promising business prospects to Dutch companies the statement addedUnderscoring the significance of cooperation in WAH Water Agriculture and Health they agreed to further intensify the Strategic Partnership on Water through collaboration on largescale water projectsThe Prime Ministers of the two countries also welcomed the expanding cooperation across key sectors including healthcare research digital health agriculture and food safety the MEA statement saidDuring the talks the two leaders attached importance to expanding the trade and investment relationship between the two countriesThey also affirmed that IndiaNetherlands cooperation in critical minerals will support resilient supply chains the MEA statement added The two leaders also called for greater collaboration in emerging technologies including AI and SemiconductorsHighlighting the strong cultural relations between the two nations Prime Minister Modi thanked the Netherlands government for facilitating the return of the 11thcentury 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 artefactsIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-visits-afsluitdijk-dam-praises-netherlands-for-pioneering-work-in-water-management-674208.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-195-million-people-in-sudan-facing-acute-food-insecurity-un-674048.html Seoul May 16 Nearly 195 million people in Sudan are facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity a UN spokesperson said citing the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO the World Food Programme WFP and the United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF While 14 areas are at risk of famine across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan conditions are expected to deteriorate further during the lean season between June and September Farhan Haq deputy spokesperson for the UN secretarygeneral told a daily briefing on Friday local timeMeanwhile humanitarian assistance remains critically inadequate compared with the scale of needs he saidBetween February and May humanitarian partners aimed to reach 48 million people per month but only an estimated 313 million people received assistance in February Haq saidFAO WFP and UNICEF have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the international community to urgently scale up funding for food emergency food production nutrition health and water and sanitation services as well as support for actions to rebuild livelihoods the spokesperson addedEarlier on May 13 UN humanitarians said that aid is being distributed in wartorn southwestern Sudan while an amount of 12 million US dollars is targeted for famine relief in the neighbouring country of South SudanThe UN and its humanitarian partners continue to respond to humanitarian needs across Sudan said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHAThe office said that in the Kordofan region aid organisations are providing lifesaving support to displaced people refugees and host communities with water and sanitation assistance reaching some 85000 people in the localities of Sheikan and Ar Rahad in the state of North KordofanHumanitarians distributed blankets mosquito nets and other household essentials to 2000 displaced families in Sheikan and cash assistance reached 200 families in the Taggat displacement site in AprilOCHA said that in South Kordofan state nearly 88000 people including South Sudanese refugees displaced people and host communities received water and sanitation supportHowever the office said it is alarmed that fighting continues to put civilians at grave risk IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-195-million-people-in-sudan-facing-acute-food-insecurity-un-674048.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-lebanon-to-extend-ceasefire-for-45-days-us-state-department-674049.html Washington May 16 Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45day extension of their ceasefire that took effect last month a spokesperson for the US State Department has said The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said on X on Friday local timeIsrael and Lebanon will resume political negotiations at the US State Department on June 23 while their military delegates are set to launch parallel security talks at the Pentagon on May 29 Piggott saidThe two countries held their third round of direct talks here on Thursday and Friday which Piggott described as highly productiveDespite the ceasefire clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon have continued Israeli strikes killed at least nine people and wounded dozens in southern Lebanon on Friday reports Xinhua citing the Lebanese National News AgencyHezbollah said it targeted Israeli drones troops military bulldozers and a Merkava tank in several areas of southern LebanonLebanons Public Health Emergency Operations Center said that Israeli attacks between March 2 and May 15 killed 2951 people and wounded 8988 others During the talks Israel was represented by its ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and senior security officials while Lebanons delegation included its ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh Mouawad and former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Simon KaramAccording to the Israeli official the talks are being held to disarm Hezbollah and reach an agreement to form official ties with LebanonIsrael wants to preserve freedom to carry out air and ground operations against Hezbollah until an agreement is reached while Lebanon is demanding an Israeli withdrawal from its territory a halt to Israeli strikes and an end to the destruction of villages near the borderThe current round of fighting began on March 2 as Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel without causing damage Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground invasion IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-lebanon-to-extend-ceasefire-for-45-days-us-state-department-674049.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-agencies-call-for-urgent-action-to-prevent-famine-in-somalia-674050.html United Nations May 16 UN relief agencies have called for an urgent scaleup of lifesaving assistance to stave off a rapidly intensifying critical food insecurity emergency in Somalia The Food and Agriculture Organization the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA the UN Childrens Fund and the World Food Programme issued the plea said Farhan Haq deputy spokesperson for UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres on Friday local timeHaq said that according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report critical levels of food insecurity in Somalia affect 6 million people almost a third of the population including 19 million children 493000 of whom face severe malnutritionThe spokesperson said multiple shocks are driving the worsening crisis including severe drought insecurity extremely limited humanitarian assistance and the ripple effects of conflict in the Middle East reports Xinhua news agencyThis is also the first time since 2022 that Somalia is at risk of famine in Burhakaba district in Southwest State he said In 2022 famine was averted through massively scaledup and sustained humanitarian interventions in the aftermath of the longest drought on recordHaq said that humanitarian assistance in the mostatrisk areas is being scaled up but with severely constrained resources Coverage remains limited nationwide with nearly 90 per cent of people receiving little or no supportAccording to OCHA George Conway UN humanitarian coordinator in Somalia said there is a narrow but critical window of opportunity in the coming weeks to prevent famine through rapid and expanded humanitarian action According to a report released on Thursday an estimated 6 million people in Somalia are currently facing high levels of acute food insecurity through JuneThe updated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification IPC report details a worsening emergency driven by recurring drought conflict displacement rising costs and shrinking international aid This marks an increase of more than half a million people compared to initial projectionsThe IPC warned that in the Burhakaba district of the Bay region acute malnutrition has reached extremely critical levels with famine risks emerging under a plausible worstcase scenario unless assistance is urgently scaled upThe report also noted that the crisis is being intensified by global economic shocks linked to instability in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East crisis Disrupted supply routes have made humanitarian operations increasingly difficultAccording to the analysis nearly 188 million children are now expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2026 42000 more than previously projected Without urgent treatment severely malnourished children face a significantly higher risk of mortality IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-agencies-call-for-urgent-action-to-prevent-famine-in-somalia-674050.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/top-north-korean-parliament-official-meets-vietnam-fm-in-pyongyang-674051.html Seoul May 16 A top official of North Koreas rubberstamp legislature met Vietnams Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung for talks in Pyongyang earlier this week the Norths state media reported on Saturday Jo Yongwon chairman of the standing committee of the Supreme Peoples Assembly met Trung on Friday during his visit to the country as Vietnamese President To Lams special envoy the Korean Central News Agency KCNA saidThe KCNA dispatch did not offer details of the talks which included North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Sanggil and Vietnamese Ambassador to North Korea Le Ba Vinh but noted that it took place in a friendly atmosphereJo is considered a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jongun and one of the most influential officials in Pyongyang reports Yonhap news agency quoting KCNATrung arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday and met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Sonhui the next dayHis visit came amid warming ties between the two countries following a summit between Lam and Kim in Pyongyang in October which marked the first visit by a top Vietnamese leader to the North in 18 yearsEarlier Pyongyang held a celebratory event to mark the recent key party congress of both North Korea and VietnamThe photography exhibition hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Pyongyang was held at Taedonggang Diplomatic Club on Thursday featuring videos photos and archival materials highlighting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries leaders past and present the Korean Central News Agency saidThe event was attended by Pak Sanggil vice minister of foreign affairs and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung who is currently visiting the North as a special envoy of Vietnamese President To Lam and Le Ba Vinh Vietnams ambassador to Pyongyang among othersNorth Korea held its ninth congress of the ruling Workers Party of Korea in February and Vietnam convened the 14th national congress of the Communist Party in January IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/top-north-korean-parliament-official-meets-vietnam-fm-in-pyongyang-674051.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/brazils-supreme-court-opens-probe-into-funding-for-ex-presidents-film-674054.html Brasilia May 16 Brazils Supreme Federal Court has ordered an investigation into the possible diversion of parliamentary funds to cultural projects including a film about former President Jair Bolsonaro The order was issued by Justice Flavio Dino on Friday local time after a complaint filed earlier this year by lawmaker Tabata Amaral of the Brazilian Socialist PartyAmaral alleged that public funds allocated through parliamentary amendments may have been used for electoral marketing and audiovisual content linked to Bolsonaro who is serving a sentence for an attempted coup reports Xinhua news agencyAccording to the complaint several lawmakers from Bolsonaros Liberal Party allegedly transferred a total of 26 million reais about 514000 US dollars from parliamentary amendmentsThe case came amid media reports that Senator Flavio Bolsonaro the former presidents son and a presidential hopeful sought 130 million reais about 25 million dollars from a private banker currently jailed on fraud chargesThe funds were reportedly intended for a feature film titled Dark Horse about Bolsonaros lifeBrazilian authorities are seeking to determine whether public budget funds were illegally linked to the financing of the production The case remains under seal while evidence is being gathered Last week on May 9 Brazils Supreme Federal Court temporarily suspended a law that could shorten prison terms for individuals convicted over the January 8 2023 attacks on government buildings including former President Jair BolsonaroJustice Alexandre de Moraes who was assigned to review the laws constitutionality issued the decisionIn his ruling Moraes said the suspension was necessary to ensure legal certainty while the court determines whether the law is compatible with Brazils constitutionBolsonaro was sentenced by the Supreme Federal Court in September last year to 27 years and three months in prison for leading an attempted coup IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/brazils-supreme-court-opens-probe-into-funding-for-ex-presidents-film-674054.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html New Delhi May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the Netherlands PM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across EuropeAnnouncing the Prime Ministerâs arrival Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X stating âGoedeavond Nederland PM narendramodi has arrived in the Netherlands The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted IndiaâNetherlands partnership and to engage with the largest Indian diaspora on mainland EuropeâEarlier during a special briefing on the Prime Ministerâs visit Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said âOur partnership has considerably deepened over the last few years across traditional sectors of trade investment and priority sectors of WAH â water agriculture and health â as well as peopletopeople ties In recent years cooperation has further expanded into strategic areas such as technology innovation defence security semiconductors renewable energy education and the maritime domainâPeopletopeople ties continue to remain a significant pillar of the IndiaNetherlands bilateral relationship The Netherlands is home to more than 90000 NonResident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin as well as over 200000 members of the Suriname Hindustani community Additionally around 3500 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education at various universities across the countryThe visit carries a rich and substantive agenda and is expected to consolidate the new strategic dimensions of the partnership that have emerged through the sustained efforts of both countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html The Hague May 16 Members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands on Saturday described themselves as fortunate to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally calling the experience one of the greatest honours of their lives A member of the Indian diaspora told IANS âWe are fortunate to meet PM Modi personally I would like to say that PM Modi is not just an Indian leader but a world leader He has put in a lot of effort into making India a strong nationâAnother member of the diaspora expressed excitement over the interaction and said âIt was amazing It was the honour of our lives Meeting PM Modi in person was truly a blessingâA member of the Muslim community in the Indian diaspora also shared happiness after meeting the Prime Minister and said âI am very happy I have grown up in India and today I got an opportunity to meet PM ModiâArtistes from the Netherlands who performed during the event also expressed gratitude and excitement over the opportunity to present Indian culture before the Prime MinisterOne artiste said âWe presented a beautiful Ram bhajan We were very honoured to perform in front of PM Modi It was blissful to see the twinkle in his eyes and it was truly a blessing to perform for himâAnother artiste said âIt was beautiful to present our classical art forms here in the Netherlands in front of PM Modi It truly feels like a blessed momentâA third performer described the occasion as a âunique experienceâ and said it was a great honour to perform before âone of the world leadersâEarlier in the day PM Modi shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsPM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across Europe IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-total-military-victory-over-iran-says-us-strikes-severely-damaged-tehrans-capabilities-674066.html Washington May 16 US President Donald Trump defended US military operations linked to Iran and insisted Tehranâs military capabilities had been severely damaged Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Anchorage Alaska Trump said âWe had a total military victoryâ claiming the United States had destroyed Iranâs naval and air assets and degraded missile production facilitiesTrump also mentioned that he had agreed to the ceasefire despite reservations describing it as a move requested by other nations including PakistanâWe really did the ceasefire at the request of other nations I wouldnât have really been in favour of itââ Trump saidSpeaking on the ceasefire Trump did not elaborate on the exact nature of Pakistanâs involvement but his comments came during a wideranging interaction dominated by discussions on Iran China Taiwan and global security issuesAt the same time Trump suggested that diplomatic channels remained open He said Chinese President Xi Jinping shared Washingtonâs position that Iran should not possess nuclear weaponsâHe feels strongly they canât have a nuclear weaponâ Trump said while describing his recent talks with XiTrump also said the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively under US control following military operations in the regionâTheyâve done no business â literally theyâve done no business in the last two and a half weeksâ he said referring to Iranianlinked shipping activity through the strategic waterwayDuring the exchange Trump indicated he was still considering future military options against Iran if requiredâI can say this with very very strong conviction Iran will never have a nuclear weapon not going to happenâ he saidThe President additionally revealed that discussions with China covered artificial intelligence cooperation Taiwan tensions trade and denuclearisationOn Taiwan Trump said Xi opposed any move towards Taiwanese independence and warned against confrontation Trump added that he had made âno commitment either wayâ regarding future US policy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-total-military-victory-over-iran-says-us-strikes-severely-damaged-tehrans-capabilities-674066.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-envoy-says-brics-can-showcase-failure-of-unipolar-security-model-674083.html New DelhiTehran May 16 Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali on Saturday said that the 2026 BRICS Summit presents an important opportunity to underline how a global security framework dependent on guarantees from a single power has failed in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world order The remarks come amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran the United States and Israel and reflect Tehrans continued advocacy for multipolarity and collective approaches to global security and prosperity following its inclusion in the expanded BRICS groupingIn a post shared on X the Iranian envoy stated The BRICS Summit in India is an opportunity to highlight a key reality a security model based on guarantees of security and prosperity by a single power even a major one has failed in todays complex and rapidly evolving worldThe statement was made shortly after the conclusion of the twoday BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday and Friday under Indias chairship of the grouping The highlevel gathering was chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by foreign ministers and senior representatives from BRICS member nations as well as partner countriesEarlier on Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the foreign ministers and heads of delegation from BRICS nations in the national capital and reiterated that under Indias chairmanship the grouping would work towards strengthening multilateralism promoting sustainable development enhancing economic resilience and building a more inclusive global orderDuring the meeting EAM Jaishankar also expressed confidence that the deliberations among member nations would contribute towards achieving a more stable equitable and inclusive international systemHe stressed the importance of reformed multilateralism and called for reforms in the United Nations Security Council in both permanent and nonpermanent categoriesMeanwhile Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also raised the issue of reforming the United Nations Security Council during the BRICS meeting in New Delhi stating that such reforms were not a choice but a necessity for the survival of the United NationsAraghchi said Iran seeks a Security Council that truly represents all continents and regions of the world and added that BRICS nations should utilise their collective strength to reshape global governance and restore trust in multilateral institutionsWhat we see today in some international institutions is not multilateralism but an effort to preserve unilateralism under the cover of international law he remarkedHe further stated that the selective application of international law the use of unilateral sanctions and disregard for national sovereignty indicate a deepening crisis in the present global governance framework IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-envoy-says-brics-can-showcase-failure-of-unipolar-security-model-674083.html Sat, 16 May 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-growth-highlights-deep-structural-weakness-in-economy-674130.html New Delhi May 16 Pakistanâs latest GDP data points to a fragile and uneven recovery with the economy growing 37 per cent in the current fiscal year below the governmentâs 4 per cent target and marginally under the nations State Bank projection range a report has said The report published in Dawn highlighted that the growth underscores the countryâs continued struggle to break out of a prolonged lowgrowth trap shaped by structural weaknesses external financing pressures and repeated inflationary shocksThe economy has expanded to over 452 billion with per capita income rising slightly to 1901 it saidThe uptick offers limited real relief to households facing high living costs stagnant wages and weak purchasing powerIt further noted that sectoral performance remains uneven Largescale manufacturing has rebounded after a period of contraction while services continue to dominate overall growth driven largely by consumption and state expenditure rather than productivity gains In contrast the agriculture sector experienced weak performance despite employing a large share of the workforceThe industrial recovery is also being viewed as cyclical emerging from a low base rather than reflecting sustained expansion For instance sharp increases in automobile production follow earlier declines caused by import restrictions and supply chain disruptions the report saidThe report flagged that the neighbouring country continues to lag in exportled industrial growth with investment tax mobilisation and productivity indicators remaining weak Despite stabilisation efforts and IMFbacked reforms helping avert immediate crisis risks longterm growth prospects remain uncertain according to the reportIn addition the State Bank of Pakistan has projected tepid growth ahead contingent on energy prices and geopolitical developments including ongoing regional tensions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-growth-highlights-deep-structural-weakness-in-economy-674130.html Sat, 16 May 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-a-land-of-opportunities-powered-by-technology-and-humanity-pm-modi-674138.html The Hague May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described India as a land of opportunities that is driven by both technology and humanity Addressing the Indian community at an event in The Hague PM Modi said India is emerging as a key force in innovation economic growth and global cooperation at a time when the world is facing multiple challengesâIndia is a land of opportunities which is driven by both technology and humanityâ the Prime Minister statedâThis decade is becoming a decade of challenges for the worldâ the Prime Minister added referring to the Covid19 pandemic and ongoing global conflictsHe stressed the need for stronger international coordination and partnerships to address emerging geopolitical and economic uncertaintiesâIndia and the Netherlands are steadily expanding cooperation in critical sectors such as energy security and water securityâ PM Modi mentionedHe added that both countries can work together more closely in the global arena and collaborate on securing major international projectsHighlighting growing economic engagement between India and Europe PM Modi said the proposed IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement would further strengthen ties between the two sidesâThe Netherlands could become a natural gateway for Indian businesses looking to expand into Europeâ the Prime Minister statedHe also praised the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations saying the community acts as a trusted bridge between the two nations and contributes significantly to enhancing peopletopeople ties and economic cooperationAddressing the enthusiastic gathering PM Modi said the warmth and affection shown by the Indian community made him feel as though he was attending a festival in IndiaâSeeing so much love and enthusiasm I forgot for a moment that I am in the Netherlandsâ he said adding that The Hague had become a living symbol of IndiaNetherlands friendship IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-a-land-of-opportunities-powered-by-technology-and-humanity-pm-modi-674138.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/xi-opposes-taiwan-independence-trump-674038.html Washington May 16 US President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly opposes any move toward Taiwan independence while also claiming the two leaders reached a âvery good understandingâ on Iran trade and artificial intelligence during talks in China Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Anchorage Alaska Trump described Xi as âan incredible guyâ and said the visit produced major commercial agreements including what he called a potentially record aircraft order involving Boeing and General ElectricâWe had a great stay It was an amazing period of timeâ Trump said âPresident Xi is an incredible guy Got along made a lot of great trade deals including over 200 planes from Boeing with a promise of 750 planesâTrump said Taiwan emerged as a major subject in his discussions with Xi According to Trump the Chinese leader warned against any push for independence on the selfruled islandâHe does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontationâ Trump said âI heard him outâThe US President repeatedly declined to clarify whether Washington would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a conflict with ChinaâI dont want to say thatâ Trump said when asked directly if the US would defend Taiwan âTheres only one person who knows that You know who it is meâTrump also indicated that his administration was reconsidering future arms sales to TaiwanâIll make a determination over the next fairly short period of timeâ he saidThe President said Xi had also expressed strong opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and favoured reopening the Strait of Hormuz a critical global oil shipping routeâHe feels strongly they cant have a nuclear weaponâ Trump said âHe wants them to open up the straitâTrump maintained that Iranâs military capabilities had been severely weakened following recent US operationsâWe had a total military victoryâ he said âWe knocked out their entire Navy We knocked out their entire Air ForceâHe also said the ceasefire was partly agreed to âas a favor to PakistanââWe did it as a favor to Pakistan who are terrific people the field marshal and the prime ministerâ Trump saidOn artificial intelligence Trump said Washington and Beijing discussed the possibility of working together on âguardrailsâ for emerging technologiesâAI is fantasticâ he said âBut its also got some drawbacksâTrump further claimed that Xi praised his handling of the American economy and criticised former President Joe BidenâHe said the US was declining for the last four yearsâ Trump said âWhat President Trump has done in the last 15 16 months has been virtually a miracleâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/xi-opposes-taiwan-independence-trump-674038.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/drones-will-define-future-wars-us-army-674040.html Washington May 16 The US Army has told lawmakers that drones artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are rapidly reshaping modern warfare as senior military leaders pointed to lessons from the Ukraine conflict and warned that future battlefields will be dominated by lowcost scalable unmanned technologies Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the character of war was changing at unprecedented speed and militaries that fail to adapt risk being left behindâDrones are reshaping how humans will inflict violence on each other at a pace never witnessed in human historyâ Driscoll told lawmakers âThey are cheap modular precise multirole and scalableâHe said the Army was moving aggressively to integrate autonomous systems battlefield AI and openarchitecture command systems into future operations particularly as the Pentagon prepares for potential conflicts in the IndoPacificThe remarks came during a heated hearing on the Armyâs fiscal year 2027 budget request where lawmakers from both parties repeatedly cited battlefield lessons from Ukraine especially the growing role of cheap drones in surveillance targeting and mass attacksGeneral Christopher LaNeve said the Army was rapidly adapting training and operational doctrine based on combat experiences from Ukraine and the Middle EastâWere taking a lot of lessons learned from both Ukraine and OEFâ LaNeve said referring to Operation Enduring Freedom âIts moving at a much faster rate into our schoolhouse and into our doctrineâArmy leaders have launched a major integration effort called âOperation Jailbreakâ underway at Fort Carson Colorado where defence contractors and Army engineers are attempting to break down software barriers that prevent military systems from sharing battlefield data seamlesslyDriscoll said existing US military systems were often built as isolated âwalled gardensâ that restrict interoperabilityâEvery single system that creates a piece of data should be able to share that data anywhere we the United States Army need it to goâ he saidThe Army Secretary warned that modern drone warfare would require AIassisted battlefield decisionmaking because human operators alone would not be able to react fast enough against drone swarms and electronic attacksâWhen youre thinking of drone swarms and the threats to react a human being cannot do that aloneâ Driscoll saidLawmakers also questioned whether the Armyâs proposed drone procurement budget matched its rhetoric on future warfare Representative Eugene Vindman noted that funding for small unmanned aircraft systems had declined compared to previous yearsDriscoll responded that the Armyâs strategy was not simply to stockpile millions of drones in peacetime but to build an industrial ecosystem capable of rapidly scaling production during warâWhat Ukraine is producing I think its about 5 million drones Russia is about the sameâ he said âWe are not going to be at a place where we need to manufacture as a nation 5 million drones until were in conflict but we need to be able to get there really quicklyâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/drones-will-define-future-wars-us-army-674040.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pentagon-drops-plans-to-deploy-over-4-000-us-based-troops-to-poland-674042.html Washington May 16 The Pentagon has scrapped plans to temporarily deploy more than 4000 USbased troops to Poland multiple US media outlets reported citing US officials The head of the US European Command received the instructions on the force reduction said Christopher LaNeve acting US Army chief of staff at a congressional hearing on Friday Xinhua news agency reportedIve worked with him in close consultation on what that force unit would be and it made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater LaNeve said referring to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat TeamSome elements of the unit had already been sent overseas and its equipment was in transit the general saidThe order to cancel the deployment came from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths office according to the general No formal announcement has been madeJeanne Shaheen a Democrat who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Services said that Congress was not notifiedAs far as I know we werent notified about it she told reportersThe Pentagon announced two weeks ago that roughly 5000 US troops would be withdrawn from Germany over the next six to 12 monthsEarlier this month US President Donald Trump told Italian media that he is still considering relocating troops from bases in Italy adding that Italy was not there when we needed it local media reportedTrump had made the remarks in a phone interviewIn response to Trumps remarks about troop relocation Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he cannot understand the reasoning behind that He noted that Italy is working with countries in a coalition to prepare a mission in the Strait of Hormuz focused on mine clearance and the protection of maritime navigationItalys ANSA news agency reported on May 1 that Trump said he may reduce US military presence in Spain and Italy slamming European allies for not helping in the USIsraeli war against IranData from the US Department of Defence shows that as of the end of 2025 around 12700 activeduty US troops are permanently stationed in Italy making it the secondlargest US military presence in Europe after Germany IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pentagon-drops-plans-to-deploy-over-4-000-us-based-troops-to-poland-674042.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/usha-vance-promotes-reading-drive-in-florida-674045.html Washington May 16 As part of her effort to promote childhood literacy US Second Lady Usha Vance visited a charter school in Florida during which she highlighted her Summer Reading Challenge for students across the country During her visit to AcadeMir Academy Charter School East in Doral Florida the Second Lady read Ada Twist the Scientist by Andrea Beaty to students She also spoke about the importance of reading and answered questions from children and faculty membersâIt was such a joy to meet so many amazing kids in Miami and share the gift of reading with them I loved telling them about my upcoming Summer Reading Challenge and the fun updates weâve made since last yearâs challenge Iâm excited for children all over the country to learn and grow through stories this summerâ Vance saidSchool officials said the visit focused on literacy education and student developmentâTodayâs visit is especially meaningful as we unite in support of literacy learning and the transformative power of education through the Second Ladyâs Summer Reading Initiative At AcadeMir Charter Schools we believe reading opens the door to imagination opportunity and lifelong success We are proud to support this important initiative and remain committed to inspiring our students to become lifelong readers critical thinkers and future leadersâ said Olivia BernalThe Summer Reading Challenge is part of Vanceâs broader childhood literacy initiativeThe Second Lady recently launched a podcast Storytime with the Second Lady in which guests and celebrities read childrenâs stories aloudRecent guests have included former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick actor Cheryl Hines Inter Miami CF player Ian Fray and Vanceâs mother Lakshmi ChilukuriThe White House said additional information about the Summer Reading Challenge is available online The podcast is also available on Spotify and YouTubeVance the wife of Vice President JD Vance has made literacy and education outreach a visible part of her public role She is the first Indian American Second Lady of the United StatesReading and learning recovery have remained major issues in the United States since the Covid19 pandemic with educators and policymakers raising concerns about declining literacy levels among schoolchildren Several states and school districts have expanded reading and tutoring programmes in recent years IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/usha-vance-promotes-reading-drive-in-florida-674045.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-seeks-75-yr-prison-term-for-ex-first-lady-in-bribery-case-674046.html Seoul May 16 A special counsel team in South Korea has sought a 75year prison term for former first lady Kim Keon Hee during her bribery trial on charges of receiving luxury gifts along with requests for government appointments and other favours Special counsel Min Joongkis team made the sentencing recommendation for Kim the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol at the trials final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Friday for violating a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediationKim is accused of receiving over 100 million won US66700 worth of jewellery including a Van Cleef amp Arpels necklace from the chairman of a construction company between March and May 2022 as well as a request for a government position for his soninlawShe also allegedly received a golden turtle ornament from Lee Baeyong former head of the National Education Commission in April that year in exchange for her appointment to the position reports Yonhap news agencyIn addition Kim is suspected of receiving a Vacheron Constantin watch from an entrepreneur in September 2022 and a painting by renowned artist Lee Ufan from a former prosecutor in February 2023Mins team also accused Kim of accepting a Dior bag worth 54 million won from a pastor in 2022 The exchange had raised controversy when it was unveiled by the media the next yearThe defendant while holding a position close to the president used that influence for transactions for personal interests the team saidLast month an appeals court sentenced Kim to four years in prison in a separate trial on corruption charges IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-seeks-75-yr-prison-term-for-ex-first-lady-in-bribery-case-674046.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-uae-today-talks-to-focus-on-energy-strategic-ties-673942.html New Delhi May 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During his visit PM Modi will meet the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchange views on bilateral issues and energy cooperation and discuss ways to advance the bilateral relationsâThey will also discuss ways to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership underpinned by strong political cultural economic and peopletopeople linksâ the Ministry of External Affairs statedâThe visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countriesâ it addedEnergy security will be one of the key focus areas during PM Modiâs visit and two important MoUs in the areas of LPG and strategic petroleum reserves are likely to be concluded during it according to official sourcesAccording to MEA the UAE is Indiaâs thirdlargest trade partner and its seventhlargest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years With the UAE hosting a strong Indian community of over 45 million the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss their welfareBriefing the media Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George stated that the Prime Minister will embark on a sixday visit to the UAE the Netherlands Sweden Norway and Italy For the second leg of his visit the Prime Minister will visit the Netherlands This will be the Prime Ministerâs second visit to the Netherlands since 2017 During the visit he will call on King WillemAlexander and Queen MÃxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten George saidFor the third leg of the visit PM Modi will travel to Swedens Gothenburg and hold bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral tradeThe two Prime Ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry a leading panEuropean business leadersâ forum along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenGeorge further stated that during the fourth leg of his visit the Prime Minister will reach Norway on Monday for the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and bilateral engagementsIn the final leg of his visit the Prime Minister will be in Italy on Tuesday During the visit PM Modi will call on the President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Georgia Meloni IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-to-visit-uae-today-talks-to-focus-on-energy-strategic-ties-673942.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/british-mp-resigns-paving-way-for-possible-starmer-challengers-return-to-westminster-673943.html London May 15 Josh Simons a British Labour member of parliament MP resigned so that Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham could replace him in his constituency through a byelection This would pave the way for Burnhams return to the House of Commons He is widely seen as a potential challenger to British Prime Minister Keir Starmers leadership in the Labour Party Xinhua news agency reportedIn Simons resignation letter on social media the Makerfield MP said the government failed to deliver the changes needed for his constituency so he decided to make way for a leader who has the radicalism energy and immense courage to meet the momentBurnham later confirmed on social media that he would be requesting permission from Labours National Executive Committee NEC to stand in the Makerfield byelectionA former MP in the House of Commons for 16 years Burnham has been the mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 His previous effort to return to Westminster was blocked by the NEC earlier this yearAccording to British media Burnham is widely seen as capable of securing enough support within the Labour Party to mount a leadership challenge against Starmer However becoming an MP is a precondition for eligibility to contest the party leadershipMeanwhile Starmer is facing mounting pressure to resign after Labours fiasco in last weeks local elections British media reported that more than 90 Labour MPs had called on the prime minister to step down while several cabinet ministers rallied behind himBritish Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned on Thursday afternoon in a letter that said he had lost confidence in Starmers leadership and could no longer remain in government honorably and on principleHe also implied that Starmer would not lead Labour into the next general election and urged the party to hold an open leadership debate In response Starmer said he was sorry to see Streeting resign and urged the party to rise to a battle for the soul of our nation and deliver on their promises to the countryOn Wednesday Starmer warned that a leadership challenge against him would plunge the Labour Party into chaos as speculation mounted over a possible move to replace him following the partys poor local election results IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/british-mp-resigns-paving-way-for-possible-starmer-challengers-return-to-westminster-673943.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-defends-iran-strikes-673947.html Washington May 15 The Trump administrationâs Iran campaign came under intense scrutiny at a Senate hearing with US military commanders claiming Tehranâs military capabilities had been severely degraded even as lawmakers warned of rising economic and regional risks Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Admiral Charles Cooper II defended Operation Epic Fury and said US forces had successfully crippled Iranâs ability to project military power across the Middle EastâIn less than 40 days Centcom forces achieved our military objectivesâ Cooper told lawmakers âWe degraded Iranâs ability to project power outside its borders and threaten the region and threaten our interestsâCooper said Iranâs missile drone and naval industrial infrastructure had been degraded by nearly 90 per cent He added that Tehranâs navy may not recover to its earlier strength âfor a generationâRepublican lawmakers strongly backed the administrationâs military campaignSenator Roger Wicker said Iran had spent decades supporting terrorism attacking US interests and developing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilitiesâThe Iranian regime has terrorised the region and made hostility to the United States a core tenet of its ruleâ Cooper said during his testimonySenator Tom Cotton argued that Iran was now âsignificantly less of a threatâ than before the operation began Cooper agreed and said Tehran could no longer carry out the kind of mass missile and drone attacks seen in recent yearsBut Democrats repeatedly questioned the administrationâs strategy and the longterm consequences of the conflictSenator Jack Reed said there was âno purely military solutionâ to the Iranian nuclear issue and criticised the administration for lacking âa credible strategy to winâSenator Tim Kaine accused the administration of abandoning diplomacy and warned against another prolonged conflict in the Middle EastâIf you make diplomacy impossible you will make war inevitableâ Kaine saidDuring the hearing several senators focused on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global trade and oil prices Lawmakers warned that disruptions in the strategic waterway were already increasing costs for American consumersCooper acknowledged Iran retained âsome residual capabilityâ to threaten shipping and infrastructure though he insisted those capabilities had been âdramatically degradedâThe hearing also turned to Africa where General Dagvin Anderson warned that the continent had become âthe epicenter of global terrorismâAnderson said ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates were expanding across parts of the Sahel and Somalia while China and Russia were increasing their strategic influence through infrastructure projects military ties and information campaigns He also warned of growing intelligence gaps across parts of Africa IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-defends-iran-strikes-673947.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-arms-race-drives-pentagon-overhaul-673948.html Washington May 15 The Pentagon is aggressively restructuring its science and technology apparatus around artificial intelligence autonomous systems and lowcost weapons as senior US defence officials warned lawmakers that future battlefields will be defined by speed data dominance and mass deployment of affordable combat systems At a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing on science technology and innovation posture senior Department of Defense officials said the US military was racing to integrate AIenabled systems across combat operations while competing against rapid advances by China and other adversariesâWere moving from a fragmented siloed innovation ecosystem to a single unified model designed to transition technology from the lab to the warfighterâ Emil Michael Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering told lawmakersMichael said the Pentagon had reduced its list of âcritical technology areasâ from 14 to six to sharpen focus on what he described as the technologies most likely to define future conflicts Those areas include applied artificial intelligence contested logistics technologies quantum systems battlefield information dominance directed energy and scaled hypersonicsThe hearing reflected growing bipartisan concern in Washington that the US risks losing its technological edge as China rapidly expands investments in AI autonomous weapons and militaryindustrial capacityCameron Stanley chief data and artificial intelligence officer at the Pentagon said AIenabled systems had already been deployed extensively during âOperation Epic Furyâ helping US forces strike âmore than 13000 targets in 38 daysââWhat once took days now takes secondsâ Stanley saidHe said Pentagon engineers and warfighters were now working side by side to rapidly deploy battlefield AI tools through systems such as the Maven Smart System an AIenabled commandandcontrol platform already being used across combatant commands and operational theatresStanley also warned that China was investing âupwards of 300 billion in energy and compute infrastructure to develop sovereign AIâ describing global competition over AI infrastructure as an emerging arms raceLawmakers from both parties repeatedly referenced lessons from the Ukraine war particularly the rapid evolution of drones electronic warfare and autonomous systemsOwen West director of the Defense Innovation Unit said the Pentagon was shifting away from reliance on expensive âexquisiteâ weapons towards a mix that included cheaper massproduced systemsâWhile we are winning every engagement we are losing on the cost exchangeâ West saidHe said the Pentagonâs new âDrone Dominanceâ initiative was designed to accelerate deployment of lowcost autonomous systems using commercial technology and venturebacked startups According to West 23 of the 25 finalists in the programme were new entrants or startupsMichael said the Pentagon had recently signed contracts with five new companies to build lowcost munitions using fixedprice arrangements instead of traditional âcostplusâ contractsSeveral lawmakers raised concerns about autonomous weapons oversight and civilian harm mitigation as AI systems become more integrated into military targeting operations Pentagon officials insisted that human decisionmaking remained central to the use of forceThe hearing comes as the Pentagon faces mounting pressure to modernise faster amid growing military competition with China in the IndoPacific US defence planners increasingly view AI drones cyber warfare and autonomous systems as decisive technologies for future conflicts particularly after battlefield lessons emerging from Ukraine and the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-arms-race-drives-pentagon-overhaul-673948.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/global-legal-advocacy-group-writes-to-bangladesh-pm-over-bar-poll-irregularities-673977.html London May 15 A global legal advocacy group has written to Bangladeshâs Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressing grave concern over the reported incidents of cancellation of nominations and obstructions of lawyers from participating in several district bar elections across the country In its letter to PM Rahman the Law Society of England and Wales said that the actions were inconsistent with the provisions in âUnited Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyersâ which are âcentral to safeguarding the independence security and professional autonomy of the legal professionThe Law Society of England and Wales the âLaw Societyâ is the body representing more than 200000 solicitors in England and Wales Its mission includes protecting lawyers from interference upholding the independence of the legal profession and promoting adherence to the rule of law globallyCiting several reports between February and April 2026 the group alleged that numerous Awami Leaguealigned lawyers and independent candidates were obstructed from participating in several district bar and Supreme Court Bar Association elections in Bangladesh It added that several candidates were prevented from submitting nomination papers and in some cases were subjected to physical harassmentThe Law Society further highlighted that in several instances nomination papers were officially rejected on the grounds of being âcollaborators of fascists Additionally it said that police also intervened by pressuring some candidates to withdraw from the race and denying others participation by âlabelling them as associates of the previous governmentâTaken together the reported incidents point to a pattern of interference that may erode the independence of the legal profession and weaken the rule of law Ensuring that lawyers can participate freely and safely in professional governance processes is essential not only for their individual rights but also for maintaining public confidence in an independent and impartial justice systemâ the letter statedThe Law Society called on the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure equal participation of all lawyers in the bar association elections without discrimination and to investigate allegations of âelectoral irregularities obstruction and harassment or violenceâ across all concerned bar associationsIt further urged to ensure that all lawyers in Bangladesh can perform their professional duties without fear of reprisal hindrance intimidation and harassment in order to safeguard the âindependence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/global-legal-advocacy-group-writes-to-bangladesh-pm-over-bar-poll-irregularities-673977.html Fri, 15 May 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-emplanes-for-uae-to-hold-talks-with-president-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-674004.html New Delhi May 15 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emplaned for Abu Dhabi beginning his official visit to the United Arab Emirates aimed at further strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countriesnbspDuring the visit PM Modi will hold talks with the President of the UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on key areas of cooperation including trade investment energy security and peopletopeople ties The visit is expected to further deepen strategic and economic engagement between India and the UAE one of Indias key partners in the Gulf regionThe visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries the Ministry of External Affairs statedEnergy security will be one of the key focus areas during PM Modis visit and two important MoUs in the areas of LPG and strategic petroleum reserves are likely to be concluded during it according to official sourcesAccording to MEA the UAE is Indias thirdlargest trade partner and its seventhlargest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years With the UAE hosting a strong Indian community of over 45 million the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss their welfareBriefing the media Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George earlier stated that in the second leg of his visit the Prime Minister will visit the Netherlands This will be the Prime Ministers second visit to the Netherlands since 2017 During the visit he will call on King WillemAlexander and Queen Máxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten George saidFor the third leg of the visit PM Modi will travel to Swedens Gothenburg and hold bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral tradeThe two Prime Ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry a leading panEuropean business leaders forum along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenGeorge further stated that during the fourth leg of his visit the Prime Minister will reach Norway on Monday for the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and bilateral engagementsIn the final leg of his visit the Prime Minister will be in Italy on Tuesday During the visit PM Modi will call on the President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Georgia MeloniIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-emplanes-for-uae-to-hold-talks-with-president-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-674004.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-among-worlds-worst-affected-countries-for-intimate-partner-violence-674018.html Dhaka May 15 Bangladesh continues to face alarming levels of intimate partner violence with global and national data analyses highlighting it as one of the most persistent and least addressed forms of abuse against women in the country according to local media reports As the world observes the International Day of Families on Friday the findings from Bangladesh reveal a troubling reality violence within intimate relationships remains pervasive affecting womenâs wellbeing and weakening the family structureAlthough intimate partner violence has long been a concern in Bangladesh the country continues to rank among the worldâs worstaffected countries for domestic violence with rates far higher than those of many neighbouring nations Bangladeshâs leading newspaper The Daily Star reportedAccording to data compiled by the World Health Organisation WHO Bangladesh ranks 11th globally for the prevalence of physical and sexual violence against women by intimate partners making it the secondworstaffected country in South Asia after AfghanistanAs per WHO data in 2025 nearly one in two women in Bangladesh have faced such violence which has continued at alarmingly high levels over the yearsAdditionally national surveys reviewed by The Daily Star further reflect the severity of the issueReports suggest that the latest survey conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics BBS found that 467 per cent of women had experienced physical violence by an intimate partner while 285 per cent reported sexual violence The survey also recorded emotional abuse among 327 per cent economic violence among 97 per cent and controlling behaviour by partners among 501 per cent of respondentsThe Violence Against Women Survey 2024 released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in February 2025 revealed that 70 per cent of women aged 15 and above in Bangladesh faced at least one form of intimate partner violence during their lifetimeExperts warn that such violence not only causes severe physical and psychological harm to women but also destabilises families affects childrenâs development and reinforces cycles of fear silence and inequality across generationsMy research indicates that children from families where partner violence is common are more susceptible to trauma fear of intimacy avoidant behaviour and tendencies towards revenge The Daily Star quoted Zobaida Nasreen professor of anthropology at Dhaka University as saying IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-among-worlds-worst-affected-countries-for-intimate-partner-violence-674018.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-traders-protest-against-smart-lockdown-in-peshawar-674024.html Islamabad May 15 The business community in Pakistans Peshawar held a protest rally against the smart lockdown imposed by the government local media reported on Friday The protest led by the KhyberPakhtunkhwa Traders Organisation witnessed participation of a large number of shopkeepers and businessmen who shouted slogans and called for an immediate rollback of the lockdown a reduction in petroleum product prices and taking immediate measures to curb inflation Pakistans daily The Express Tribune reportedWhile addressing the protesters on Thursday the organisations prominent leaders slammed the governments approachOne speaker said The lockdown has neither benefited the government nor the traders Shops are forced to shut down by 8 pm but during the scorching summer people begin their shopping only after evening This decision has failed to resolve the energy crisis and offers no relief to the public on petroleum productsProtesters said that the continuous increase in petrol prices has pushed basic commodities beyond the reach of ordinary citizensThey said Fuel prices have soared so high that an ordinary citizen can no longer afford basic necessities The lockdown decision must be reversed immediately and concrete steps must be taken to control inflationThe business community warned of further escalation if the government does not agree to their demands and pledged to continue their struggle until the government rolls back what they termed an illconceived and economically damaging policyOn May 9 transporters in Pakistans Peshawar and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province held protests against a hike in prices of petroleum productsDozens of transport operators gathered at the Hajji Camp Terminal in Peshawar and demanded an immediate reduction in prices of petrol and diesel The Express Tribune reportedWhile addressing the protesters transport leader Zubair Ahmed Qureshi said that the prices of petroleum are increasing while CNG is unavailableThe protest was held as the transporters have increased fares for the fifth time within a single month after the latest fuel adjustment Fares of AC vehicles have witnessed a steep rise while the fares of nonAC buses have increased by five per cent as per the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-traders-protest-against-smart-lockdown-in-peshawar-674024.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-series-of-key-bilateral-meetings-on-sidelines-of-brics-meet-673792.html New Delhi May 14 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday held a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and reviewed progress on the IndiaIndonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and ASEAN cooperation In a post on X EAM Jaishankar said Glad to welcome FM Sugiono of Indonesia Reviewed the progress of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our cooperation with ASEANThis meeting was held on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting being held in Delhi EAM Jaishankar will chair the meeting on ThursdayEarlier on Wednesday the EAM also held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and discussed the cooperation between the two countries across various sectors This evening had a productive exchange of views with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia here in Delhi Our conversation touched upon several aspects of the Special amp Privileged Strategic Partnership including trade amp investment energy amp connectivity science amp technology as well as facilitating mobility of skills amp talent Other global and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed EAM Jaishankar posted on XHe also met Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and exchanged views on bilateral regional and global issuesDuring his bilateral discussion with Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam EAM Jaishankar highlighted Indias Neighbourhood First policy and reviewed the bilateral cooperation between the two nations He also reiterated Indias commitment to the Maldives progress and development These meetings come on the sidelines of the BRICS meet during which the Foreign Ministers of BRICS member countries will exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interestAccording to the MEA BRICS Foreign Ministers and heads of delegations from member and partner countries will participate in the meeting and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-series-of-key-bilateral-meetings-on-sidelines-of-brics-meet-673792.html Thu, 14 May 2026 10:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/growing-expectation-for-brics-to-play-constructive-stabilising-role-amid-global-uncertainty-says-eam-jaishankar--673811.html New Delhi May 14 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said there is a growing expectation among emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a âconstructive and stabilising roleâ amid global uncertainty conflicts and economic challenges He made the remarks while delivering his opening address at the BRICS Foreign Ministersâ Meeting being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under Indiaâs 2026 chairship of the expanded groupingForeign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to participate in the highlevel meeting EAM Jaishankar personally welcomed the visiting leaders and dignitaries at the venue before the start of the discussionsAddressing the gathering EAM Jaishankar said âIndiaâs chairship appreciates your support which has contributed to the steady progress of our workâHighlighting the current global situation he said the meeting was taking place at a time of significant changes and instability in international relationsâWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscapeâ he saidEmphasising the significance of the BRICS grouping the EAM stated âThere is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising roleâReferring to the importance of the ongoing deliberations he said the discussions offered an opportunity to reflect on major global and regional developments and explore practical methods to strengthen cooperation among member nationsâIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperationâ he saidThe External Affairs Minister stressed that developmentrelated concerns continue to remain central to the BRICS agendaâMany countries face challenges in energy food fertiliser and health security as well as access to finance BRICS can help them respond more effectively Economic resilience is also key Reliable supply chains and diversified markets are its essential components We must focus on bothâ EAM Jaishankar saidAddressing climaterelated concerns the EAM said climate change continues to remain an urgent global issue requiring collective attentionâClimate change remains a pressing concern Our discussions must advance sustainable development while advancing principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilitiesâ he statedHe also underlined the growing impact of technological advancements on the global order and said these developments should be used to promote good governance and inclusive growthThe External Affairs Minister further stressed that issues related to peace and security remain central to the global order and highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy amid continuing conflicts across regionsâPeace and security issues remain central to the global order Recent conflicts only underline the importance of dialogue and diplomacyâ he said while also calling for stronger cooperation against terrorismEAM Jaishankar also thanked all participating delegations for their continued support towards strengthening cooperation within the BRICS frameworkâAs Chair I thank each delegation for its presence and for its continued commitment to strengthening cooperation within the BRICS framework All of us remain in close and regular contact through bilateral and multilateral engagements Gathering today for the BRICS meeting is a special occasion It allows us to exchange perspectives and encourages us to develop convergences In this complicated and uncertain world that is of evergreater importanceâ the External Affairs Minister saidAs the Chair of the meeting EAM Jaishankar said India would facilitate an âopen and constructive exchangeâ during the deliberations and encouraged participating delegations to present their perspectives freelyâYour inputs will help guide our discussions and contribute to meaningful outcomes I once again welcome you all and look forward to a productive discussionâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/growing-expectation-for-brics-to-play-constructive-stabilising-role-amid-global-uncertainty-says-eam-jaishankar--673811.html Thu, 14 May 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/s-jaishankar-brics-expected-to-be-stabilising-force-amid-global-uncertainty-673834.html New Delhi May 14 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said there is a growing expectation among emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role amid global uncertainty conflicts and economic challengesnbspHe made the remarks while delivering his opening address at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under Indias 2026 chairship of the expanded groupingForeign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to participate in the highlevel meeting EAM Jaishankar personally welcomed the visiting leaders and dignitaries at the venue before the start of the discussionsAddressing the gathering EAM Jaishankar said Indias chairship appreciates your support which has contributed to the steady progress of our workHighlighting the current global situation he said the meeting was taking place at a time of significant changes and instability in international relationsWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscape he saidEmphasising the significance of the BRICS grouping the EAM stated There is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising roleReferring to the importance of the ongoing deliberations he said the discussions offered an opportunity to reflect on major global and regional developments and explore practical methods to strengthen cooperation among member nationsIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperation he saidThe External Affairs Minister stressed that developmentrelated concerns continue to remain central to the BRICS agendaMany countries face challenges in energy food fertiliser and health security as well as access to finance BRICS can help them respond more effectively Economic resilience is also key Reliable supply chains and diversified markets are its essential components We must focus on both EAM Jaishankar saidAddressing climaterelated concerns the EAM said climate change continues to remain an urgent global issue requiring collective attentionClimate change remains a pressing concern Our discussions must advance sustainable development while advancing principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities he statedHe also underlined the growing impact of technological advancements on the global order and said these developments should be used to promote good governance and inclusive growthThe External Affairs Minister further stressed that issues related to peace and security remain central to the global order and highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy amid continuing conflicts across regionsPeace and security issues remain central to the global order Recent conflicts only underline the importance of dialogue and diplomacy he said while also calling for stronger cooperation against terrorismEAM Jaishankar also thanked all participating delegations for their continued support towards strengthening cooperation within the BRICS frameworkAs Chair I thank each delegation for its presence and for its continued commitment to strengthening cooperation within the BRICS framework All of us remain in close and regular contact through bilateral and multilateral engagements Gathering today for the BRICS meeting is a special occasion It allows us to exchange perspectives and encourages us to develop convergences In this complicated and uncertain world that is of evergreater importance the External Affairs Minister saidAs the Chair of the meeting EAM Jaishankar said India would facilitate an open and constructive exchange during the deliberations and encouraged participating delegations to present their perspectives freelyYour inputs will help guide our discussions and contribute to meaningful outcomes I once again welcome you all and look forward to a productive discussion he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/s-jaishankar-brics-expected-to-be-stabilising-force-amid-global-uncertainty-673834.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-flags-fragile-west-asia-situation-says-safe-waterways-vital-for-global-economic-well-being-673838.html New Delhi May 14 Highlighting the fragile security environment in West Asia External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said that persistent tensions in the region along with threats to shipping routes and energy infrastructure remain a matter of global concern Delivering the national statement at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi under Indias 2026 chairship the EAM said The conflict in West Asia merits particular attention Continuing tensions risks to maritime traffic and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation Safe and unimpeded maritime flows through international waterways including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remain vital for global economic wellbeingHe also reaffirmed Indias strong commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the foundation of international relations Dialogue and diplomacy are the only sustainable means of resolving conflicts the EAM saidEAM Jaishankar further said that even as the challenges mount in the times of global uncertainties the multilateral system unfortunately weakens He said that the state of the United Nations which is at its core is particularly worrisome With each passing day the case for reformed multilateralism only gets stronger This includes the reform of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and nonpermanent categories Continued delay comes at a high cost he addedMeanwhile speaking at the opening address of the meeting EAM Jaishankar stressed the need for enhanced cooperation among BRICS member nations amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertaintiesWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations Ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscape There is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role EAM statedIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperation he addedSeveral foreign ministers including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior representatives from BRICS nations and partner countries are attending the meetingMarking Tehrans first highlevel diplomatic outreach since the conflict in West Asia began Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a threeday official visitAraghchi is expected to hold wideranging bilateral talks with EAM Jaishankar with discussions likely to focus on deepening the crisis arising from the conflictAraghchi arrived aboard an aircraft named Minab168 a symbolic reference to the 168 schoolgirls killed in a missile strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab after the outbreak of the conflict in West AsiaFollowing the worsening conflict in West Asia Iran called on India the current BRICS chair to play an independent role to bring an end to USIsrael hostilities against IranEarlier Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi who is currently in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting said that Tehran views its active participation in mechanisms such as BRICS as a strategic step towards strengthening genuine multilateralism and promoting a more balanced and just international orderGharibabadi made the remarks while highlighting the significance of the BRICS platform amid ongoing discussions among member nations on global governance reforms economic cooperation and the role of the Global South in shaping international affairsIn a post shared on X the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said the BRICS meeting presents an important opportunity for dialogue on the future direction of cooperation among developing nationsGharibabadi further said Irans participation in BRICS aligns with its broader strategic vision of enhancing equitable cooperation and contributing to a more inclusive international frameworkAccording to him Iran possesses significant geopolitical energy scientific transit and human capacities that can contribute meaningfully to the BRICS agendaIran with its geopolitical energy transit scientific and human capacities can play an effective role in the BRICS agenda for balanced development economic security regional connectivity and amplifying the voice of independent countries he saidThe Iranian minister also stressed the importance of opposing unilateral coercive measures and sanctions particularly those imposed by the United States describing them as harmful to economic justice and developmentIn this path opposition to Americas unilateral coercive measures and their illegal and antidevelopment effects is an inseparable part of defending economic justice and the rights of nations to development Gharibabadi addedThe escalating tensions in West Asia have also rattled global energy markets with oil and gas prices surging after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz the strategic shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that carries nearly 20 per cent of the worlds oil and LNG liquefied natural gas supplies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-flags-fragile-west-asia-situation-says-safe-waterways-vital-for-global-economic-well-being-673838.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-plans-countrywide-expansion-of-khalistan-style-gangster-terror-module-673865.html New Delhi May 14 The experiment that the ISI conducted with the Khalistan modules is now being replicated across other networks as well The idea of bringing gangsters and terrorists together to further operations in India is increasingly becoming a new norm investigations have revealed An official said that the ISI does not want terror groups and gangsters to operate separately The Pakistan spy agency realises that it would be best to get the two together so that the resources are common Shared resources and cooperation between criminals have always yielded results and this is what the ISI has been cashing in on the official addedWhat began as an experiment in Punjab is now spreading across to Maharashtra Gujarat and the Northeastern states as wellIn Punjab the ISI got together various gangsters working both within India and abroad to liaison with terror networks The gangster network which is better aware of the logistics aids terror groups which in turn carry out attacksThe gangster network also helps in the supply and circulation of narcotics and the funds generated are used to finance terror groups The gangster networks also help a great deal in recruitments and these persons are used to carry out small time attacksRaids in various states such as Punjab and now Maharashtra have revealed that the ISI wants both networks to operate as one entityAs compared to recruitment into terror groups roping in youth into gangster networks is relatively easier Terror groups come under much higher scrutiny when compared to the gangs It is this aspect that the ISI has been using of late to synchronise the two networks an official addedAn Intelligence Bureau official said when it comes to Punjab and the Khalistan movement the ISI has found a great deal of success in uniting the two networks From Punjab it has now moved on to other states and Maharashtra is the next laboratory for this experiment the official addedIn Maharashtra the Anti Terrorism Squad ATS has managed to unearth a massive gangsterterror network Raids were conducted across the state with the focus largely on Mumbai Pune Jalgaon Nagpur Nashik Nanded Mira Road and NalasoparaThe ISI backed elements had been using social media extensively to rope in the youth The idea is to get them to supply drugs and raise funds for terror networks The raids and subsequent investigations revealed that there is a welloiled mechanism in place to facilitate the sale of drugs The operations which were being overlooked by the Shahzad Bhatti network was being facilitated by the Dogar GangBhatti is originally from Lahore and has been on the payrolls of the ISI for several years now He operates largely from Dubai and PakistanAnother official said that the big plan of the ISI is to get gangs and terrorists together across the country They would be given a designated area to operate from For instance the gangsters who are aligned to the Khalistan terror network would not be used for operations in Maharashtra or the other states Similar would be the case when it comes to Delhi or Uttar PradeshThe official added that this modus operandi is becoming a headache for the security agencies What the coming together of both these networks does is create confusion for the agenciesTerror groups and gangster networks operate differently The gangsters are more cash driven but for terror groups it is largely ideology that mattersHowever for the ISI the primary focus is to unleash terror in India It could be in the form of blasts fidayeen strikes narcotics supply and financial terrorism The official explained that when it comes to terror in India the ISI follows no ideology The destruction of India or bleeding the nation by a thousand cuts is all that matters to PakistanOfficials say that the gangsterterror network is becoming a major headache The fact that the ISI plans to replicate a similar modus operandi across the country is something that the agencies would have to deal withThis would require cooperation between the central and state agencies Minoring the social media is very important as it has been found in all similar investigations that this medium is being used the most to run this network while also carrying out the recruitment process the official further added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-plans-countrywide-expansion-of-khalistan-style-gangster-terror-module-673865.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-measles-outbreak-claims-eight-more-lives-death-toll-climbs-to-43-673870.html Dhaka May 14 At least eight more people have died from measles and measleslike symptoms in Bangladesh taking the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 432 local media reported According to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morningAmid a rapidly worsening measles outbreak in the country the number of confirmed and suspected measles cases crossed 60000 during the same periodThe DGHS recorded 1489 suspected cases in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative number of suspected infections to 53056 Additionally 126 confirmed cases were recorded raising the overall count to 7150 Bangladeshs leading newspaper The Daily Star reportedHealth experts have described the situation in Bangladesh as one of the largest measles outbreaks in recent yearsPublic health expert Mushtaq Hossain said that delays in timely vaccination efforts had resulted in the rapid spread of measles casesHad a proper tierbased treatment system been followed during the outbreak the mortality rate could have been significantly reduced Bangladeshi daily The Dhaka Tribune quoted Hossain as sayingHe further said that once cases surpass the 50000 mark a public health emergency should be declared adding that the lack of such a move had undermined coordinated response effortsHighlighting the abnormal rise in the number of measles cases this year virologist and public health specialist Mahbuba Jamil said If vaccination activities continue transmission may begin to decline within the next few weeks Areas where vaccination drives have been conducted are showing relatively better conditions She stated that Sylhet district is currently among the worstaffected areas in terms of infectionsAccording to health experts inadequate vaccination coverage last year along with malnutrition has played a major role in worsening the outbreakOn Wednesday a group of protestors under the banner of Socheton Nagorik Samaj reportedly formed a human chain in Dhakas Dhanmondi 27 area calling for the trial of the former interim governments chief advisor Muhammad Yunus and his health advisor Nurjahan Begum over the measlesrelated deaths along with compensation for the victims familiesAs measles has killed more than 400 individuals since midMarch across Bangladesh a recent report described the outbreak as an avoidable disaster and called for accountability from the previous interim government led by Yunus who dismantled a functional vaccine procurement system without the capacity to rebuild itThe countrys measles vaccination coverage rose steadily for two decades becoming an international model for lowincome countries That record has now been squandered with shocking negligence by the past interim government an editorial report in The Daily Star stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-measles-outbreak-claims-eight-more-lives-death-toll-climbs-to-43-673870.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/latvian-prime-minister-evika-silina-resigns-673886.html Riga May 14 Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina on Thursday announced her resignation and termed it the right decision in this situation The government will continue to perform its duties until new cabinet ministers are approved local media reported on Thursday Latvia President has received Silinas resignation and a decision regarding formation of the new government will be made during consultations with representatives of the Saeima factions at Riga Castle on Friday Latviabased LSM reportedSilinas resignation implies collapse of the Latvian government which already fell on Wednesday when the coalition party Progressives announced withdrawal of the support from the governmentSilina said At this moment political jealousy and narrow party interests have taken precedence over responsibility Seeing a strong candidate for the post of defence minister Colonel Raivis Melnis whom SiliÅa nominated to replace the resigned Progressives minister Andris Spruds political windbags have chosen a crisis â a government crisis That is why I am announcing my resignation This is not an easy decision but it is the right decision in this situationEarlier on Wednesday Latvias Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis New Unity had said that SiliÅa does not plan to resign However leader of the Progressives parliamentary faction Andris Suvajevs said on Thursday that the government would collapse if a vote of no confidence against SiliÅa takes place in the Saeima Latvian parliament today LSM reportedLast week Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds stepped down after Ukrainian drones entered the countrys airspace from Russia and hit an oil storage facility Politico reportedOn May 10 Latvian PM Evika Silina said she asked Spruds to resign as it demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our countryDefence Minister Andris Spruds has lost my trust and that of the public I have made the decision to demand the resignation of Defense Minister Andris SprÅds The defense sector must henceforth be led by a professional Today I have informed the minister and coalition partners of this decision The drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country The public has entrusted the sector with the historically largest fundingânearly 5 per cent of GDP That is an enormous responsibility that demands clear results Silina posted on XI believe the sector requires a new professional approach I have invited Colonel Raivis Melnis to take the position of defense minister and he has agreed His previous experience in the National Armed Forces military education in London and current work in Ukraine provide confidence that the countrys defense will be led competently purposefully and beyond election rhetoric The safety of our country and its people stands above politics she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/latvian-prime-minister-evika-silina-resigns-673886.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bla-steps-up-offensive-as-pakistan-struggles-on-multiple-fronts-in-balochistan-673893.html New Delhi May 14 The Balochistan Liberation Army has upped the ante against Pakistani security agencies with intelligence assessments indicating that the attacks are likely to increase further in the coming months Pakistani security forces have suffered significant setbacks in recent months while the ongoing tensions involving Iran are understood to have added to Islamabadâs security challenges Indian security officials saidThe Balochistan Liberation Army BLA is also believed to have increased its recruitment with many young people joining the outfit amid concerns linked to security conditions economic distress and regional instability Officials added that border areas in Balochistan remain under considerable strain because of the situation along the Iran frontierFor years in Balochistan the smuggling of Iranian oil has remained a key source of livelihood for many residents Locals say the activity grew largely because of limited economic opportunities and what they describe as prolonged neglect by the Pakistani establishmentMany among the Baloch population have long alleged that the regionâs resources have been exploited without adequate benefits reaching local communities They argue that while foreign investments and development projects have expanded in Balochistan the primary gains have largely gone to influential sections of Pakistanâs political and economic establishment and to residents of major urban centresThis had led many in Balochistan to indulge in the smuggling of Iranian oil However the conflict in Iran has brought such operations to a standstill This has led to soaring prices and hardships among the people in the region Locals and observers say the Pakistani establishment has largely responded through intensified security measures rather than economic relief or outreachAnalysts and officials believe the prevailing discontent has contributed to increased recruitment by the BLA among sections of the youth Pakistani security forces have suffered repeated setbacks in recent weeks while intelligence operations in several parts of Balochistan are said to be facing difficulties amid growing local hostility towards the establishment Officials say this has complicated counterinsurgency efforts for the Pakistani forces operating in the regionThe challenges faced by Pakistani intelligence agencies were reflected in the recent attack in the Chamalang area where 11 security personnel including a Major were killed According to reports the BLA carried out the strike while security forces were engaged in an intelligencegathering operation Major Tausif of the Pakistan Army who was leading the operation was among those killedAn official said the BLAâs ability to target security forces while they were engaged in intelligencegathering pointed to a serious lapse in the intelligence network The official said âPublic support for the group was one factor behind the failure while another was Pakistanâs attempt to handle multiple security challenges at the same timeâThe divided focus has stretched the forces thin and contributed to the losses they are suffering the official addedWhile the BLA has invested heavily in recruitment and the modernisation of its weaponry it has also focused on training its cadres in local terrain and ground conditions Officials say this has given the group a tactical advantage as many personnel in the Pakistani security forces are unfamiliar with the difficult terrain in the regionAnother official said the BLA is likely to build on the Chamalang attack and carry out more such operations in the coming months The group is expected to rely on coordinated assaults backed by improvised explosive devices deployed across the battlefieldâFuture attacks could be more ambitious in scale posing a tougher challenge for the Pakistani security forcesâ the official saidIndian intelligence agencies have also gathered that the BLA may increasingly focus on targeting senior security officials in greater numbers rather than limiting its attacks to soldiers aloneThe aim is to send a stronger message to the Pakistani establishment an Intelligence Bureau official said According to the official Pakistan has attempted to bring together groups such as LashkareTaiba and Islamic State Khorasan Province to support the security forces in their fight against the BLA However the official claimed that these groups have so far been unable to match the operational strength of the BLA or the backing it receives from sections of the Baloch population IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bla-steps-up-offensive-as-pakistan-struggles-on-multiple-fronts-in-balochistan-673893.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-global-gateway-seen-as-alternative-to-chinas-bri-report-673917.html New Delhi May 14 The European Unionâs Global Gateway initiative is increasingly being seen as an alternative to Chinaâs Belt and Road Initiative BRI positioning itself as a more transparent and sustainabilityfocused model of global infrastructure financing a report has said The report by Kenyabased platform Capital News showed that the BRI launched by China over a decade ago as a flagship connectivity and infrastructure strategy across Asia Africa Europe and Latin America has expanded Beijingâs global footprint through largescale financing of railways highways ports and energy projectsHowever the initiative has come under growing scrutiny in recent years over concerns related to debt sustainability transparency in contracts and longterm financial stress on several developing economies that have undertaken Chinesefunded projects it saidIn contrast the EU launched the Global Gateway initiative in 2021 with an investment target of â300 billion for the period 2021â2027 The report highlighted that the programme aims to promote infrastructure development across digital connectivity clean energy transport health education and climaterelated projectsUnlike the centrally driven financing approach often associated with the BRI Global Gateway focuses on blending grants concessional financing and private investment with an emphasis on transparency sustainability and partnershipdriven developmentThe EU has outlined principles such as good governance democratic values environmental sustainability and private sector participation as key pillars of the initiativeIn addition major flagship projects under Global Gateway include the Lobito Corridor in Africa which aims to improve transport connectivity between Angola the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia reducing cargo transit times significantly and boosting regional trade integration the report saidThe report noted that the initiative has also expanded into Central Asia through transport and logistics corridors aimed at strengthening trade connectivity with Europe IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-global-gateway-seen-as-alternative-to-chinas-bri-report-673917.html Thu, 14 May 2026 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-cite-indias-fertiliser-imports-amid-farm-cost-crisis-673755.html Washington May 14 Indiaâs massive fertiliser purchases and subsidydriven farm policies were cited repeatedly during a heated US Senate hearing this week as American lawmakers and farmers warned that global supply disruptions and soaring input costs were pushing US agriculture deeper into crisis At the hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee witnesses said global fertiliser markets had become increasingly volatile due to geopolitical tensions export restrictions and supply bottlenecks linked to the Strait of HormuzSeveral senators and industry leaders pointed directly to Indiaâs growing role in the global fertiliser trade describing the country as one of the biggest buyers shaping international pricesCorey Rosenbusch President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute told lawmakers that India the worldâs secondlargest fertiliser consumer after China had recently issued a major urea tender for 25 million metric tons at nearly 1000 per metric tonâIndia recently did another urea tender for 25 million metric tons of urea at nearly 1000 per metric tonâ Rosenbusch saidHe said the Indian government heavily subsidised fertiliser purchases to shield farmers from rising global prices a policy that was influencing worldwide demand and supply patternsâIn India the worldâs second largest consumer of fertiliser behind China their federal government procures their fertiliser they then heavily subsidise it to keep prices low for their farmersâ he told the committeeThe hearing came as US farmers complained of surging fertiliser costs shrinking margins and growing bankruptcies across rural America Lawmakers from both parties described the situation as a national security issue tied to food supply and geopolitical instabilityCommittee Chairman Sen John Boozman called the crisis âa generational eventâ for American agricultureSouth Dakota farmer Trent Kubik told senators fertiliser costs had nearly doubled in recent years forcing farmers to reduce fertiliser use and alter planting decisionsâIn 2025 we did not apply any phosphate on our farm because it just did not make economic sense for usâ Kubik saidKentucky farmer Eddie Melton said many producers were operating with little or no working capital while facing sharp increases in fertiliser pricesâSince February we have seen a 33 per cent rise in anhydrous prices a 55 per cent rise in urea prices and a 25 per cent increase in liquid nitrogenâ Melton saidWitnesses also pointed to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz one of the worldâs most critical shipping routes for energy and fertiliser ingredients Rosenbusch told lawmakers that nearly 34 per cent of globally traded urea and half of the worldâs sulphur exports moved through the regionThe hearing among other things highlighted concerns over Chinaâs export restrictions on fertiliser products with witnesses warning that tightening global supplies were worsening price pressures for farmers worldwideSeveral senators backed bipartisan legislation aimed at improving fertiliser market transparency and increasing domestic US production capacityIndia is among the worldâs largest importers of fertilisers and remains highly dependent on global supply chains for urea potash and phosphatesAny prolonged disruption in Gulf shipping routes or spikes in international fertiliser prices could increase New Delhiâs subsidy burden and impact agricultural input costs ahead of key crop seasons IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-cite-indias-fertiliser-imports-amid-farm-cost-crisis-673755.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sandwich-generation-crisis-grips-millions-of-americans-673756.html Washington May 14 Millions of Americans caring simultaneously for ageing parents and young children are facing mounting financial emotional and professional strain lawmakers and witnesses told a Senate hearing as calls intensified for stronger federal support for family caregivers The Senate Special Committee on Ageing hearing focused on the socalled âsandwich generationâ Americans balancing work parenting and elder care at the same timeâMost are exhausted overwhelmed and doing it all quietly without complaintâ committee chairman Rick Scott said He noted that an estimated 11 million Americans are caring for both children and older adults simultaneouslyScott said one in five family caregivers had reduced work hours or left the workforce entirely He added that unpaid caregiving in the US now exceeds 600 billion annuallyRanking member Kirsten Gillibrand said sandwich caregivers were under âextreme stressâ and warned that cuts to home and communitybased services would deepen the burden on familiesAndy Kim gave a deeply personal account of joining the sandwich generation after his father lost the ability to walk and was later diagnosed with Alzheimerâs diseaseâI cannot be here at this hearing right now without having a caregiver there with my father right now to ensure his healthâ Kim saidThe New Jersey Senator announced new bipartisan legislation aimed at improving federal data collection on multigenerational caregiving He argued that policymakers cannot solve the crisis without understanding its full scaleWitnesses described caregiving as emotionally draining and financially destabilisingFlorida resident Megan Maher testified that she had ânever known motherhood without also being a caregiverâ after her mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer weeks after the birth of her first childâA dying parent in one room a baby in another and you in the middleâ she told senatorsMaher said caregiving forced her into selfemployment because traditional jobs could not accommodate the unpredictability of family care responsibilitiesJason Resendez president of the National Alliance for Caregiving said nearly 63 million Americans now provide ongoing care to a loved one with serious illness or disability a nearly 50 per cent increase in a decadeHe said sandwich caregivers provide an average of 22 hours of care weekly while also managing jobs and parenting dutiesâThe economic toll is severeâ Resendez said adding that many caregivers deplete savings take on debt or leave jobs entirelySeveral witnesses urged Congress to reauthorise and expand funding for the Older Americans Act which supports meal delivery respite care and caregiver counselling programmes nationwideJosh Protas of Meals on Wheels America said one in three providers now maintains waiting lists with some seniors waiting months or even years for supportThe hearing also highlighted growing bipartisan interest in policies such as caregiver tax credits paid family leave Social Security credits for unpaid caregiving work and expanded use of technology to help seniors age at home IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sandwich-generation-crisis-grips-millions-of-americans-673756.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unifil-says-drone-incidents-endanger-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-673757.html Beirut May 14 The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL has said that a series of drone incidents near and inside its positions in southern Lebanon had endangered peacekeepers and damaged UN facilities UNIFIL said in a statement on Wednesday local time that several presumed Hezbollah drones detonated on Monday and Tuesday near its headquarters in the southern town of Naqoura where Israeli soldiers could have been presentAccording to the statement three drones exploded between 5 pm and 530 pm local time on Monday within meters of the headquarters followed by another drone explosion in the same area on Tuesday at around 520 pm reports Xinhua news agency Minutes later another drone detonated inside the headquarters damaging several buildings No injuries were reportedUNIFIL said it is increasingly concerned about the activities of both Hezbollah members and Israeli soldiers near UN positions adding that it had protested the presence and movement of Israeli troops and vehicles near its headquarters as well as the activities of nonstate actors near UN positionsMeanwhile Israels military chief Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that the countrys multifront military campaign across the Middle East including Iran Lebanon Gaza and the occupied West Bank is not overSpeaking about Lebanon a day after the military said Israeli troops had crossed the Litani River and established operational control in the area Zamir said troops were continuing operations in Lebanon including in the Litani River areaSeparately the Lebanese Health Ministry said at least eight people including two children were killed in three Israeli airstrikes targeting cars along the JiyehSaadiyat highway in southern LebanonMeanwhile the Israeli military said it had struck more than 40 Hezbollah infrastructure sites including weapon storage facilities and military structures across southern Lebanon over the past 24 hoursThe development came despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17 following weeks of intensified crossborder fighting linked to the wider regional conflict involving Iran IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/unifil-says-drone-incidents-endanger-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-673757.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/lawmakers-debate-over-americas-ability-to-rebuild-manufacturing-without-higher-costs-673759.html Washington May 14 The Senateâs conversation about American manufacturing quickly became a broader argument about China tariffs technology and the meaning of economic independence as lawmakers and business leaders debated whether the United States can restore factory production without making life more expensive At a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing marking Americaâs 250th anniversary Republicans and Democrats sharply disagreed over how to revive domestic manufacturing protect small businesses and reduce dependence on foreign supply chainsThe hearing titled âAmerica 250 Industrialisation and the Rise of Small Manufacturersâ featured testimony from manufacturing executives historians and economic experts who repeatedly stressed the importance of innovation workforce training and federal support for smaller firmsSenator Jon Husted of Ohio who chaired the hearing described manufacturing as the backbone of the American economy and said the sector continues to drive innovation and wage growthâManufacturing mattersâ Husted said âManufacturing drives new capital investment and innovation which raises takehome pay for all AmericansâHusted said manufacturing accounts for only 12 per cent of the US economy but finances 55 per cent of American research and development spending He also noted that 98 per cent of manufacturing firms in the country are small businesses employing fewer than 500 workersBut Democratic Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts used the hearing to criticise President Donald Trumpâs trade and economic policies arguing that tariffs and cuts to federal programmes were hurting small manufacturersâTrumpâs tariff taxes are making it harder and harder for small manufacturers to competeâ Markey said âFor too many small US manufacturers MAGA stands for manufacturers are going abroadâMarkey said the United States had lost 80000 manufacturing jobs since January 20 2025 and warned that rising energy prices and higher raw material costs were placing additional pressure on businesses and consumersSeveral witnesses described the tension between promoting âMade in Americaâ production and maintaining affordable prices for consumersBill Zoeller chief executive officer of Kentuckybased Zoller Pump Company told senators his company supports domestic manufacturing but still relies on imported machinery from Germany to expand production capacity in the United StatesâIn order to increase capacity in the US I believe that weâre going to need equipment to do that and some of that equipment is just not made hereâ Zoeller saidZoeller said Chinese knockoffs of his companyâs products were undercutting prices by about 40 per cent He credited federal trademark enforcement for helping stop counterfeit imports that copied his companyâs products and brandingRepublican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that tariffs on industrial equipment could slow efforts to expand domestic manufacturingâWe want to make things in America but if you tariff the things that we need weâre going to have a problemâ Paul saidEdward Hill of the Ohio Manufacturing Institute argued that productivity gains and technological innovation were essential if the US hoped to compete globally while keeping costs manageableâProductivity is the sword that cuts the Gordian knotâ Hill said while cautioning that many smaller manufacturers lack the resources needed to integrate advanced technologies such as AI and Industry 40 systems into their operationsHill also defended federal investment in research and technology partnerships comparing modern industrial policy efforts to the manufacturing systems first encouraged under President George Washington IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/lawmakers-debate-over-americas-ability-to-rebuild-manufacturing-without-higher-costs-673759.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/brics-foreign-ministers-meet-to-kick-off-in-delhi-today--673760.html New Delhi May 14 The BRICS Foreign Ministersâ Meeting is set to begin in New Delhi on Thursday under Indiaâs 2026 chairship of the expanded grouping at a time when geopolitical tensions in West Asia continue to escalate The highlevel gathering will be chaired by External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar and is expected to witness the participation of foreign ministers and senior representatives from BRICS member countries and partner nations Leaders and delegations have already started arriving in New Delhi for the highlevel meetingDelegates attending the summit are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to the national capitalThe meeting will mark the first major ministeriallevel engagement under Indiaâs BRICS chairship and is expected to play a significant role in shaping the agenda for the BRICS Leadersâ Summit scheduled to be held later this yearDuring a weekly media briefing in New Delhi the Ministry of External Affairs MEA confirmed that senior diplomats from participating nations would attend the summit and outlined the broad framework of discussions likely to take place during the twoday meetingAccording to the MEA deliberations are expected to centre on major regional and global developments strengthening multilateral cooperation among member nations and advancing reforms in international governance structures in view of evolving geopolitical realitiesâThe meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers is scheduled for the 14th and 15th May and we are presiding over itâ the MEA stated Participating countries would decide the level of their respective representation and more details regarding delegations would be shared once the representatives arrive in New Delhi according to the ministryIndia recently unveiled the official logo and dedicated website for its BRICS 2026 chairship under the theme âBuilding for Resilience Innovation Cooperation and SustainabilityâOfficials said the theme reflects Indiaâs âHumanity Firstâ and peoplecentric approach an idea that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had strongly emphasised during the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de JaneiroThis will be the fourth occasion on which India hosts a BRICS summitlevel engagement highlighting New Delhiâs expanding role within the grouping as well as among countries of the Global South IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/brics-foreign-ministers-meet-to-kick-off-in-delhi-today--673760.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-weeks-away-from-nuclear-threshold-warns-us-673762.html Washington May 14 Top US officials told senators that Iran remains only âweeks awayâ from weaponsgrade uranium enrichment as lawmakers raised concerns over rising global instability nuclear modernisation delays and energy disruptions linked to the Gulf conflict During a tense Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday local time US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tehran was dangerously close to producing weaponsgrade uraniumâWhen youâre at 60 per cent you are although the numbers donât sound that way youâre way more than 90 per cent of the way there for the enrichment necessary for weaponsgrade uraniumâ Wright told lawmakers âItâs very concerningâThe hearing focused on the Department of Energyâs fiscal year 2027 budget request and the future of Americaâs nuclear security programme But much of the discussion centred on Iran China and the future of US nuclear deterrenceSenate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker warned that the United States was facing âa far more complex and dangerous worldâ as China and Russia continue expanding and modernising their nuclear arsenalsâChina is moving well beyond a minimum deterrentâ Wicker said âChinaâs building a far larger and more sophisticated nuclear forceâHe also criticised delays in rebuilding Americaâs nuclear infrastructure much of which dates back to the Manhattan Project era Wicker questioned whether the administration was moving with enough urgency to restore plutonium pit production and modernise the ageing stockpileEnergy Secretary Wright defended the administrationâs approach and said the National Nuclear Security Administration was restoring its focus on âdeterrence urgency and productionââThe surest way to prevent nuclear war is to ensure Americaâs strength is never in doubtâ Wright saidHe said the US was currently executing seven major warhead modernisation programmes at the same time and claimed all were ahead of scheduleDemocratic lawmakers pressed the administration on the economic fallout from tensions in the Gulf and disruptions around the Strait of HormuzRanking member Jack Reed said the conflict had already driven up fuel prices for American familiesâAccording to public reports this war has cost the American public as much as 37 billion in increased gas and diesel costs or about 289 per householdâ Reed saidLawmakers also questioned officials about whether the administration could resume explosive nuclear testingJacky Rosen asked Wright whether the administration would commit to avoiding renewed nuclear tests Wright replied âTo assure the reliability of our weapons there is no need for explosive testingâNNSA Administrator Brandon Williams said the US conducts âmore than a thousand tests on our nuclear stockpile every yearâ without nuclear detonationsArtificial intelligence and energy security also emerged as major themes during the hearing Williams said the agency would spend about 600 million this year on AIrelated initiatives supporting nuclear security and weapons designSenators from both parties argued that nuclear energy would play a major role in future US energy security as demand rises from artificial intelligence systems military infrastructure and advanced computing technologies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-weeks-away-from-nuclear-threshold-warns-us-673762.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-humanitarians-report-alarming-uptick-in-armed-violence-in-haitis-capital-673763.html United Nations May 14 UN humanitarians have reported an alarming escalation of armed violence since Sunday in a neighbourhood in Haitis PortauPrince metropolitan area The violence in Cite Soleil has forced more than 5300 people to flee their homes More than half of them have sought shelter in 12 sites while many others are being hosted by already overstretched communities said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA on Wednesday local time citing figures from the International Organization for MigrationThe scale of violence has had immediate consequences for peoples access to lifesaving healthcare said OCHA adding that Doctors Without Borders on Monday was forced to evacuate and suspend its operations in Cite Soleil Hospital after treating more than 40 gunshot patients in under 12 hours and sheltering over 800 peopleThe same areas had already experienced armed violence in March and April resulting in the displacement of close to 8000 people and increased pressure on essential services said OCHADespite the insecurity humanitarian organisations have not suspended all activities in Cite Soleil Partners are conducting assessments in the areas where displaced people have relocated within Cite Soleil OCHA is bringing humanitarian partners together to prepare a collective humanitarian response in a rapidly evolving and volatile security environment said the officeFarhan Haq deputy spokesman for the UN secretarygeneral warned on Wednesday that once violence flares up the situation might become difficult reports Xinhua news agencyCertainly a lot of the problem in recent days as weve been talking about has involved the activity of different gangs and also the activity of different security forces dealing with the gangs said HaqWere hoping that we through our efforts can get the parties to step back from this violence But unfortunately as you know from the history of Haiti in recent years its extremely hard once these activities have begun And so we are worried about how the armed violence has escalated in various neighbourhoods in the capital he told a daily press briefingIts very clear when were talking about more than 40 patients who had gunshot wounds in a 12hour span that theres a lot of activity So it would be reasonable to believe that there have been some fatalities but we dont have those numbers he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-humanitarians-report-alarming-uptick-in-armed-violence-in-haitis-capital-673763.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sharia-debate-sparks-sharp-partisan-divide-in-us-congress-673766.html Washington May 14 Republican and Democratic lawmakers clashed sharply during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing over whether political Islam and Sharia law pose a threat to the US Constitution with critics condemning the proceedings as antiMuslim fearmongering The hearing titled âShariaFree America Why Political Islam amp Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the US Constitution Part IIâ quickly descended into heated exchanges over religion immigration constitutional freedoms and national identitySubcommittee chairman Chip Roy argued that Sharia law threatened American values and constitutional protectionsâSharia is not a religious code or belief systemâ Roy said âIt is a repressive legal regime that betrays Americaâs founding principles and threatens our ConstitutionâRoy and several Republican lawmakers pointed to examples in Texas and Europe alleging that political Islam was attempting to establish parallel legal and cultural systems inside Western democraciesDemocrats strongly pushed backRanking member Mary Gay Scanlon called the hearing âa conspiracy theory about Muslim neighboursâ designed to divide voters during an election seasonâThereâs no evidence of any plot to impose Sharia law on nonbelievers of Islamâ Scanlon said âItâs just not happeningâRepresentative Jamie Raskin said the First Amendment already prohibited the establishment of any religion in government and dismissed the hearing as unnecessaryâWe donât need an antiSharia lawâ Raskin said âItâs called the First AmendmentâOne of the most closely watched moments came from Marco Hunter Lopez a 16yearold student from Wylie Texas who testified about disputes involving a Republican student club and Islamic literature distributed at his schoolLopez alleged that school administrators applied a âdouble standardâ by allowing outside Islamic groups on campus while scrutinising conservative student organisations He also said he later received threats after speaking publicly about the issueRepublican lawmakers repeatedly cited concerns about immigration terrorism and radicalisationRepresentative Wesley Hunt said âAmerica is a Christian nationâ and argued that no religious system should supersede the ConstitutionRepresentative Pramila Jayapal accused Republicans of using the hearing to fuel antiMuslim sentiment instead of addressing economic concerns and healthcare costsâThis hearing is unfortunately just part of a much larger antiMuslim strategyâ Jayapal saidAmanda Tyler executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty warned lawmakers against broadly targeting MuslimsâThereâs nothing inherently political about Islamâ Tyler said adding that the Constitution already prevents any religious law from overriding American lawConservative activist Amy Mecklenburg argued the opposite claiming Islamic organisations were building âparallel infrastructuresâ across the United States and seeking longterm influence inside American institutionsThe hearing reflected growing political tensions in the United States over immigration religion and national identity ahead of the 2026 midterm elections Debates over Sharia law have surfaced repeatedly in conservative political circles since the September 11 attacks and have intensified after the IsraelHamas war and rising political polarisationCivil rights and Muslim advocacy organisations have consistently argued that such hearings stigmatise Muslim Americans and distort constitutional protections for religious freedom American courts already prohibit any religious doctrine from superseding federal or state law under the Constitution IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sharia-debate-sparks-sharp-partisan-divide-in-us-congress-673766.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/uk-pm-starmer-warns-of-party-chaos-amid-speculation-over-leadership-change-673768.html London May 14 United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that a leadership challenge against him would plunge the Labour Party into chaos as speculation mounted over a possible move to replace him following the partys poor local election results Speaking amid growing unrest within Labour on Wednesday local time Starmer urged ministers not to destabilise the party further A leadership challenge on Thursday would 100 per cent do that Sky News quoted him as sayingThe warning came as British media reported that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is considering resigning and launching a leadership challenge as early as Thursday morning which means he would require the backing of 81 Labour members of Parliament including the candidate reports Xinhua news agencyStreeting was seen walking into No 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning before the state opening of Parliament though he left less than 20 minutes laterPressure on Starmer has intensified since Labours disappointing showing in last weeks local elections Several junior government ministers resigned on Tuesday while several cabinet ministers publicly reaffirmed their support for the prime ministerMeanwhile 11 Labouraffiliated unions issued a joint statement calling for the party to prepare for a leadership transition Its clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election it said adding that at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new LeaderAlso on Wednesday the Scottish National Party threatened to table a motion of no confidence against Starmer saying that the leadership circus cant go on any longer according to Sky NewsEarlier Britains King Charles III delivered the Kings Speech outlining Prime Minister Keir Starmers legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session but the governments policy plans were overshadowed by growing pressure on the Labour leader over his political futureThe speech which set out 34 proposed bills came after Labour suffered heavy losses in last weeks local elections and four junior ministers resigned from the government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/uk-pm-starmer-warns-of-party-chaos-amid-speculation-over-leadership-change-673768.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-warns-robot-fighters-may-surpass-human-pilots-673770.html Washington May 14 A top US Air Force official warned lawmakers that autonomous fighter aircraft could eventually outperform human pilots reflecting growing Pentagon concerns over the rapid evolution of artificial intelligencedriven warfare âThere will come a point where a robot fighter is better than a manned fighterâ Lieutenant General Christopher Niemi told a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing on Airland on Wednesday local time âIt would be a tragic shame if the United States didnât have a better answerâDuring a Congressional hearing on Air Force modernisation officials repeatedly stressed the urgent need to adapt to changing battlefield realities shaped by artificial intelligence drones and autonomous systemsNiemi who is expected to become the Air Forceâs first Chief Modernisation Officer said the Pentagon sees autonomous combat aircraft as a critical part of future warfareâIâm very enthusiastic about the opportunities of the future for CCAtype aircraftâ he said referring to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programmeThe Air Force is developing unmanned aircraft designed to fly alongside crewed fighters such as the F22 and the future F47 Officials said these systems could eventually perform surveillance electronic warfare and strike missions with varying levels of autonomyNiemi said the programme would also become one of the militaryâs primary platforms for testing practical uses of artificial intelligence in combatâInitially weâll employ that platform sort of under the supervision of an F22 pilot tetheredâ he saidBut he acknowledged that the longterm implications could fundamentally reshape air combatâThereâs no doubt in my mind that weâll find some disappointments and nasty surprises but weâre also going to discover some opportunitiesâ Niemi saidThe warning came as lawmakers questioned whether the US military is overly dependent on expensive fighter jets while adversaries increasingly invest in lowercost autonomous systems and drone swarmsSenator Richard Blumenthal pointed to lessons emerging from Ukraine where cheap drones have become central to battlefield operationsâOur adversaries could say weâre just going to focus on stuff we can use all over the world in great quantityâ Blumenthal said during the hearingNiemi agreed that future warfare would require both advanced manned aircraft and cheaper autonomous systems produced at scaleâIt takes a balance of both the high end and the low endâ he saidThe Air Force said it is already studying how to build unmanned aircraft that are modular easier to manufacture and capable of operating in highly contested environmentsOfficials also referenced growing concern over Americaâs ability to match the industrial scale of rivals and partners engaged in modern drone warfareâI heard today that the Ukrainians are building a million drones a monthâ Niemi told senatorsThe hearing highlighted broader Pentagon concerns about strategic competition with China which US officials believe is aggressively pursuing artificial intelligence autonomous weapons and nextgeneration military technologiesThe debate over autonomous combat systems is also drawing close attention from allies such as India which is rapidly modernising its military and expanding cooperation with the United States on advanced defence technologies drones and artificial intelligence India has already acquired American MQ9B drones and continues to deepen defence interoperability with Washington amid rising IndoPacific tensionsMilitary planners across the world are increasingly studying how artificial intelligence could transform air combat logistics and battlefield decisionmaking While fully autonomous fighter aircraft remain years away defence officials believe the technology is advancing far faster than many governments anticipated only a decade ago IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-warns-robot-fighters-may-surpass-human-pilots-673770.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-faces-pressure-to-confront-china-on-rights-trade-ahead-of-meeting-with-xi-673771.html Washington May 14 US lawmakers from both parties intensified pressure on President Donald Trump ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping urging him to confront Beijing on issues ranging from North Korean refugees and political prisoners to trade barriers fentanyl and American manufacturing In one of the sharpest bipartisan appeals Congressman James Walkinshaw and Senator Tim Kaine urged Trump to press China to stop forcibly returning North Korean refugees warning that those sent back face âtorture forced labour in prison camps sexual assault imprisonment or executionâThe lawmakers said China was violating its obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention by repatriating North Koreans despite knowing the dangers awaiting themâChinese authorities are systematically and knowingly forcing hundreds of North Koreans back to a place where they will face mistreatment and retributionâ the lawmakers wroteThe letter referred to the recent findings from the CongressionalExecutive Commission on China that Beijing forcibly repatriated 600 North Korean refugees in October 2023 described as the largest such operation on record followed by another 200 in April 2024The appeal was signed by lawmakers including Senators Chris Van Hollen Jeff Merkley and Peter Welch along with Representatives Ami Bera James McGovern and Suhas SubramanyamSeparately House lawmakers led by Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington pushed the administration to secure the removal of Chinaâs 10 per cent tariff on American cotton during the trade negotiationsThe lawmakers said China remained critical for US cotton exports because it operated âthe worldâs largest textile industryâ They noted that American cotton exports to China had fallen âby 87 per cent in 2025 due to Chinaâs unjustified retaliation against US enforcement actionsâThe letter also underlined Chinaâs massive role in global textile consumption saying âTogether China and India represent 55 per cent of world mill consumptionâTop Senate Democrats meanwhile accused Trump of weakening Americaâs strategic position against China ahead of the summit in BeijingâThe Trump Administrationâs China policy has been one failure after another for American taxpayers and US national securityâ Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators said in a joint statementThe senators accused Trump of walking back export controls weakening alliances and failing to stop fentanyl flows into the United StatesSchumer also used a Senate floor speech to warn Trump against making concessions to Xi that could hurt American manufacturing and national securityâDonald Trump may have no interest in helping the American people get ahead but he certainly seems willing to give China a leg upâ Schumer saidHe warned that Trump could âsell out America on chips and AIâ and âsell out TaiwanâAt the same time the House prepared to vote on a resolution introduced by Congressman Chris Smith urging Trump to raise the cases of political prisoners during his talks with XiThe resolution highlighted jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai detained pastors Uyghur detainees and American citizens imprisoned in ChinaâAmerica will not be silent while the Chinese Communist Party imprisons the innocent and reaches across borders to threaten their familiesâ Smith said during the House debateThe TrumpXi summit comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade technology Taiwan human rights and supply chain security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-faces-pressure-to-confront-china-on-rights-trade-ahead-of-meeting-with-xi-673771.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-chinese-nationals-sentenced-to-prison-for-filming-korean-us-air-bases-673772.html Seoul May 14 Two Chinese nationals were sentenced to prison Thursday for illegally filming fighter jets at several South Korean and US military facilities and attempting to intercept traffic control communications The Suwon District Court sentenced an 18yearold Chinese high school student to an indeterminate prison term of 1 12 to two years and a 20yearold Chinese man to two years in prison both for general treason An indeterminate sentence is applied to minors under the juvenile lawIt is the first time in South Korea that a foreigner has been found guilty of general treason under the Criminal ActThe court also ordered the confiscation of their cameras and other items used in the crime Yonhap news agency reportedThe two were arrested and indicted for taking hundreds of detailed photos of fighter jets taking off and landing at major air bases nationwide during multiple visits to South Korea between the second half of 2024 and March last year when both were high school studentsThey were found to have visited four South Korean and US military facilities in Suwon Osan Pyeongtaek and Cheongju as well as three major international airports Incheon Gimpo and Jeju They were caught by police in March last year after a resident reported them for illegally filming fighter jets taking off and landing at Suwon Air BaseThe court found the defendants guilty of all charges stating that they committed acts of treason that could infringe upon the military interests of South Korea It also said stern punishment is warranted because the photos exposed the aircraft deployment status and primary missions of the air bases seriously undermining national securityIn a separate case in Busan Chinese nationals have been indicted for illegally filming a US aircraft carrier but a verdict has not yet been handed down IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-chinese-nationals-sentenced-to-prison-for-filming-korean-us-air-bases-673772.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sierra-leone-declares-measles-outbreak-amid-rising-cases-673773.html Freetown May 14 Sierra Leone has declared a measles outbreak amid increasing confirmed infections with health authorities warning of active community transmission in its capital Freetown A total of 41 confirmed measles cases were recorded across eight districts between January and April according to the public notice issued by the National Public Health Agency in collaboration with the Health Ministry on Wednesday local timeThe Western Area Urban District was identified as the hardesthit district with 15 confirmed cases including nine infections reported in April aloneThe government said field teams have been deployed to affected districts especially the Western Area Urban District while ring vaccination campaigns surveillance contact tracing and infection prevention measures are being intensified reports Xinhua news agencyThe public was urged to seek immediate medical care for anyone showing symptoms such as fever cough runny nose red eyes and skin rashAuthorities said vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles and called on parents to ensure children receive the two free vaccine doses available nationwideAccording to health authorities measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through the air when infected persons cough sneeze or breathe near others The disease can lead to severe complications and death particularly among children pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body Symptoms include a high fever cough runny nose and a rash all over the body Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus according to the World Health Organisation WHOIt further states that complications are most common in children under 5 years and adults over age 30 They are more likely in children who are malnourished especially those without enough vitamin A or with a weak immune system from HIV or other diseases IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sierra-leone-declares-measles-outbreak-amid-rising-cases-673773.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jd-vance-announces-major-crackdown-on-healthcare-fraud-673775.html Washington May 14 Vice President JD Vance announced a sweeping crackdown on alleged Medicaid and Medicare fraud accusing several Democraticled states particularly California New York and Hawaii of failing to police abuse in federally funded healthcare programmes Speaking at the White House alongside officials leading the administrationâs antifraud initiative on Wednesday local time Vance said the federal government would defer 134 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California while demanding stronger enforcement efforts from state authoritiesâThe state of California has not taken fraud very seriouslyâ Vance said âWe want California to get serious about this fraudâVance said the administration was also sending letters to all 50 state Medicaid programmes requiring them to demonstrate that they were âeffectively and aggressively prosecuting Medicaid fraudâ States failing to comply risk losing federal antifraud funding he saidâWe are gonna turn off the money that goes to these antifraud unitsâ he saidThe vice president repeatedly argued that fraud harmed both taxpayers and lowincome Americans who rely on public healthcare programmesâHow long are people gonna pay into programmes if they know that that money doesnât go to a lowincome kid who needs healthcare but that money goes into a fraudster getting richâ Vance saidAdministrator of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz popularly known as Dr Oz said federal investigators had uncovered âmajor red flagsâ in Californiaâs Medicaid billing recordsâWeâve discovered 630 million in billing from the folks who are egregiously the top 5 per cent of outliers in billingâ Oz said âThis is numbers so big You canât imagine anyone billing for these numbers of patients and that much for each patientâOz also announced what he called the largest hospice fraud action in federal history saying 800 hospice providers in the Los Angeles area had been suspendedâWe believe that at least half of the hospices in the entire area around Los Angeles are fraudulentâ he saidAccording to Oz the suspended providers had billed the federal government nearly 14 billion last yearâ800 hospices that last year charged the federal taxpayer 14 billion will no longer be paidâ he saidThe administration also imposed a nationwide moratorium on new hospice and home healthcare providers while authorities review licensing and oversight mechanismsAndrew Ferguson who heads the antifraud task force accused some states of turning antifraud programmes into âa jobs programme for Blue State lawyersââIt should not have taken a brave kid with a cell phone camera to point the American people at this issueâ Ferguson saidKim Brant a senior official overseeing the Medicare fraud âwar roomâ said authorities had already stopped more than 2 billion in suspect payments over the past year by analysing claims before money left federal accountsVance also linked fraud concerns to broader immigration and fiscal debates alleging that undocumented immigrants were benefiting from taxpayerfunded healthcare in some statesThe Trump administration has made antifraud enforcement a central domestic policy theme during its second term arguing that reducing waste and abuse could extend the life of Medicare and Medicaid trust funds Federal officials have increasingly focused on healthcare fraud identity theft schemes and improper benefit payments across multiple welfare programmes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jd-vance-announces-major-crackdown-on-healthcare-fraud-673775.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-xi-begin-summit-talks-over-trade-iran-taiwan-other-key-issues-673780.html Beijing May 14 US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks in Beijing on Thursday with trade the USIsraeli war on Iran Taiwan and technological competition likely to top the agenda Prior to their meeting at the imposing Great Hall of the People Trump received a ceremonial welcome marked by a handshake between the two leaders the performance of national anthems by a military band an inspection of the honour guard and greetings by young children waving flowers and US and Chinese flags reports Yonhap news agencyIts an honour to be with you Its an honour to be your friend and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before Trump said in his opening remarks during the summitTrump arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday evening for a threeday visit marking his first trip to China since November 2017 His trip came amid an impasse in peace talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war and reopening the crucial Strait of HormuzThe two leaders last met in person in Busan South Korea on the margins of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit where they reached a oneyear trade truce aimed at lowering existing tariffs and suspending further trade restrictions such as Chinas curbs on rare earth elementsAhead of his trip to China Trump underscored his focus on trade as a key agenda item as he seeks to secure more tangible economic achievements that would likely affect voter sentiment ahead of the US midterm elections slated for NovemberIn particular Trump is expected to seek Chinas commitments to bolster its purchases of US farm products such as soybeans and beef as well as Boeing aircraft and related componentsThe Middle East conflict is likely to figure prominently at the summit as Trump seeks an exit from the monthsold war with Iran and seeks to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz a vital shipping lane for oil fertiliser and other key commoditiesChina itself has been apprehensive about the ongoing war as disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could imperil its energy supplies China has sought to shift to alternative energy sources and maintains large oil stockpiles but the conflict has raised longerterm economic risks for the worlds secondlargest economyOther issues on the agenda are expected to include the security of Taiwan the selfgoverning democracy that China regards as part of its territory as well as the two countries technological competition particularly in the realm of artificial intelligenceSome observers said that Trump and Xi could touch on North Korea as the American president has repeatedly expressed his desire to resume diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jongun with China maintaining its influence over Pyongyang through steady diplomatic and economic exchangesAfter the summit the leaders are expected to visit the Temple of Heaven park an imperial complex and attend a state banquetOn Friday they will have tea and a working luncheon before Trump heads back homeThis weeks summit is the first in a series of possible bilateral talks between Trump and Xi this year including meetings on the margins of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen China in November and the Group of 20 gathering in Florida in December IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-xi-begin-summit-talks-over-trade-iran-taiwan-other-key-issues-673780.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-africa-traces-97-contacts-linked-to-cruise-ship-hantavirus-cases-673611.html Cape Town May 13 The number of possible contacts with hantavirusinfected people has increased to 97 in South Africa Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed South African teams were working with the World Health Organisation WHO and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases NICD to track exposed passengers healthcare workers and airline contacts with infected persons Motsoaledi told the South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC News on MondaySo far we have identified 97 contacts 90 of whom have been reached already and advised and they are being watched he said We will watch them for the whole six weeks Xinhua news agency reportedFour of the contacts out of these 90 that have been reached are in the Western Cape 86 are in Gauteng he added Only one contact in the Western Cape developed some symptoms But up until Friday tests for the virus have come back negativeThe ministers update followed the confirmation of humantohuman transmissible Andes strain in two hantavirus cases in South Africa after the patients disembarked from a cruise ship linked to an outbreak of the disease including a British national hospitalised in intensive care in Johannesburg and a Dutch woman who collapsed at OR Tambo International AirportThe woman later died in South Africa Her husband identified as the patient zero died on board with his body removed to St HelenaThe three were passengers aboard the MV Hondius which departed Ushuaia Argentina on April 1 and travelled across the South Atlantic with multiple stopsGlobally 11 hantavirusrelated cases have so far been reported including three deaths according to the WHO Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as Andes infections while the remaining two are considered probable casesThe NICD said the Andes strain is the only known hantavirus strain capable of humantohuman transmission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-africa-traces-97-contacts-linked-to-cruise-ship-hantavirus-cases-673611.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-warn-against-wider-iran-war-673613.html Washington May 13 Democratic senators warned that the Trump administration risked dragging the United States into another prolonged Middle East conflict as a tense Senate hearing exposed deep divisions over the ongoing war with Iran and its rising economic and military costs During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defence hearing on President Donald Trumpâs proposed 15 trillion defence budget several Democratic lawmakers compared the current crisis to past US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and questioned whether the administration had a clear longterm strategySenator Chris Coons said the administration appeared focused on tactical battlefield gains without a broader political planâThere used to be a consensus in national security that America should only go to war when thereâs an imminent threat to our national security when all other options have been exhausted and when we have clear objectives and a plan for how it endsâ Coons saidCoons repeatedly pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the administrationâs inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz where ongoing Iranian pressure on shipping has fuelled rising oil and fuel prices worldwideâMy concern Mr Secretary is that youâve achieved a series of tactical successes but are on the verge of a strategic lossâ Coons saidSenator Christopher Murphy also questioned whether the administration was underestimating Iranâs ability to endure prolonged economic and military pressureâThis is a highrisk strategyâ Murphy said warning that Iran might withstand sanctions and military pressure for years while American families suffered from soaring fuel costsMurphy argued that âtime is not on our side hereâ as rising oil prices were already hurting US farmers and householdsSenator Patty Murray sharply criticised the scale of the Pentagon budget request and accused the administration of prioritising military spending over domestic needsâYouâre spending familiesâ hardearned tax dollars on a war that many strongly opposeâ Murray said âYou want to increase the war budget for the next year by half a trillion dollarsâMurray quoted former President Dwight Eisenhowerâs famous warning about the costs of military expansion saying the proposed defence budget would leave Americans âcold and hungry to fund Trumpâs warâDemocrats also repeatedly challenged the administration over its legal authority for the conflict and whether Congress should formally authorise military operations against IranSenator Lisa Murkowski questioned whether the administration should seek an Authorisation for Use of Military Force from Congress as fighting and military deployments continued across the regionHegseth defended the administrationâs actions throughout the hearing arguing President Trump had succeeded where previous administrations failedâWe have more leverage than weâve ever hadâ Hegseth said while insisting the campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weaponThe Iran conflict has already cost an estimated 29 billion according to Pentagon officials with lawmakers warning that the final financial burden could rise much higher as military operations continue and damage to US facilities across the Middle East becomes clearerThe debate reflected growing concern in Washington that the conflict could evolve into a wider and longer confrontation at a time when the United States is already balancing tensions involving China Russia and ongoing support for Ukraine IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-warn-against-wider-iran-war-673613.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hegseth-defends-iran-war-china-trip-673614.html Washington May 13 US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth fiercely defended the Trump administrationâs military campaign against Iran clashed repeatedly with Democratic senators over the soaring costs of the conflict and insisted the United States still âholds all the cardsâ despite continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defence alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine Hegseth also sought to reassure allies in the IndoPacific ahead of President Donald Trumpâs upcoming visit to China saying the administration remained committed to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and support for partners such as Japan Taiwan and the PhilippinesThe contentious hearing centred on Trumpâs proposed 15 trillion defence budget the ongoing war with Iran rising fuel prices linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and concerns from lawmakers over NATO Ukraine and ChinaSenate Appropriations Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell questioned why key military priorities such as missile defence munitions and drone warfare had not been fully incorporated into the Pentagonâs base budget request He also warned against weakening ties with allies at a time when âour adversaries are working together to undermine America and the WestâDemocratic senators repeatedly pressed Hegseth on the administrationâs Iran strategy and its economic falloutSenator Chris Coons said Americans were paying the price for a war that lacked âclear objectives and a plan for how it endsâ while Senator Patty Murray criticised the administration for seeking massive defence spending while Americans struggled with rising fuel and food pricesThe Pentagon estimated the Iran conflict has already cost about 29 billion though officials acknowledged damage to US military facilities had not yet been fully calculatedHegseth defended the military campaign aggressivelyThe Secretary of War insisted Iranâs military capabilities had been severely weakenedâFor 47 years weâve been attacked by Iran and theyâve been lying to pursue a nuclear weapon and President Trump had the courage to do something about itâ he saidâThe entirety of Iranâs conventional navy is at the bottom of the Persian Gulfâ Hegseth said arguing the administration now had âmore leverage than weâve ever hadâBut lawmakers from both parties questioned whether the administration had a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz where commercial shipping disruptions have driven up global oil pricesAsked directly how Washington intended to reopen the strait Hegseth said there were âmost certainlyâ military options available but argued the preferred outcome remained a negotiated settlement under which Iran would stop acting as âpirates of international watersâGeneral Caine acknowledged Iran continued to hold âthe worldâs economy hostageâ through its military pressure in the strait but declined to discuss classified operational detailsThe hearing also highlighted deep divisions over Ukraine and NATOMcConnell praised European allies for increasing defence spending and supporting Ukraine while Coons warned the administration was sending âthe wrong signalâ by delaying military assistance approved by CongressHegseth defended the administrationâs approach arguing Washington needed âreal capable allies and partnersâ willing to share the burden in future conflictsChina also emerged as a major focus of the hearing McConnell asked Hegseth whether security commitments to Taiwan and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea would remain protected during Trumpâs upcoming talks in BeijingHegseth responded that the administrationâs objective was always to ensure that âAmerican interests are advancedâ and said that IndoPacific partnerships had been strengthened through operational cooperation and burdensharing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hegseth-defends-iran-war-china-trip-673614.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pentagon-refuses-to-publicly-disclose-iran-damage-details-673615.html Washington May 13 Pentagon leaders refused to publicly disclose detailed battle damage assessments from the ongoing Iran conflict The issue became one of the sharpest points of confrontation during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defence hearing on President Donald Trumpâs proposed 15 trillion defence budget as lawmakers pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine for specifics on Iranâs remaining missile drone and naval capabilitiesDemocratic senators repeatedly questioned whether the administrationâs public claims about crippling Iranâs military infrastructure matched classified intelligence assessmentsSenator Christopher Murphy cited public reports suggesting Iran still retained as much as 70 per cent of its missile and drone capabilities despite weeks of US operationsMurphy directly asked Caine whether he disputed those intelligence estimatesâWith deep respect for the question Iâm not going to comment in this forum on what may or may not have been opined on by the ICâ Caine responded referring to the intelligence communityâIâm not going answer what you guys in the Congress considers decision criteria around continued funding or notâ the general added laterMurphy argued lawmakers could not properly evaluate the success of the campaign without transparent assessmentsâHow do we assess whether we should continue funding this if you canât state to us what the assessments areâ he askedHegseth also declined to discuss specific battlefield assessments in public âThis is not a classified setting We donât talk about those thingsâ the defence secretary saidAt another point Hegseth accused senators of relying on leaked intelligence reports âWhy would I validate what people may leak or not leakâ he askedThe tense exchange followed broader questioning from lawmakers about whether the administration had underestimated Iranâs ability to continue military operations particularly its use of drones and asymmetric naval tactics in the Strait of HormuzSenator Brian Schatz questioned whether the Pentagon had fully anticipated Iranâs retaliation capabilities after US strikesâThere are some data points that seem to indicate that we did not see all of this comingâ Schatz said while pointing to emergency troop movements redeployment of missile defence systems and damage to US military facilities across the regionHegseth rejected the suggestion that the Pentagon had been caught off guard âI can reassure you that it was all accounted forâ he saidThe administration has consistently maintained that the campaignâs primary objective is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon Officials have also highlighted the destruction of large parts of Iranâs navy missile launch systems and defence industrial infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pentagon-refuses-to-publicly-disclose-iran-damage-details-673615.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-press-hegseth-on-trumps-china-trip-amid-allies-concerns-over-beijing-673617.html Washington May 13 US lawmakers pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over President Donald Trumpâs upcoming trip to China warning that allies such as Taiwan Japan and the Philippines were closely watching whether Washington would stand firm against Beijingâs growing military and economic influence China emerged as a dominant theme during a lengthy Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defence hearing on Trumpâs proposed 15 trillion defence budget with lawmakers from both parties describing Beijing as Americaâs biggest longterm strategic challengeCommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell directly questioned Hegseth about whether IndoPacific allies could trust the United States not to compromise their security interests during Trumpâs meetings in BeijingâWe all agree theyâre the greatest longterm military and economic challenge to US and our Western allies as wellâ McConnell said referring to China He added that âTaiwan Japan and Philippines look to usâMcConnell also sought assurances that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea would remain protected during the diplomatic engagement with BeijingHegseth declined to speak directly on Trumpâs negotiating strategy but insisted the administration remained focused on strengthening Americaâs position in the IndoPacificâEvery aspect of what he pursues inside this relationship is to ensure that American interests are advancedâ Hegseth said of TrumpThe defence secretary said the Pentagon had intensified cooperation with regional allies including Japan and the Philippines to build stronger military coordination and deterrenceâWeâve focused in that area of operations to ensure that Admiral Paparo has every option available to include with partners to create all the dilemmas necessary to give America every advantage possibleâ Hegseth saidPressed specifically on maritime security Hegseth declared âAmerican ships should sail freelyâSeveral lawmakers tied China directly to the broader crises involving Iran and RussiaSenator Chris Coons warned that Russia China North Korea and Iran were increasingly coordinating against the United States and its allies He argued Beijing and Moscow were helping Iran replenish military supplies including drones used to threaten shipping in the Strait of HormuzRepublican Senator Lindsey Graham accused China of financially sustaining both Iran and Russia through largescale oil purchasesâChina buys a very large percentage of Iranian oilâ Hegseth acknowledged during the hearingGraham argued Beijing had the power to significantly influence the wars in both Ukraine and the Middle East if it chose to cut economic ties with Tehran and MoscowâUltimately China has a lot of leverageâ Hegseth respondedSenator Jerry Moran who recently returned from China warned that Taiwan remained âat the forefrontâ of Beijingâs ambitions and asked whether the Pentagon budget sufficiently reflected the need for stronger deterrence in the IndoPacificHegseth said the Pentagonâs fiscal 2027 request had heavily incorporated the priorities of IndoPacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo including stronger partnerships access arrangements and operational readiness across the regionChinaâs growing military expansion increasing pressure on Taiwan and deepening strategic partnerships with Russia Iran and North Korea have become major concerns in Washington The IndoPacific is now widely viewed by US defence planners as the primary arena for longterm geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-press-hegseth-on-trumps-china-trip-amid-allies-concerns-over-beijing-673617.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-womens-economic-bill-targets-south-asia-673618.html Washington May 13 US Congresswoman Julie Johnson has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening womenâs economic security across South and Central Asia The bill links the initiative directly to broader American foreign policy and regional stability goals The proposed legislation titled the EMPOWER Act seeks to establish US policy to promote âwomenâs economic security and advancement in South and Central Asia as an integral part of our foreign policy objectives in the regionâAnnouncing the bill on Tuesday Johnson said womenâs participation in the economy was closely tied to poverty reduction and longterm regional stabilityâWe know that womenâs labor force participation asset ownership and economic security are key drivers of poverty reduction and longterm stability including in South and Central Asia North Texas is home to a large and vibrant South and Central Asian community and the connections between our region and that part of the world make this work even more meaningfulâ she saidJohnson also criticised the Trump administrationâs policies while arguing for sustained American engagement in the region through economic partnerships and development initiativesâWhile the Trump administration has pursued a reckless culture war at the expense of our national security interests Congress must remain committed to smart investments in global stabilityâ she saidâThis important bill strengthens the publicprivate partnerships and policy efforts of the State Department reaffirming our commitment to advancing womenâs economic mobility employment entrepreneurship and access to education around the worldâ Johnson addedAccording to the legislation Congress found that âwomenâs full and unfettered political economic and social participation is vital to realising universal human rights global prosperity peace and securityâThe bill further noted that womenâs labour force participation asset ownership and economic security act as âdevelopment multipliersâ promoting family financial resilience educational attainment and poverty reduction across South and Central AsiaThe findings section of the bill highlighted that women make up âabout 33 per cent of South Asiaâs labor force among the lowest female labor force participation rates in the worldâ while adding that gender parity in employment could increase South Asiaâs Gross Domestic Product âby between 19 to 58 per centâThe legislation would direct the Secretary of State to âmaintain and seek to expand existing womenâs councils and other publicprivate partnershipsâ involving governments businesses civil society groups and universitiesThese include the USPakistan Womenâs Council the USIndia Alliance for Womenâs Economic Empowerment and the Alliance for Afghan Womenâs Economic ResilienceThe bill also outlined areas that should receive support including womenâs financial inclusion mentorship opportunities asset ownership scaling womenowned businesses procurement access educational opportunities and support for women in science technology engineering the arts and mathematicsThe legislation would additionally establish a dedicated unit within the State Departmentâs Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs to oversee these partnerships The office would be led by a Special Advisor for Womenâs Economic Security reporting to the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-womens-economic-bill-targets-south-asia-673618.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/h-1-b-visa-scam-suit-targets-chinese-linked-firm-673619.html Washington May 13 Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued a North Texas company and its Chinese owner alleging they operated fake childcare businesses to fraudulently obtain H1B visas and deceive regulators The lawsuit filed in Collin County accuses Golden Qi Holdings LLC and Yuan Yao a citizen of the Peopleâs Republic of China of advertising childcare and autism therapy services that allegedly did not existPaxton said the case emerged from a broader investigation into alleged abuse of the H1B visa programmeâLet this be a warning to anyone considering trying to scam the H1B visa programme I will continue fighting to ensure that the H1B programme serves the interests of Americans not Chinese nationals and that those who abuse the programme are held accountable to the fullest extent of the lawâ Paxton saidâMy office will continue to work to stop any foreign national from entering this country unlawfullyâ he addedAccording to the lawsuit Yao owned and managed several Texas entities including Golden Qi Holdings that allegedly used websites to portray themselves as operational childcare facilities in Allen TexasOne of the businesses Allen Infant Care Center described itself online as a place âwhere every baby blossomsâ and invited parents to âcome visit us to see the loving care we provideâBut the suit says Blaze Media reporter Sara Gonzales visited the listed address and instead found âan empty building and a playground overgrown with vegetationâThe petition states that an individual familiar with the property told Gonzales that the facility had not operated âfor some timeâ and alleged that Yao âsells visasâThe lawsuit further claims that the businesses filed visa petitions with US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department for workers ranging from software developers to supply chain analystsTexas also alleged that Golden Qi Holdings submitted 20 Labour Condition Applications between 2024 and 2026 for positions including software engineer market research analyst app developer financial analyst and business intelligence analystThe state said neither Allen Infant Care Center nor DFW ABA Center had licences to operate childcare facilities in Texas It also alleged that neither Yao nor Golden Qi Holdings possessed childcare licencesThe complaint seeks temporary and permanent injunctions to halt the alleged operations remove advertisements for childcare services and stop the defendants from sponsoring H1B visas tied to the Allen addressTexas is also seeking civil penalties of up to 10000 for each alleged violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act along with additional penalties under the Texas Human Resources CodeThe H1B visa programme allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialised occupations particularly in technology engineering and finance Indian professionals constitute the overwhelming majority of H1B recipients every year making developments involving visa scrutiny closely watched in IndiaThe lawsuit comes amid intensifying political debate in the United States over immigration enforcement foreign influence concerns and alleged misuse of employmentbased visa programmes Texas under Paxton has increasingly pursued aggressive legal action tied to immigration and national security issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/h-1-b-visa-scam-suit-targets-chinese-linked-firm-673619.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/melania-trump-touts-foster-care-push-673620.html Washington May 13 First Lady Melania Trump highlighted a series of foster care reforms launched by the Trump administration 180 days after President Donald Trump signed the âFostering the Futureâ executive order The White House said the initiative aims to improve housing education and career support for young people leaving foster care Several federal agencies are involved in the effortAmong the key steps was the creation of a new âFostering the Future Fundâ The White House said the fund could redirect up to 32 million in unused federal foster care and adoption money to support youth transitioning out of foster care through the Chafee Foster Care Program The proposal is included in President Trumpâs Fiscal Year 2027 budgetThe Department of Health and Human Services also launched a new online platform FosteringTheFutureGov Officials said the website would help foster youth access housing education and career resources The platform was developed with input from foster youth and state child welfare leadersThe administration said the Foster Youth to Independence programme received 30 million under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 The programme has now been renamed after Melania Trump According to the White House it has supported more than 1400 housing vouchers nationwide since January 2025Mrs Trump also joined a bipartisan roundtable organised by the House Ways and Means Committee in April Lawmakers discussed reforms to the Chafee Foster Care Program The White House said the committee later approved six bills with bipartisan supportThe administration also pushed states to stop diverting Social Security survivor benefits meant for foster youth The White House said nine more states changed their policies after receiving letters from the administrationOther measures included expanded parental leave guidance for federal workers who foster or adopt children new housing partnerships with faithbased groups and a technology incubator aimed at modernising foster care systems using artificial intelligence and predictive analyticsOfficials also announced a new public dashboard comparing foster care outcomes across states The White House said the tool would improve transparency and accountabilityThe Office of the First Lady said the Departments of Health and Human Services Housing and Urban Development Treasury and Education worked together on the initiativeFoster care remains a major issue in the United States Many young adults leaving the system face problems related to housing education and jobs Advocacy groups have long called for stronger support programmesMelania Trump has focused on child welfare issues during both of President Trumpâs terms in office Her earlier âBe Bestâ campaign also centred on children and youth issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/melania-trump-touts-foster-care-push-673620.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-author-simplifies-hinduism-for-young-minds-673623.html Washington May 13 A new illustrated childrenâs book Discovering Hinduism The Timeless Path of Kindness Truth amp Love attempts to explain one of the worldâs oldest living traditions in simple language for young readers while presenting Hinduism as a faith rooted in âkindness truth and loveâ Written by Ohiobased Indian American author Usha Mahajan the 63page book is designed for âfamily reading and classroom useâ and is aimed particularly at children between six and 12 years oldThe book avoids heavy theological debate Instead it introduces Hindu philosophy through short explanations stories symbols and moral lessons The language remains direct and conversational throughout often linking spiritual ideas to everyday life for childrenâHinduism is one of the worldâs oldest religions It began in India and teaches kindness truth and respect for all living beingsâ the introduction saysMahajan structures the book around core Hindu concepts including Dharma Karma Ahimsa Moksha and Seva Each idea is explained using simple examples The section on Dharma says it means âliving in the right way in everyday lifeâ through âtruthfulnessâ âcompassionâ ânonviolenceâ and âcharityâThe bookâs strongest feature is its accessibility Complex philosophical themes are broken down into short lessons supported by vivid illustrations of temples families sages and festivals The section on âOne God Many Formsâ compares divine reality to âa single stream of lightâ appearing as âmany colors of the rainbowâRather than presenting Hinduism only through rituals the book repeatedly returns to ethics and behaviour âBe kind Tell the truth Respect all life Remember Godâ one chapter says while addressing misconceptions about HinduismSeveral chapters directly tackle what the author describes as myths surrounding Hinduism One chapter rejects the idea that Hinduism teaches caste discrimination arguing that original teachings focused on roles based on âabilities and actions not birthâ Another chapter explains that Hindus âdo not worship stone or clayâ but use Murtis as sacred forms helping devotees connect with GodThe book also devotes considerable space to Hindu scriptures and epics The Ramayana Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita are presented not as distant religious texts but as practical guides teaching courage devotion and responsibilityIts tone remains inclusive throughout The chapter âUnity in Diversityâ says Hinduism teaches âthere is one Truth but people understand and express it in many different waysâAt times the bookâs simplified approach leaves little room for historical complexity or competing interpretations within Hindu traditions Yet its purpose is clear from the outset to provide young readers with a gentle and positive introduction to Hindu thought and cultureMahajan a retired mental health professional who cofounded a mental health and substance use treatment centre in Ohio says her work is rooted in âHindu philosophy and valuesbased learningâBooks introducing Hindu philosophy to children have gained greater visibility in recent years particularly among Indian diaspora families in the United States seeking culturally rooted educational material for younger generations Themes such as yoga meditation karma and mindfulness have also entered mainstream global discourse beyond religious settings IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-author-simplifies-hinduism-for-young-minds-673623.html Wed, 13 May 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-meets-chilean-fm-mackenna-discusses-strengthening-bilateral-ties-673692.html New Delhi May 13 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday held bilateral discussions with his Chilean counterpart Francisco Perez Mackenna focusing on further strengthening the cooperation across various sectors In a post on X EAM Jaishankar Delighted to meet FM Francisco Perez Mackenna of Chile this morning Had a very good discussion on strengthening our bilateral cooperation to diversify markets and sourcing promote export of priority items and facilitating the services economyAgreed to work closely in plurilateral and multilateral formats he addedMackenna arrived in India on May 9 for a sevenday official visit This visit will be a great opportunity to strengthen ties between Chile and India further We look forward to deepening our partnership expanding trade and investment opportunities and advancing cooperation across a wide range of areas he said in a post on X upon his arrival in New Delhi On Tuesday Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held discussions over breakfast with Chiles Foreign Minister and members of the Chilean delegation Following the meeting Goyal said India and Chile reviewed the progress of negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral trade investment and strategic cooperation between the two countries Held a delightful discussion over breakfast today with HE Francisco Perez Mackenna Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile along with members of the Chilean delegation he saidWe reviewed the progress of CEPA negotiations and discussed ways to further deepen our trade investment and strategic partnership Goyal mentionedThe minister added that India values its longstanding partnership with Chile and remains committed to expanding economic engagement and peopletopeople ties for shared growth and prosperityIndia values its warm and longstanding partnership with Chile and we remain committed to expanding our economic engagement and peopletopeople ties for shared growth and prosperity Goyal addedThe discussions come at a time when India is actively pursuing multiple trade agreements with key global partners to strengthen exports attract investments and diversify supply chains amid global economic uncertaintiesLater Mackenna also held a roundtable discussion alongside the Indian and Chilean business leaders focusing on boosting trade and investment between the two nations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-meets-chilean-fm-mackenna-discusses-strengthening-bilateral-ties-673692.html Wed, 13 May 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/migration-becomes-isis-new-tool-to-derail-india-bangladesh-ties-reset-673698.html New Delhi May 13 Migration remains a sensitive issue between India and Bangladesh which have recently sought to reset ties on several fronts following Tarique Rahmanâs victory Bilateral relations had strained after the fall of the Awami League government Ties which deteriorated under the interim government improved significantly after Rahmanâs Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP won the elections Officials said migration is a sensitive issue and would be handled maturely by the two countriesThe worry is that many ISIbacked elements are trying to exploit this and spread a false narrative The ISI which has several of its stooges in Bangladesh has been instructed to drum up a narrative about migration and spread false news about itThis is not only to create communal discord but also to ruin bilateral ties between the two countries The ISI since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government has managed to expand its footprint across Bangladesh It has managed to set up several networks aimed at working against the interests of India and Bangladesh another official saidAn Intelligence Bureau official said that currently Pakistanâs ISI is operating covertly It is trying to tap into ideologically driven groups in Bangladesh The digital campaigns against India are being increased and the primary focus would be on migration the official addedWhile this would be the first phase of the plan the second would be to activate modules in the bordering states Outfits such as the HarkatulJihadi Islami HuJI and JamaatulMujahideen Bangladesh JMB are all active currently Most of their cadres have made several visits to Pakistan and have undergone training They have managed to set up several of their modules in the areas that border India and BangladeshPost the disinformation campaign that the ISI plans to run the next step would be to get these modules to act For India and Bangladesh sharing good ties is of utmost importance The relations are a pillar of stability in eastern South Asia Relations between the two countries are also important as it helps reduce crossborder terror battle insurgents all of which are crucial to peace in the northeastern statesBangladesh watchers say that there will be repeated attempts to drum up false narratives by these ISIbacked groups The Pakistanis have been attempting to make a strong imprint in Bangladesh and for this to happen derailing ties with India is something that they would try to doExperts say that the ISIâs Bangladesh project is nothing new It has been in place since the Liberation War This time around it wants to enhance its operational reach and hence there is a sudden surge in activity the experts also point outOfficials say the thaw in relations between the two countries has not gone down too well for the Pakistanis Since the BNP came to power both India and Bangladesh have been closely working on border management consular service and Joint River Commission meetings Both countries are looking to sort out the problem of illegal immigration amicablyBangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamiduallah flew to Dhaka on Tuesday to consult with the political leadership on how to engage with the Indian government on this issue The Intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on the ISIrelated activities that are taking place in Bangladesh On the radar are the hardliners some influencers who are proPakistan and also the two terror groups HuJI and JMB which could prove detrimental to Indiaâs national security if not kept under check IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/migration-becomes-isis-new-tool-to-derail-india-bangladesh-ties-reset-673698.html Wed, 13 May 2026 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/operation-sindoor-sparks-rare-lashkar-pushback-against-isi-pakistan-army-673714.html New Delhi May 13 IANS The LashkareTayiba has been infected by the JaisheMohammad bug Both outfits have been witnessing internal discord and while the JaisheMohammad has been attempting to rebuild its infrastructure that is not the case with the LashkareTayibanbspBoth these terror groups had faced immense losses when the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed in KashmirOfficials say that the LashkareTayiba is not responding to both the Pakistan Army as well as the ISI since the past couple of weeksThe founder and chief of the LashkareTayiba Hafiz Saeed has gone into a shell and has not been mingling with any of his cadreThe official said that what is interesting is that while Saeed refuses to speak some of his other commanders have been publicly acknowledging the losses incurred by their outfit during the operationRepeated calls to rebuild the Muridke training facility have been ignored Neither do any of the commanders nor the top brass seem to be interested in putting the training facility back in shapeThe Indian Intelligence agencies have been able to gather that there is no activity there and initial reports of it being put back in place do not appear to be trueAn Intelligence Bureau official said that this is a deliberate strategy by the LashkareTayiba The reality is something else and the Pakistan establishment wants everyone to believe that they came out victorious during Operation SindoorWhile at first the leadership did play along today that dynamic has drastically changed The outfit and its members do not want the army to take credit for a battle that it clearly did not win the official addedWhile the army and ISI want the people to believe theyre part of the story outfits such as the JaisheMohammad and LashkareTayiba do not want to play alongAt first the LashkareTayiba did play along and showed some signs of staging a major comeback However there are plenty of indications that Operation Sindoor has changed the dynamicsThe cadres are constantly questioning the leadership as to why it is silent about the war that Pakistan got into with the Afghan TalibanSecond the fact that the LashkareTayiba is being expected to team up with the Islamic State to fight against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA has not gone down well with several members of the outfitAnother official said that these developments are extremely interesting There appears to be a revolt against the ISI and army What makes this interesting is that this is the first time that the Lashkar is not playing along with what the ISI and army expects them to doEven the JaisheMohammad had revolted in the past and attempted the assassination of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf That has never been the case where the LashkareTayiba is concerned the official addedPrior to the Mumbai 2611 attacks the ISI had noticed that many within the LashkareTayiba were trying to step away and revolt against the leadership They wanted to go to Afghanistan and fight alongside the Taliban who were battling the western forcesThe Mumbai attack originally planned by Ilyas Kashmir the head of the 313 Brigade of the AlQaeda was then sanctioned to be carried out by the LashkareTayiba This was a move made by the ISI to keep the cadres distracted and also away from Afghanistan as the establishment did not want to anger the western forcesOperation Sindoor has changed that equation and it is no longer a LashkareTayiba that would listen entirely to the establishment another official saidThe official explained that Operation Sindoor did not just take down terror infrastructure but also broke the morale of these terror groupsIf the LashkareTayiba indeed revolts then that would be a massive change in dynamics between the terror group and the ISI and army the official explainedIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/international/operation-sindoor-sparks-rare-lashkar-pushback-against-isi-pakistan-army-673714.html Wed, 13 May 2026 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-hikes-budget-outlay-to-boost-ties-with-india-to-253-million-673718.html New Delhi May 13 The Australian government will commit 253 million in the 202627 budget to strengthen bilateral economic strategic and maritime relations with India amid the drastic change in the global geopolitical landscape following Donald Trump taking over as President of the United States âThe funding forms part of the next phase of Australiaâs Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India and is aimed at helping Australian businesses tap into Indiaâs expanding market seed new areas of cooperation through Maitri grants and strengthen maritime security in the Indian Oceanâ according to a report in The Australia TodayThe increased allocation in the Budget is expected to support stronger business links between the two countries at a time when Australian companies are looking to diversify markets and build deeper commercial ties across the IndoPacific the report statesIndia has become an increasingly central part of Australiaâs regional strategy with both countries working more closely on trade education clean energy technology defence and Indian Ocean securityThe report cites Australiaâs Foreign Minister Penny Wong as saying that the Budget reflected Australiaâs focus on regional stability and longterm partnerships At a time of global uncertainty Australia will remain a reliable partner our region can count on she addedThe Indian funding comes as the government warns that the global development and economic landscape is facing major pressure from aid cuts trade disruption and energy insecurity linked to conflict in the Middle East The government said these pressures risk undermining development gains and increasing instability across the IndoPacific according to the reportMeanwhile the IndiaâAustralia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement IndAus ECTA has completed four years since it was first signed and has played a key role in propelling Indiaâs exports and enhancing trade between the two countriesIndiaâs exports to Australia have more than doubled rising from USD 4 billion in FY 2020â21 to USD 85 billion in FY 2024â25 During 2024â25 total bilateral trade stood at USD 241 billion while Indiaâs exports to Australia recorded an 8 per cent growth over the previous year In FY 2025â26 up to February Indiaâs total trade with Australia stood at USD 193 billion according to data compiled by Indiaâs Commerce MinistryUnder the IndiaâAustralia ECTA India granted preferential market access on 703 per cent of its tariff lines covering 906 per cent of trade value while Australia granted preferential market access to 100 per cent of imports from India Of this 983 per cent of tariff lines became dutyfree immediately upon implementation while the remaining 17 per cent 113 tariff lines are being phased out over five years From 1st January 2026 all Indian exports are eligible for zeroduty market access into Australia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-hikes-budget-outlay-to-boost-ties-with-india-to-253-million-673718.html Wed, 13 May 2026 16:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rising-sexual-assaults-underscore-deep-rooted-structural-problems-673733.html Islamabad May 13 The sexual assault of a young 19yearold mother in Pakistanâs Rawat area in Islamabad is not an isolated incident but reflects a broader pattern raising concerns about systemic challenges in addressing genderbased violence in the country The case has brought attention to these interconnected issues underscoring how structural weaknesses continue to shape the safety and security of women It was meant to be an ordinary errand A young mother barely 19 stepped out to buy Eid clothes for her children â a moment that should have carried the quiet anticipation of a festive season Instead the journey turned into a brutal episode that has once again forced Pakistan to confront an uncomfortable realityâ a report in Asian News Postâ detailedâAllegedly assaulted inside a moving vehicle filmed during the act and left to bear the trauma in silence the survivorâs ordeal reflects not only an individual crime but a wider pattern of systemic failure that continues to define the countryâs response to genderbased violenceâ it addedAccording to the report the Rawat case has once again placed Pakistanâs law enforcement and judicial institutions under renewed scrutinyIt cited recurring reports of âdelayed responses inconsistent investigations and prolonged legal proceedings in sexual violence cases noting that these patterns reinforce a perception of uncertain and often delayed accountabilityâPolicing challenges play a central role in this dynamic Limited resources procedural inefficiencies and gaps in training affect the ability of law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to such incidents The result is a system in which initial investigations can falter evidence collection may be compromised and cases risk losing momentum before reaching the courtsâ the report mentionedâJudicial delays further complicate the process Sexual assault cases often take years to conclude during which survivors face significant social and psychological pressures The length of proceedings combined with the uncertainty of outcomes can discourage reporting and reinforce a sense of impunity among perpetratorsâ it addedThe report highlighted that the recurrence of such incidents in Pakistan represents a wider pattern of normalisation Although sexual violence cases often spark immediate outrage this response fades quickly allowing attention to shift while systemic issues remain unresolvedStressing that the question of accountability lies at heart of the issue the report said that the persistence of sexual violence in Pakistan is closely connected to the âperception of impunityâ where perpetrators believe they can escape without facing consequencesIt further noted that repeated occurrences of similar incidents over time point to a deeply embedded problem extending beyond isolated cases to the systems that govern them IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rising-sexual-assaults-underscore-deep-rooted-structural-problems-673733.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/tax-export-and-energy-reforms-remain-pakistans-weak-spots-report-673735.html New Delhi May 13 Taxation exports and energy reforms continue to remain Pakistanâs weakest economic areas due to poor implementation policy inconsistency and entrenched institutional constraints a report has said The report published in Business Recorder showed that Pakistan have repeatedly failed to implement reforms in a sustained and consistent manner resulting in low growth weak exports and continued dependence on external financing supportThe countryâs export sector reflects the broader reform challenge it saidOver the years authorities introduced multiple trade policy frameworks exporter incentives and institutional reforms such as the Pakistan Single Window PSW and WeBOC systemsDespite these measures exports have shown only temporary gains and failed to achieve sustained growth while competing economies continued diversifying exports and moving up the global value chainThe report also pointed to weaknesses in Pakistanâs taxation system According to the report tax authorities have failed to effectively broaden the tax base or bring sectors such as retail real estate services and agriculture fully into the formal tax networkIt further identified the energy sector as another major concern citing continued reliance on subsidies and repeated delays in fuel price adjustments because of political sensitivitiesThese delays have contributed to the buildup of circular debt and recurring fiscal imbalances according to the reportPakistanâs reform failures are rooted in a system that favours administrative discretion exemptions and shortterm political considerations over rulesbased governance and longterm policy continuityThe report warned that while ordinary citizens bear the burden of economic adjustment through higher taxes and reduced subsidies deeper structural distortions often remain unaddressedIt added that unless Pakistan addresses these institutional barriers and builds broader support for consistent reforms the country may continue facing recurring economic crises weak growth and external financing pressures IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/tax-export-and-energy-reforms-remain-pakistans-weak-spots-report-673735.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/11-guides-reach-everest-summit-as-nepal-opens-2026-spring-climbing-season-673737.html Kathmandu May 13 Eleven climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest on Wednesday as they completed fixing the ropes officially opening the route to the worldâs highest peak for the spring 2026 climbing season The Department of Tourism said in a statement that the ropefixing team successfully reached the summit of Everest at 1025 am on Wednesday paving the way for climbers attempting the mountain during the ongoing spring expedition seasonThe Nepali government had assigned the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee SPCC to manage the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall from Everest Base Camp to Camp II The Expedition Operators Association Nepal EOANepal was entrusted with fixing ropes above Camp II to the summitThey deployed icefall doctors and mountain guides to fix the rope on the route to the summit of Mt EverestIcefall doctors are a specialised team of highly experienced Nepali Sherpas responsible for creating and maintaining the often dangerous route through the Khumbu Icefall on Mount EverestThey are not medical doctors but are nicknamed doctors because they heal the route fixing ladders and ropes to ensure climbers safely navigate the unstable glacier preventing fatal accidentsIn a press release the Department of Tourism said the task was completed through coordination among various agencies despite geographical challenges seasonal weather variations and operational risks in the high HimalayasThe Department said eight icefall doctors and 11 climbing guides participated in the operation Among those who reached summit include Mingma Dorchi Sherpa Pasang Tashi Sherpa Lopsang Bhutia Ming Nurbu Sherpa Chhomba Tenji Sherpa Guru Bhote Pam Dorjee Sherpa Mingma Tenje Sherpa Ming Temba Sherpa Dendi Sherpa and Pasang Nurbu Sherpa according to the departmentSpring is considered the main Everest climbing season attracting hundreds of climbers and support staff to Nepal each year By Friday as many as 492 mountaineers received climbing permits for Mt Everest which is the record high for the spring season according to the tourism department IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/11-guides-reach-everest-summit-as-nepal-opens-2026-spring-climbing-season-673737.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/blf-claims-responsibility-for-targetting-pakistani-forces-in-balochistan-673749.html Quetta May 13 The Balochistan Liberation Front BLF has claimed responsibility for a wave of attacks against Pakistani forces across the province which resulted in the death of seven soldiers local media reported In a statement issued to the media BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch said the groups fighters ambushed a Pakistani military convoy on May 10 in the Baincha area of Surab districtThe convoy was attacked with rockets light machine guns and other automatic weapons while it was travelling between military camps The group claimed that two military vehicles sustained heavy damage while five soldiers were killed and four others injuredThe spokesperson added that security personnel from a nearby checkpoint advanced towards the area shortly after the attack but were compelled to retreat following further clashes with BLF fighters The Balochistan Post reportedIn a separate attack on the same day the BLF claimed it targetted a Pakistanâs Frontier Corps FC checkpoint located on the main bridge in the Tagazzi area of Kharan districtThe group said that the attack carried out with rockets grenade launchers and automatic weapons resulted in the death of two FC personnel and injuries to three othersIt further added that the fighters targetted a communications tower equipped with surveillance equipment in the Malaar Damb area of Kolwah on May 7 disabling the tower and setting related machinery ablazeThe BLF further claimed that its fighters intercepted a police Eagle Force patrol in Mastung on May 6 briefly detaining the police personnel and confiscating a Kalashnikov rifleSeparately the Baloch Republican Guards BRG claimed responsibility for an attack on electricity infrastructure in the Naseerabad district of BalochistanIn a statement the BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said the groupâs fighters planted explosive devices on two electricity transmission towers in the Mirwah area carrying power from the Uchh Power Plant to Quetta It added that the explosions resulted in the complete destruction of two towers and severe damage to two othersThe BRG stated that the operations would continue until the âfreedom of Balochistanâ from PakistanThese latest incidents come against the backdrop of escalating attacks by Baloch groups targetting Pakistani military and police forces across Balochistan in recent days resulting in heavy casualties and damage to the infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/blf-claims-responsibility-for-targetting-pakistani-forces-in-balochistan-673749.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-women-activists-participate-in-aurat-march-despite-restrictions-tighter-scrutiny-673750.html Karachi May 13 Despite restrictions imposed by Pakistani authorities on Aurat March in Karachi hundreds gathered at Seaview to raise issues that continue to impact countless women across the country Over the years Aurat March has become one of Pakistans most visible platforms for discussion on womens rights and social justice a report has stated Among the most poignant moments was the tribute to Shanti the 19yearold bride from Lyari whose tragic death after alleged sexual violence reignited difficult but necessary conversations around marital abuse and the silence that often surrounds it The significance of such gatherings lies in the space they create for conversations society is often reluctant to confront openly an editorial in leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune statedPakistans constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble at a place These rights are not reserved for one class and belong to each citizen irrespective of whether their opinions are popular or controversial The role of Pakistani authorities is not to support every message made at a public gathering but to ensure that people can exercise their constitutional freedoms safely and responsibly The Express Tribune statedOn May 6 the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers and volunteers outside the Karachi Press Club where they had gathered to hold a press conferenceThe rights body stated that preventing people from holding press conference showcases an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is considered a threat instead of a democratic necessity leading Pakistani news network Geo News reportedThe HRCPs statement came after police briefly arrested several Aurat March leaders including activist and artist artist Sheema Kermani outside the Karachi Press ClubHRCP strongly condemns the arrest of several organisers and volunteers of Aurat March from outside the Karachi Press Club where they were scheduled to address a press conference This incident is not isolated overreach but rather part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern the systematic denial of public space to citizens seeking to articulate their rights HRCP posted on XThe rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are constitutionally guaranteed Preventing citizens particularly women and marginalised groups from even convening a press conference reflects an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is treated as a threat rather than a democratic necessity it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-women-activists-participate-in-aurat-march-despite-restrictions-tighter-scrutiny-673750.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-african-parliament-to-restart-ramaphosa-impeachment-process-after-court-ruling-local-media-673337.html Johannesburg May 12 South Africas National Assembly will reopen impeachmentrelated proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa following a Constitutional Court ruling local media reported The Constitutional Court on earlier ruled that the countrys parliament acted unconstitutionally when it rejected an independent panel report on the Phala Phala matter involving Ramaphosa reopening the possibility of impeachment proceedings against the head of state Xinhua news agency reportedCiting a statement from National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza the South African Government News Agency reported that the parliament will comply with the courts decision and restart the Section 89 process related to the independent panel report into the Phala Phala farm matterThe matter relates to the alleged theft of about 580000 from Ramaphosas private game farm in Limpopo Province in 2020 which later sparked public controversy over whether the funds were properly declared and reported to authoritiesDidiza said that she would determine the program timelines and institutional support necessary to ensure the impeachment committee completes its work effectively fairly and within the framework of the Constitution and National Assembly rulesDetails regarding the committees composition and operational arrangements are expected to be announced through official channels in due courseThe independent panel chaired by former Constitutional Court judge Sandile Ngcobo found prima facie evidence suggesting possible constitutional and legal violations by the president in relation to the Phala Phala matterIn response Ramaphosa said Monday that he accepted and respected the Constitutional Courts ruling reaffirming his firm commitment to the Constitution the independence of the judiciary and the rule of lawIn his address to the nation on Monday night Ramaphosa insisted that he did not engage in wrongdoing Since a criminal complaint was laid against me in June 2022 I have consistently maintained that I have not stolen public money committed any crime nor violated my oath of office he saidRamaphosa said that from the beginning he had committed to cooperating with all competent institutions and such cooperation has continued through all investigations and enquiries into the matter and will be sustained going forwardTurning to the findings of the independent panel submitted in December 2022 Ramaphosa reiterated his disagreement with its conclusions and reasoning He said that they were based on hearsay and that no evidence let alone sufficient evidence had been produced to support claims of constitutional or legal violations or serious misconductIn his address Ramaphosa reiterated that he will not resign saying I fully intend to continue serving the people of South Africa and to advance their interests IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-african-parliament-to-restart-ramaphosa-impeachment-process-after-court-ruling-local-media-673337.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-undergo-annual-medical-evaluation-673338.html Washington May 12 US President Donald Trump will visit the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26 for his annual dental and medical evaluations and meetings with American service members the White House said The White House said the visit would include the Presidentâs âroutine annual dental and medical assessments as part of his regular preventive health careâTrump will also âspend time with service members and staff at Walter Reed in recognition of their service professionalism and dedication to the nationâ according to the statementâPresident Donald J Trump will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26 for his annual dental and medical evaluations and to visit with the men and women of the militaryâ the White House saidNo additional details were immediately released regarding the duration of the visit or whether the Presidentâs physician would issue a public medical summary after the examinationâAdditional details regarding the Presidentâs schedule will be released at a later dateâ the statement addedWalter Reed located in Bethesda Maryland is the premier medical facility for the US military and regularly handles presidential medical examinations and treatment for senior American officialsThe facility is also known for treating wounded military personnel returning from combat zones and supporting veterans activeduty troops and military familiesPresidential medical examinations traditionally attract significant attention in Washington because they provide rare public insights into the health and fitness of the commanderinchiefTrump has previously described his medical visits to Walter Reed as part of his routine healthcare During a followup medical visit to the same facility last year Trump told reporters âI think Iâm in great shape but Iâll let you knowâ He added âPhysically I feel very good Mentally I feel very goodâAccording to a medical memo issued last year Trump had undergone âadvanced imaging laboratory testing and preventive health assessmentsâ while âcomprehensive laboratory studies performed in conjunction with the visit were exceptional including stable metabolic hematologic and cardiac parametersâThe same memo written by presidential physician Capt Sean Barbabella stated that Trump âcontinues to demonstrate excellent overall healthâ The report also said Trump had received annual flu and updated Covid19 booster vaccinations during that visitThe White House has in recent months highlighted the administrationâs outreach to military personnel and veterans Trump has frequently used public appearances to emphasise support for the armed forces military readiness and national security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-undergo-annual-medical-evaluation-673338.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-shipbuilding-threat-tops-us-senators-warning-to-trump-673339.html Washington May 12 A bipartisan group of four US senators has urged President Donald Trump to take a hard line against Chinaâs shipbuilding practices during his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping arguing that Beijingâs policies have crippled the American maritime industry and weakened US national security In a letter released Monday Senators Tammy Baldwin Mark Kelly Todd Young and Tim Scott warned Trump against offering concessions to China on shipbuilding and maritime tradeâThe United States is at an inflection point and cannot cede additional ground to the Peopleâs Republic of China PRCâ the senators wrote âThe PRCâs decadeslong effort to decimate American shipbuilding as part of their effort to position themselves as the dominant global shipbuilding power affords them no grace or opportunity for compromiseâThe lawmakers said Chinaâs rise as the worldâs dominant shipbuilder was driven by âunfair and discriminatory tacticsâ including subsidies statebacked financing and nonmarket practices that weakened US shipyards over the past two decadesAccording to the letter China accounted for more than 60 per cent of global commercial shipbuilding orders in 2025 while the United States lagged behind countries including South Korea Japan Vietnam the Philippines Taiwan Italy and GermanyThe senators said the decline of American shipbuilding was not only an economic issue but also a national security concernâThese US shipyards and their suppliers are major employers that provide a pathway to the middle class through goodpaying and often union jobs and keep the knowledge and skill to build vessels used for military purposes and to carry goods around the world made in Americaâ the lawmakers wroteThe senators praised actions already taken by the Trump administration including announced fees on Chinesebuilt ships docking at US ports and additional charges on companies using Chinesebuilt vesselsThey pointed to a reported 25 per cent drop in Chinese shipyard orders between March and May 2025 after the US Trade Representative determined that China had used nonmarket practices in the sectorâThe sudden decrease in Chinese shipping orders shows that when your Administration acts on this issue the global maritime industry pays attentionâ the senators wroteThe lawmakers also urged Trump to support the bipartisan Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security or SHIPS for America Act aimed at revitalising the domestic maritime industrySenator Baldwin who has pushed for expanding shipbuilding capacity in the Great Lakes region said rebuilding the sector would strengthen American manufacturing and create jobsThe letter comes as Washington and Beijing remain locked in broader strategic competition over trade technology military power and industrial policy Shipbuilding has emerged as a growing concern for US defence planners who argue that Chinaâs rapidly expanding naval and commercial fleet gives Beijing a longterm strategic advantage in the IndoPacific IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-shipbuilding-threat-tops-us-senators-warning-to-trump-673339.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinese-cars-face-us-ban-over-spying-fears-673340.html Washington May 12 A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to ban Chineselinked connected vehicles software and hardware from American roads citing national security risks unfair trade practices and threats to the domestic auto industry The proposed âConnected Vehicle Security Actâ was introduced on Sunday by Congressman John Moolenaar a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Select Committee on China along with Democratic Congresswoman Debbie DingellâThe American auto industry is vital for jobs national security and the future of Americaâs manufacturing baseâ Moolenaar said in a statement announcing the billâChina cheats in every industry and in autos it is overproducing vehicles and components and selling them for cheap in hopes they will put our companies out of businessâ he saidMoolenaar also accused some Chinese firms of using âslave laborâ to gain a pricing advantageâIn some cases Chinese companies including CATL and BYD use slave labor to undercut the fair wages of hardworking Americans These companies should not be allowed to do business in America and their products shouldnât be in our cars or threatening our infrastructureâ he saidDingell said the legislation was aimed at protecting American manufacturing jobs and preventing a repeat of past industrial declineâThis bipartisan legislation will ban Chinese vehicles from coming into our country and undercutting our workers through massive government subsidies unfair trade practices and slave laborâ she saidâI am not interested in repeating the mistakes that hollowed out manufacturing communities across this country while politicians told workers globalization would somehow magically work itself outâ Dingell addedThe bill would prohibit the importation manufacture sale or introduction into interstate commerce of connected vehicles originating from or controlled by âcovered foreign adversary countriesâ beginning January 1 2027The legislation specifically targets China Russia North Korea and IranIt would also ban connected vehicle software linked to those countries starting in 2027 while restrictions on connected vehicle hardware would take effect from January 1 2030According to the bill connected vehicles collect and transmit âvast amounts of sensitive data including geolocation operational and personal informationâ and can potentially be remotely accessed or controlledThe legislation said China exports nearly 8 million vehicles annually âapproximately twice the volume exported by any other countryâThe proposal directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish compliance mechanisms including declarations of conformity advisory rulings and waiver procedures for industry participants Violations could trigger civil penalties of at least 15 million per transactionThe bill reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington over Chinese technology entering critical sectors of the US economy particularly electric vehicles batteries and advanced telecommunications Chinese automakers including BYD have rapidly expanded globally in recent years raising alarms among US lawmakers over cybersecurity supply chain dependence and industrial competition IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinese-cars-face-us-ban-over-spying-fears-673340.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-urge-trump-to-approve-taiwan-arms-deal-ahead-of-xi-summit-673341.html Washington May 12 A bipartisan group of US senators has urged President Donald Trump to move ahead with a 14 billion arms package for Taiwan ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week warning that any weakening of American support for Taipei would embolden Beijing and destabilise the IndoPacific In a letter led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Thom Tillis the lawmakers urged the administration to formally notify Congress of the longpending arms sale package which they said was preapproved in January 2025âWe strongly encourage your administration to formally notify the 14 billion in US arms sales to Taiwan that Congress preapproved in January 2025â the senators wroteThe lawmakers said Taiwanâs Legislative Yuan had approved a ârobust special defense budget of 25 billionâ aimed at strengthening the islandâs selfdefence capabilities amid growing military pressure from BeijingAccording to the letter much of the new Taiwanese defence spending would go toward âUSprovided defensive arms pending notification to Congress including counterdrone assets an integrated battle command system and mediumrange munitionsâThe senators also cautioned Trump against using Taiwan as leverage during trade or geopolitical discussions with XiâYou should make clear to Beijing that as you seek to level the economic playing field American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiationâ the lawmakers wroteThe letter was signed by Democratic and Republican senators including Chris Coons John Curtis Tammy Duckworth Jacky Rosen Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin underscoring the bipartisan backing in Congress for Taiwanâs securityThe lawmakers argued that Taiwanâs defence partnership with the United States has served as âan effective bulwark against Chinese military action that would plunge the world into a catastrophic warâ They said the proposed package included âdrones antiship missiles radar systems and minesâ intended to make a Chinese invasion âprohibitively costlyâThe senators said Taiwanâs political leaders had overcome âpersistent and overt pressure from Beijingâ to pass the defence spending bill and urged Washington to demonstrate similar resolveâJust as Taiwanâs leaders demonstrated unity in support of their peopleâs defense so too must we move ahead with pending US arms sales vital to our own national interestsâ the letter saidThe lawmakers also framed the issue in economic terms for American households warning that a Chinese move against Taiwan would trigger global instabilityâIn a world in which Beijing moves decisively to seek control of Taiwan American families would suffer from severe and longterm inflation supply chain disruptions that would destroy manufacturing jobs at home and steep hikes in the cost of livingâ they wroteThe letter comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing remain elevated over trade technology restrictions military activity in the Taiwan Strait and competing influence in the IndoPacific China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has repeatedly vowed to bring the selfgoverned island under its control including by force if necessary IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-urge-trump-to-approve-taiwan-arms-deal-ahead-of-xi-summit-673341.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/progress-not-enough-to-meet-global-forest-goals-un-report-673343.html United Nations May 12 The world is not moving fast enough to meet the Global Forest Goals by 2030 according to a United Nations report released The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 found that only seven of the 26 targets have been broadly achieved while 17 are partially on track and two remain off targetDrawing on voluntary national reports from 48 countries that account for 51 per cent of global forest coverage along with the latest international data the report offers the most current assessment of progress under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 20172030 and its six Global Forest GoalsThe report noted that global forest area shrank by more than 40 million hectares between 2015 and 2025 It also highlighted a major shortfall in financing for sustainable forest managementDespite these setbacks many countries have introduced policy reforms expanded forest restoration programs strengthened governance and increased international cooperation on forest protectionProgress however remains uneven across regions The report cited improvements in protected forest areas longterm management planning and forest monitoring systems but warned that deforestation climate change wildfires pests and illegal activities continue to threaten forests worldwideThe report outlines pathways for accelerating action including halting deforestation restoring degraded lands expanding protected and sustainably managed forests strengthening forestrelated governance closing the financing gap for sustainable forest management and advancing innovative financing mechanismsThe report was released at the opening of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters where member states and partners are gathering to advance implementation of the Global Forest Goals Xinhua news agency reportedThe Global Forest Goals are six voluntary and universal targets within the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017â2030 designed to halt deforestation restore degraded forests and promote sustainable management Aimed at 2030 they support the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs and seek to increase global forest area by 3 per centâroughly 120 million hectares IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/progress-not-enough-to-meet-global-forest-goals-un-report-673343.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/malaysian-pm-anwar-ibrahim-congratulates-vijay-on-tamil-nadu-cm-win-673345.html Kuala Lumpur May 12 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has extended warm congratulations to actorturnedpolitician C Joseph Vijay after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu marked a dramatic political shift in the southern Indian state In a post on X Anwar Ibrahim wrote that he âwarmly congratulates my friend Vijay on being elected Chief Minister of Tamil Naduâ adding a lighthearted reference to the actorâs cinematic legacy âFor many years his adoring fans watched him defeat corrupt politicians and assorted villains within three hoursâ The people of Tamil Nadu have now entrusted Vijay with a responsibility far greater than any role performed on screenâ he said invoking Vijayâs popular slogan âOru Viral Puratchiâ onefinger revolution and expressing optimism about future MalaysiaâTamil Nadu cooperationVijay president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK was sworn in on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai in a ceremony administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath ArlekarNine ministers also took the oath alongside him as part of the new council of ministersThe swearingin marks a historic political transition in Tamil Nadu ending nearly six decades of alternating governance between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMKThe TVKled alliance secured the backing of 120 MLAs in the 234member Assembly comfortably crossing the 118seat majority mark despite falling short of an outright solo majorityThe ceremony drew highprofile attendance including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi along with film personalities party workers and thousands of supporters Authorities deployed heavy security across Chennai with intensified vehicle checks and strict access control around the venueThe swearingin of Vijay marks a watershed moment in Tamil Nadu politics as a nonDravidian party has come to power in the state for the first time since 1967 Political observers view the development as a major realignment in the stateâs political landscape long dominated by the DMK and AIADMK IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/malaysian-pm-anwar-ibrahim-congratulates-vijay-on-tamil-nadu-cm-win-673345.html Tue, 12 May 2026 08:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/preliminary-positive-hantavirus-pcr-test-confirmed-among-mv-hondius-evacuees-in-spain-673347.html Madrid May 12 One of the 14 Spanish evacuees from the hantavirushit cruise ship MV Hondius on Sunday has tested preliminarily positive for the virus Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia has said Garcia wrote on X on Monday local time that one of the Spanish passengers currently under isolation at Madrids Gomez Ulla hospital had tested preliminarily positive in a PCR test conducted upon arrivalThe person remains in isolation without symptoms and in general good health under continued clinical observation in accordance with established safety and epidemiological protocols she wroteThe other 13 Spaniards tested provisionally negative while final results were expected in the coming hours the minister saidAccording to health authorities and the World Health Organization WHO the outbreak is believed to involve the Andes strain of hantavirus a variant known for possible persontoperson transmission through close contact The virus is typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine or droppingsThe Spanish evacuees were transferred to Madrid as part of an evacuation operation launched after the MV Hondius arrived in Spains Canary Islands over the weekend reports Xinhua news agencyMultiple confirmed and suspected cases have so far been linked to the outbreak including passengers transferred to several countries for treatment and monitoringThe final group of evacuees left the ship on Monday after the vessel briefly docked at the Port of Granadilla on the Spanish island of Tenerife due to adverse weather conditions The ship later departed for Rotterdam in the NetherlandsMeanwhile the European Commission said Monday that it is coordinating and supporting national authorities response to a hantavirus outbreak while the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC assesses the risk to the general population in Europe as very lowSince Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on May 6 the EUs Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been facilitating the safe evacuation of people aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship which was anchored off TenerifeFive repatriation flights coordinated by the EU took place on Sunday and were carried out by France Spain the Netherlands Greece and Ireland A sixth and final flight operated by the Netherlands departed on Monday according to the CommissionThe EU is also mobilising response capabilities and stockpiles from its strategic reserve A medical evacuation aircraft from the EU fleet hosted by Norway has been prepositioned in Tenerife while additional transport and logistics capacities as well as protective equipment are ready to be deployed if neededThe Emergency Response Coordination Centre has deployed a liaison officer to Tenerife to support onsite coordination with relevant authorities The ECDC also deployed two experts from the EU Health Task Force to the ship before passengers disembarkedAccording to the Commission the EU is working closely with EU members countries participating in the Civil Protection Mechanism the ECDC the World Health Organization and G7 partners in responding to the outbreakCommissioner for Equality Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said health threats can easily cross borders and coordination is therefore essential IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/preliminary-positive-hantavirus-pcr-test-confirmed-among-mv-hondius-evacuees-in-spain-673347.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-passes-law-to-establish-special-tribunal-for-suspects-of-october-7-hamas-attack-673349.html Tel Aviv May 12 Israels parliament has approved a law to establish a special military tribunal for Palestinians suspected of involvement in the Hamasled attack on October 7 2023 The tribunal is authorised to impose the death penalty a sentence that has not been carried out in Israel since 1962The law has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups The bill denies suspects the basic procedural protections essential to a fair trial Adalah a legal group for Arab minority rights in Israel said in a statement on Monday local timeIt added that any resulting death sentence would constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life absolutely prohibited under international law and potentially a war crimeThe new law follows legislation approved in late March that made the death penalty a default punishment for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks reports Xinhua news agencyThe legislation passed on March 30 drew sharp international criticism with opponents describing it as discriminatory and unconstitutional Critics argue that the law creates a differential legal framework based on identity and raises serious human rights concernsUnder the new law the death penalty would apply to Israelis convicted of murder only if the act was committed with the intent of ending Israels existence a clause that critics say effectively ensures that the punishment will disproportionately target Palestinians while excluding Jewish Israelis accused of similar offencesThe law also mandates that executions be carried out within 90 days of sentencing allowing only limited grounds for delay and providing no provision for clemency Courts retain the option to impose life imprisonment instead but only under undefined special circumstancesThe October 7 attack killed about 1200 people in Israel with over 250 hostages kidnapped according to Israeli figures It triggered the massive Israeli military operation across Gaza that left the Palestinian enclave in ruins and killed at least 72737 people according to Gazabased health authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-passes-law-to-establish-special-tribunal-for-suspects-of-october-7-hamas-attack-673349.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-sends-5th-ship-with-humanitarian-aid-to-cuba-673350.html Mexico City May 12 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Mexico is sending a fifth ship with humanitarian aid to Cuba in response to the growing shortages faced by the Cuban people During her morning press conference on Monday local time Sheinbaum reiterated Mexicos rejection of the economic commercial and financial blockade Washington has maintained against Cuba since 1962We are going to continue sending humanitarian aid In fact a ship carrying humanitarian aid is leaving for Cuba today Mexico will always be fraternal and in solidarity with all nations of the world and particularly with Cuba said SheinbaumMexicos humanitarian aid does not include oil given that Russia has been supplying Cuba with that resource she said adding that Mexico focuses on providing other essential items to alleviate the scarcity of basic goods reports Xinhua news agencyIn recent weeks the US government has issued two executive orders to intensify sanctions against the country blocking access to the fuel Cuba needs and penalising several Cuban companiesEarlier on Friday Cuba denied remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about an alleged US offer of 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid to the island countryCuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X that Rubio had fabricated the claim to justify Washingtons actions against CubaRubio told reporters on Friday that the United States had provided 6 million dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba through Caritas a Catholic Church agency and had offered the Cuban government 100 million dollars but it refused to distribute itWhere have they gone What would he have used them for Rodriguez wrote dismissing the claimRodriguez said what is publicly known is the billions of dollars that the US economic warfare is costing CubaHe is also well aware of the ruthless human damage caused by that warfare and the restrictions in terms of revenues technologies food fuel and medicines it imposes Rodriguez added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-sends-5th-ship-with-humanitarian-aid-to-cuba-673350.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepali-mountain-guide-dies-in-mt-qomolangma-region-673356.html Kathmandu May 12 A Nepali mountain guide passed away in the course of acclimatisation in the Mount Qomolangma region said a government official He died on Sunday reports Xinhua news agencyBijay Ghimire 35 who had successfully been to the 884886meter peak three times in 2016 2019 and 2023 died of altitude sickness He died while performing his responsibility as a mountain guide said Himal Gautam information officer at the Department of Tourism in a statement on Monday eveningThe department has issued a record 492 permits to climbers to conquer the peak this spring seasonEarlier on May 5 two climbers an Indian mountaineer and a Sherpa guide were injured after a serac collapse along the Khumbu Icefall route on Mt Everest hit them Nepals Department of Tourism said The injured have been identified as Nimish Kumar Singh 40 from India and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa 44 a mountain guide from NepalAccording to the department the incident occurred at around 545 am on Tuesday when a serac collapse caused falling ice to reach the main climbing route striking members of the expedition teamA serac is a large unstable block or pinnacle of glacial ice often formed by intersecting crevasses on a glaciers surface or on steep icefallsAt the time of the incident permitholding climbers and Sherpa guides from multiple expedition agencies were heading toward Camp I from Camp II via the Khumbu Icefall as part of the acclimatisation process They had earlier reached Camp II after ascending from Everest Base CampThe Khumbu Icefall one of the most hazardous sections of the Everest climbing route is known for frequent ice shifts and serac collapses particularly during the early climbing seasonImmediately after the incident a team of Sherpa guides from Pioneer Adventure Pvt Ltd and Summit Force Expedition carried out a prompt rescue and informed officials stationed at Everest Base CampFrom the base camp a team from Seven Summit Trek Pvt Ltd quickly coordinated a helicopter evacuation At around 630 am a helicopter arrived at the incident site from Lukla airport near Mt Everest and airlifted the injured to Kathmandu for treatmentNepal has attracted a large number of mountaineers this spring season particularly those attempting to climb Mt Everest despite the government raising the royalty fee for climbers to 15000 from 11000 per person and flight disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia between the United States and Iran IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepali-mountain-guide-dies-in-mt-qomolangma-region-673356.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/dutch-hospital-quarantines-12-staff-over-hantavirus-exposure-precautions-673358.html The Hague May 12 Radboud University Medical Center Radboudumc in the Netherlands has placed 12 employees in quarantine for six weeks as a precaution after incorrect procedures were followed while caring for a patient infected with hantavirus The hospital said on Monday that the issue involved procedures for drawing and processing blood samples as well as the disposal of the patients urine reports Xinhua news agencyThis blood was processed according to standard procedure Due to the nature of the virus this blood should have been processed according to a stricter procedure Radboudumc said in a statement without specifying what the stricter measures should have entailedThe hospital added that it became clear on Saturday that the latest international guidelines for disposing of the patients urine had not been followedAs a result 12 employees have entered preventive quarantine for six weeks Although the risk of actual infection is very low these measures have a significant impact on everyone involved said Bertine Lahuis chair of the Executive Board of RadboudumcOn Thursday Radboudumc admitted a hantavirusinfected patient from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius Meanwhile Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia on Monday announced that one of the 14 Spanish evacuees from the hantavirushit cruise ship MV Hondius on Sunday has tested preliminarily positive for the virusGarcia wrote on X that one of the Spanish passengers currently under isolation at Madrids Gomez Ulla hospital had tested preliminarily positive in a PCR test conducted upon arrivalThe person remains in isolation without symptoms and in general good health under continued clinical observation in accordance with established safety and epidemiological protocols she wroteThe other 13 Spaniards tested provisionally negative while final results were expected in the coming hours the minister saidAccording to health authorities and the World Health Organization WHO the outbreak is believed to involve the Andes strain of hantavirus a variant known for possible persontoperson transmission through close contact The virus is typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine or droppingsThe Spanish evacuees were transferred to Madrid as part of an evacuation operation launched after the MV Hondius arrived in Spains Canary Islands over the weekend reports Xinhua news agencyMultiple confirmed and suspected cases have so far been linked to the outbreak including passengers transferred to several countries for treatment and monitoringThe final group of evacuees left the ship on Monday after the vessel briefly docked at the Port of Granadilla on the Spanish island of Tenerife due to adverse weather conditions The ship later departed for Rotterdam in the Netherlands IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/dutch-hospital-quarantines-12-staff-over-hantavirus-exposure-precautions-673358.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/airstrikes-drone-attacks-claim-dozens-of-lives-in-sudan-un-673361.html United Nations May 12 Airstrikes and drone attacks in Sudans Kordofan and Darfur states have killed dozens of civilians including women and children UN humanitarians have said The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA on Monday local time said its local sources reported that on Friday strikes in South Kordofan and North Kordofan states killed at least 26 civilians Armed clashes and additional airstrikes were also reported around El Obeid and the town of Bara in North KordofanOCHA said that on Saturday according to local sources more than 17 people were killed in a strike on a civilian truck travelling from Khumi village toward the Abu Zabad area in West Kordofan state reports Xinhua news agencyDeadly drone strikes were also reported in North Darfur and South Darfur states in recent days said the officeThe UN Human Rights Office warned that drone attacks accounted for at least 880 deaths more than 80 per cent of all conflictrelated civilian fatalities recorded between January and April this year in SudanThis increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue unabated in the approaching rainy season which in the past has brought about a lull in ground operations said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk An intensification of hostilities in the coming weeks as the parties seek to gain or consolidate control of territory amid shifting conflict dynamics risks hostilities expanding even further to central and eastern states with lethal consequences for civilians across enormous areasThe insecurity is also forcing more people to flee their homes said OCHAThe International Organization for Migration said that heightened insecurity in Blue Nile state displaced more than 4600 people from villages in Al Kurmuk locality on Thursday aloneParties must respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure OCHA said adding that aid must be allowed to reach people in need quickly safely and without obstruction IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/airstrikes-drone-attacks-claim-dozens-of-lives-in-sudan-un-673361.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/five-killed-two-injured-in-residential-building-fire-in-chinas-hunan-673364.html Changsha May 12 A fire at a residential building in central Chinas Hunan Province has left five people dead and two others injured according to the local emergency management bureau The blaze occurred around 3 am Tuesday in Yanfeng District of Hengyang City The injured are receiving medical treatment The cause of the fire is under investigationEarlier on May 5 Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered an investigation after an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in central China and the surrounding area killing at least 26 people and injuring 61Xiâs order came a day after the explosion at the Huasheng fireworks plant in Liuyang a city of 15 million people in central Hunan province Xi stated that âthose responsible must be held accountableâ and urged âallout efforts to search for people who were still unaccounted forâ according to the Xinhua news agency The local government dispatched 482 emergency personnel to the site and evacuated nearby areas due to the risk of further explosions at the factoryâs warehouses state media reportedOn May 2 a fire broke out at a foot massage parlour in Lingbao City central Chinaâs Henan Province leaving six trapped people dead after emergency treatment failed the local fire and rescue department had saidThe Lingbao 119 emergency centre dispatched rescue teams to the site immediately after receiving the alertApart from the six trapped people who were pulled out and later had died despite emergency treatment five others were rescued without injuries Strong traces of smoke and scorching were found at the sceneEarlier on April 25 a fire at a residential building in Shuangliu District of Chengdu the capital of southwest Chinaâs Sichuan Province left five people dead and two injured the local firefighting and rescue bureau had saidThe blaze was reported to the local fire emergency call centre IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/five-killed-two-injured-in-residential-building-fire-in-chinas-hunan-673364.html Tue, 12 May 2026 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-evacuation-planes-from-hantavirus-hit-cruise-lands-in-the-netherlands-673374.html Eindhoven May 12 The last two evacuation flights carrying passengers and crew from the hantavirushit cruise MV Hondius landed at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands on Tuesday According to the Dutch Foreign Ministry the first flight operated by Australian authorities carried six passengers The second a Dutchorganized flight transported 22 crew members from the luxury cruise vessel including one Dutch national and 21 individuals of other nationalitiesThe first aircraft landed at about 1230 am local time 2330 GMT on Monday The six passengers from this plane are expected to continue onward to Australia The second Dutch flight landed about 15 minutes laterThe Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said on Sunday that all repatriated passengers will undergo thorough medical screening A sample will be taken from everyone at the airport for laboratory testingThe agency said that a quarantine hotel has been arranged for crew members and foreign passengers who cannot immediately return home Xinhua news agency reportedMeanwhile Oceanwide Expeditions the Dutch operator of MV Hondius said in a statement on Monday that the vessel has departed the Spanish island of Tenerife and is en route to Rotterdam the Netherlands The vessel is expected to take about six days to complete the journey with a provisional arrival scheduled for this SundayAccording to the World Health Organization Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans Infection in people can result in severe illness and often death although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location In the Americas infection has been known to lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome HCPS a rapidly progressive condition affecting the lungs and heart while in Europe and Asia Hantaviruses have been known to cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome HFRS which primarily affects the kidneys and blood vesselsWhile there is no specific treatment that cures hantavirus diseases early supportive medical care is key to improve survival and focuses on close clinical monitoring and management of respiratory cardiac and kidney complications Prevention depends largely on reducing contacts between people and infected rodentsTransmission of Hantaviruses to humans occurs from contact with contaminated urine droppings or saliva of infected rodents Infection may also occur although less commonly through rodent bites Activities that involve contact with rodents such as cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces farming forestry work and sleeping in rodentinfested dwellings increase exposure risk IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-evacuation-planes-from-hantavirus-hit-cruise-lands-in-the-netherlands-673374.html Tue, 12 May 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-200-pro-awami-league-lawyers-barred-from-contesting-bar-elections-in-bangladesh-673399.html Dhaka May 12 At least 200 lawyers in Bangladesh associated with the Awami League have been banned from contesting in at least 13 bar association elections since January local media reported on Tuesday citing members of lawyers associations across the country Although many attempted to contest as independent candidates they were reportedly prevented from collecting or submitting nomination papers with several nominations cancelled by bar associationsAmid growing concerns over the restrictions on the proAwami League lawyers the Supreme Court Bar Association SCBA is set to hold a twoday election from Wednesday Bangladeshs leading newspaper The Daily Star reportedRecently the SCBA had rejected the nomination papers of 42 lawyers out of 90 candidates for the May 1314 elections on grounds of alleged links to the Awami LeagueAccording to several legal experts and rights activists the exclusion of proAwami League lawyers from bar association elections weakens democratic norms and contradicts the constitutional provisions of freedom of associationManzill Murshid Bangladeshs Supreme Court lawyer said that proAwami League lawyers along with those linked to the 14party alliance and some independent candidates had their nomination papers cancelledThe issue is no longer confined to one political party it raises broader concerns about the democratic environment within professional bodies The Daily Star quoted Murshid as sayingCondemning the restrictions another Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain said The right to contest elections to professional bodies is directly related to the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of association and expressionAdditionally emphasising the importance of professional values over political identities Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir said We all have to strive for professional excellence A free and fair environment is required for a participatory electionLast week several proAwami League lawyers accused Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNPbacked lawyers of obstruction and assault while attempting to collect nomination papers for the Chattogram District Bar Association CDBA election scheduled for May 21 local media reportedThe incident unfolded on May 4 at the Bar Library entrance when a group of lawyers led by proAwami League presidential candidate Abdur Rashid went to collect nomination forms under the banner of Sadharan Ainjibi ParishadThe recent pattern of alleged discrimination against legal professionals and the cancellation of candidacies of proAwami League lawyers in bar association polls across several districts in Bangladesh solely on the basis of political ideology has sparked international outrage and drawn criticism from the global community IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-200-pro-awami-league-lawyers-barred-from-contesting-bar-elections-in-bangladesh-673399.html Tue, 12 May 2026 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-warns-of-deteriorating-hunger-and-food-security-in-afghanistan-673400.html Kabul May 12 The United Nations has stated that hunger and food security are deteriorating in Afghanistan with women and children facing the most consequences amid economic and humanitarian challenges local media reported on Tuesday The UN agencies said that Afghanistan continue to face problems due to overlapping crises including economic collapse unemployment and climaterelated shocks that have impacted livelihoods across the country Increasing regional tensions have caused an increase in food prices placing additional pressure on vulnerable people Afghanistanbased Ariana News reportedThe United Nations World Food Programme UNWFP stated that continuous funding cuts have reduced supplies of specialised nutritional food needed for the treatment of malnourished women and children Millions of children face the risk of severe hunger resulting in humanitarian organisations calling for sustained international support to prevent the situation from worsening furtherOn Monday the International Organisation for Migration IOM said that around 2000 families have been affected by the recent floods in Afghanistans Nangarhar provinceThe IOM said emergency relief items have been given to impacted families as humanitarian teams continued assessing urgent needs in floodaffected people Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reportedThe agency said many people lost homes agricultural land and household property after flooding in Nangarhar deteriorating humanitarian challenges faced by the vulnerable families of the provinceThe IOM stated that additional humanitarian assistance is planned for at least 250 additional families in Nangarhar as recovery and emergency operations are underway in impacted regionsAccording to the organisation similar aid operations are being conducted in Laghman and Kunar where recent flooding has caused damage to residents and infrastructureHumanitarian agencies said extreme weather conditions including floods harsh winters and droughts have impacted Afghanistan in recent years putting additional pressure on millions of people already struggling with poverty and displacement Khaama Press reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-warns-of-deteriorating-hunger-and-food-security-in-afghanistan-673400.html Tue, 12 May 2026 13:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-karachi-witnesses-rise-in-street-crimes-violence-incidents-673402.html Islamabad May 12 Karachi has witnessed a rise in street crime with people being robbed of hundreds of vehicles and mobile phones alongside an increase in killings and extortion cases from JanuaryApril period this year local media reported on Tuesday citing the data released by the CitizensPolice Liaison Committee CPLC During the JanuaryApril period people in Karachi were robbed of 611 cars and 13346 motorcycles collectively worth millions of rupees demonstrating the scale of vehiclerelated crime in the metropolis During the same period 5567 mobile phones were stolen from citizens during street crime incidents Pakistans daily The Express Tribune reportedIncidents related to violence were also reported in Karachi with 176 people killed in various incidents of murder Furthermore 61 cases of extortion were reported during this periodAccording to the data 22 cars were snatched and 111 were stolen while 469 motorcycles were snatched and 2723 were stolen in April alone During the same 30day period 1624 mobile phones were snatched from people while 42 people were killed in separate incidentsMeanwhile the Police Women and Child Protection Cell has revealed that at least 388 adults and 10 minors faced domestic violence harassment abuse and related crimes in Karachi from January to April this yearThe report showcases how abuse unfolded behind closed doors in Karachi with domestic violence being the most widely reported issue Authorities have received 297 complaints about domestic abuse from January to April Among these 190 complaints were resolved while nearly 100 cases remain pending demonstrating delays in providing relief to victims The Express Tribune reported Police lodged three formal cases in domestic violence incidentsKarachi has been witnessing a rise in harassment cases The protection cell received 83 complaints related to harassment and intimidation Among these complaints 42 were resolved while action on 41 complaints is still being taken Officials said that one formal case was lodged in a case involving harassment The Express Tribune reportedFurthermore the cell received 19 complaints related to sexual assault and other forms of intimidation Among these nine complaints were resolved while 10 cases are still pending investigation and legal action IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-karachi-witnesses-rise-in-street-crimes-violence-incidents-673402.html Tue, 12 May 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-ethanol-blended-petrol-makes-a-splash-amid-global-oil-shock-report-673408.html New Delhi May 12 IANS Amid global supply disruptions due to the Middle East crisis and soaring crude prices ethanolblended petrol is rapidly gaining ground as a sustainable fuel of the future with India emerging as one of the worlds most closely watched biofuel success stories according to a report in The Times Kuwait newspapernbspIt points out that Indias longterm ethanol blending strategy has paid dividends by enabling the worlds fastest growing economy to cushion the oil supply shock amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has roiled global marketsnbspIt highlights how starting from a modest 5 per cent ethanol blending target in 2003 India accelerated its switch to biofuels and has now achieved nearly 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol ahead of its original target schedule The country is now preparing for E85 petrol containing 85 per cent ethanol as well as E100 fuels for flexfuel vehicles capable of operating on multiple ethanol blendsThe article points out that even by 2014 Indias average ethanol blending level stood at only 153 per cent However steady policy support investment in distillery capacity and longterm planning laid the foundation for the rapid expansion seen todayThe major turning point came in 2018 with the introduction of the National Policy on Biofuels which significantly broadened the programmes scopeEthanol production was expanded beyond sugarcane molasses to include damaged food grains surplus rice maize and agricultural residues The move reduced dependence on waterintensive sugarcane while bringing grainproducing regions in northern and central India into the ethanol economy the article points outWhat initially began as an environmental initiative aimed at lowering carbon emissions has now evolved into a broader national strategy focused on energy security economic resilience and rural development it observesThe programme is helping India save billions of dollars in foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported crude oil particularly at a time when instability in West Asia continues to create uncertainty across global supply chains the article statesThe ethanol push is also generating significant benefits for Indias rural economy Rising demand for biofuel feedstock is supporting sugarcane farmers grain producers distilleries and biofuel infrastructure developers while creating new employment opportunities across agriculture transportation logistics and manufacturing sectors it addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-ethanol-blended-petrol-makes-a-splash-amid-global-oil-shock-report-673408.html Tue, 12 May 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pak-gangster-shahzad-bhatti-network-under-scanner-as-india-pushes-for-extradition-673440.html New Delhi May 12 The name of Pakistanbased gangster Shahzad Bhatti has surfaced repeatedly in multiple investigations linked to terror recruitment radicalisation and espionage activities in India over the past several months More than a dozen cases have reportedly been registered against him by various agencies Bhatti a Lahorebased gangster has allegedly been operating out of Dubai for several years while frequently travelling between Pakistan the UAE and other countries in the Middle East according to investigating agencies With multiple cases linked to terror recruitment and radicalisation being registered against him Indian agencies are now prioritising efforts to secure his extradition and bring him to trialAn Indian security agency official said Bhatti had managed to exploit certain legal and jurisdictional gaps to stay beyond the reach of Indian investigatorsâHe is not an Indian national and belongs to Pakistan Moreover he has never travelled to India which has made the extradition process more complicatedâ the official saidAnother official said that although the extradition process would be complicated it was still achievable Agencies are expected to coordinate with countries where Bhatti is believed to be operating in an effort to bring him to India for trial the official addedOfficials pointed to previous terror investigations to underline that such extraditions though difficult are possible One of the key accused in the 2611 Mumbai attacks was extradited to India after exhausting all legal appeals in courts in the USIn the case of David Headley extradition could not proceed because of a plea bargain agreement with US authorities Under the pact Headley was allowed to remain in the US and could not be extradited to India Indian investigators however were permitted to question him and later appeared through video conferencing during the trial proceedingsOfficials describe Bhatti as a highvalue operative who is likely to receive protection from Pakistanâs InterServices Intelligence ISI According to security agencies there are concerns that he may return to Pakistan if Indian efforts to secure his extradition begin to gain tractionAn Intelligence Bureau official said the immediate priority was to dismantle Bhattiâs recruitment network which investigators believe has been functioning largely through social media platforms Bhatti and several of his Pakistanbased associates are alleged to have used online channels extensively to identify and recruit operativesInvestigators said youngsters from various states were allegedly targeted with promises of money influence and recognition They are made to believe they will become heroes âFinancial incentives and the lure of power have also been used during recruitmentâ the official saidInvestigators believe Bhattiâs recruitment network was intended to facilitate attacks in different parts of the country Initially agencies suspected that the recruitment drive was largely focused on carrying out strikes in PunjabBhattiâs name first surfaced prominently in March 2024 after a grenade attack near the residence of Punjabi YouTuber Rozer Sandhu in Jalandhar Punjab Investigators had also linked his network to the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai in October 2024Several arrests made this year are also believed to be connected to Bhattiâs network Recently the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested nine persons from Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir Punjab and GujaratAccording to investigators all the accused had allegedly been recruited by Bhatti and were instructed to target a major temple in Delhi a military camp in Haryana and a popular eatery along the DelhiSonipat highwayIn April two people were arrested in Madhya Pradesh after investigators found that they were allegedly planning grenade attacks outside crowded restaurants in Delhi Agencies are also probing possible links between Bhattiâs network and the lowintensity blasts reported near the Border Security Force headquarters and Amritsar Cantonment on May 5According to investigators Bhatti has claimed to have established networks in 16 countries and to command nearly 200 operatives His recruitment activities are not confined to any single region in India with youths from several states allegedly being drawn into the network This has prompted closer coordination among police forces across different statesInvestigators further said the recruitment pattern suggests that operatives are often used for a single assignment and then discarded âIt functions like a disposable module Once a recruit completes a task he is usually not used again for another operationâ an official saidThe recruitment operations need to be stopped at the earliest otherwise the situation could spiral out of control the official said adding that agencies were simultaneously pursuing efforts to secure Bhattiâs extradition IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pak-gangster-shahzad-bhatti-network-under-scanner-as-india-pushes-for-extradition-673440.html Tue, 12 May 2026 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/singapore-playing-key-role-in-chinas-plan-to-globalise-yuan-report-673442.html New Delhi May 12 Singapore has emerged as a key hub in Chinaâs strategy to internationalise its currency the renminbi RMB and reduce dependence on the US dollardominated global financial system The city state facilitates Chinaâs monetary and capital flows across other countries in Southeast Asia according to a new report Chinaâs structural limits like restricted capital mobility and regulatory uncertainty constrain the RMBâs global acceptance Consequently Singapore acts as a stable external gateway while diversifying financial opportunities and risks and enabling China to shape a gradual regionally anchored RMB ecosystem according to an article published on the website of the Organisation for Research on China and Asia ORCA The article cites the Peopleâs Bank of Chinaâs 2025 RMB Internationalisation Report as stating that Singapore now ranks among the top offshore RMB hubs globally only behind Hong Kong It accounts for 276 billion RMB worth of deposits contributing to a growing share of RMB trading and crossâborder settlements in Southeast AsiaThe recent announcement to designate DBS Bank as Singaporeâs second RMB clearing bank further strengthens its role in global offshore RMB markets Singaporeâs emergence as an RMB hub is therefore not accidental For Beijing it offers a politically neutral globallytrusted platform at a time when Beijingâs securitydriven priorities for Hong Kong are increasingly affecting its financial roleFor Singapore aligning with RMB internationalisation is a strategic bet to embed itself in ChinaâASEAN economic integration while diversifying its financial opportunities and risksThe recent initiatives on the expanded access to Chinaâs bond market now exceeding 25 trillion USD enable Singaporeâbased institutions a greater role in facilitating foreign participation in the RMB market the article by Omkar Bhole points outSingaporeâs offshore RMB liquidity ecosystem has strengthened significantly in recent years The city now hosts two RMB clearing banks â ICBC Singapore appointed in 2013 and DBS designated in 2025 â enhancing direct access to Chinese financial markets Singapore now accounts for 97 trillion RMB payments clearing in 2024 the article statesThree Singapore banks have also become a part of Chinaâs crossborder interbank payment system CIPS an alternative to SWIFT which reduces payment costs and clearing time for RMB transactions This not only makes these institutions an attractive option for RMBbased settlements but also allows China to gain more acceptance in strengthening an alternative financial system the article observes It also highlights that Singaporeâs own strategic calculus is equally important in this growing ecosystem As a global financial centre dependent on crossborder capital flows the internationalisation of RMB opens an opportunity for Singapore to capture a growing share of Chinalinked trade settlement wealth management and capital market activity particularly as ASEAN economies continue to deepen integration with China IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/singapore-playing-key-role-in-chinas-plan-to-globalise-yuan-report-673442.html Tue, 12 May 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/how-china-chokes-foreign-banks-673483.html New Delhi May 12 Although foreign banks have been in China for decades they have failed to grow and currently account for a mere 5 per cent of the countryâs total banking assets according to a media article When Chinaâs accession to the World Trade Organisation in December 2001 was finalised the promise extended to foreign financial institutions was one of gradual meaningful integration However this has not taken place the article by Dr Shalini Kumar in the UKs Asian Lite newspaper noted Foreign banks are allowed to function but their growth has been checked by multiple regulators who have put in place a complex set of rules that banks find it difficult to comply with Besides taxes on foreign banks are higher and they are not allowed to repatriate their profitsThe daytoday functioning of foreign banks is monitored by three institutions the Peopleâs Bank of China the National Financial Regulatory Administration and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange This means that a foreign bank is not dealing with a single regulator but with multiple authorities at the same time Routine activities such as lending foreign exchange transactions and compliance reporting fall under overlapping oversight the article statedIt highlights that foreign banks in China are expected to submit close to a thousand reports every year These are not limited to annual disclosures but include daily weekly fortnightly monthly halfyearly and annual submissions A typical week for a compliance team in a foreign bank involves preparing multiple filings at the same time Daily liquidity and transaction reports may be due alongside weekly summaries and monthly statements At the same time banks must keep track of deadlines for halfyearly and annual submissions which require more detailed documentationDelays or errors in these submissions are not treated lightly Even a missed deadline can attract monetary penalties This means that compliance is not just about meeting regulatory standards but about meeting them on time the article points outThe financial side of the equation adds another layer of pressure Foreign banks in China pay around 18 per cent tax to the Chinese government along with a 6 per cent valueadded tax on the interest they earn Interest income is the core of banking When a bank lends money the margin it earns on that loan is its primary source of profit Applying VAT directly to this income means that taxation cuts into the main business activity itself For a foreign bank operating on a smaller scale compared to domestic competitors this has a noticeable impact Margins are tighter and the room to expand lending or offer competitive rates is reduced Regulatory costs and tax burdens do not operate separately Together they shape how much a foreign bank can realistically earn and reinvest the article observedPerhaps the most significant constraint comes after profits are earned Foreign banks are not freely allowed to transfer overseas the profits they make from interest income Instead they are expected to retain and reinvest those earnings within China This changes the basic logic of operating in a foreign market the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/how-china-chokes-foreign-banks-673483.html Tue, 12 May 2026 19:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cm-vijay-urges-eam-jaishankar-to-secure-release-of-arrested-tn-fishermen-from-sri-lankan-custody-673494.html Chennai May 12 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday urged the External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of six fishermen from the state arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and to retrieve their seized fishing boat In a letter addressed to Union Minister Jaishankar Chief Minister Vijay expressed concern over the continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities and highlighted the growing distress among coastal communities in the state Drawing EAM Jaishankars attention to the latest incident the Chief Minister said six fishermen from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line IMBL The arrested fishermen were identified as Alex Antony Rajan Santhana Arokiyas Arul DBritto Albert and Sahaya Selvasanu According to the letter the fishermen had ventured into the sea on May 10 in a country boat from the Mandapam coastal region for routine fishing operations before they were detained by the Sri Lankan Naval personnel on May 12 Chief Minister Vijay said that the repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen had become a serious humanitarian and livelihood issue affecting hundreds of fishing families dependent on the Palk Bay region for their survival The Chief Minister also added that 54 Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons following earlier arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy In addition he noted that Sri Lankan authorities have so far seized 264 fishing boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu Stressing the need for urgent intervention by the Centre Chief Minister Vijay urged EAM Jaishankar to immediately engage with the Sri Lankan government through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the fishermens release and ensure the return of their boats at the earliest The letter comes amid renewed tension in the Palk Strait region where incidents involving Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy continue to recur despite repeated bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka on the longpending fishing dispute The Tamil Nadu government has consistently said that the livelihood concerns of traditional fishermen should be handled with sensitivity and has repeatedly sought permanent diplomatic and humanitarian solutions to prevent arrests and boat seizures in the future IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cm-vijay-urges-eam-jaishankar-to-secure-release-of-arrested-tn-fishermen-from-sri-lankan-custody-673494.html Tue, 12 May 2026 20:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/intelligence-agencies-warn-aqis-could-use-mali-attacks-to-regroup-in-india-673294.html New Delhi May 11 Over 70 people were killed last week in a fresh wave of jihadist attacks in central Mali The attacks were claimed by the Jamaat Nusrat alIslam wal Muslimin JNIM a terror group closely linked to the AlQaeda Following the death of Osama Bin Laden and other senior functionaries of the outfit many had presumed that the AlQaeda is on its decline The outfit even launched its wing called the AllQaeda in the SubContinent AQIS The outfit was launched in Afghanistan with its primary focus being on India The outfit did not take off as it would have expected but it still remains a grave threatOfficials say that there is an emerging pattern that one notices where the outfit is concerned The AlQaeda has over the years made significant progress in Africa The attacks in Mali which falls in West Africa is testimony of how powerful the outfit is the official addedWhat the AlQaeda benefited from is that the world had taken its eyes off the outfit thinking that it had gone down None expected a resurgence and the fact that it was off the radar in fact helped the outfit rebuildThe same is in the case of the AQIS It has remained relatively quiet for several years now It has focussed its resources on online propaganda but has deliberately ensured that it is not as vocal as the Islamic StateAn Intelligence Bureau official says that such attacks like the one we saw in Mali are all factors that the AQIS would take into account to relaunch itself in a big way The law enforcement agencies cannot afford to take the AQIS lightly as it is capable of making a comeback in a very big wayMoreover the AQIS is capable of generating more traction in India when compared to the Islamic State Many especially within the southern states still consider Osama Bin Laden to be a hero Despite being gone for long Bin Laden is still a big draw and an extremely polarising figure the official addedAnother official said that the AlQaeda has learnt the art of deception Take the case of the attacks in Mali The JNIM is an affiliate of the AlQaeda and draws inspiration from its ideology and Bin Laden The official said that the AlQaeda would continue to operate through its affiliates For the terror group the important thing is to get the job done instead of claiming credit for attacksAn official said that the Mali attack serves as inspiration for the AQIS It would cite such attacks during its propaganda campaign and look to lure the youth into its fold The official said that in India the affiliate of the AQIS is the Base Movement This group which had been lying low for several years has started boosting up its online propaganda The Mali attacks would act as a booster for the Base Movement to step up operations in India the official addedOfficials also say that the AQIS and Base Movement have several operatives across the country They had deliberately kept a low profile for all these years The flurry of online activity that the Intelligence agencies are picking up recently suggest that these operatives are likely to come out and prepare for strikes in IndiaThe official added that the world is currently busy with the events in Iran Many countries which kept tabs on the AlQaeda are currently focussed elsewhere and this is something that the AlQaeda is taking advantage ofA similar trend is being noticed where the AQIS is concerned It is looking to take advantage of the fact that the attention of the world is elsewhere Taking advantage of the situation across the world and also the fact that it carried out a major attack in Mali the AQIS would use this to push their agenda and carry out major strikes in India the Intelligence agencies warn IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/intelligence-agencies-warn-aqis-could-use-mali-attacks-to-regroup-in-india-673294.html Mon, 11 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/islamic-state-planning-sri-lanka-style-attacks-in-india-using-foreign-operatives-673303.html New Delhi May 11 The Islamic State has devised a new strategy whereby it would use its radicalised elements from various countries around India to carry out both propaganda and attacks When the Islamic State announced itself on the world stage in late 2013 there were plenty of people from India who left the country to join the outfit However over the years the agencies have managed to prevent many from leaving the country to join the Islamic State in Syria Iraq and AfghanistanThere have been successful deradicalisation campaigns which ensured that many who had plans of joining the outfit returned to the mainstreamAn Intelligence Bureau official says that while the problem is largely in check in India there are attempts now being made to push in recruits from other countriesThe Islamic State has dedicated wings in Pakistan Bangladesh Maldives and Sri LankaThe effects of the Islamic Stateâs Sri Lankan module was seen in Tamil Nadu and Mangaluru In both these places a radicalised individual part of the Islamic State attempted to carry out attacks However both failedThe common angle in these incidents is that the accused persons Jamesha Mubin and Mohammad Sharique were radicalised by the same individual from Sri Lanka Zahran Hashim the mastermind of the Easter Bombings in Sri Lanka was the leader of the Islamic State in the country He had visited South India and stayed for a considerable period of time during which both Mubin and Sharique were radicalisedOfficials say that the Islamic State is planning on pushing its recruits from Maldives Sri Lanka and Bangladesh into India Travel into India from these countries is relatively easier and the outfit is looking to take advantage of thatThe official added that the modules in Bangladesh are focussing heavily on pushing in recruits into West Bengal and Bihar On the other hand the push into the southern states would be made by Sri Lanka and Maldives the official addedAssessing the threat perception another official said that the push that is being attempted from Bangladesh is the highest A recent edition of Dabiq the mouthpiece of the Islamic State had an article titled The Revival of Jihad in Bengal aimed at calling the youth to dedicate themselves to JihadOfficials say that this was the first time that the Islamic State module in Bangladesh was attempting to push its agenda in IndiaAnother official said that the threat from Sri Lanka is the least Post the Easter Bombings a large part of the outfit has been eliminated although it would be wrong to assume that the group has shut shop in the country This explains why a major push is being attempted from Maldives into South India the official addedThe official further stated that the intended cause is to carry out attacks in India on the scale of which was carried out in Sri Lanka The Islamic State wants foreign players to carry out these attacks There are two reasons for this the official added There is hardly any information on foreign fighters Moreover it has also been noticed that the radicalisation of a foreign fighter is much higher when compared to an operative from IndiaThe Intelligence agencies say that while the aim is to strike big in India the other plan is to use this as a recruitment toolThe Islamic State has been pushing some of its India operatives to carry out strikes in India but they have failed many times Attacks by foreign operatives could set an example for the Indian operatives the Islamic State feelsSuch attacks could become a benchmark and the Indian operatives could inspiration from them and carry out strikes within the country an official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/islamic-state-planning-sri-lanka-style-attacks-in-india-using-foreign-operatives-673303.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-calls-sindh-govts-ban-on-aurat-march-state-fascism-against-balochistan-673309.html Quetta May 11 Human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC slammed Pakistanâs Sindh government for barring the organisation from participating in the Aurat March programme describing the move as âstate fascismâ against the people of Balochistan The rights body stated that declaring the BYC and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz JSQM as banned organisations in the conditional permit issued for the march on Sunday demonstrated the âextreme of state fascismRaising questions over the governmentâs actions the BYC asked under what law or judicial ruling it had been declared a banned organisation The rights body asserted that no Pakistani court has banned the BYC arguing that it remains a peaceful political organisation with no legal basis for such a banHighlighting its role as a democratic public movement against âhuman rights abuses enforced disappearances extrajudicial measures and Baloch genocideâ in Balochistan the BYC said For the past year the state has been continuously attempting to crush this public movement through the use of violenceââThroughout this entire yearlong period the state has failed to present even a single legal piece of evidence against the BYC nor does the state possess any political or legal argument against the BYC therefore the state is resorting to the unrestrained use of force against the BYCâ it addedThe BYC alleged that its leaders have been illegally and unconstitutionallyâ detained for extended periods It further stated that despite facing bailable charges these leaders are being denied their fundamental right to bailAdditionally the BYC claimed that Pakistanâs antiterrorism laws are being weaponised against thousands of Baloch political activistsLegislation such as the AntiTerrorism Act ATA and the Fourth Schedule which were enacted to curb terrorism it said are being used by Pakistani authorities against peaceful political activists students and individuals advocating for human rightsâIn this context the imposition of such conditions by the Sindh government on the Aurat Marchâconditions that single out and declare the BYC as bannedâis an utterly shameful and condemnable act All these facts clearly demonstrate that the state is using law and force as weapons against the Baloch people in order to silence the Baloch voice against the wall in every possible wayâ the rights body stressedThe BYC reiterated its resolve to continue exposing the ongoing âhuman rights violations enforced disappearances political vendettas and state oppressionâ in Balochistan before the worldIt called on the human rights organisations worldwide womens movements democratic forces and justiceloving people to stand in solidarity with the BYC and the âpeaceful struggleâ of the people in Balochistan against Pakistans oppression IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-calls-sindh-govts-ban-on-aurat-march-state-fascism-against-balochistan-673309.html Mon, 11 May 2026 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-measles-outbreak-death-toll-climbs-to-409-after-11-more-fatalities-673312.html Dhaka May 11 At least 11 people have died from measles and measleslike symptoms in Bangladesh taking the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths linked to the outbreak to 409 according to local media reports According to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to SundayThe DGHS said that four people died from confirmed measles taking the overall confirmed deaths since March 15 to 65 while seven additional deaths linked to suspected cases were recorded bringing the total suspected deaths to 344 Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reportedDuring the same 24hour period 1503 suspected measles patients were recorded taking the overall tally since March 15 to 49159 Among these 205 were confirmed measles cases pushing the total confirmed cases to 6819Reports suggest that since March 15 hospitals have admitted 34909 patients with measles symptomsAs measles has killed more than 400 individuals since midMarch across Bangladesh a report described the outbreak as an avoidable disaster and called for accountability from the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus who dismantled a functional vaccine procurement system without the capacity to rebuild itâThe countryâs measles vaccination coverage rose steadily for two decades becoming an international model for lowincome countries That record has now been squandered with shocking negligence by the past interim governmentâ an editorial report in The Daily Star statedAccording to the report Bangladeshs Health Population and Nutrition Sector Programmeâwhich had been in place since 1998âwas scrapped in March 2025 without an adequate exit strategyIt stated that the stalled vaccine procurement dwindling medicine supplies to more than 14000 community clinics and exhausted buffer stocks during the tenure of the interim government had worsened the situationSlamming the interim governmentâs actions the report said âThe lack of accountability warrants a probe committeeâone with the authority to establish individual responsibility The deaths of children are tragic Those who dismantled this programme must answer for each of these deathsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-measles-outbreak-death-toll-climbs-to-409-after-11-more-fatalities-673312.html Mon, 11 May 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-restrictions-on-aurat-march-demonstrates-governments-double-standards-673318.html Islamabad May 11 The 28point restrictions imposed on Aurat March Karachi by the government of Sindh province in Pakistan showcases distressing example of familiar double standards as women who are celebrated during speeches and choreographed events are labelled as threats by the state when they start demanding their rights local media has highlighted An editorial in leading Pakistani daily Dawn stated that the organisers had requested authorities to allow them to hold a march peacefully for womens rights However they received a document dripping with authoritarian anxiety The message from the authorities could not have been clearer women can gather but only if they remain harmless politically it mentionedRather than facilitating peaceful assembly the administration chose to police slogans speech and even clothing The vague and sweeping conditions betray insecurity Why does a march calling attention to gender violence and economic inequality provoke such discomfort in official circles Why are women demanding bodily autonomy and constitutional rights treated as a threat Secure governments do not fear placards nor do they attempt to dictate what citizens may wear while exercising their rights the newspaper opinedAccording to the daily a majority of perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan are men Women face harassment on roads workplaces and homes and are subjected to honour killings domestic abuse forced marriages and institutional discrimination However authorities instead of dealing with the structures that allow such violence regulate women The state seem unable to tolerate women who speak their mind without bureaucratic approvalJust consider in 2026 women in Pakistan must still seek permission to demand dignity while the state reserves the right to determine how loudly how politically and even how appropriately dressed they may be while doing so We have miles to go before we can claim to be a progressive society it mentionedOn May 5 the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP had condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers and volunteers outside the Karachi Press Club where they had gathered to hold a press conferenceThe rights body stated that preventing people from holding press conference showcases an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is considered a threat instead of a democratic necessity leading Pakistani news network Geo News reportedThe HRCPs statement came after police briefly arrested several Aurat March leaders including activist and artist artist Sheema Kermani outside the Karachi Press ClubHRCP strongly condemns the arrest of several organisers and volunteers of Aurat March from outside the Karachi Press Club where they were scheduled to address a press conference This incident is not isolated overreach but rather part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern the systematic denial of public space to citizens seeking to articulate their rights HRCP posted on XThe rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are constitutionally guaranteed Preventing citizens particularly women and marginalised groups from even convening a press conference reflects an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is treated as a threat rather than a democratic necessity it addedThe organisers of the press conference said that the detained people included Kermani transgender activist Shehzadi Rai Muniza and others IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-restrictions-on-aurat-march-demonstrates-governments-double-standards-673318.html Mon, 11 May 2026 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-karachi-witnesses-alarming-rise-in-domestic-violence-harassment-cases-673334.html Islamabad May 11 At least 388 adults and 10 minors faced domestic violence harassment abuse and related crimes in Pakistans Karachi from JanuaryApril this year according to the latest statistics revealed by the Police Women and Child Protection Cell The report showcases how abuse unfolded behind closed doors in Karachi with domestic violence being the most widely reported issue Authorities have received 297 complaints about domestic abuse from JanuaryApril Among these 190 complaints were resolved while nearly 100 cases remain pending demonstrating delays in providing relief to victims The Express Tribune reported Police lodged three formal cases in domestic violence incidentsKarachi has been witnessing rise in harassment cases The protection cell received 83 complaints related to harassment and intimidation Among these complaints 42 were resolved while action on 41 complaints is still being taken Officials said that one formal case was lodged in a case involving harassmentFurthermore the cell received 19 complaints related to sexual assault and other forms of intimidation Among these nine complaints were resolved while 10 cases are still pending investigation and legal action The Express Tribune reportedA report recently detailed that human rights abuses have increased in Pakistan particularly for the most vulnerable groups Women experience the most severe consequences of Pakistans structural inequalities in the form of a femicide crisisGenderbased violence including acid attacks forced and child marriage rape trafficking forced conversion and domestic abuse remain widespread in Pakistan Hundreds of women are killed each year in socalled honour killings often by relatives over perceived family shameAt least 405 cases were reported in 2024 however the real figures are likely more due to low reporting and weak and inconsistent enforcement according to a report in Genocide Watch More than 2000 domestic violence cases and 5000 accounts of rape were recorded in 2024 demonstrating Pakistanâs status as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for womenAccording to a 2025 United Nations report two out of every three Pakistani women are not given reproductive autonomy and they face abuse and pressure about their reproductive health In September the Lahore High Court ruled that marriages after puberty are valid under Islamic law as girl marriage remains widespread in Pakistan with millions married under the age of 18 years according to the report in Genocide WatchPakistan was ranked at the last spot in the World Economic Forumâs Global Gender Gap Index and it faces an education crisis with over 21 million children reportedly out of school due to poverty social pressures child labour and discrimination IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-karachi-witnesses-alarming-rise-in-domestic-violence-harassment-cases-673334.html Mon, 11 May 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-ukraine-accuse-each-other-of-violating-3-day-ceasefire-673232.html MoscowKyiv May 10 Russia and Ukraine on Sunday accused each other of violating a declared threeday ceasefire The Russian Defence Ministry said Sunday that Ukrainian forces committed 16071 violations of the ceasefire regime in the past 24 hours Xinhua news agency reportedRussian forces responded to the ceasefire violations in kind launching retaliatory strikes against multiple launch rocket system artillery and mortar positions as well as command posts and drone launch sites the ministry saidOn Saturday the ministry also reported 8970 ceasefire violations in multiple regionsUkrainian authorities said Sunday that at least one person was killed and 15 others were injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine despite the ceasefireThe General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 60 times on SundayRussia and Ukraine on Friday agreed to a threeday ceasefire from Saturday to Monday during the Victory Day celebrationsEarlier this month the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on that Russia declares a ceasefire from midnight on May 8 until May 10 in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine reported local mediaThis ceasefire is during the celebrations of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet peoples victory in World War IIIn accordance with the decision of the President of the Russian Federation Supreme CommanderinChief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet peoples victory in the Great Patriotic War from midnight on May 8 to May 10 the Russian side is declaring a ceasefire the Ministry said reported the State owned Russian news agency TASSEarlier on May 4 speaking at the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said referring to Russiaâs Victory Parade on May 9 without any defence equipment âIf that happens it will be the first time in many many years They cannot afford military equipment â and they fear drones may buzz over Red Squareâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-ukraine-accuse-each-other-of-violating-3-day-ceasefire-673232.html Mon, 11 May 2026 07:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-visit-china-amid-trade-push-673233.html Washington May 11 US President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing this week for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on trade investment Iran Taiwan artificial intelligence and security concerns the White House said Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told reporters that Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening He will attend a welcome ceremony and hold a bilateral meeting with Xi on Thursday morningThat afternoon the two leaders will tour the Temple of Heaven Trump will attend a state banquet that evening On Friday he will join Xi for a bilateral tea and working lunch before leaving ChinaâThis will be a visit of tremendous symbolic significanceâ Kelly said âBut of course President Trump never travels for symbolism aloneâShe said the talks would seek to âfurther rebalance trade with Chinaâ and put âAmerican workers farmers and families firstâKelly said the agenda includes work on a USChina Board of Trade and a USChina Board of Investment The Board of Trade would cover governmenttogovernment management of trade in nonsensitive goods The investment board would be a forum to discuss investmentrelated issuesThe two sides are also expected to discuss possible agreements in aerospace agriculture and energyA senior US official said the potential Board of Trade could cover âdouble digit billionsâ in trade The official said Washington and Beijing have discussed possible purchase commitments including agricultural goods and aircraftâThereâs not a proposal out there for some massive investmentâ the official said rejecting reports of a major Chinese investment planOn Iran a senior US official said Trump has spoken with Xi several times about Chinaâs role including âthe revenue that China providesâ to Iran and Russia and concerns over dualuse goods components and partsThe official said Trump was expected to press Xi again on IranâI would expect the President to apply pressureâ the official saidOfficials also said the two leaders may discuss artificial intelligence One senior official said AI is âa rapidly evolving sectorâ and that the United States has security concernsAnother official said Washington wants to explore whether a communication channel on AI matters should be establishedOn Taiwan a senior US official said there has been âno change of US policyâ and no change is expected The official later said the administration has approved âsignificantly moreâ arms sales to Taiwan in its first year than the previous administration did in four yearsThe official also said Washington was disappointed that parts of Taiwanâs defence funding package were left out and wanted the rest fundedThe visit comes as Washington and Beijing continue to manage a tense relationship shaped by trade technology controls Taiwan cyber activity and Chinaâs ties with Russia and Iran IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-visit-china-amid-trade-push-673233.html Mon, 11 May 2026 08:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/british-passengers-from-hantavirus-cruise-ship-isolated-673234.html London May 11 Twenty British nationals evacuated from the hantavirusaffected cruise ship MV Hondius were isolated in a northwest England hospital upon their return as authorities stepped up outbreak containment and monitoring The passengers landed in Manchester earlier in the day before being transferred by bus to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral Merseyside where they will remain under medical observation for 72 hours Xinhua news agency reportedIn a joint statement local National Health Service NHS authorities said the group would stay in a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing If they remain symptomfree they will later be allowed to return home and continue selfisolation for a further 42 daysThe British government said all passengers and crew members returning from the MV Hondius would undergo a total of 45 days of isolation and monitoring Followup work is also underway for individuals who may have been in contact with confirmed or suspected casesThe emergency measures follow a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius which has resulted in at least eight confirmed or suspected cases and three reported deathsAs part of the broader response to the outbreak the British government also deployed a specialist military and medical team to Tristan da Cunha a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic after a British national on the island tested positive for hantavirusAccording to the British Ministry of Defence six paratroopers and two military clinicians from 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto the island while oxygen supplies and medical equipment were airdropped simultaneouslyTristan da Cunha a volcanic island group with a population of 221 people is regarded as Britains most remote inhabited overseas territory The islands have no airstrip and are normally accessible only by seaThe Defence Ministry described the mission as the first time the British military had deployed medical personnel via parachute to provide humanitarian assistanceThe British government said the risk to the general public remained very low IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/british-passengers-from-hantavirus-cruise-ship-isolated-673234.html Mon, 11 May 2026 08:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-flags-hantavirus-danger-amid-cruise-ship-outbreak-673235.html Seoul May 11 North Korea has raised the alarm over the danger posed by the Hantavirus after an outbreak on a foreign cruise ship has killed three passengers echoing its response to the COVID19 pandemic years earlier The Rodong Simnum the ruling Workers Partys official newspaper reported Monday on the outbreak of the Andes strain of the virus on a ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean describing it as raising concerns from the international communityThe US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 3 emergency response over the outbreak activating its emergency operations center it addedThe paper urged the public to minimize contact with infected rodents maintain cleanliness at home and in the workplace and practice good personal hygiene to reduce the risk of infectionThe report followed an earlier dispatch Friday when it covered the first fatality aboard the MV Hondius which had departed from ArgentinaThe coverage appears intended to alert the public to the potential risk of the virus reaching the country It echoed Pyongyangs response to COVID19 when it sealed its borders for years to halt the spread of the virus Yonhap news agency reportedAt that time the shutdown effectively halted economic exchanges with its key trading partners China and Russia and is believed to have caused significant economic damageMeanwhile the Embassy of India in Madrid Spain stated on Sunday that two Indians who were aboard the Hantavirushit cruise ship are safe and asymptomaticThe Dutchflagged vessel MV Hondius with around 150 individuals including two Indian nationals arrived in Spain on SundayIn the context of the Hantavirus outbreak the ship anchored off the coast of the Canary Islands of Spain The passengers onboard disembarked from the ship in accordance with the protocol established by the WHO and the Spanish authorities stated the EmbassyThe two Indian nationals are healthy and asymptomatic As informed by the Spanish National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination CENEM the two Indian nationals who were travelling as crew members have been evacuated to the Netherlands where they will be quarantined as per relevant health safety protocol the embassy notedThe Embassy also highlighted that the Ambassador is in close contact with the Spanish authorities and the two Indian nationals crew members and is regularly monitoring the situation to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the Indian nationals IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-flags-hantavirus-danger-amid-cruise-ship-outbreak-673235.html Mon, 11 May 2026 08:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-thai-pm-thaksin-released-on-parole-673236.html Bangkok May 11 Thailands convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from Bangkoks Klong Prem Central Prison on Monday after being allowed to complete the remaining four months of his oneyear sentence on parole Thaksin made a public appearance at around 740 am local time reuniting with family members in front of the prison where he had served twothirds of his sentence required by standard parole criteria Xinhua news agency reportedHe and his family paid tribute to the Thai flag expressed gratitude to the supporters and then left by car at around 755 am local timeAs he departed to report to a Bangkok probation office crowds of supporters wearing red shirts greeted the former prime minister as they gathered outside the prison compound under tight police securityAccording to the Department of Corrections Thaksin was among over 850 inmates granted early release at a parole committee meeting last month citing his age of over 70 and the fact that he had less than a year of jail time left to justify the eligibilityThe department has said that he must comply with strict probation conditions including wearing an electronic monitoring device accepting parole supervision reporting to the regulatory authorities on time and not leaving the country until his oneyear sentence formally concludes on September 9The Parole Committee under the Ministry of Justice of Thailand held a meeting on April 29 and decided to allow Thaksin to be released on parole on May 11Thaksin now 76 years old served twice as prime minister of the Southeast Asian nation winning elections in 2001 and 2005 A military coup in 2006 cut short his second term and he went into selfimposed exile in 2008Upon returning to Thailand in August 2023 he was taken into custody to serve eight years of imprisonment on three charges stemming from his time in officeAfter serving less than a day behind bars he was transferred from a Bangkok prison facility to a police hospital citing critical health concerns His sentence was subsequently commuted to one year following a royal pardon requestThaksin returned to prison on Sept 9 2025 after the Supreme Court ruled that his sixmonth hospital detention was unlawfully allowed and did not count toward time servedThe former prime minister remains embroiled in a separate royal defamation case after the attorney general filed an appeal against a lower courts decision to acquit him over remarks he made in a 2015 interview with foreign media IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/former-thai-pm-thaksin-released-on-parole-673236.html Mon, 11 May 2026 08:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/german-passengers-evacuated-from-hantavirus-hit-cruise-ship-673237.html Berlin May 11 Four German passengers have been evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius following a Hantavirus outbreak said German public broadcaster ARD on its news website Tagesschau Monday After landing in Eindhoven the Netherlands on Sunday evening they were met by specialists before being transported to Frankfurt Xinhua news agency reportedUpon arrival the passengers will return to their respective home states for quarantine said the report One passenger is scheduled to be admitted to the Charite hospital in BerlinApart from the four passengers a 65yearold German woman has already been admitted to a hospital in Duesseldorf Authorities said she had close contact with another passenger who died on board from the virus but so far no signs of infection have been detectedAccording to the report none of the returning passengers showed symptomsMeanwhile twenty British nationals evacuated from the hantavirusaffected cruise ship MV Hondius were isolated in a northwest England hospital upon their return as authorities stepped up outbreak containment and monitoringThe passengers landed in Manchester earlier in the day before being transferred by bus to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral Merseyside where they will remain under medical observation for 72 hoursIn a joint statement local National Health Service NHS authorities said the group would stay in a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing If they remain symptomfree they will later be allowed to return home and continue selfisolation for a further 42 daysThe British government said all passengers and crew members returning from the MV Hondius would undergo a total of 45 days of isolation and monitoring Followup work is also underway for individuals who may have been in contact with confirmed or suspected cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/german-passengers-evacuated-from-hantavirus-hit-cruise-ship-673237.html Mon, 11 May 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-marches-in-russias-victory-day-parade-in-show-of-military-bond-seoul-673238.html Seoul May 11 The South Koreas unification ministry said on Monday that North Koreas participation in Russias Victory Day parade was to display the two nations deepening military ties By marching in Russias Victory Day parade for the first time North Korea showed off its military ties with Russia Yoon Minho the ministrys spokesperson said at a regular briefingOn Saturday North Korean troops marched at Red Square in Moscow carrying their national flag alongside a banner marking Victory Day which commemorates the Soviet victory over Germany in World War IIThe Korean Peoples Army combined ground naval and air forces contingent joined in the Moscow Victory Day Parade the Korean Central News Agency KCNA reported Sunday adding that the march took place at Moscows invitationFollowing the parade Russian President Vladimir Putin met the contingent commander and expressed his gratitude the KCNA addedThe parade marked the first time North Korean troops have publicly marched on Russian soil in such a ceremony Yonhap news agency reportedPyongyang deployed around 15000 combat troops to support Russia in the war after North Korean leader Kim Jongun and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June 2024North Korean leader Kim Jongun sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Russias Victory Day celebration reaffirming Pyongyangs commitment to prioritising and deepening ties with Moscow state media reported SaturdayKim also extended his sincerest congratulations on the occasion of the 81st Victory Day and expressed satisfaction with the current brilliant history of independence dignity peace and prosperity shared by the two countries according to the Norths state media Korean Central News Agency KCNAReaffirming the stand of the government of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea DPRK to give top priority to and steadily develop the alliancelike comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries I affirm once again that we will always faithfully fulfil the obligations under the interstate treaty between the DPRK and Russia Kim said using the Norths official name IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-marches-in-russias-victory-day-parade-in-show-of-military-bond-seoul-673238.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-intensifies-intelligence-gathering-off-cuba-report-673257.html Washington May 11 US military intelligencegathering flights have increased off the coast of Cuba in recent months according to a media report published on Monday Since February 4 the US Navy and Air Force have conducted at least 25 flights mostly near Havana and Santiago de Cuba with some coming within 40 miles 64 km of the coast said the report analysing publicly available aviation data from FlightRadar24 a live flight trackerThe missions have predominantly involved P8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft designed for surveillance and reconnaissance while some have been conducted by other types of aircraft and drones specialising in signals intelligence gathering and highaltitude reconnaissance reports Xinhua news agency citing the CNN reportThe flights are unusual not only for their proximity to Cuban shores but also for their sudden frequency as such public activity had been rare in this region prior to FebruaryThe recent uptick in Cuba is new and deviates from where these aircraft have historically been deployed CNN said citing data aggregated by adsb exposedThe surge of flights came after US President Donald Trump ramped up rhetoric against the island nationIn January Trump reposted on Truth Social a comment by Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen which said the president would visit a free Havana before leaving office Just a few days after the post Trump ordered an oil blockade of CubaLast week the United States imposed new sanctions on key economic entities in Cuba including a CubanCanadian mining joint venture and a business conglomerate run by Cubas military insisting that they represent threats to US national security and foreign policyCNN noted that similar patterns have occurred in the leadup to US military operations in both Venezuela and Iran where escalated US rhetoric coincided with an uptick in publicly visible surveillance flightsThe Pentagon declined to comment on these findings it said adding that it has also reached out to the Cuban government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-intensifies-intelligence-gathering-off-cuba-report-673257.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-naval-destroyer-to-participate-in-fleet-review-international-field-training-in-us-673258.html WashingtonSeoul May 11 A South Korean naval destroyer will participate in a fleet review and multinational field exercise in the United States over the next two months the Navy said Monday The 4400ton ROKS Munmu the Great destroyer will leave a naval base on Jeju Island later in the day to take part in an international fleet review in New York scheduled for July 38 the Navy said in a releaseThe warship is among some 100 other naval vessels of around 50 countries participating in the fleet review including Canada Britain Japan and Spain reports Yonhap news agencyAhead of the fleet review the warship will take part in multinational field training at the end of next month It will be held on the east coast of Norfolk in Virginia home to a key US naval baseThe field exercise will be hosted by the US Second Fleet responsible for operations on the East Coast and in the North Atlantic OceanJoining the training will be about 30 naval vessels from 18 countries including Brazil France and BritainThe Munmu the Great named after a king of the Silla Kingdom 57 BC935 AD will also conduct promotional activities for South Korean naval ships and weapons systems at port calls in Mexico and ColombiaOn its way home the destroyer plans to make port calls in the Colombian city of Cartagena and San Diego in the US to carry out activities honouring veterans who fought alongside South Korea in the 195053 Korean WarMeanwhile the top defence chiefs of South Korea and the United States were set to hold talks in Washington on Monday focusing on advancing the transfer of wartime operational control OPCON from Washington to Seoul and Koreas push to acquire nuclearpowered submarines IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-naval-destroyer-to-participate-in-fleet-review-international-field-training-in-us-673258.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/asian-nations-launch-alliance-to-enhance-regional-collaboration-in-rare-disease-care-673259.html Kuala Lumpur May 11 The Human Genome Project II Rare Disease Alliance of the AsiaPacific Region HGP2 RaDiAnceAPAC was launched here on Sunday to advance regional collaboration in rare disease care The launch meeting brought together clinical experts researchers in genomics and representatives from public health and policy sectors from 10 APAC countries including Malaysia India Vietnam Thailand Indonesia Nepal China the Philippines Cambodia and Pakistan reports Xinhua news agencyThe alliance coinitiated by Chinas BGI Group and regional partners from across the AsiaPacific aims to strengthen regional collaboration in rare disease diagnosis research in genomics capacity building and public health response while addressing persistent gaps in diagnostic capacity uneven access to precision medicine and fragmented standards and experiencesharing across the AsiaPacific regionDuring the event alliance members signed the Joint Declaration of the HGP2 RaDiAnceAPAC Initiative reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing regional collaboration in rare disease careNor Fariza Binti Ngah deputy directorgeneral of health research and technical support at the Malaysian Ministry of Health said that stronger regional cooperation on rare diseases across the AsiaPacific is of great importanceZilfalil Bin Alwi professor of medical genetics and senior consultant paediatrician and clinical geneticist at Universiti Sains Malaysia said the diversity and inclusiveness of the alliance demonstrate the significance of the initiativeHou Yong general manager of BGI Genomics a subsidiary of BGI Group said that HGP2 RaDiAnceAPAC will help advance the standardisation intelligent transformation and equitable accessibility of rare disease diagnosis and treatment across the AsiaPacific regionThong Meow Keong professor at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and visiting consultant clinical geneticist at University Malaya Medical Centre said that the AsiaPacific region is currently advancing the HGP2 focusing on the development of rare disease diagnosis genetic technology and precision public healthWith millions of people worldwide affected by rare diseases he expressed his expectation that genetic technology and artificial intelligence will drive the transformation of healthcare systems in the field of rare diseases IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/asian-nations-launch-alliance-to-enhance-regional-collaboration-in-rare-disease-care-673259.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/defence-chiefs-of-south-korea-us-set-to-hold-talks-amid-opcon-transfer-push-hormuz-ship-issue-673260.html Washington May 11 The top defence chiefs of South Korea and the United States are set to hold talks in Washington on Monday focusing on advancing the transfer of wartime operational control OPCON from Washington to Seoul and Koreas push to acquire nuclearpowered submarines Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback will meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss followup steps on the OPCON transition and nuclearpowered submarines in line with the agreements reached between the leaders and at highlevel security talks last year Seoul officials saidThe upcoming talks also come a day after South Korea determined a strike by two unidentified flying objects was behind the May 4 explosion and fire on a South Koreanoperated cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz The issue could be raised in Mondays talks reports Yonhap news agencySouth Korea is seeking to retake wartime OPCON before the Lee Jae Myung governments fiveyear term ends in 2030 reportedly targeting 2028 for the transfer while US President Donald Trump is in officeHowever signs of differing views between the allies have emerged after US Forces Korea commander Gen Xavier Brunson told Congress last month that the two sides seek to meet conditions required for the transfer no later than the first quarter of 2029His proposed timeline suggests the OPCON transfer may not be ready even after Trumps term ends on January 20 2029South Korea handed over operational control of its forces to the USled UN Command during the 195053 Korean War It retook peacetime OPCON in 1994 but wartime operational command still remains in the US handsUnder a threephase framework conditions for the transfer include South Koreas capabilities to lead combined KoreaUS forces its strike and air defence capabilities and a regional security environment conducive to such a handoverIn last years annual Security Consultative Meeting Ahn and Hegseth agreed to develop a road map designed to expedite the implementation of conditions for the OPCON transfer and seek to certify the second part of the threestage programThe defence chiefs could also address Seouls findings on the ship blast as the suspected attack has raised the possibility that South Korea could reconsider its role in efforts to ease tensions in the Middle EastSeoul has shown reservations about Trumps calls for naval assistance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz The government has said it is reviewing a US proposal for an international coalition aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the shipping route dubbed the Maritime Freedom Construct MFCOn Sunday Seoul indicated pursuing all possible measures to prevent a recurrence of incidents like the case of the HMM Namu cargo ship and that it is closely reviewing participation in the MFCAt Mondays talks the two sides are also expected to discuss Seouls push to build nuclearpowered submarines amid little progress since Trump gave the green light to the move during his summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung in October last yearBefore departing for Washington on Sunday Ahn expressed confidence about making progress in talks on the strategic vessels He did not rule out an inaugural meeting on nuclearpowered submarines taking place before the end of the first half IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/defence-chiefs-of-south-korea-us-set-to-hold-talks-amid-opcon-transfer-push-hormuz-ship-issue-673260.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-american-tested-positive-for-hantavirus-673261.html Washington May 11 An American passenger from a hantavirushit Dutch cruise ship has tested positive for the virus and another has mild symptoms the US Department of Health and Human Services have announced All 17 American citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship are currently en route via an airlift to the United States with the two travelling in the planes biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution the department wrote in a post on the social platform XThe airlift will first take passengers to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center RESPTC at the University of Nebraska Medical CenterNebraska Medicine in Omaha Nebraska before transferring the passenger with mild symptoms to a second RESPTC at their final destination it saidUpon arrival at each facility each individual will undergo clinical assessment and receive appropriate care and support based on their condition the department said in the postAs of Saturday there were eight suspected cases associated with the outbreak and three deaths it saidThe incubation period for hantavirus from first exposure to symptoms is estimated at one to eight weeks according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports Xinhua news agency The disease is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases move from person to person and kills more than a third of people infectedMeanwhile in the United Kingdom 20 nationals evacuated from the hantavirusaffected cruise ship MV Hondius were isolated in a northwest England hospital upon their return on Sunday as authorities stepped up outbreak containment and monitoringThe passengers landed in Manchester earlier in the day before being transferred by bus to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral Merseyside where they will remain under medical observation for 72 hoursIn a joint statement local National Health Service NHS authorities said the group would stay in a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing If they remain symptomfree they will later be allowed to return home and continue selfisolation for a further 42 daysThe British government said all passengers and crew members returning from the MV Hondius would undergo a total of 45 days of isolation and monitoring Followup work is also underway for individuals who may have been in contact with confirmed or suspected casesThe emergency measures follow a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius which has resulted in at least eight confirmed or suspected cases and three reported deathsAs part of the broader response to the outbreak the British government also deployed a specialist military and medical team to Tristan da Cunha a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic after a British national on the island tested positive for hantavirusAccording to the British Ministry of Defence six paratroopers and two military clinicians from 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto the island while oxygen supplies and medical equipment were airdropped simultaneouslyTristan da Cunha a volcanic island group with a population of 221 people is regarded as Britains most remote inhabited overseas territory The islands have no airstrip and are normally accessible only by seaThe Defence Ministry described the mission as the first time the British military had deployed medical personnel via parachute to provide humanitarian assistanceThe British government said the risk to the general public remained very low IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-american-tested-positive-for-hantavirus-673261.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-military-patronises-extremism-terrorism-to-destabilise-neighbours-sindhi-leader-673278.html Berlin May 11 Shafi Burfat Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz JSMM accused the Pakistani military establishment of longstanding patronage of religious extremism and terrorism He stated that the continued domination of the military over Pakistans political economic ideological and social spheres poses a threat to democracy regional peace and longterm stability in South AsiaTaking to his social media platform X Burfat said By repeatedly overthrowing elected representatives hanging political leaders imprisoning and exiling dissenters and installing unelected puppet rulers the military has consistently remained the real power behind the state controlling politics media the judiciary and major sectors of the economyAs a result military chiefs have repeatedly attempted to portray themselves as victorious heroes through theatrical rhetoric militaristic speeches exaggerated displays of strength and fabricated ideological claims rooted in religious nationalism he addedSlamming the Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir Burfat said that Munirs emotionally charged extremist nationalist slogans nuclear threats and aggressive rhetoric against neighbouring countries do not reflect strategic confidence or the image of a responsible military leadershipHe said that such speeches expose the internal contradictions political weaknesses and deep insecurities of a militarised state structure that has long used fear artificial religious nationalism permanent conflict and ideological manipulation as a tool to sustain its dominanceDescribing Pakistan as an unnatural state structure the Sindhi leader alleged that the countrys corrupt military establishment has repeatedly undermined democratic processes by toppling elected representatives manipulating elections and suppressing dissentHe further claimed that the military controls key governmental and judicial decisionmaking intimidates journalists and intellectuals imprisons political opponents and maintains indirect rule through obedient political factions and controlled civilian governmentsThe international community is fully aware that democratic voices within Pakistan including journalists students intellectuals political activists and advocates of national rights continue to face censorship imprisonment enforced disappearances torture political intimidation and restrictions on freedom of expression under the constant pressure of state agencies Burfat stressedHe said that the corrupt Pakistani military continues to violate constitutional norms through puppet rulers leaving the indigenous communities marginalised and subordinated while courts media institutions and elected representatives remain under the shadow of military supremacyHistorical evidence on a massive scale demonstrates that Pakistans military establishment has not only patronised extremist and terrorist groups but has repeatedly used them as instruments of regional destabilisation against neighbouring countries Burfat highlightedThe Sindhi leader called on the international community and defenders of international law to take serious notice of the irresponsible statements hostile language and dangerous intentions expressed by Pakistani military leadershipBurfat also urged them to recognise the violation of human rights and the threat to the national identity of what he described as oppressed historical nations inside Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-military-patronises-extremism-terrorism-to-destabilise-neighbours-sindhi-leader-673278.html Mon, 11 May 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/strengthen-smes-ecosystem-boost-farming-sector-eam-jaishankar-as-india-hands-over-agro-facility-in-trinidad-amp-tobago-673100.html Port of Spain May 10 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar has jointly handed over an agroprocessing facility in Trinidad and Tobago along with the Caribbean nations Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar EAM Jaishankar said on Saturday that the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2025 during his visit is being delivered nowThis project will strengthen Trinidad and Tobagos Small and Medium Enterprises SMEs ecosystem and provide fresh impetus to its farming sector the EAM wrote on social media platform XEarlier on Saturday EAM Jaishankar joined Trinidad and Tobagos Prime Minister for a Quick Impact Project QIP on Nelson Island where the first Indians arrived in island nationSupported by Indian assistance this will preserve and showcase the shared heritage of an enduring journey he said on X regarding the QIPOn Friday Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament that India has honoured and delivered on its commitments to the Caribbean nation the Trinidad Express Newspaper reportedShe also mentioned that 800 citizens benefited from the prosthetic limb initiative supported by India and mentioned that Trinidad and Tobago will receive 20 hemodialysis units and two sea ambulances from India to strengthen healthcare delivery and emergency medical response the report notedThe EAM also joined Prime Minister PersadBissessar at the presentation ceremony of Made in India laptops for school children in Trinidad and TobagoReferring to Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs earlier commitment EAM Jaishankar said Joined PM Kamla PersadBissessar at the presentation of Made In India laptops to Trinbagonian schoolchildren Delivering on PM Narendra Modis commitment last year this is a message of learning awareness and opportunitySpeaking at the flagraising ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs the EAM underlined the historic relationship between the two countriesS Jaishankar said India had traditionally had very warm and friendly relations with Trinidad and Tobago and these ties have been shaped by shared history a struggle against colonialism and a very special bond of cricket People of the two countries share a lot in commonHe also announced the conclusion of several agreements during the visitIn another X post the EAM said Concluded Agreements today on Tourism on Solarisation of Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs building on Quick Impact Projects and on establishing Ayurveda Chair IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/strengthen-smes-ecosystem-boost-farming-sector-eam-jaishankar-as-india-hands-over-agro-facility-in-trinidad-amp-tobago-673100.html Sun, 10 May 2026 08:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/who-calls-everyone-aboard-hantavirus-hit-ship-high-risk-contacts-673102.html Geneva May 10 The World Health Organization WHO said that all people aboard a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak should be considered highrisk contacts and actively monitored for 42 days We classify everybody on board as what we call a highrisk contact Maria Van Kerkhove WHOs director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention told a media briefing She noted that currently nobody on board has any symptoms but recommended active monitoring and followup of all the passengers and crew who disembark for a 42day periodHowever she stressed that the risk to the public and people in the Canary Islands where the MV Hondius is expected to dock on Sunday remains lowAccording to a WHO Disease Outbreak News update on Saturday severe respiratory illness was first reported on the cruise ship on 2 May At the time there were 147 passengers and crew members onboard while 34 others had already disembarked All WHOs contact points in concerned countries have been informed and are supporting international contact tracing Xinhua news agency reportedAs of May 8 eight symptomatic cases have been reported including three deaths Six cases are laboratoryconfirmed as Andes virus ANDV hantavirus infectionsThe WHO urged the countries involved to continue public health coordination including contact tracing case management infection prevention and transparent communicationEarly symptoms of hantavirus infection include headache dizziness chills fever myalgia and gastrointestinal problems such as nausea vomiting diarrhoea and abdominal pain according to the WHOGiven that presymptomatic transmission in past ADNV outbreaks cannot be entirely ruled out WHO also recommends selfmonitoring medical evaluation and maskwearing for lowrisk contacts if symptoms occur IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/who-calls-everyone-aboard-hantavirus-hit-ship-high-risk-contacts-673102.html Sun, 10 May 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-considering-troop-relocation-from-italy-media-673105.html Rome May 10 US President Donald Trump told Italian media that he is still considering relocating troops from bases in Italy adding that Italy was not there when we needed it local media reported Trump made the remarks in a phone interview during which he refused to comment on Irans response to a US peace proposal which had been expected on Friday according to the report by local newspaper Corriere della SeraOn Friday US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who was visiting Rome said Iran was expected to respond later in the day to Washingtons proposal on resolving their ongoing conflict Xinhua news agency reportedIn response to Trumps remarks about troop relocation Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he cannot understand the reasoning behind that He noted that Italy is working with countries in a coalition to prepare a mission in the Strait of Hormuz focused on mine clearance and the protection of maritime navigationItalys ANSA news agency reported on May 1 that Trump said he may reduce US military presence in Spain and Italy slamming European allies for not helping in the USIsraeli war against IranData from the US Department of Defence shows that as of the end of 2025 around 12700 activeduty US troops are permanently stationed in Italy making it the secondlargest US military presence in Europe after GermanyEarlier in May Trump had said the United States will reduce its troop presence in Germany beyond earlier expectations âWeâre gonna cut way down and weâre cutting a lot further than 5000â he saidHe also criticised congressional scrutiny of military actions saying it weakens negotiations He said such moves are âhurting our negotiating ability which is infinite right nowâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-considering-troop-relocation-from-italy-media-673105.html Sun, 10 May 2026 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-welcomes-ceasefire-exchange-of-prisoners-between-ukraine-russia-673106.html United Nations May 10 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres welcomes a threeday ceasefire and a planned exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia his spokesperson said The SecretaryGeneral reiterates his call for an immediate full unconditional and lasting ceasefire as a first step toward a just sustainable and comprehensive peace in line with the UN Charter international law and relevant UN resolutions Guterres spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statementRussia and Ukraine on Friday agreed to a ceasefire from Saturday to Monday and a thousandforthousand prisoner exchange Xinhua news agency reportedMeanwhile US President Donald Trump announced that a threeday ceasefire has been agreed between Russia and Ukraine describing it as a possible step toward ending the longrunning warâI am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE May 9th 10th and 11th in the War between Russia and Ukraineâ Trump said in a statementHe said the ceasefire would coincide with Russiaâs Victory Day commemorations and noted Ukraineâs role in World War II âThe Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but likewise in Ukraine because they were also a big part and factor of World War IIâ he saidAccording to Trump the agreement includes a halt to active combat operations âThis Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activityâ he saidHe added that both sides have also agreed to a large prisoner exchange âAnd also a prison swap of 1000 prisoners from each Countryâ Trump saidThe US President said the initiative was driven directly by him âThis request was made directly by meâ he said expressing appreciation to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for agreeing to the terms IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-welcomes-ceasefire-exchange-of-prisoners-between-ukraine-russia-673106.html Sun, 10 May 2026 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-concludes-trinidad-and-tobago-visit-highlights-ties-with-indo-trinidadian-community-673108.html New DelhiPort of Spain May 10 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday concluded his visit to Trinidad and Tobago with an interaction with the Indian community underscoring Indiaâs deep historical and cultural bonds with the IndoTrinidadian population and reaffirming New Delhiâs commitment to strengthening bilateral ties In a post on social media platform X Jaishankar said âConcluded my visit with an interaction with the Indian community Underlined the special bonds with the Girmitya community and discussed nurturing it further Spoke about India as a reliable and trusted partner responsive to the needs and aspirations of Trinidad and TobagoâDuring the visit the External Affairs Minister also addressed a gathering at the historic Nelson Island where the first Indian indentured labourers popularly known as Girmitiyas arrived in the Caribbean nation nearly two centuries ago He attended the event along with Kamla PersadBissessar highlighting the shared heritage and enduring peopletopeople ties between the two countriesJaishankar also visited the renowned Dattatreya Mandir one of the most prominent Hindu temples in the Caribbean Sharing details of the visit on X he wrote âBlessed to visit the Dattatreya Mandir in Trinidad and Tobago this evening Prayed for the wellbeing of our people and the continued strengthening of IndiaTrinidad and Tobago relationsâEarlier the minister described the country as a âhome away from homeâ while interacting with members of the IndoTrinidadian community in South TrinidadââHome away from homeâ A real pleasure to be among the IndoTrinbagonian community in South Trinidad The kinship was expressed in so many ways And the affection in even more Thank PM Kamla for the experienceâ he postedIn another major development during the visit Jaishankar and Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar jointly launched a permanent Prosthetics Centre in Penal Trinidad and Tobago following the success of Indiaâs Jaipur Foot camp that benefited more than 800 differentlyabled individualsCalling it a âpeoplecentric projectâ Jaishankar said the centre would serve as âa gift of mobility and dignity for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider CARICOM regionâThe External Affairs Minister arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday marking the final leg of his threenation official tour of the Caribbean after visits to Jamaica and Suriname IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-concludes-trinidad-and-tobago-visit-highlights-ties-with-indo-trinidadian-community-673108.html Sun, 10 May 2026 08:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/belarus-commemorates-81st-anniversary-of-victory-in-great-patriotic-war-673122.html Minsk May 10 Cities and towns across Belarus held solemn ceremonies exhibitions and cultural events to mark the 81st anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War On Saturday local time in the capital Minsk thousands of residents veterans students and public officials gathered at Victory Square to lay flowers at the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of the Motherland and the Eternal Flame honouring those who lost their lives in the fight against fascismOutside the capital the Glory Hill memorial complex hosted an exhibition of authentic wartime artefacts offering visitors a tangible connection to the struggles and sacrifices during the war reports Xinhua news agencyIn Mogilev a city in eastern Belarus high school students participated in a Victory Waltz dance event using body language to express reverence for fallen soldiers and celebrate the restoration of peaceThe city of Gomel marked the anniversary with a military parade on Lenin Square paying tribute to the soldiers who fought for Belaruss liberation and freedom during World War IIBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in his Victory Day address emphasised that May 9 1945 remains a sacred date for every BelarusianHe underscored Belarus responsibility to safeguard global peace warning against the resurgence of aggression and the dangers of historical amnesia He called on all nations to choose dialogue over confrontation development over destruction and to preserve the legacy of victory for future generations Russia too marked the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory in the Great Patriotic War The slogan No one is forgotten nothing is forgotten was displayed prominently throughout Moscow underscoring the enduring significance of Victory Day in the national memoryWhite blue and red banners emblazoned with the word Victory lined the capitals avenues and squares while commemorative decorations transformed the Hero City into a vast tribute to the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany in World War IIOn Saturday morning a grand military parade was held on Moscows iconic Red Square to honour the wartime victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/belarus-commemorates-81st-anniversary-of-victory-in-great-patriotic-war-673122.html Sun, 10 May 2026 10:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/people-of-finland-support-eu-reducing-economic-and-technological-dependency-on-china-us-673194.html Helsinki May 10 People in Finland have expressed support for European Union lowering its economic and technological dependency on the US and China a new survey has revealed According to a survey published by the two thinktanks the statesupported Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum Eva 77 per cent of respondents said that Europe must reduce its technological and economic reliance on the US even if it impacts bilateral ties However nine per cent of respondents were against it Finlandbased Yle reportedIn a statement the researchers said This is not direct antiAmericanism Finns seem to distinguish between security cooperation and economic and technological dependenceNearly threequarters of respondents back tighter restrictions on energy networks ports and other strategic assets for security reasons The same number of respondents stated that European firms should be supported in public procurement even if that means higher prices Nearly three out of four respondents express support for developing partnerships with emerging economies like India Brazil or Vietnam to reduce dependence on ChinaThe majority of respondents said security should be given more priority than climate goals when required Nearly twothirds back reducing Europes technological dependence on China like batteries and electric cars even if that would slow climate actionAsked about the issues that the EU should emphasise more in the future selfsufficiency and security were ranked highly by the respondents Yle reportedAs many as 65 per cent of the respondents said more emphasis should be given to common defence while 44 per cent said that the focus should be more on the fight against climate changeThe survey was conducted by Taloustutkimus in March and responses were taken from more than 2000 adults in mainland Finland and 34 invited EU experts It stated that the margin of error is 2â3 percentage points in either direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/people-of-finland-support-eu-reducing-economic-and-technological-dependency-on-china-us-673194.html Sun, 10 May 2026 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-transporters-hold-protest-against-hike-in-prices-of-petroleum-products-673195.html Islamabad May 10 Transporters in Pakistans Peshawar and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province held protests against a hike in prices of petroleum products local media reported on Sunday Dozens of transport operators gathered at the Hajji Camp Terminal in Peshawar on Saturday and demanded an immediate reduction in prices of petrol and diesel The Express Tribune reportedWhile addressing the protesters transport leader Zubair Ahmed Qureshi said that the prices of petroleum are increasing while CNG is unavailableEid is approaching but hyperinflation has made shopping impossible Unemployment had already broken the poor This is a great oppression on the lowincome class Flour is now beyond the common mans reach More inflation means burying people aliveThe protest was held as their transporters have increased fares for the fifth time within a single month after the latest fuel adjustment Fares of AC vehicles have witnessed a steep rise while the fares of nonAC buses have increased by five per cent as per the reportFares have increased from Pakistani Rupees PKR 50500 for travelling from Peshawar to Nowshera Mardan Abbottabad Haripur Swat and Malakand Passengers who have to travel to Rawalpindi and Lahore have to now pay up to PKR 3000 more City buses in Peshawar have increased minimum fares from PKR 10 to 30 while goods transport vehicles have also increased pricesOn April 30 the Pakistan government raised the price of highspeed diesel HSD by Pakistani Rupees PKR 1939 per litre and the price of petrol by PKR 651 per litre for one weekAs per the notification issued by Pakistans Petroleum Division the price of HSD has been increased from PKR 38019 to PKR 39958 while petrol will be sold at 39986 per litre compared to the previous rate of Rs 39335 at PKR 39335 The Express Tribune reportedHighspeed diesel is used in the transport and agriculture sectors As the sowing season is underway the sharp rise in its price is expected to impact the agriculture sector Fertiliser prices have increased due to a hike in transportation costs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-transporters-hold-protest-against-hike-in-prices-of-petroleum-products-673195.html Sun, 10 May 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-australia-deepen-maritime-defence-cooperation-report-673205.html New Delhi May 10 Australia and India have reaffirmed their rapidly expanding strategic and defence partnership with both countries committing to deeper military cooperation enhanced maritime security coordination and stronger defence industry engagement according to a report The report by âThe Australia Todayâ stated that the two countries reviewed the progress of bilateral defence ties during the 10th Defence Policy Talks held in New Delhi on May 8The discussions were led by Joint Secretary International Cooperation in the Defence Ministry Amitabh Prasad and Australiaâs First Assistant Secretary for International Policy Bernard PhilipAccording to The Australia Today report the meeting reviewed developments under the IndiaAustralia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as both nations seek to strengthen defence and security coordination in the IndoPacific regionOfficials from both countries welcomed the expansion of bilateral defence cooperation including the establishment of the annual IndiaAustralia Defence Ministersâ Dialogue in 2025 the report said adding that the initiative reflected increasing trust and strategic alignment between Canberra and New DelhiThe report further noted that discussions focused on âenhancing interoperability across military domains increasing the scale and complexity of joint exercises and advancing maritime security cooperation amid growing regional strategic competitionâBoth sides also reviewed progress on commitments made during the 2024 IndiaAustralia Annual Leadersâ Summit including efforts to renew the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and formulate a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration RoadmapThe Australia Today reported that India and Australia confirmed plans to hold the first IndiaAustralia Joint Staff Talks later this year describing it as another significant step toward expanding institutional defence engagement between the two nationsTraining and officer exchange programmes also featured prominently during the talks The report highlighted initiatives such as the Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme and military academy exchanges between the Indian Military Academy and Australiaâs Royal Military College DuntroonOfficials said these initiatives were helping in building mutual trust peopletopeople links and shared strategic understanding according to the reportDefence industry cooperation emerged as another major area of focus The report pointed to several recent initiatives including the first IndiaAustralia Defence Industry Roundtable held in Sydney in 2025 Australiaâs first defence trade mission to India and a strategic defence industry roundtable conducted during the Raisina Dialogue earlier this yearThe developments come as India and Australia continue expanding collaboration across defence trade and regional security under their broader strategic partnership framework The Australia Today noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-australia-deepen-maritime-defence-cooperation-report-673205.html Sun, 10 May 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-why-mamata-banerjees-defeat-resonated-beyond-india--673218.html New Delhi May 10 There was something unusual about the reaction to the Assembly election results this time State elections in India routinely produce celebrations accusations posturing and political drama But the outcome in West Bengal travelled far beyond Indias borders From Dhaka to Washington the result triggered reactions rarely seen after a state poll in India That alone suggested that what happened in Bengal was not being viewed merely as a regional political shift It was being read as something larger a strategic and ideological development in one of Indias most sensitive border states And the international attention it attracted was equally strikingUS President Donald Trump congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on what the White House described as a historic and decisive mandate in West Bengal Several international publications portrayed the result as a breakthrough moment for PM Modi in a state that had remained politically resistant to the BJP for yearsThe obvious question is why did a state election command such extraordinary global attention Victories in Haryana Rajasthan or Chhattisgarh do not evoke reactions of this scale abroad West Bengal however occupies a different place in Indias political imagination Geography and demography make it uniquely sensitive Sharing a long and porous border with Bangladesh the state has for years remained central to debates around illegal infiltration border security and demographic changeFor years the BJP has argued that the Mamata Banerjee government looked the other way while infiltration from Bangladesh continued unchecked The allegations are not newIronically Mamata Banerjee herself once raised similar concerns In 2005 as a Lok Sabha member she had dramatically protested in Parliament over infiltration from Bangladesh calling it a disaster for the country On the streets of West Bengal too she repeatedly accused the then Left Front government of using illegal immigrants as a political vote bankBut politics often reshapes positions faster than circumstances change After coming to power in 2011 Mamata Banerjees stand appeared to undergo a sharp reversal The issue that once formed the centrepiece of her political attacks gradually disappeared from her rhetoric Instead she became one of the fiercest critics of attempts to identify or deport illegal immigrantsThe sharpest example came during the Assam NRC exercise in 2018 While the Supreme Courtmonitored process sought to identify illegal immigrants in Assam Mamata Banerjee openly attacked the exercise warning of civil war and bloodbath if the Centre continued with the policy This opposition was aimed at protecting a political support base shaped over years of unchecked migrationThe BJP repeatedly built its Bengal campaign around this accusation Union Home Minister Amit Shah while speaking in Parliament during the debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill in March 2025 directly accused the Trinamool Congress government of enabling illegal immigration by facilitating the issuance of Aadhaar cards and voter IDs He claimed that many Bangladeshis caught in different parts of the country possessed documents originating from West Bengals border districts including the 24 ParganasInfiltration has remained a contentious issue in Bengal for decades Border districts have witnessed demographic shifts significant enough to alter political calculations Security agencies have repeatedly flagged concerns about illegal crossborder networks The issue is no longer viewed merely through the lens of economics or welfare distribution it is increasingly tied to questions of national security and internal stabilityThe reactions emerging from Bangladesh after the election have only added to these anxieties While sections of Bangladeshs political establishment reportedly sent congratulatory messages to the BJP leadership some Islamist voices reacted sharply against the Bengal verdictOne JamaateIslami leader reportedly made inflammatory remarks calling for resistance against Delhi and spoke irresponsibly about Bengals separation from India Such statements may represent fringe rhetoric but they underline why political developments in West Bengal are being watched so closely beyond Indias borders In Pakistan discussions were held on the development with many describing Mamata Banerjees defeat as a setback for the Indian oppositionThe intensity of these reactions reveals something important Beyond Bengal Mamata Banerjee had increasingly come to be viewed by many political and ideological groups as one of the strongest leaders capable of taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi nationally Her politics often seen as centred around Muslim outreach had earned her support among sections that viewed the BJPs rise with concernThat is why her defeat generated unusually sharp reactions outside India as well While vested interests and ideological groups in neighbouring countries may interpret the result through their own political lens the verdict delivered by Bengals voters is clear and strongNow with the BJP forming the government in Bengal with a commanding mandate expectations will be enormous The party has promised a tougher stance on infiltration stronger border management expanded fencing and stricter enforcement against illegal residency networks Bengal has suffered enough through decades of political violence fear religious polarisation and uneven development This election was not merely a rejection of Mamata Banerjees 15year rule it was also an expression of exhaustion and aspirationThe people of Bengal have voted for security over violence and uncertainty development over appeasement and governance over perpetual conflict They want jobs for the youth better roads and infrastructure dignity in everyday life and the freedom to liveDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-why-mamata-banerjees-defeat-resonated-beyond-india--673218.html Sun, 10 May 2026 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-supply-chain-dominance-likely-to-be-hit-by-tech-leap-in-west-673223.html New Delhi May 10 China is currently leveraging its driven by its dominance in critical minerals inputs required for the production in sectors such as New Energy Vehicles NEV to gain a geopolitical advantage through its capability to disrupt global supply chains However according to an article in The Diplomat this advantage is likely to be overturned in the near future with the leap in new technology that is taking place in Western countries with companies such as US tech giant Tesla forging ahead with new battery technology and driverless vehiclesThe article states that the only major manufacturing sector in which China has a genuine prospect of leading and maintaining global competitiveness is the NEV industry Other sectors such as semiconductors or robotics hold significant prestige and offer some hope of achievement but Chinaâs offerings remain far behind the international standardHowever while Chinaâs NEV sector rises Western technological advancements are bringing in new upgrades that threaten to render existing NEV supply chains obsolete as per the articleIt highlights that new battery technologies will determine who commands the postupgrade future marketThere is also the competition over integrated manufacturing costs While Chinese manufacturing had previously secured a relative advantage this edge is constantly at risk of being blunted by electric carmaker Tesla which is using highdensity production lines to reduce costs which can potentially outcompete Chinese NEV manufacturing Besides Tesla has a big lead in driverless vehicle technology which will represent a revolutionary leap forward it saidThese three technological advancements are seen as having the potential to render Chinaâs current supply chain strategy ineffectiveBased on average industrial cycles we estimate a window of three to five years In other words Chinaâs current advantages within specific segments of the supply chain are likely to erode within that timeframe Unless China can consistently achieve meaningful breakthroughs in technological advancement the window of opportunity remains remarkably narrow the article observed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-supply-chain-dominance-likely-to-be-hit-by-tech-leap-in-west-673223.html Sun, 10 May 2026 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-announces-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-673046.html Washington May 9 US President Donald Trump said a threeday ceasefire has been agreed between Russia and Ukraine describing it as a possible step toward ending the longrunning war âI am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE May 9th 10th and 11th in the War between Russia and Ukraineâ Trump said in a statementHe said the ceasefire would coincide with Russiaâs Victory Day commemorations and noted Ukraineâs role in World War II âThe Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but likewise in Ukraine because they were also a big part and factor of World War IIâ he saidAccording to Trump the agreement includes a halt to active combat operations âThis Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activityâ he saidHe added that both sides have also agreed to a large prisoner exchange âAnd also a prison swap of 1000 prisoners from each Countryâ Trump saidThe US President said the initiative was driven directly by him âThis request was made directly by meâ he said expressing appreciation to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for agreeing to the termsâI very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyyâ Trump saidTrump framed the development as a potential turning point in the conflict which has continued for more than two years with heavy casualties and widespread destruction âHopefully it is the beginning of the end of a very long deadly and hard fought Warâ he saidHe also indicated that negotiations remain ongoing âTalks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict the biggest since World War II and we are getting closer and closer every dayâ Trump saidThe brief ceasefire if implemented would mark one of the most significant coordinated pauses in fighting since the conflict escalated Previous attempts at temporary truces have often been fragile and shortlivedThe announcement comes at a time when both sides have faced mounting pressure to explore diplomatic options even as fighting has continued across multiple frontsRussiaâs Victory Day on May 9 is one of its most important national events commemorating the Soviet Unionâs victory over Nazi Germany in World War II Ukraine also marks the legacy of the war though in recent years it has sought to distance itself from Sovietera symbolism IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-announces-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-673046.html Sat, 09 May 2026 09:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/qatar-pm-meets-us-vice-president-discusses-strategic-ties-regional-tensions-673047.html Washington May 9 Qatarâs Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim AlThani met US Vice President J D Vance in Washington The talks focused on strategic ties and regional tensions Both sides discussed âthe close strategic cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United States of Americaâ They also explored ways to strengthen cooperation âin various fieldsâ according to an official statementRegional issues were central to the meeting they said The two leaders reviewed âthe latest developments in the regionâ They also discussed âthe Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at deescalating tensions in a way that contributes to enhancing security and stability in the regionâAlThani urged wider support for diplomacy He âstressed the need for all parties to engage with the ongoing mediation effortsâ He said this would help âaddress the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogueâHe said such efforts should lead to âa comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the regionâQatar has played a mediating role in the region It works closely with the United States on diplomatic efforts The meeting reflects that ongoing coordinationThe United States has relied on regional partners such as Qatar to support diplomatic initiatives particularly in complex conflicts where direct engagement may be limitedQatar hosts a major US military base and has played a role in several highprofile negotiations in recent years Its approach has emphasised dialogue and engagement as a means to address conflicts and prevent further instability IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/qatar-pm-meets-us-vice-president-discusses-strategic-ties-regional-tensions-673047.html Sat, 09 May 2026 09:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hindu-prayer-for-peace-unity-offered-at-white-house-event-673048.html Washington May 9 A Hindu prayer for peace and unity was delivered at the White House during the National Day of Prayer marking a moment of religious diversity as the United States approaches its 250th year A volunteer from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha BAPS participated in the event offering prayers rooted in Hindu tradition BAPS saidâI request that we all please close your eyes and fold your handsâ the volunteer said opening the prayer with a call for reflectionThe invocation continued with repeated chants âShanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Shanti Ram Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Sushanti BhavatuâThe prayer emphasised universal peace across all elements of existenceâMay there be peace in the sky and in spaceâ the speaker saidâMay there be peace across earth in water and for all beings May there be peace throughout nature and in the environment May the peace of heaven spread throughout the universeâThe prayer also extended to individual wellbeing stating âMay we all have peace physically mentally and spirituallyâThe speaker concluded by expressing gratitude on behalf of the organisationâOn behalf of the entire BAPS Sovereign Fellowship The Swaminarayan Ukshara County in Robbinsville New Jersey and our Guru Guru Hari Mohan Swami Maharaj we thank you for this opportunityâ the volunteer saidIn a post on social media BAPS Public Affairs said it was âhonored to participateâ in the National Day of Prayer at the White House The organisation added that âmoments like these remind us that faith service and shared values continue to strengthen our communitiesâOn National Day of Prayer President Trump earlier said in his message This National Day of Prayer we honor Americaâs enduring tradition of prayer faith and trust in Almighty God And as we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence we pledge to never forget the countless blessings God has bestowed upon our people and our countryFrom the cradles of civilization in the ancient world to the Christian empires of medieval Europe and the miraculous founding of our own Nation the entire Western experience has been connected by a golden thread of devotion to God Americaâs faith was seen most prominently during our struggle for independence when the Second Continental Congress declared a day of humiliation fasting and prayer to seek Godâs providence and ask for His protection and blessing in their fight for freedom virtue and posterity he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hindu-prayer-for-peace-unity-offered-at-white-house-event-673048.html Sat, 09 May 2026 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-ai-access-flags-security-risks-673049.html Washington May 9 The United States wants countries in South and Central Asia including India to have access to âworld class technologyâ while avoiding dependence on adversarial nations a senior State Department official said underscoring Washingtonâs push to expand AI cooperation with New Delhi Addressing the USIndia AI and Emerging Technology Forum Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bethany Morrison said the focus is on ensuring technology access translates into tangible benefits for societiesâWe want to make sure that countries in our region have access to world class technology and are able to get that integrated into their society to deliver the best value results for their peopleâ she saidMorrison stressed that rapid advances in artificial intelligence must be matched with clear guardrails âBut in order to fully realise the benefits of this incredible technology we must be guided by the principles of openness as well as focus on our security and our interoperability and avoid any dependencies on adversarial nationsâ she saidMorrison said the United States aims to âexport that AI technology and practice to the worldâ aligning with a wider policy push to increase global access to USdeveloped AI toolsâAI is not the future the present and its made with American software hardware and large language modelsâ she said highlighting US leadership in innovationAt the same time Morrison pointed to growing Indian participation in the AI ecosystem calling the bilateral relationship a driver of âreal deals and real results for both Indian and AmericansâShe cited rising investment flows between the two countries noting that Indian firms are committing significant resources to US technology infrastructure while American companies are expanding operations in India âThese are incredible and cutting edge investments that will have high impact in both the American and the Indian societiesâ she saidThe official also emphasised the physical backbone of AI including data centres chips and energy supply âAI may seem like it conquers informationâ but its very physical technology that requires chips as data centres wires and electricityâ she said pointing to the need for resilient supply chainsMorrison said Washington and New Delhi are working together to build âsecure and trusted AI supply chainsâ and ensure longterm technological resilienceShe framed the current moment as a turning point in bilateral cooperation âWe are incredibly excited about this moment in terms of both the tech advancements and the US India partnershipâ she said adding that âthe opportunities are limitlessâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-ai-access-flags-security-risks-673049.html Sat, 09 May 2026 09:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-push-ai-defence-cooperation-673050.html Washington May 9 The United States and India must step up cooperation in artificial intelligence and defence as warfare shifts to data and algorithms experts said Speaking at a USIndia forum Vivek Lall Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Cooperation and Lt Gen Retd Raj Shukla said the nature of war is changing fast The session was moderated by Sameer Lalwani of the Special Competitive Studies ProjectShukla said AI is already shaping the battlefield âAI is not futuristicâ algorithmic warfare is arrived and it will change the workflows of combat foreverâ he saidHe said militaries must adapt quickly âMilitary is conservative organizations dont update their process once a yearâ in Ukraineâ software innovations are being delivered every two weeks hardware every four weeksâ he saidHe called for a major shift in defence systems âDepartments of Defenseâ now need to operate as software companiesâ he saidShukla said India needs stronger debate and thinking on these issues âIdeation in these domains in India has to strengthenâ he saidLall said no country can lead alone in new technologies âNo one country has remarked on the best ideasâ he saidHe said the US and India together can deliver results He pointed to the need for cooperation across industry and academia âUniversities vocational institutesâ play a great role because at the end of the day its global talentâ he saidLall listed key areas for joint work These include data sharing training and control of the electromagnetic spectrumShukla also flagged the cost factor in modern war âFor every 1 that the Iranians spentâ it took the Americansâ 28 to interceptâ he saidHe said India must break silos across sectors âCivil military private sector government Academyâ operated in scienceâ he saidBoth speakers said the partnership is at a key moment Lall said âWeâre at an inflection pointâ and added that the next decade could see âa lot of co development workâ a lot of co production workâThe United States and India have expanded defence ties over the past two decades This includes joint exercises and technology partnershipsAI and emerging technologies are now central to the relationship Both countries are working to build capabilities in data autonomous systems and nextgeneration warfare IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-push-ai-defence-cooperation-673050.html Sat, 09 May 2026 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-talks-with-trinidad-and-tobago-pm-unveils-key-cooperation-initiatives-673064.html New DelhiPort of Spain May 9 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar held a series of highlevel engagements in Trinidad and Tobago during his official visit focussing on bilateral cooperation cultural ties education initiatives and regional partnershipsnbspUpon arriving in Trinidad and Tobago in the early hours of Saturday EAM Jaishankar posted on X A pleasure to be back in Trinidad and Tobago Thank FM Sean Sobers for the warm welcome Look forward to a productive visit over the next two daysDuring the visit Jaishankar met Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar and discussed bilateral and regional issues Sharing details of the meeting on X he wrote Such a pleasure to meet with PM Kamla PersadBissessar Value her guidance on bilateral cooperation and insights on regional issuesThe minister also joined Prime Minister PersadBissessar at the presentation ceremony of Made in India laptops for schoolchildren in Trinidad and Tobago Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis earlier commitment Jaishankar stated Joined PM Kamla PersadBissessar PMKamla at the presentation of MadeInIndia laptops to Trinbagonian schoolchildren Delivering on PM narendramodis commitment last year this is a message of learning awareness and opportunitySpeaking at the flagraising ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Jaishankar underlined the historic relationship between the two countries He said India had traditionally had very warm and friendly relations with Trinidad and Tobago and these ties have been shaped by shared history a struggle against colonialism and a very special bond of cricket People of the two countries share a lot in commonJaishankar also announced the conclusion of several agreements during the visit In another post he said Concluded Agreements today on Tourism on Solarisation of mfcagovtt building on Quick Impact Projects and on establishing Ayurveda ChairThe External Affairs Minister was also welcomed at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago Sharing the development he wrote Privileged to be welcomed in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago Thank PM Kamla PersadBissessar for her gracious wordsAdding a cultural touch to the visit Jaishankar met legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara and shared a picture with him on X captioning it With the one and only BrianLaraIn another post Jaishankar wrote Honoured by the flag raising ceremony at mfcagovtt of Trinidad and Tobago Thank Brian Lara for joining usEAM arrived in Trinidad and Tobago marking the final leg of his threenation official tour in the Caribbean following his engagement in Jamaica and SurinameIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-talks-with-trinidad-and-tobago-pm-unveils-key-cooperation-initiatives-673064.html Sat, 09 May 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bipartisan-bill-targets-chinese-farmland-purchases-near-sensitive-sites-672883.html Washington May 8 A bipartisan group of US lawmakers moved to tighten restrictions on Chinese and other foreign adversary purchases of American farmland and property near sensitive military and infrastructure sites reflecting growing concerns in Washington over national security and food security The push came as Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar introduced the âProtecting US Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Actâ while another bipartisan group announced plans for legislation to ban Chinese vehicles from American roadsâFood security is national security and we cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to buy up American farmland near our most sensitive military and critical infrastructure sitesâ Moolenaar saidHe said the legislation would âclose dangerous loopholesâ and âpresumptively bar foreign adversaries from purchasing landâ He added that it would also implement the Trump administrationâs âAmerica First Investment Policyâ and the US Department of Agricultureâs Farm Security Action PlanThe proposed legislation would expand the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States CFIUS to review real estate deals involving entities linked to China Russia Iran and North Korea It would create a new category of âelevated risk real estate transactionsâ covering farmland ports telecommunications infrastructure and property near military and intelligence facilitiesThe bill also broadens the definition of âsensitive sitesâ to include military installations NASA facilities airports maritime ports data centres fibre optic nodes cloud computing facilities and critical communications infrastructureAccording to the bill text elevatedrisk transactions would be presumed to present âan unresolvable risk to national securityâ unless cleared through a high threshold review processThe legislation has bipartisan backing from Republican and Democratic lawmakers including Representatives Josh Gottheimer Jimmy Panetta and Mike ThompsonAt the same time Moolenaar and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell announced plans to introduce separate bipartisan legislation to ban Chinese vehicles from US roadsâEvery vehicle on American roads is a rolling data collection device capturing information on location movement people and infrastructure in real time and we cannot allow Chinese vehicles or components to be a part of that systemâ the lawmakers said in a joint statementThe measures come amid broader efforts in Congress to counter Beijingâs economic and technological influence in the United StatesIn Florida Congressman Greg Steube joined House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford in a roundtable discussion on what lawmakers described as growing Chinese counterintelligence threatsSteube said the Chinese Communist Party was âactively working to undermine American security and expand its influence inside our countryâ He said Floridaâs âcritical infrastructure and strategic importance make it a high value targetâSeparately a bipartisan Senate delegation led by Steve Daines held meetings in Beijing with senior Chinese officials including Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi The delegation discussed fentanyl precursors supply chain security Iran and agricultural trade The latest proposals also come as Washington and Beijing remain locked in wider tensions over trade technology national security and Taiwan Lawmakers from both parties have increasingly argued that Chineselinked investments in strategic sectors could expose vulnerabilities in critical American infrastructure and supply chains IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bipartisan-bill-targets-chinese-farmland-purchases-near-sensitive-sites-672883.html Fri, 08 May 2026 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congress-moves-to-ban-prediction-bets-672884.html Washington May 8 Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have move a legislation to ban members of Congress and their staff from trading on prediction markets It comes days after the Senate unanimously adopted similar restrictions amid growing scrutiny over potential insider trading and ethics concerns Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa on Thursday introduced a resolution to amend House rules and prohibit lawmakers congressional staff and House officers from entering agreements tied to the outcome of specific events effectively banning participation in prediction markets such as Kalshi and PolymarketThe move follows the Senateâs adoption last month of S Res 708 a resolution led by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio which revised Senate rules to bar senators and staff from trading contracts linked to specific eventsâI think this is something we should be doing as fast as possibleâ Hinson saidâWhat I donât want to see is that because Congress is lacking action here that this is a loophole that people were able to take advantage ofâ she saidIn a statement accompanying the resolution Hinson said âMembers of Congress shouldnt be able to use insider knowledge to make a profit We should take immediate action to ensure DC politicians cant make money off of policies they are influencing I am calling on our House Republican leadership to bring this to the floor immediately â it should receive unanimous supportâUnder the proposed House rules change members delegates resident commissioners officers and employees of the House would be barred from entering âan agreement contract swap or transactionâ tied to âthe occurrence nonoccurrence or the extent of the occurrence of a specific event or contingencyâHinson said she coordinated the effort with Moreno after working with him on other issuesThe Iowa Republican is not alone in pushing the proposal Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada introduced a separate resolution in April that would also prohibit members and staff from trading on prediction markets though her proposal includes an exception for sports wagersâNo Member of Congress should be able to profit off their insider knowledge by placing informed bets on prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarketâ Titus said in a statementThe push comes as prediction markets gain visibility in Washington and attract growing attention from lawmakers concerned that officials with advance knowledge of government actions could exploit the platforms for financial gainAccording to CQ a special forces soldier pleaded not guilty last month to allegedly using confidential information to place bets on Polymarket that Venezuelan President NicolÃs Maduro would leave office The report said the trades allegedly generated more than 400000âThis is a very clear line where people understand âHey you know things ahead of when the normal public doesââ Hinson said âIt certainly should apply to everyone but it absolutely should apply to members of CongressâMoreno framed the Senate action as part of a broader effort to restore trust in CongressâMy issue is letâs clean up Congress If there are going to be guardrails in prediction markets thatâs a longer conversation that should have hearingsâ Moreno said âBut we donât want to wait until that we just wanted to clean up Congressâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congress-moves-to-ban-prediction-bets-672884.html Fri, 08 May 2026 09:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-appeals-court-rejects-indian-muslim-mans-bid-to-halt-deportation-672885.html Washington May 8 A US federal appeals court has rejected an Indian Muslim manâs bid to avoid deportation ruling that the violence he faced in India did not amount to persecution and finding no evidence that Indian authorities were complicit in the attack The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit said local police had intervened to stop the 2016 attack on Sanaullah Khan Mohammed and noted that he could also relocate elsewhere within âthe very large country of IndiaââThe bumps scrapes and bruises Mohammed received in the May 2016 incident do not compel the conclusion that he suffered persecutionâ the court said in its ruling issued this weekâNor has Mohammed demonstrated that the Indian government allowed the violence Indeed local police stopped the attackâ the threejudge panel addedThe court further said Mohammedâs claims of future persecution were weakened because the slaughterhouse business linked to the dispute was no longer operatingâEven more Mohammed could live somewhere else within the very large country of Indiaâ the ruling statedMohammed who entered the US on a visitor visa on June 26 2016 and remained after it expired later that year applied for asylum in January 2019 well beyond the oneyear deadline under US immigration lawAccording to court records Mohammed came from a Muslim family in India that operated a slaughterhouse business dealing in cow meat The ruling said tensions arose with local Hindus âwho both considered cows sacred and claimed affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata PartyâMohammed alleged that in May 2016 a group confronted him and his mother threw rocks at him and beat him while demanding the closure of the slaughterhouseThe court however noted that local police responded after Mohammed called for help and dispersed the attackersAn immigration judge had earlier rejected Mohammedâs asylum application as untimely and also denied his request for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against TortureThe Seventh Circuit said it lacked jurisdiction to review the asylum claim because of existing legal precedent governing late asylum applicationsThe judges nevertheless devoted substantial discussion to the merits of Mohammedâs withholding of removal claim and concluded that the evidence did not establish either past persecution or a likelihood of future persecution if returned to India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-appeals-court-rejects-indian-muslim-mans-bid-to-halt-deportation-672885.html Fri, 08 May 2026 09:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-indias-global-role-stresses-partnership-for-progress-in-suriname-672888.html Paramaribo May 8 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Friday spoke on the theme Partnership for Progressâ in Paramaribo Suriname and highlighted Indias global role stressing the need for partnership for progress EAM Jaishankar took to social media X and said Spoke on the theme âPartnership for Progressâ at Paramaribo this evening Thank FM Melvin Bouva for his presence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Suriname for organising the programmeMade the case that a tough world nevertheless requires progress And that is best achieved through partnerships Highlighted the characteristics of a trusted partner who can reconcile national interest with global good Described Indiaâs role in global politics in that context focusing on our development partnerships global workforce first responder record and new initiatives he saidIt is this India that will partner Suriname in its growth trajectory and jointly write the next chapter of the IndiaSuriname story EAM Jaishankar addedEAM Jaishankar also planted a sapling at India House in Suriname under Ek Ped Maa Ke NaamVery glad to plant a sapling at India House Suriname under EkPedMaaKeNaam EAM Jaishankar said in another postEarlier on Thursday EAM S Jaishankar handed over a fruitprocessing facility in Paramaribo city of Suriname which was established with financial assistance from IndiaIndia provided fruit processing machinery to Suriname funded under the USD one million Small and Medium Enterprises grant announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in 2025During his remarks at the event the Minister said âThis project also serves to underline a larger message of India as a partner of Suriname and of the Global SouthâHe said that Indiaâs commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which means the world as a family is demonstrated not just in words but through particular projects and specific activities and noted that this is a very good illustration of itâIn the times to come as Suriname advances in its quest for progress and prosperity India will always be a reliable partnerâ he addedHe was joined by Suriname Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva and Agriculture Minister Nike Noersalim at the event IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-indias-global-role-stresses-partnership-for-progress-in-suriname-672888.html Fri, 08 May 2026 09:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-to-deploy-new-long-range-artillery-along-border-with-seoul-this-year-kcna-672889.html Seoul May 8 North Korea plans to deploy a new selfpropelled howitzer along its border with South Korea by the end of this year state media said Friday as it seeks to bolster its defence capabilities According to the Korean Central News Agency KCNA North Korean leader Kim Jongun visited a munitions factory Wednesday to review production of a newtype 155 mm selfpropelled gunhowitzer destined for three battalions to be stationed at a longrange artillery unit along the southern borderThe selfpropelled gunhowitzer has a striking range exceeding 60 kilometres the report said which is enough to place Seoul within firing range of North Korean frontline positionsKim reaffirmed that the year 2026 will also record an unprecedented upgrade in the course of struggle for bolstering up the national defence capability of the country the KCNA said urging cadres to achieve signal successes every day through intensified efforts to strengthen military readinessIn a separate KCNA report Kim visited the 5000tonne warship Choe Hyon on Thursday to observe a maneuvering assessment test ahead of its commissioningPhotos released by state media showed Kims daughter Juae accompanying him on the inspectionHe boarded the destroyer and took part in a navigation test conducted in the Yellow Sea and inspected the vessels operational capabilities and combat readinessExpressing satisfaction with the ships construction progress Kim ordered it to be delivered to the navy by midJune as scheduled according to the reportPyongyang has conducted a series of strategic cruise missile tests from the destroyer which analysts believe may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads Yonhap news agency reportedNorth Korea unveiled the Choe Hyon destroyer in April last year as part of a broader push to modernise its naval forcesFollowing the launch of a similar destroyer the Kang Kon in June 2025 Kim ordered the construction of a third vessel of the same class in time for the ruling Workers Party of Koreas founding anniversary on October 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-to-deploy-new-long-range-artillery-along-border-with-seoul-this-year-kcna-672889.html Fri, 08 May 2026 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-resolve-to-fight-terrorism-strong-as-ever-kirti-vardhan-singh-672904.html United Nations May 8 Indiaâs Minister of State of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh led a commemoration of Operation Sindoor that gave a resounding blow to Pakistan for defending and aiding terorrists Indiaâs resolve to fight terrorism remained as strong as ever he said on ThursdayThe meeting commemorating the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor paid tributes to Indiaâs UN Mission to âthe bravery and professionalism of our armed forces which is unparalleledâAfter Pakistanbased terrorists crossed into India and killed 26 Indian tourists at Pahalgam India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 2025 hitting terrorist centres within that countryThe Resistance Front a group affiliated with LashkareTayiba a terrorist outfit sanctioned by the UN said it was responsible for the attackIndia targeted those two groups and the JaisheMohammed terrorist outfit during the fourday operationIt spiralled into a conflict between India and Pakistan when Pakistanâs armed forces came to the defence of the terrorist groups and attacked IndiaAfter India repelled the Pakistani attacks and was in a commanding position Pakistanâs Director General of Military Operations DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah called his then Indian counterpart Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai and asked for a ceasefireSeveral Pakistani air force and missile bases had been destroyed by India by thenThe UN Security Council condemned the Pahalgam massacreâTerrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and securityâ it said in its press statementIt said that terrorism is âcriminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation wherever whenever and by whoever committedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-resolve-to-fight-terrorism-strong-as-ever-kirti-vardhan-singh-672904.html Fri, 08 May 2026 11:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-armed-group-attack-in-balochistan-damages-infrastructure-hits-pakistani-forces-672913.html Quetta May 8 The Baloch Republican Guards BRG claimed responsibility for attacks in Balochistanâs Sibi and Sohbatpur districts completely destroying two electricity towers and damaging two others while causing casualties and material losses to Pakistani Rangers according to local media reports In a statement issued to the media on Thursday BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said the groupâs fighters planted explosives in the Lemji area of Sibi on the night of May 6 resulting in the complete collapse of two electricity towers and severe damage to two othersHe added that the group attacked a Pakistani Rangers checkpoint in the Buskat area of Sohbatpur using small and heavy weaponsAccording to the statement the assault led to âcasualties and material lossesâ to the Rangers The Balochistan Post reportedThe group said that such operations would continue until âindependence of Balochistanâ from PakistanThese latest incidents come against the backdrop of escalating attacks by Baloch groups targeting Pakistani military and police forces across Balochistan in recent days resulting in heavy casualties and damage to the infrastructureIn a separate incident a pickup vehicle carrying eight people including women and children went missing between the Pasni and Shadi Kaur regions in Balochistanâs Gwadar district amid the Pakistani military operation in the regionCiting local sources The Balochistan Post reported that more than 50 people have been detained during the ongoing military operationReports suggest that the vehicle disappeared while travelling from Pasni to Shadi Kaur along with all its passengers including three women two children and three menThe passengers were returning to their village following treatment at Pak Oman Hospital in Pasni before they went missing Since the incident neither the passengers nor the vehicle had been tracedThe affected families on Wednesday called on the local administration and law enforcement agencies to take prompt actionPakistani military also launched operation in several areas of Balochistan including Zareen Kaur Tarati Goristani and Kabadi blocking routes and restricting movementAs violence against civilians escalates across the province the Pakistani forces conducted an operation in the Koshkalat region of the Kech district on Wednesday morning reportedly detaining several individuals and killing one as gunfire was heard in the areaBalochistan continues to reel under relentless atrocities by the Pakistani forces marked by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians at an unprecedented level IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-armed-group-attack-in-balochistan-damages-infrastructure-hits-pakistani-forces-672913.html Fri, 08 May 2026 12:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-internal-policy-failures-fuelling-balochistan-insurgency-672957.html Islamabad May 8 Pakistans reliance on proxy militant networks its heavyhanded handling of local grievances and its failure to respond to emerging militant alliances have fuelled the current crisis in Balochistan Far from being a peripheral theatre the province is turning into the epicentre of a multilayered insurgency shaped by decades of strategic miscalculations by Pakistani authorities a report has detailed According to a report in Eurasia Review Balochistan has once again descended into violence with Islamabad continuing to portray the situation as part of an âexternal conspiracy However the recent wave of clashes across the province including the deadly confrontation at the 143 Wing post in Chaman and the April 26 ambushes near Dalbandin reveals a troubling reality âPakistanâs own security establishment has helped engineer the very conditionsâ fuelling regional instabilityCiting field reports it said a confrontation at the 143rd Wing post in Chaman resulted in heavy casualties among Pakistani border forces followed by intense fighting with Afghan Taliban fighters on April 26 leaving seven soldiers dead at a roadblockThe report said that these were not isolated incidents but âsymptoms of a deeper structural failure within Pakistanâs security frameworkPakistanâs security establishment spent decades exploiting militant networks as âinstruments of regional influence but today those same networks are directing violence inwardâThe attempt to move ammunition and fighters across the Chaman sector underscores how the border has become a twoway corridor for groups Islamabad once believed it could controlâ the report notedIt highlighted that the TehrikiTaliban Pakistan TTP and the Baloch Liberation Army BLA reportedly formalised an operational partnership in 2026 âa development that should have triggered alarm bells across Pakistanâs national security apparatus rather than the establishment downplayed the threatThe April 27 ambush along the N40 highway near Dalbandin killing four Pakistani soldiers underscores the widening operational reach of these groupsThe report emphasised that Pakistanâs military establishment has long framed the unrest in Balochistan as âexternally orchestratedâ yet the current escalation is driven by actors âonce cultivated tolerated or selectively ignoredâ by the Pakistani authoritiesThese developments suggest not âexternal manipulationâ but âinternal policy failuresâ that have enabled militant ecosystems to grow beyond the stateâs controlWarning of the wider implications the report said âIf Islamabad continues to deny the structural roots of the conflict the situation will deteriorate further The insurgency is no longer fragmented It is learning adapting and expanding while the state remains trapped in outdated narratives Balochistanâs future now hinges on whether Pakistanâs security establishment can confront the consequences of its own policies or whether it will continue down a path that has already cost lives territory and legitimacy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-internal-policy-failures-fuelling-balochistan-insurgency-672957.html Fri, 08 May 2026 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/islamic-terrorism-unleashed-by-pakistan-not-merely-regional-issue-but-global-threat-report-672995.html Islamabad May 8 Pakistans role in fostering terrorism has for decades fuelled instability in the wider South Asian region At the same time preserving regional stability remains essential for US strategic interests given South Asiaâs proximity to Afghanistan and China a report has stated Writing for American media outlet PJ Media Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut said that the fight against terrorism by the United States and India should also be supported by policies aimed at restoring religious ethnic and cultural diversity of South Asia which she said has been severely damaged by Islamisation through force and violenceMarking the first anniversary of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which witnessed Pakistanbacked terrorists gunning down 26 innocent tourists after identifying their religion Bulut cited US Congressman Brad Sherman calling on Pakistan to rein in terror groups such as LashkareTaiba LeTAddressing an exhibition organised by the Indian Embassy in Washington titled the Human Cost of Terrorism Congressman Sherman paid homage to the victims of the terror attackCondemning the attack the US lawmaker said the group behind the attack The Resistance Front TRF was âclearly an offshoot of the LeT an organisation which unfortunately has found sanctuary in PakistanââAnd as the world focuses on Islamabad where the talks are taking place or not taking place or might be taking place we have to use this as an opportunity to demand that the Pakistani government clamp down on the LeT and the JeM and other terrorist group organisations Sherman addedThe digital exhibition showcased major terrorist attacks perpetrated across the world including the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the Pahalgam attack It also highlighted the terror outfits which carried out the attacks including several Pakistanbased individuals and entities such as the LeTFollowing the Pahalgam terror attack India launched Operation Sindoor in May last year targeting terror infrastructure in both Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoK The operation struck locations including the headquarters and training facilities linked to LeT and another terrorist group JaisheMohammad JeM from where attacks against India were orchestratedIndia commemorated Operation Sindoors first anniversary on ThursdayBulut further highlighted that antiHindu persecution in Kashmir dates back to the partition of India She further claimed that during the 1980s Islamic terrorism with alleged backing from Pakistanâs military and the InterServices Intelligence intensified across the Kashmir ValleyShe argued that Islamic terrorism is not merely a regional issue but a global threat Highlighting the persistent threats posed by what she described as Islamisation Bulut said the United States should confront the systematic religious and cultural erasure of nonMuslim communities in the South Asian region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/islamic-terrorism-unleashed-by-pakistan-not-merely-regional-issue-but-global-threat-report-672995.html Fri, 08 May 2026 19:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-wide-ranging-talks-with-top-leadership-in-suriname-to-deepen-bilateral-ties-672774.html Paramaribo May 7 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar currently on a visit to Suriname held a series of talks with top leadership and other officials of the South American nation to discuss ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries As he arrived in Paramaribo on Wednesday local time EAM Jaishankar was warmly welcomed by his counterpart Melvin BouvaBoth leaders later held a bilateral discussion Along with the Indian officials the EAM then met with Surinamese delegations and undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral ties under the aegis of the 9th Joint Commission Meeting in ParamariboFollowing the meeting EAM Jaishankar took to X and posted We covered trade digital amp investment defence amp energy development assistance amp capacity building health amp mobility and culture amp peopletopeople exchanges Confident that the outcomes of our deliberations today will further deepen and diversify our tiesEAM Jaishankar also called on Surinames President Jennifer GeerlingsSimons and discussed shared commitment to enhancing the enduring partnership between the two nationsPleased to call on President Jennifer GeerlingsSimons of Suriname this afternoon Conveyed warm greetings from India to the government and people of Suriname Our two nations are committed to realising the full potential of the deep and longstanding IndiaSuriname relationship EAM posted on XThe EAM also paid homage at the Monument for the Fallen Heroes in Surinames Marienburg commemorating the migrated Indian indentured labourers Girmitya who lost their lives during the fight against colonialism in 1902Their sacrifices in 1902 are an inspiration in the struggle against colonialism These Girmityas fought for dignity and freedom abroad even as countless others did in Bharat Our global story for liberty and justice must always be told and retold he statedHe then interacted with the Indian community in Suriname highlighting Indias ongoing transformation journey He reiterated New Delhis commitment to remaining a dependable development partner in Surinames growthSharing the details of the interaction on his social media platform X on Thursday Indian time EAM Jaishankar said Delighted to interact with the Indian community in Suriname this evening Shared with them various aspects of the transformation underway in India Underlined that we will be a reliable and trusted partner for Surinames growth development and prosperityDuring his visit EAM Jaishankar also paid tribute at the Baba and Mai monument which commemorates the first Indians who came to SurinameHe also paid respect at Mahatma Gandhis statue in central Paramaribo before commencing his bilateral engagements IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-holds-wide-ranging-talks-with-top-leadership-in-suriname-to-deepen-bilateral-ties-672774.html Thu, 07 May 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-year-on-operation-sindoor-continues-to-shape-indias-security-doctrine-672785.html New Delhi May 7 IANS On the intervening night of May 67 the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack in which innocent lives were lost The operation was so precise that it took down major infrastructure both in Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoK and PakistannbspSome of the major infrastructure that was destroyed included the JaisheMohammads headquarters in Bahawalpur and the LashkareTaibas primary training facility in MuridkenbspExperts say that the Indian armed forces fought on multiple fronts While taking down infrastructure the forces were dealing with a flurry of hostage drones that came from Pakistan While taking down terror infrastructure seamlessly every drone that came in from Pakistan was taken down effectivelynbspDuring this operation Pakistan decided to activate its propaganda wings These wings were in overdrive mode on social media spreading false narratives Officials say that this was done with the intention of demoralising the Indian armed forcesnbspThe Indian government however managed to counter every false narrative and ultimately revenge was sought for Pahalgam and the message to Pakistan was delivered While the primary intention was to hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan which has been used for years to carry out strikes in India the Operation also aimed at sending a larger messagenbspThe Indian doctrine changed and the message to Pakistan is that every terror attack will be treated as an act of war It has put Pakistan on the back foot and the country will think ten times before it plots an attack This explains the push for raising homegrown modules in India another official saidnbspDuring Operation Sindoor Pakistan also witnessed the power of the Indian Air Forces Integrated Air Command and Control System IACCS This was instrumental in providing the shield during the operationnbspPakistan sent dozens of drones At first it was just harmless drones that flew in meant to distract Later it was the larger drones and despite trying to confuse and divert them the IACCS managed to take down each onenbspPakistan was not just launching the drones against the Indian armed forces attempts were made multiple times to target civilian territory but they were shot down successfullynbspThe operation also made India realise the importance of upgrading technology for future scenarios Wars would be fought using drones largely and securing the nation against them has become a top priority for the Narendra Modi governmentnbspPost the operation the Government of India approved emergency procurements including replenishing S400 missile stocks drones counterdrone systems Javelin antitank guided missiles loitering munitions and precision munitions Further the IACCS equipment which is at seven sites is being refurbished with new components and equipmentnbspAccording to a request for proposal issued to the defence public sector undertakings by the IAF last week this was needed to mitigate a single point of failure in networked tactical nodes NTN This is critical for the IAFs operations in its air defence networknbspAn official added that Operation Sindoor was a huge success and the slew of diplomatic measures that were taken in its aftermath also had a major impact India suspended trade ties diplomatic relations and placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyancenbspAll this conveyed Indias strong stance against Pakistansponsored terrorismnbspOperation Sindoor also set an example of the jointness among the Indian armed forces The experts say that this was not just an operation to hit terror infrastructure It signalled a strategic shift in Indias approach towards national securitynbspPrime Minister Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor was a reflection of the nations resolve to ensure justice and securityIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-year-on-operation-sindoor-continues-to-shape-indias-security-doctrine-672785.html Thu, 07 May 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-flags-surge-in-sexual-violence-cases-in-bangladesh-madrasas-672812.html Dhaka May 7 A leading human rights organisation expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of sexual violence against children in madrasas across Bangladesh Dhakabased rights body Manusher Jonno Foundation MJF called for the immediate establishment of sexual harassment committees in all madrasas across the country in line with the High Courts directives for educational institutionsThe rights body highlighted that the High Court in 2023 directed all educational institutions in Bangladesh to form committees to prevent sexual harassmentCiting a recent case involving the rape and impregnation of an 11yearold student in Madan upazila of Netrokona district the MJF stressed the urgent need for systemic safeguards within these institutionsMadrasas are educational institutions there is no reason for these to stay outside the gambit of the High Court ruling said Shaheen Anam Executive Director of MJFIn its latest finding the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad found that in just the first four months of this year a total of 1028 women and girls have been subjected to various forms of violence including sexual violence The rights body noted that these data reveal an alarming pattern involving girl children with 479 incidents documented between January and AprilAccording to the MJF the case registered in the Netrokona incident alleged that a madrasa teacher had repeatedly abused a child since October The incident came to light on April 18 after a medical examination confirmed that the victim was in an advanced stage of pregnancyAlthough the accused reportedly denied the allegations online he was later detained by Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion RABThe right body cited another incident of sexual violence where a madrasa teacher in the Patuakhali district has been jailed over the alleged abuse of a 10yearold studentMJF urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure strict punishment of the perpetrator who has reportedly been arrestedDemanding justice for the victims the rights body called for full implementation of Bangladeshs Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 which criminalises brutal acts of violence against women and childrenCases of sexual violence against children within madrassas are usually hushed up as these teachers exert much influence and power over their community It is time to expose these teachers and stop such heinous crimes against children both boys and girls through the implementation of relevant laws and ensuring accountability of concerned officials the MJF statedAsserting that both authorities and society in Bangladesh share equal responsibility for ensuring the safety and protection of children the rights body said that both have failed adequately to uphold that dutyThe MJF urged the government to implement the High Court directive and prioritise the pending Sexual Harassment Law awaiting enactment in parliamentThis demand comes amid growing concern over repeated abuse in madrasa settings raising serious questions about child safety and institutional accountability IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-flags-surge-in-sexual-violence-cases-in-bangladesh-madrasas-672812.html Thu, 07 May 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-linked-refurbished-electronics-fuel-bangladesh-e-waste-crisis-report-672815.html New Delhi May 7 Bangladesh witnessing a growing electronic waste crisis as rising imports of lowcost and refurbished electronics largely linked to China continue to overwhelm the countryâs weak waste management and regulatory systems a report has said According to a report by Mongabay despite the introduction of the Hazardous Waste EWaste Management Rules in 2021 illegal imports weak enforcement and an expanding informal recycling sector are turning Bangladesh into a potential dumping ground for global electronic waste environmental researchers warnedHighlighting a recent study the report said nearly 14985 tonnes of ewaste were illegally imported into the country between 2022 and 2024 while exports of ewaste components stood at only 4040 metric tonnes effectively making Bangladesh a net importer of electronic wasteThe study estimated the value of imported ewaste materials during the period at around 700000 though researchers cautioned that the actual volume could be significantly higher due to false declarations and underreportingMoreover Bangladeshâs dependence on Chinese electronics imports has sharply increased in recent yearsIn addition Bangladesh Bank BB data showed that the country spent more than 247 billion on imports of electrical appliances and accessories in fiscal year 202425 including nearly 18 billion worth of products from ChinaEnvironmental experts cited in the report said a substantial share of imported refurbished laptops smartphones and spare parts entering local markets have short operational lifespans and quickly become wasteMany imported devices are repaired repackaged and sold as lowcost alternatives after being rejected or returned abroad said Dr Shahriar Hossain senior technical adviser at the Environment and Social Development Organization ESDOThe expert warned that Bangladesh lacks adequate systems to safely manage the growing volume of discarded electronics batteries and solar equipmentThe report highlighted major gaps in enforcement and coordination among customs authorities the Department of Environment and trade regulators allowing illegal imports to continue despite existing regulationsAccording to the report researchers warned that informal recycling operations often involving unsafe dismantling practices and child labour pose serious risks to soil water and public health through exposure to toxic substances such as lead and cadmium IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-linked-refurbished-electronics-fuel-bangladesh-e-waste-crisis-report-672815.html Thu, 07 May 2026 15:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-media-denies-new-us-exchanges-rejects-reports-of-nearing-deal-672713.html Tehran May 7 Iran has said it has not exchanged any new written messages with the United States pushing back against reports that the two sides are close to a onepage agreement to end hostilities The semiofficial Fars news agency called recent media reports fabricated saying they were designed to influence global markets and drive down oil prices rather than reflect the situation on the groundFars citing two unnamed sources said Iran has not yet responded to the latest US message which was delivered through Pakistan Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is still reviewing the US proposal and will respond after completing its assessment according to the Iranian Students News AgencyLast week Iran sent a 14point counterproposal to Washington through Pakistan in response to a ninepoint US plan outlining conditions for ending the conflict Tehran later confirmed it had received a reply from Washington reports Xinhua news agencyEbrahim Rezaei spokesman for the Iranian parliaments national security and foreign policy committee wrote on X that Axios had published a US wish list rather than reality He said Iran would not accept pressure and warned of a harsh response if attacked or provokedAxios reported that a potential deal could include Iran agreeing to suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for US sanctions relief with both sides easing restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz The duration of any enrichment pause remains under discussion with proposals ranging from five to 20 yearsSeparately Irans Tasnim news agency reported widespread GPS disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz for a third consecutive day with some marine tracking data showing vessels appearing to move on landThe United States and Israel conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28 killing senior Iranian officials and civilians including thenSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US interests in the region and tightened control over the Strait of HormuzA ceasefire took effect on April 8 Talks between the Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad on April 1112 ended without an agreement After negotiations collapsed the US imposed a blockade of the strait IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-media-denies-new-us-exchanges-rejects-reports-of-nearing-deal-672713.html Thu, 07 May 2026 08:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/they-want-to-make-a-deal-badly-trump-says-iran-talks-made-progress-672714.html Washington May 7 US President Donald Trump has said that Washington had made progress in talks with Iran and suggested a possible agreement could emerge soon while insisting that Tehran âcannot have a nuclear weaponâ âThey want to make a deal badlyâ Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday Local time âWeâve had very good talks over the last 24 hours and itâs very possible that weâll make a dealâTrump rejected suggestions that Iran remained defiantâWell why do you say they refused to submit You donât know thatâ he told a reporterThe President repeated his longstanding position that Tehran must never acquire nuclear weaponsâThey canât have nuclear weapons itâs very simpleâ Trump saidTrump also claimed Iranâs military infrastructure had been heavily damaged during the conflictâThey had a Navy with 159 ships and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the waterâ he said âThey had an Air Force lots of planes and they donât have any planesâHe further claimed Iranâs antiaircraft systems radar capabilities and missile stockpiles had been âmostly decimatedââTheir leaders are all dead So I think we wonâ Trump saidAt the same time Trump said diplomacy remained possible and argued Iran would need decades to recover militarily if the conflict stopped nowâIf we left right now Iran it would take them 20 years to rebuildâ he saidTrump declined to set any timeline for negotiationsâNever a deadlineâ he said when asked if he expected a deadline for a deal with Tehran âItâll happenâThe President also defended the economic consequences of the conflict saying US financial markets had remained resilient despite fears of a severe oil shockâI thought oil prices would go to 200 250â Trump said âItâs at 100 nowâTrump said he had expected US markets to fall sharply during the conflict but instead claimed the stock market had reached new highsâThe stock market is higher now than when we started this warâ he saidTrump also referred to renewed interest by major US energy firms in Venezuela mentioning discussions with ExxonMobil and Chevron executives at the White HouseOn the other hand Iran said Wednesday it has not exchanged any new written messages with the United States pushing back against reports that the two sides are close to a onepage agreement to end hostilitiesThe semiofficial Fars news agency called recent media reports fabricated saying they were designed to influence global markets and drive down oil prices rather than reflect the situation on the groundFars citing two unnamed sources said Iran has not yet responded to the latest US message which was delivered through Pakistan Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is still reviewing the US proposal and will respond after completing its assessment according to the Iranian Students News Agency IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/they-want-to-make-a-deal-badly-trump-says-iran-talks-made-progress-672714.html Thu, 07 May 2026 08:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/macron-urges-instant-reopening-of-hormuz-strait-672715.html Paris May 7 French President Emmanuel Macron has called for all parties to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz without delay and without conditions after a telephone talk with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian We must return permanently to the regime of full freedom of navigation that prevailed before the conflict Macron said on social media platform X on Wednesday evening local time adding that the future multinational escort mission launched by France and Britain will contribute to the goalThis FrancoBritish initiative will by its nature be separate from the warring parties The prepositioning of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is part of this effort he said calling on Iran to seize the opportunityHe also voiced his intention to discuss the matter with US President Donald Trump reports Xinhua news agencyThe French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is currently heading toward the southern Red Sea to reduce the time required to implement the FrancoBritish initiative as soon as circumstances permit according to a press release issued Wednesday by the French defence ministryThis initiative to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz which would not be implemented as long as the USIranian hostilities continue has brought together more than forty nations according to the press release Additionally Macron held talks with Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian The Iranian President has said the country is ready to pursue diplomatic paths to end the war with the United States and Israel while insisting on safeguarding the Iranian nations rightsPezeshkian expressed deep distrust of the United States citing recent hostile actions including two attacks on Iran during bilateral talks which he described as stabbing Iran in the back according to a statement published on the website of his officeThe phone conversation came as Axios reported earlier in the day that the United States and Iran are closing in on a onepage memo to end their war reports Xinhua news agencyIt said a potential deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to lift sanctions with both sides lifting restrictions on transit through the Strait of HormuzIran the United States and Israel reached the ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with the US and Israeli attacks on Feb 28Following the truce Iran and the United States held one round of peace talks in Pakistans capital Islamabad on April 11 and 12 which failed to lead to an agreementOver the past weeks the two sides have exchanged a number of proposed plans to end the war with the latest one currently being reviewed by Iran IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/macron-urges-instant-reopening-of-hormuz-strait-672715.html Thu, 07 May 2026 08:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/americas-strength-lies-in-mothers-melania-trump-honours-military-families-672721.html Washington May 7 First Lady Melania Trump honoured military mothers at the White House ahead of Motherâs Day praising their sacrifices during what she described as âa time of military conflict for Americaâ Speaking at a White House event attended by military families on Wednesday local time administration officials and service members Melania Trump paid tribute to mothers of troops serving overseas and those who lost children in uniformâI often think about the brave people who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedomâ she saidMelania Trump recalled visiting Dover Air Force Base last March to honour members of the 103rd Sustainment Command killed at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait while supporting Operation Epic FuryâWhen I went to honour the fallen servicemembers from the 103rd Sustainment Command at Dover Air Force Base last March I realised that words cannot comfort the allconsuming grief that family members and mothers in particular experienceâ she said âTheir loss is overwhelmingâThe First Lady said military mothers often endure loneliness and fear while loved ones serve abroadâIt is these military mothers who find themselves alone awake in their thoughts in the darkest hours of the nightâ she said âOf course we must also remember the mothers with a spouse overseas praying for a safe return so their family can become whole once againâShe described mothers as the âmoral foundationâ of American familiesâAt the very heart of Americaâs strength lies the boundless love and quiet power of mothersâ Mrs Trump said âIn doing so Americaâs mothers help build the soul of our nationâMelania Trump also praised President Donald Trump saying he never forgets that âevery American soldier is someoneâs childâVice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance attended the event along with senior administration officials and military familiesPresident Trump in his remarks praised military mothers and spoke about ongoing tensions involving IranâWeâre doing very well in Iranâ Trump said âThey want to make a deal They want to negotiateâThe President said the US military was stronger than ever and praised the Navyâs role in regional operationsâThe blockade is unbelievableâ Trump said âItâs like a wall of steelâTrump also highlighted the story of Melody Wolfe whose son Andrew Wolfe a member of the West Virginia National Guard survived a shooting while on patrol in Washington last yearâNobody thought our boy would make itâ Wolfe told the audience âWe have a strong faith in God and God is what brought our son through thisâTrump called the recovery âa miracleâ and praised Wolfeâs faith during her sonâs treatment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/americas-strength-lies-in-mothers-melania-trump-honours-military-families-672721.html Thu, 07 May 2026 08:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-year-on-operation-sindoor-continues-to-shape-indias-security-doctrine-672723.html New Delhi May 7 On the intervening night of May 67 the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack in which innocent lives were lost The operation was so precise that it took down major infrastructure both in Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoK and Pakistan Some of the major infrastructure that was destroyed included the JaisheMohammadâs headquarters in Bahawalpur and the LashkareTaibaâs primary training facility in Muridke Experts say that the Indian armed forces fought on multiple fronts While taking down infrastructure the forces were dealing with a flurry of hostage drones that came from Pakistan While taking down terror infrastructure seamlessly every drone that came in from Pakistan was taken down effectively During this operation Pakistan decided to activate its propaganda wings These wings were in overdrive mode on social media spreading false narratives Officials say that this was done with the intention of demoralising the Indian armed forces The Indian government however managed to counter every false narrative and ultimately revenge was sought for Pahalgam and the message to Pakistan was delivered While the primary intention was to hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan which has been used for years to carry out strikes in India the Operation also aimed at sending a larger message The Indian doctrine changed and the message to Pakistan is that every terror attack will be treated as an act of war It has put Pakistan on the back foot and the country will think ten times before it plots an attack This explains the push for raising homegrown modules in India another official said During Operation Sindoor Pakistan also witnessed the power of the Indian Air Forceâs Integrated Air Command and Control System IACCS This was instrumental in providing the shield during the operation Pakistan sent dozens of drones At first it was just harmless drones that flew in meant to distract Later it was the larger drones and despite trying to confuse and divert them the IACCS managed to take down each one Pakistan was not just launching the drones against the Indian armed forces attempts were made multiple times to target civilian territory but they were shot down successfully The operation also made India realise the importance of upgrading technology for future scenarios Wars would be fought using drones largely and securing the nation against them has become a top priority for the Narendra Modi government Post the operation the Government of India approved emergency procurements including replenishing S400 missile stocks drones counterdrone systems Javelin antitank guided missiles loitering munitions and precision munitions Further the IACCS equipment which is at seven sites is being refurbished with new components and equipment According to a request for proposal issued to the defence public sector undertakings by the IAF last week this was needed to mitigate a single point of failure in networked tactical nodes NTN This is critical for the IAFâs operations in its air defence network An official added that Operation Sindoor was a huge success and the slew of diplomatic measures that were taken in its aftermath also had a major impact India suspended trade ties diplomatic relations and placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance All this conveyed Indiaâs strong stance against Pakistansponsored terrorism Operation Sindoor also set an example of the jointness among the Indian armed forces The experts say that this was not just an operation to hit terror infrastructure It signalled a strategic shift in Indiaâs approach towards national security Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor was a reflection of the nationâs resolve to ensure justice and security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-year-on-operation-sindoor-continues-to-shape-indias-security-doctrine-672723.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-urges-evacuation-from-kyiv-in-note-to-foreign-diplomatic-missions-672725.html MoscowKyiv May 7 The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it had sent a note to all foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited with the ministry urging them to ensure the evacuation of personnel from Kyiv According to the statement the note referenced a warning on Monday by the Russian Defence Ministry about threats from the Ukrainian authorities to carry out attacks on Moscow during Victory Day celebrationsThe Russian Foreign Ministry called on governments and organisations to take the warning with maximum responsibility and ensure the timely evacuation of their staff and citizens from Kyiv given the inevitability of a retaliatory strike by the Russian forces against Kyiv if Ukraine interrupts the celebrations reports Xinhua news agencyThe ministry said Russian diplomatic missions abroad were also informing the countries of accreditation and international organisations of the situationOn Monday the Russian Defence Ministry warned that any attempts to disrupt the celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War would trigger a massive missile strike on central KyivVictory Day observed annually on May 9 to mark the Soviet Unions victory in the Great Patriotic War is one of Russias most important national holidays The Kremlin said in late April that a military parade would still be held in Red Square without military equipment because of security concernsMeanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Russia continues its military operations despite Ukraines proposal for a ceasefire and warned that Kyiv will respond in kindRussia has not stopped any of its military activity Unfortunately it has not ceased Ukraine will respond in a reciprocal manner Zelensky wrote on TelegramHe noted that Russia attacked seven Ukrainian regions on Wednesday despite a Kyivproposed ceasefire that took effect at midnightDepending on the situation tonight and tomorrow we will also decide on our fully fair response Zelensky saidHe emphasised that Ukraine remains committed to working for peace and seeks to end the conflict with dignityAlso on Monday Zelensky said Ukraine would implement a ceasefire with Russia starting Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-urges-evacuation-from-kyiv-in-note-to-foreign-diplomatic-missions-672725.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/republican-lawmakers-from-texas-seek-h-1b-fraud-probe-672726.html Washington May 7 Republican lawmakers from Texas have urged the Trump administration to launch a coordinated federal investigation into alleged H1B visa fraud in North Texas arguing that abuse of the programme is harming American workers and undermining confidence in the US immigration system In a letter sent to Vice President JD Vance Secretary of State Marco Rubio Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling and Secretary Mullin four Texas Members of Congress called for an interagency probe into what they described as âreported H1B fraud activities in North TexasâThe letter was led by Representative Beth Van Duyne of Texas and signed by Representatives Pat Fallon Ronny Jackson and Brandon GillThe lawmakers said the alleged activities were concentrated in the DallasFort Worth region including Collin Dallas Denton and Tarrant countiesâThe concentration of these activities in North Texas a major economic hub for our nation raises additional concerns about localised exploitation of the systemâ the lawmakers wroteâWhen bad actors are able to manipulate visa pathways at scale it distorts local labour markets suppresses wages and erodes trust in lawful immigration processesâ they saidVan Duyne said recent investigative reporting by independent journalists had exposed what she called âflagrant abuseâ of the H1B visa programme in North TexasâIâm thankful for my fellow North Texas Members in joining me to urge the Administration to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute these egregious violations of our immigration lawsâ she said in a statement released MondayVan Duyne compared the alleged abuses to other fraud investigations previously uncovered in different parts of the countryâMuch like we saw with the Nick Shirley investigative journalism which exposed Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota and rampant hospice fraud in Los Angeles California North Texas independent journalists have repeatedly uncovered flagrant abuse of the H1B visa programme concentrated in the DallasFort Worth areaâ she saidâH1B visa abuse is an affront to our country it harms American workers depresses wages leaves graduating university students without job prospects in their area of study and it must be stamped out for economic and national security reasonsâ Van Duyne addedThe lawmakers also pointed to earlier actions by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who launched separate investigations this year into alleged H1B abuse and labour displacement practicesAccording to the press release state officials cited instances in which companies allegedly dismissed qualified Texas workers and replaced them with lowerwage H1B employees The release also referred to accusations involving sham companies allegedly operating from residential addresses or unfinished buildingsThe Members of Congress asked federal agencies to conduct a âcoordinated interagency investigationâ into employers thirdparty agents and associated entities linked to the alleged fraudThey also urged the administration to review current H1B adjudication and verification procedures to identify weaknesses that may allow fraudulent job offers wage misrepresentation or improper labour condition applicationsThe lawmakers further called for stronger enforcement measures including increased audits of H1B sponsors and harsher penalties for entities found engaging in fraudulent or deceptive practicesTheir recommendations also included better coordination between the Departments of Homeland Security Labour and State to enable realtime verification of employment legitimacy and visa compliance IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/republican-lawmakers-from-texas-seek-h-1b-fraud-probe-672726.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-expert-ashley-tellis-espionage-case-dismissed-by-us-judge-672732.html Washington May 7 A federal judge in Virginia has dismissed without prejudice an Espionage Act case against IndianAmerican strategic affairs scholar Ashley J Tellis ruling in favour of a defence argument that prosecutors used the wrong statutory provision in charging him with unlawful retention of classified documents US District Judge Michael S Nachmanoff granted Tellisâ motion to dismiss on April 16 after hearing arguments from both sides in Alexandria Virginia The brief court order said the motion was âGRANTEDâ and that the case was âDISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICEâTellis a wellknown scholar of international security and US foreign policy had been charged under Section 793e of the Espionage Act with wilful retention of national defence information Prosecutors alleged he removed and stored classified documents at his residence while serving in senior positions linked to the US State Department and the Department of WarThe superseding indictment accused Tellis of retaining 11 classified documents containing national defence information The government alleged that he âexploited his access to classified information related to the national defence by secreting NDI from his secure workplaces and storing said NDI at his personal residence in hard copy and digital formâBut Tellisâ legal team argued that the government charged him under the wrong subsection of the Espionage Act In a detailed filing his lawyers said Section 793e applies only to people in âunauthorised possessionâ of classified information while the indictment itself acknowledged that Tellis held a highlevel security clearance and had been âentrustedâ with access to sensitive materialThe defence argued that Tellis âwas entrusted with the relevant documentsâ and therefore could not legally fall under the subsection prosecutors choseHis lawyers also noted that the government had not accused him of disseminating classified information or accessing files beyond his clearance authorityThe filing said prosecutors could have pursued other statutes including Section 793d or Section 1924 which deals with unauthorised removal and retention of classified material by government employees but âdeliberately chose to limit its indictment to the wrong provisionâFederal prosecutors had opposed attempts to relax Tellisâ strict bail conditions earlier in the case In one filing the government argued that Tellis remained both a flight risk and a danger to national security because he allegedly possessed âtens of thousands of pages of classified material including over 1000 pages of hardcopy TOP SECRET materialâThe government also alleged that some material involved information related to Chinaâs nuclear and military capabilities and said Tellis retained âdecadesâ worth of sensitive national defence information in his headâAfter the dismissal order Tellis filed an unopposed motion seeking release of his secured bond which prosecutors did not contest A separate court order later directed the government to respond to Tellisâ motion seeking the return of property seized during the investigationThe case drew attention in Washingtonâs national security and strategic affairs circles because of Tellisâ long career advising the US government on defence and IndoPacific policyCases involving alleged mishandling of classified information have intensified in recent years amid broader scrutiny of retention of sensitive national security material by current and former government officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-expert-ashley-tellis-espionage-case-dismissed-by-us-judge-672732.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-trump-on-chinese-ev-push-672735.html Washington May 7 More than 50 Republican lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to block Chinese automotive and battery companies from manufacturing in the United States arguing that such a move would threaten American jobs supply chains and national security In a letter led by Representatives Mike Kelly and Gus Bilirakis the lawmakers asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reject any effort by Chinese firms to establish vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the US or wider North American marketThe letter comes ahead of an expected meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade issuesâWe must be cleareyed about Chinaâs goals in expanding its automotive footprint across the globe Chinaâs intent is not fair competition as evident by their actions in other critical sectorsâ the lawmakers wroteThe lawmakers said the US automotive industry contributes more than 5 per cent of the countryâs GDP and supports millions of manufacturing jobs They warned that heavily subsidised Chinese companies could use ânonmarket tacticsâ to gain control over global automotive supply chainsâIf Chinese automotive companies were granted access to manufacture and sell vehicles and batteries in the US we risk decimating US manufacturing eroding global market share for US auto companies and leaving consumers and businesses exposed to serious cybersecurity and surveillance threatsâ the letter saidThe lawmakers accused China of artificially inflating production through government subsidies and pushing companies to export vehicles at belowmarket pricesâChinaâs goal is not to compete in the US automotive market but instead to hollow it out and ultimately limit consumer choice to Chinese brandsâ they wroteThe letter also raised concerns over data security and connected vehicle technology According to the lawmakers Chinesemade vehicles could collect and transmit sensitive information from US citizens and infrastructureâFurthermore the technology in todayâs vehicles could allow for remote access and potentially give Chinese actors control of these vehicles operating on American roadsâ the lawmakers saidThe group urged the administration to maintain existing restrictions including the Commerce Departmentâs connected vehicle rule and Section 301 tariffs on Chinese electric vehiclesThe lawmakers also linked the issue to the upcoming review of the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement USMCA They said Chinese stateowned enterprises were attempting to exploit North American trade frameworks to bypass US economic security measuresâEstablishing a formal foreign investment screening mechanism would help close this backdoor protect the agreementâs integrity and prevent further erosion of the US manufacturing baseâ the letter saidThe letter was signed by more than 50 House Republicans including lawmakers from Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania Texas and Florida states with strong automotive or manufacturing interestsChinese electric vehicle makers have rapidly expanded exports in recent years supported by largescale state subsidies and aggressive overseas investment The rise of Chinese EV companies has triggered trade and security debates in the US and Europe with governments increasingly scrutinising supply chains tied to batteries semiconductors and connected vehicle technologies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-trump-on-chinese-ev-push-672735.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-forces-strike-iranian-flagged-unladen-oil-tanker-672739.html Washington May 7 US forces struck and disabled an Iranianflagged unladen oil tanker sailing toward an Iranian port the US Central Command said on X The strike took place at 9 am US Eastern Time on Wednesday when the targeted vessel Hasna was transiting international waters en route to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman said the command in a statementAfter Hasnas crew failed to comply with repeated warnings US forces disabled the tankers rudder by firing several rounds from the 20mm cannon gun of a US Navy FA18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 the statement readHasna is no longer transiting to Iran it addedThe US blockade against ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect said the commandOne day earlier US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he has halted Pentagons mission to guide commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining its blockade of Iranian ports in full force and effect reports Xinhua news agencyMeanwhile Trump has claimed Iranâs military infrastructure had been heavily damaged during the conflictâThey had a Navy with 159 ships and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the waterâ he said âThey had an Air Force lots of planes and they donât have any planesâHe further claimed Iranâs antiaircraft systems radar capabilities and missile stockpiles had been âmostly decimatedââTheir leaders are all dead So I think we wonâ Trump saidâThey want to make a deal badlyâ Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday Local time âWeâve had very good talks over the last 24 hours and itâs very possible that weâll make a dealâTrump rejected suggestions that Iran remained defiantâWell why do you say they refused to submit You donât know thatâ he told a reporterThe President repeated his longstanding position that Tehran must never acquire nuclear weaponsâThey canât have nuclear weapons itâs very simpleâ Trump said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-forces-strike-iranian-flagged-unladen-oil-tanker-672739.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fake-labels-push-risky-chinese-goods-us-672759.html Washington May 7 The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched a nationwide crackdown on fake safety labels and counterfeit certification marks allegedly being used to push dangerous foreignmade products into American homes with a particular focus on products linked to China The federal agency on Wednesday local time announced a new enforcement initiative targeting companies and sellers accused of using counterfeit safety certifications to evade US consumer protection laws deceive buyers and undercut legitimate American businessesâFake safety labels are being used to push dangerous products into American homes while evading US law and undercutting honest businessesâ CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A Feldman said in a statementâWe will hold accountable those who cheat the system and put American families at riskâ Feldman addedThe Commission said many of the products under scrutiny originate overseas including from manufacturers operating in the Peopleâs Republic of ChinaAccording to the agency counterfeit certification marks are increasingly being used to bypass US safety requirements and move hazardous products through ecommerce platforms and other trade channelsThe crackdown comes as US regulators face growing concerns over the volume of imported consumer goods entering the country through online marketplacesAs part of the effort the CPSC has issued a formal request for information seeking public input on the scale and impact of fake consumer safety labels The agency said comments must be submitted within 60 days after publication in the Federal RegisterThe Commission is asking businesses consumer groups testing laboratories and consumers to provide information on the prevalence of counterfeit safety labels in retail and online stores the safety risks posed by such products methods used to detect fake markings and the broader economic impact on consumers and compliant businessesThe agency also wants recommendations on actions it can take under existing federal authoritiesUnder US law it is illegal to sell distribute or import consumer products carrying counterfeit certification marksThe Commission said information gathered through the public consultation process would help determine whether additional enforcement policy or regulatory measures are neededOfficials are also examining whether fake safety labels are part of wider schemes involving falsified testing documents deceptive import practices and coordinated attempts to bypass US consumer safety requirementsThe latest action builds on a broader CPSC campaign targeting unsafe imported products and tightening oversight of testing and certification systemsEarlier this year the agency withdrew accreditation from four Chinabased testing laboratories after identifying what it described as unreliable and falsified test results that could have allowed hazardous products into the American marketThe Commission has also recently taken action against imported products including leadleaching faucets dangerous electrical appliances and counterfeit toys that posed choking hazards IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fake-labels-push-risky-chinese-goods-us-672759.html Thu, 07 May 2026 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-seeks-un-action-over-hormuz-threat-672532.html Washington May 6 The United States has proposed a UN Security Council resolution accusing Iran of threatening global shipping and destabilising one of the worlds most critical energy routes the Strait of Hormuz US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the Trump administration working with key Gulf allies had drafted the resolution to defend freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway through which a major share of global oil shipments passesThe Islamic Republic of Iran continues to hold the worlds economy hostage with its efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz threats to attack ships in the Strait laying of sea mines that pose a danger to shipping and attempts to charge tolls for the worlds most important waterway Rubio said in a US State Department statementThe proposal comes amid growing tensions in the Gulf region and renewed concerns over disruptions to global trade and energy suppliesThe Secretary of State said the draft resolution was prepared at President Trumps direction alongside Bahrain and Gulf partners Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates Kuwait and QatarAccording to the US State Department the resolution requires Iran to cease attacks mining and tolling in the Strait of HormuzIt also demands that Tehran disclose the number and location of the sea mines it has laid and cooperate with efforts to remove themThe draft further supports the establishment of a humanitarian corridor though the statement did not provide details on how such a corridor would operateThe United States looks forward to this resolution being voted on in the coming days and to receiving support from Security Council members and a broad base of cosponsors Rubio saidThe Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds most strategically important maritime passages linking Gulf oil producers to global markets through the Arabian SeaAny disruption in the narrow shipping lane can rapidly affect crude prices shipping costs and international supply chainsThe UN Security Council has debated maritime security issues linked to Iran several times in recent years though divisions among major powers including China and Russia have often complicated efforts to pass coordinated measures targeting TehranChina one of the worlds largest importers of Gulf energy supplies closely monitors developments in the Strait of Hormuz because of its importance to global oil flows and trade routes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-seeks-un-action-over-hormuz-threat-672532.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-multi-party-delegation-in-taiwan-for-six-day-visit-till-may-9-672533.html Taipei May 6 A crossparty delegation of Indian political leaders arrived in Taiwan for a sixday visit till May 9 at the invitation of the Taiwan government the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The delegation includes new generation political leaders from major Indian political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP the National Peoples Party NPP Congress and the Shiv SenaUBT the Ministry said on TuesdayThe Ministry expressed its sincere welcome to the delegation and added that during their stay in Taiwan the delegation will visit relevant government agencies and participate in related eventsThe Ministry said that it hopes the guests gain a better understanding of Taiwans current developments in areas such as democracy human rights economy and technology as well as education and culture and to further deepen friendly ties with TaiwanIndia is an important likeminded and friendly country in the IndoPacific region Under the comprehensive diplomacy policy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to expand exchanges with India in various fields steadily enhance bilateral relations and jointly contribute to the peace stability and prosperity of the IndoPacific region the Ministry addedMeanwhile Taiwan news reported that the delegations visit comes as India and Taiwan are in the process of finalising a labour deal Under which Taiwan would accept 1000 Indian migrant workersIt also added that Labour Minister Hung Shenhan said the plan could proceed as early as this year depending on demand from Taiwanese businesses and whether Indias implementation plan meets Taiwans regulatory standardsIn March 2026 the Taiwan Foreign Ministry said that Taiwan and India completed the signing of an MoU on labour force cooperation on February 16 this yearIt added that this accord will bolster peopletopeople exchanges between the two countries and help alleviate labour shortages in Taiwans industriesThe statement also highlighted that Taiwan will spare no effort in advancing cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two countries with the aim of further elevating cooperation and partnership between Taiwan and India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-multi-party-delegation-in-taiwan-for-six-day-visit-till-may-9-672533.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-presses-china-over-iran-support-672542.html Washington May 6 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped up pressure on China and Russia over the Strait of Hormuz crisis warning that countries helping Iran evade sanctions could face economic consequences from the United States Speaking during a White House briefing Rubio said the Trump administration was preparing a renewed push at the United Nations while also warning Beijing that its economic interests were being harmed by Iranâs actions in the GulfâWeâre going to the UNâ Rubio said âWeâre going to give it another chance to be a forum in which weâre not even asking people to commit troops to the regionâThe administration is seeking international condemnation of Iran over attacks on commercial shipping and the mining of international waters in the Strait of HormuzâAll weâre asking them to do is to condemn it to call on Iran to stop blowing ships to remove these mines and to allow humanitarian relief to come throughâ Rubio saidRubio acknowledged that a similar UN effort had previously faced resistance from China and RussiaâWeâve made some slight adjustments to the languageâ he said âI donât know if itâll avoid a veto or notâThe secretary of state described the crisis as a test of the credibility of the United Nations systemâWhat is the purpose of the UNâ Rubio asked âThe UN was supposed to be a place where you could peacefully resolve global conflictâRubio repeatedly accused Iran of unlawfully trying to control one of the worldâs most important shipping corridorsâThese guys are bombing commercial vesselsâ Rubio said âTheyâre not bombing naval vessels theyâre bombing commercial tankersâThe Trump administration has increasingly focused on Chinaâs economic relationship with Iran as Washington expands sanctions enforcementRubio warned that foreign financial institutions and companies helping Tehran bypass sanctions could face secondary sanctions and loss of access to the US financial systemâWeâre serious about our sanctionsâ Rubio said âA cost needs to be imposed on Iran for what they are doingâAsked specifically whether Chinese banks could face penalties Rubio declined to announce specific measures but indicated Treasury officials were actively examining enforcement optionsâIf you ignore our sanctions youâre going to face secondary sanctionsâ Rubio saidRubio also addressed the growing relationship between Beijing and Tehran following a recent visit by Iranâs foreign minister to ChinaâI hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be toldâ Rubio said âThat what you were doing in the straits is causing you to be globally isolatedâThe secretary of state argued that Chinaâs exportdriven economy would also suffer if instability in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global trade flowsâChina is an exportdriven economyâ Rubio said âWell you canât buy from them if you canât ship it there and you canât buy from them if your economy is being destroyed by what Iran is doingâRubio said it was in Chinaâs own interest to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait and halt attacks on shippingâIt is in Chinaâs interest that Iran stop closing the straitsâ he said âItâs harming China as wellâThe briefing also touched on broader USChina tensions ahead of President Donald Trumpâs upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi JinpingRubio said Taiwan would likely remain a topic of discussion between the two leadersâI think both countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see anything destabilise happen in that part of the worldâ Rubio said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-presses-china-over-iran-support-672542.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-worlds-top-receiver-of-remittances-from-workers-overseas-672543.html United Nations May 6 India is the worldâs top receiver of remittances from workers overseas getting 1377 billion in 2024 up from 832billion in 2020 according to the International Organisation for Migration IOM Overall the IOMâs International Migration Report for 2026 released here on Tuesday said the US is the top source of remittances to all countries sending out 1032 billion followed by Saudi Arabia a distant second with 466 billionThe report said that South Asia was expected to have the highest growth in remittances at 118 per cent in 2024The worldâs fifthlargest âmigration corridorâ or the direction of migration is from India to the United Arab Emirates UAE and is made up mainly of migrant workers it saidIt said that there were more than 3 million Indians there the top nationality in the UAE A previous report gave a more precise number 347 million in 2020The India to US migration came next with about 32 million Indian migrants living there in 2024 making up the second largest foreignborn group after MexicansâThe number of international migrants from India has increased continuously and significantly over the last several decades with many arriving in the United States as highly skilled workers or international studentsâ the IOM saidIn Oceania the second largest migrant route was from India to Australia with about 876000 Indians thereOn the contribution of migrants to their home countries it said âBy acquiring knowledge about advanced technology capital and professional contacts they drive direct investment favour home country entities in outsourcing contracts and promote tourism collectively strengthening bilateral economic linkages and developmentââThe Indian diaspora has been instrumental in the expansion of Indiaâs technology sectorâ the report saidOn the political front it said âThe Indian diaspora in the United States particularly through organisations like the United StatesâIndia Political Action Committee USINPAC has influenced United StatesâIndia relationsââIndianAmericans have played a role in strengthening bilateral trade agreements defence cooperation and visa policies that benefit both countriesâ it addedNew Delhi has been reaching out to its migrants to involve them in their homeland it saidâIndiaâs brain gain efforts include annual diaspora conventions and innovation hubs to entice Indian scientists and entrepreneurs back or to mentor startups remotelyâ it saidThe report spoke of the investment opportunities countries offer their migrants through vehicles like diaspora bonds that give higher rates of returns and reinforce their âsentiments of patriotismâIndia raised over 10 billion through such bonds it saidWhile India does not have a specific disapora bond New Delhi encourages nonresident Indians to invest in a variety of government and public and private sector bondsCountries with dedicated diaspora policies see significantly higher remittance inflows and diaspora investments than those withoutâ it addedIndia ranked second for students abroad with over 620000 the report saidâWhen graduates return home it said âthey can spur innovation improve industry practices and contribute to economic and social developmentâThe report emphasised the need for overcoming âmobility inequalitiesâ through âgeographic freemovement arrangements â for âsafe orderly and regular migration globallyâAsked at the news conference to release the report about recent agreements India made with the European Union Britain Germany New Zealand and the European Union that cover labour movement IOM Spokesperson Zoe Brennan declined to comment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-worlds-top-receiver-of-remittances-from-workers-overseas-672543.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-urged-to-reverse-russia-oil-waiver-672544.html Washington May 6 A group of US senators has accused the Trump administration of handing Russian President Vladimir Putin a financial windfall by pausing sanctions on Russian oil exports during a global energy crisis In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 13 top Democratic senators urged the Trump administration to immediately restore sanctions on Russian oil deliveries and intensify efforts to curb Moscowâs energy revenues amid the ongoing Ukraine warâWe urge the Trump Administration to resume the Russia oil sanctions your Department recently paused by issuing and then extending a General License on deliveries of Russian oilâ the senators wroteâWe also urge the Administration and your Department to take immediate additional steps to limit the windfall profits Russia and its intermediaries continue to earn due to elevated energy prices stemming from President Trumpâs unauthorized war with IranâThe letter was led by Senator Michael Bennet and signed by Senators Adam Schiff Alex Padilla Elizabeth Warren Tammy Baldwin Richard Blumenthal Jeff Merkley Raphael Warnock and othersThe lawmakers argued that the administration underestimated the impact of the Iran conflict on global energy markets especially the risk to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a critical route for global oil and gas suppliesâDespite warnings from US government and outside experts the Trump Administration failed to anticipate or plan for the likelihood that an openended war with Iran would spike global energy pricesâ the senators wrote They noted that nearly 20 per cent of the worldâs oil and gas passes through the Strait of HormuzAccording to the senators higher oil prices have directly benefited MoscowâThe Presidentâs selfmade global energy crisis has predictably increased average national gasoline prices by over 85 cents a gallon and also raised the price of Russian oil risking the replenishment of funding for Putinâs war machineâ the letter said âEstimates suggest that Russiaâs oil revenue has doubled in AprilâThe senators also criticised the administrationâs March decision to temporarily ease restrictions on Russian oil cargoes already at sea They said the move weakened international pressure on Moscow without significantly lowering fuel prices in the United StatesâPausing these sanctions has had and will continue to have at best a limited effect on domestic gasoline costs or global oil pricesâ the lawmakers wrote âDoing so instead removed the stigma that had been driving discounted prices for Russian oil and allowed Russia to sell or resell cargoes to buyers now willing to pay higher pricesâThe letter also accused the administration of quietly extending the waiver despite earlier public statements suggesting it would not be renewedâWhen the initial sanctions pause expired after 30 days you stated publicly that the Administration would not seek further extensionâ the senators wrote âDespite this just days later in late April the Administration extended the pause for another 30day period without explanation on the reversal of policyâThe lawmakers warned that easing sanctions while reducing pressure on Russiaâs oil networks and âshadow fleetâ vessels could embolden Moscow and undermine US alliesâFailure to put more pressure on the Kremlin â would embolden Putin to continue waging his war against Ukraine aiding Iranâs attacks on US troops and threatening our NATO alliesâ the letter said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-urged-to-reverse-russia-oil-waiver-672544.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rubio-warns-iran-of-total-defeat-672546.html Washington May 6 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran it faced âeconomic collapseâ and âtotal defeatâ unless it abandoned efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz and agreed to a diplomatic solution over its nuclear programme At a White House briefing Rubio said the Trump administration was intensifying military economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran following weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian GulfâThe time has come for Iran to make a sensible choiceâ Rubio said âThe alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeatâRubio accused Iran of illegally mining international waters targeting commercial ships and threatening one of the worldâs most critical shipping lanesHe said the US military operation known as âProject Freedomâ was designed to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while broader sanctions continued to weaken Iranâs economyâThe blockade alone is costing Iran as much as 500 million a day in lost revenueâ Rubio said âNinety per cent of total Iranian trade has been haltedâThe secretary of state said Washington was prepared to continue increasing pressure unless Tehran returned to negotiations over its nuclear activitiesâThe president our president has proven time and again that his preference is peaceâ Rubio said âBut Iran must accept the reality of this situation and come to the negotiation tableâRubio repeatedly argued that Iran could not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons saying Tehranâs actions in the Strait demonstrated the danger it would pose if armed with nuclear capabilityâA nuclear armed Iran could do whatever the hell they want with the Straitsâ Rubio said âThatâs the world none of us want to leave behindâHe said Iran had long insisted it did not seek nuclear weapons while simultaneously pursuing activities consistent with military nuclear developmentâThey innovate and try to innovate longrange delivery missilesâ Rubio said âThey build these large underground centrifuges for enrichment activityâRubio also pointed to Iranâs stockpile of highly enriched uraniumâWe know for a fact that they retain highly enriched uranium at 60 per cent that they did so and that has no civilian useâ he saidThe secretary of state said diplomacy remained possible but warned that the US would continue using military and economic leverage while talks proceededâIf thereâs a real diplomatic path we continue to explore itâ Rubio said âThe diplomatic path could lead them to reconstruction to prosperity and to stabilityâAt the same time Rubio said recent US military operations had severely weakened Iranâs military capabilitiesâThey donât have a Navy leftâ Rubio said âThey donât have an Air ForceâHe said Iranâs missilelaunching capacity and defence industrial base had suffered extensive damageâTheir ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear programme was wiped outâ Rubio saidRubio also described Iranâs leadership as divided and increasingly isolated under mounting economic pressureâThere has to be a pressure point on them that causes them to realise they cannot continue to close the Straitsâ he saidThe Trump administration has linked sanctions enforcement directly to the maritime crisis warning foreign financial institutions and commercial actors against helping Tehran evade restrictionsâAny foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables Iranâs sanctions evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposureâ Rubio said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rubio-warns-iran-of-total-defeat-672546.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-arrives-in-suriname-to-hold-bilateral-talks-with-top-leadership-672547.html Paramaribo May 6 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday Indian time arrived in Suriname in the second leg of his threenation visit and was welcomed by his counterpart Melvin Bouva In a post on X the EAM said Arrived in Paramaribo Suriname for my first visit Really touched to be personally received by FM Melvin Bouva Looking forward to our talks tomorrow He will hold a series of bilateral talks with the Suriname leadership during his visit to boost cooperationFollowing this EAM Jaishankar will also visit Trinidad and Tobago Earlier he visited JamaicaThe MEA said these countries share a special connection with India owing to the presence of Girmitiya communitiesGirmitiyas were Indian indentured labourers who left India in the mid to late 19th century to work in British colonies where many eventually settled The term Girmit is a mispronunciation of agreement referring to the contract under which they migratedMeanwhile the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said that India will be supplying 30 dialysis units along with 40 fishing boats with engines 200 GPS devices and related equipment to Jamaica EAM Jaishankar had announced the decision to supply dialysis units fishing boats and GPS devices as support to Jamaicas recovery following last years devastating Hurricane Melissa He also handed over 10 BHISHM emergency medical units to the Caribbean nation during the firstever bilateral visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to JamaicaDuring his May 24 visit EAM Jaishankar also called on Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and held delegationlevel talks with Kamina Johnson Smith Jamaicas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeThe MEA stated that three Memoranda of Understanding MoU were signed between India and Jamaica in the areas of health cooperation solarisation of The Hugh Lawson Shearer Building and broadcasting Both sides also reviewed the status of implementation of existing agreements in digital transformation culture sports and digital payments and emphasised the importance of ensuring tangible outcomesAccording to the statement both sides discussed expanding cooperation in priority sectors including healthcare infrastructure digitalisation agriculture education tourism and capacity building India reiterated its commitment through enhanced ITEC training slots particularly for defence training from six to 34 slots They also discussed capacity building with ICCR scholarships and digital learning platforms such as EVidyabharati and iGOT KarmyogiIndia appreciated Jamaicas support for its candidature for a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2028â29 it addedThe statement mentioned that both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and reiterated the need for early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism CCITEAM also announced a contribution of JMD two million for the celebration of India Arrival Day on May 10During his visit to Kingston he also interacted with the local business community members of the Indian diaspora and participated in a public conversation at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-arrives-in-suriname-to-hold-bilateral-talks-with-top-leadership-672547.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-announces-74-million-aud-for-security-hub-to-counter-online-extremism-672549.html Canberra May 6 Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday at a press conference announced 74 million Australian dollars about 488 million for a security centre to crack down on online violent extremism and terrorism The newly created Counter Terrorism Online Centre will be led by Australias security agency ASIO and the Australian Federal Police AFPBurke said the AFP had put in 31 charges under new offenses on online extremism and radicalization and 19 of them are minorsThis feature of young people being radicalised fast online is real and the agencies as is evident in those charges that have been brought to bear by the Australian Federal Police have been acting on this Burke saidAFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett noted that terrorists are manipulating vulnerable and susceptible individuals at rapid speed in part because emerging technology has blurred the boundary between the virtual and real worldsThe speed and scale of radicalisation is becoming one of our most significant challenges especially when it comes to youth she saidInvestigators and intelligence analysts will work together to monitor highrisk online spaces assess threats and disrupt extremist activities including through undercover online engagement Xinhua news agency reportedOnline extremism involves using the internet to spread hateful violent or radically intolerant ideologies often employing social media encrypted messaging and games to radicalise recruit and incite violence This digital landscape serves as a virtual training ground for propaganda logistics and organising terrorist acts Extremists are manipulating vulnerable young people at rapid speed with the median age of investigation dropping to 15 and some cases involving children as young as 12Extremists use mainstream platforms alttech sites encrypted messaging apps and sometimes video game platforms to share propaganda and foster filter bubbles that promote radical content IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-announces-74-million-aud-for-security-hub-to-counter-online-extremism-672549.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-trade-gap-widens-india-deficit-narrows-672551.html Washington May 6 The United States trade deficit widened in March as imports outpaced exports even as the American goods gap with India narrowed compared to the same period last year according to official data The US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis said the overall goods and services deficit rose to 603 billion in March up 25 billion from a revised 578 billion in FebruaryUS exports in March stood at 3209 billion an increase of 62 billion from February while imports climbed by 87 billion to 3812 billionFor India the latest figures showed the US goods trade deficit with the country at 38 billion in March on a seasonally adjusted basis lower than the 74 billion deficit recorded in March 2025The detailed country data showed US exports to India rose to about 43 billion in March while imports from India totalled around 84 billionThe report comes at a time when India and the US are engaged in negotiations over trade access supply chains technology cooperation and tariff issues amid broader efforts to deepen economic tiesThe March increase in the overall US trade deficit was driven largely by a rise in the goods deficit which increased 41 billion to 887 billion The services surplus also widened by 16 billion to 284 billionExports of industrial supplies and materials increased sharply by 5 billion in March led by higher crude oil and petroleum product shipments Crude oil exports alone rose by 28 billionImports meanwhile were boosted by a surge in automotive products consumer goods and capital goods Imports of automotive vehicles parts and engines increased by 36 billion while passenger car imports rose by 28 billionImports of computer accessories increased by 2 billion reflecting continued demand for electronics and technology productsThe data also showed that the US goods deficit with China stood at 14 billion in March while deficits with Vietnam and Taiwan remained significantly higher at 192 billion and 206 billion respectivelyIndia ranked among the countries with which the US recorded sizeable trade deficits though the gap remained far smaller than those with China Mexico and VietnamYeartodate the US goods and services deficit declined by 2112 billion or 55 per cent from the same period in 2025 Exports rose by 1002 billion while imports fell by 111 billionThe report also noted that the average threemonth US trade deficit fell to 576 billion for the period ending March indicating some moderation despite the monthly riseIndia and the United States have steadily expanded bilateral trade over the past decade with sectors such as pharmaceuticals information technology services electronics energy and engineering goods driving growth Washington remains one of Indiaâs largest export destinationsTrade tensions however have persisted over tariffs market access digital trade rules and supply chain localisation Both governments have recently intensified talks aimed at strengthening economic cooperation while reducing friction in strategic sectors including semiconductors clean energy and advanced manufacturing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-trade-gap-widens-india-deficit-narrows-672551.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-launches-new-system-to-regulate-shipping-through-strait-of-hormuz-report-672552.html Tehran May 6 Iran has launched a new system to control ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz state media reported continuing a maritime standoff that now involves a US blockade and threats of military action Under the new rules all ships planning to pass through the narrow waterway must receive permission via email from Iranian authorities reports Xinhua news agency quoting staterun Press TV Iran is calling the initiative a sovereign governance systemShips would be required to adjust their operations accordingly and obtain permission before entering the waterway Press TV reported It described the initiative as a sovereign governance system now in effect in the strategic chokepointIran has tightened its approach to the Strait of Hormuz since February 28 when it said it would deny safe passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territoryIrans parliament is also considering legislation that would formalise restrictions on vessels tied to Israel and the United States and introduce a toll system for other ships deemed nonhostileThe claims come amid heightened tensions over the waterway The United States has also imposed restrictions affecting ships travelling to and from Iranian ports following unsuccessful postceasefire negotiations with Tehran in Islamabad on April 11 and 12US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would begin escorting ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning under what he called Project Freedom describing it as a humanitarian measureIn response Irans Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters the countrys joint military command warned in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency that any foreign armed forces especially the aggressive US army will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-launches-new-system-to-regulate-shipping-through-strait-of-hormuz-report-672552.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-suspected-hantavirus-cases-to-be-evacuated-to-the-netherlands-672555.html The Hague May 6 Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that two crew members suspected of having hantavirus will be evacuated to the Netherlands though no specific timeline has been provided The medical evacuation of two individuals currently requiring urgent medical care and the individual associated with the guest who passed away on May 2 will occur using two specialised aircraft that are en route to Cape Verde the company said in a statement late Tuesday local timeOnce the three individuals have been safely transferred and are on their way to the Netherlands the Dutchflagged cruise ship Hondius where the cases were detected will begin repositioning reports Xinhua news agencyOur plan is to proceed to the Canary Islands either Gran Canaria or Tenerife which will take three days of sailing the statement added noting that discussions with relevant authorities are ongoingThe World Health Organization WHO said on Monday that seven hantavirus cases had been reported aboard Hondius while emphasising that the overall risk to the public remains low On Tuesday the WHO said that Hantavirus victims on the ship Hundius in the Atlantic Ocean may have been infected prior to joining the cruise and humantohuman transmission on board cannot be ruled outThe agency received reports of a hantavirus outbreak on the Hundius on May 2 Seven individuals of the 147 passengers and crew have been reported ill and three have died The situation remains fluid WHOs chief of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Maria Van Kerkhove told reporters in GenevaOne patient is in intensive care in South Africa although we understand that this patient is improving she said adding that two other patients still on board the ship are being prepared for medical evacuation to the Netherlands for treatmentVan Kerkhove stressed that the situation is being closely monitored As a precaution passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins while disinfection and other public health measures are carried outThe plan is and our highest priority is to medically evacuate these two individuals to make sure that they receive the required care and there are no other symptomatic patients on board she saidThe ship is set to continue on to the Canary Islands Spain and the WHO is working with the Spanish authorities to do a full epidemiologic investigation full disinfection of the ship she addedHantaviruses are carried by rodents and can cause severe disease in humans Thousands of infections are estimated to occur each year People usually get infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine their droppings or their salivaAs to the suspected origins of the virus Van Kerkhove said that the initial patients a husband and wife boarded the ship in ArgentinaWith the timing of the incubation period of hantavirus which can be anywhere from one to six weeks our assumption is that they were infected off the ship she saidWe do believe that there may be some humantohuman transmission thats happening among the really close contacts such as the husband and wife and others who have shared cabins she notedAccording to the WHO humantohuman transmission of infection with hantavirus between people is uncommon but limited spread has been reported among close contacts in previous outbreaks of the Andes virus which is part of the hantavirus groupThere are no specific treatments for hantavirus other than supportive care Typically people will develop respiratory symptoms so respiratory support is really important Van Kerkhove said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-suspected-hantavirus-cases-to-be-evacuated-to-the-netherlands-672555.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-welcomes-russian-ukrainian-unilateral-ceasefires-672556.html United Nations May 6 The United Nations welcomes the unilateral ceasefires announced respectively by Ukraine and Russia said a UN spokesperson We welcome the unilateral ceasefire announced by Ukraine to begin on the night of 5 to 6 May as well as the one by the Russian Federation to take place over 8 and 9 May said Stephane Dujarric spokesman for UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres on Tuesday local timeThe secretarygeneral looks forward to their successful implementation and reiterates his call for a full immediate unconditional and lasting ceasefire leading to a just comprehensive and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter international law and relevant UN resolutions Dujarric told a daily press briefingRussias Defence Ministry on Monday declared a Victory Day ceasefire on May 89 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Monday night that Ukraine will start a ceasefire with Russia starting Wednesday reports Xinhua news agency Earlier on the same day Ukrainian officials reported that at least 17 people were killed and 52 others injured on Tuesday in separate Russian aerial attacks on two Ukrainian citiesIn the southern city of Zaporizhzhia guided aerial bombs struck several enterprises killing 12 people and wounding 39 others regional Governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on TelegramThe strikes also caused fires and damaged private houses a vehicle service station and a car washIn the eastern city of Kramatorsk three highexplosive aerial bombs hit the central district killing at least five people and injuring 13 others according to regional Governor Vadym FilashkinFour administrative buildings and several apartment blocks and vehicles were damaged in the attack Filashkin wrote on Telegram adding that the exact number of victims was being established IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-welcomes-russian-ukrainian-unilateral-ceasefires-672556.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-has-not-attacked-uae-in-recent-days-top-military-command-672558.html Tehran May 6 Irans main military command Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters said that the countrys armed forces have carried out no missile or drone operation against the United Arab Emirates UAE over the past days the semiofficial Fars news agency reported Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari made the announcement on Tuesday local time stressing that if Iran had taken such actions we would announce it decisively and explicitlyHe rejected a report by the UAE that accused Iran of launching drone and missile attacks against the country calling on the UAEs officials and statesmen not to let their country fall into the trap laid by the United States and Israel reports Xinhua news agencyZolfaghari also urged them not to wage a media invasion against Iran and hurl unjustified accusations against the country noting that the UAE has become one of the main bases of the United States and Israel in the West Asia region and is home to a major part of their troops and military equipmentHe emphasised that Iran has exercised restraint so far in the face of the UAEs media hype and assistance to the Muslim worlds enemies solely for the sake of the security of the Arab states people warning that if any action is taken from the UAEs soil against Iranian islands and coasts we will give a crushing and regretinducing responseOn Monday the UAE said Iran had carried out renewed attacks using missiles and drones against the country hitting sites including the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and injuring three Indian nationalsMeanwhile Iranian state TV IRIB citing a military source said Iran had no preplanned intention to target oil facilities It also blamed US military adventurism for creating conditions that allowed vessels to pass through what it called restricted areas of the Strait of Hormuz IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-has-not-attacked-uae-in-recent-days-top-military-command-672558.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-job-openings-remain-unchanged-in-march-672559.html Washington May 6 US job openings remained unchanged in March at 69 million according to data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics The labour market has been volatile this year after a lacklustre year in 2025 with the Middle East conflict introducing significant uncertainty into the economic forecast and labour marketThe Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that layoffs increased in March However hiring increased and more people quit their jobs evidence of confidence in the current state of the economyAfter peaking at 123 million in March 2022 job openings have decreased steadily Strong hiring has been discouraged by a combination of high interest rates uncertainty about policies and the impact of artificial intelligence according to US media reports on Tuesday local timeSo far this year the creation of jobs has been inconsistent being robust in January 160000 new jobs and March 178000 but sluggish in February when employers cut 133000 positions reports Xinhua news agency quoting US mediaThe US Department of Labor is slated to put out its employment report for April this Friday According to a survey from FactSet the report is forecast to show that firms government agencies and nonprofits added 57000 net jobs with a jobless rate at 43 per cent as reported by the Associated PressSome economists foresee a falloff in hiring going forward Dean Baker cofounder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research told Xinhua My guess is that we will see a falloff in hiring in April primarily in restaurants Higher gas prices are sapping peoples purchasing powerThe hiring and jobs situation could also have a political dynamic in the leadup to Novembers midterm electionsBrookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua There have been a number of job layoffs from major companies and people are worried about their economic futuresIndeed the issue is a thorny one for the Trump administration at a time of recordhigh prices for rent homeownership and food as well as high mortgage rates that have put a damper on many Americans ability to purchase a homeThis is challenging for President Donald Trump because he campaigned as a businessman who could revive the economy West saidCosts are rising and it is difficult for people to make ends meet West said adding that if Trump does not reverse course his Republican Party could fare poorly in the midtermsUnless he can reverse course Republicans face a dismal outlook in the upcoming midterm elections West said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-job-openings-remain-unchanged-in-march-672559.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mexican-president-warns-against-foreign-meddling-672560.html Mexico City May 6 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the Cinco de Mayo holiday by declaring that no foreign power should dictate the countrys course and that political opponents seeking support from abroad are destined to fail Commemorating the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla on Tuesday local time when Mexican forces defeated a much larger invading French army Sheinbaum stressed that nothing is more important than sovereignty independence and the national interests of the Mexican peopleThose who seek foreign support as they lack the peoples support are destined for defeat Those who think the president is bowing down they are destined for defeat Sheinbaum said in a speech in the central state of PueblaHer remarks come just days after the US government requested the extradition of 10 Mexican citizens including the governor of northwest Sinaloa state Ruben Rocha Moya for alleged crimes in connection with arms and drug trafficking reports Xinhua news agencyThey also follow the recent revelation that two US CIA agents who were killed in an antinarcotics operation in northern Chihuahua state were operating on Mexican soil without the knowledge of the federal governmentTo our neighbours to the United States we say we are clear and resolute History tells us that the people of Mexico are not mistaken when it comes to defending national sovereignty no foreign power is going to tell Mexicans how to govern ourselves said SheinbaumAt the commemorative event the president swore in 31000 soldiers into the National Military Service and nearly 800 female volunteers whom she called upon to keep alive the memory of May 5 1862 as a symbol of resistance against foreign invasions and internal divisions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mexican-president-warns-against-foreign-meddling-672560.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/new-zealand-unemployment-down-to-53-pc-in-q1-672563.html Wellington May 6 New Zealands unemployment rate eased to 53 per cent in the March 2026 quarter from 54 per cent in the December 2025 quarter Stats NZ said on Wednesday The statistics department reported the number of unemployed falling to 163000 in the March 2026 quarter from 165000 in the December 2025 quarter with the employment rate standing at 667 per cent reports Xinhua news agencyThe underutilisation rate a broader measure of untapped labour market capacity than unemployment remained the same at 129 per cent with 406000 underutilised people in the March 2026 quarter the department saidIt added that the measure includes unemployed and underemployed people as well as those in the potential labour forceMeanwhile annual wage inflation was 2 per cent in the March 2026 quarter compared with a 31 per cent rise in the consumer price index while average ordinarytime hourly earnings reached 4412 NZ dollars 2611 US dollars Stats NZ saidThe proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 not in employment education or training NEET rose to 144 per cent in the March 2026 quarter from 133 per cent in the December quarter it said highlighting the growing difficulty for young people entering the labour marketYoung women continued to face higher disengagement rates than men with the NEET rate for women aged 20 to 24 rising 19 percentage points to 203 per cent in the March 2026 quarter Stats NZ labour market spokesperson Abby Johnston was quoted as sayingEconomists warned that the Middle East conflict and rising fuel costs could dampen business sentiment likely leading firms to pause hiring in the coming months IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/new-zealand-unemployment-down-to-53-pc-in-q1-672563.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/vietnams-prez-to-lam-accorded-ceremonial-welcome-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-672566.html New Delhi May 6 Vietnamese President To Lam was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed the Vietnamese President upon his arrivalChildren in traditional costumes holding the Vietnamese national flag and the Tricolour also warmly welcomed the visiting leaderPresident To Lam arrived in Bihars Gayaji on Tuesday where Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary extended a warm welcome to him He then offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya Later on Tuesday he landed in Delhi Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai welcomed the visiting leader at the airportLater National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval called on Vietnams President To Lam on Tuesday holding discussions on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations NSA Shri Ajit Doval called on General Secretary President Mr To Lam of Vietnam They exchanged views on strengthening the multifaceted comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries Mr To Lam looked forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the engagements scheduled over the next two days Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on XThe MEA stated that President To Lams visit to India will strengthen bilateral tiesChao mung Excellency General Secretary President of Vietnam Mr To Lam has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India He was accorded a warm welcome and received by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai Jaiswal posted on XThis year we are marking the milestone of 10 years of IndiaVietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership The visit will further strengthen our multifaceted and robust bilateral relations he addedTo Lam also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will be in India till May 7 This is his first visit to India after being elected as the President of Vietnam last monthFollowing this Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wideranging discussions with President To Lam across the spectrum of bilateral relations along with regional and global issues of mutual interestPresident Droupadi Murmu will also hold a meeting with the visiting leader Other leaders are also expected to call on President To Lam in New DelhiDuring his visit President To Lam is also scheduled to travel to Mumbai He will visit the National Stock Exchange meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Governor He is also scheduled to attend a business forum in MumbaiIndia and Vietnam share historical and civilisational ties which have steadily deepened over the years President To Lams visit coincides with the special occasion of the two countries marking the 10th anniversary of the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Vietnam in 2016 the MEA stated earlierThe engagement between leaders is expected to provide fresh momentum to the robust bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/vietnams-prez-to-lam-accorded-ceremonial-welcome-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-672566.html Wed, 06 May 2026 10:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-companies-plan-to-invest-over-205-billion-in-us-sergio-gor-672574.html New Delhi May 6 Indian companies have lined up investments worth over 205 billion across sectors such as technology manufacturing and pharmaceuticals in the United States US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Wednesday describing the momentum as a direct outcome of President Donald Trumps economic leadership In a post on social media platform X the envoy said that 12 Indian companies announced fresh investments worth 11 billion in a single day adding to a growing pipeline of commitments that he said were creating âreal American jobsâ and strengthening supply chains between the two countriesâThese partnerships are creating real American jobs and building stronger supply chainsâ Gor wroteHe further added that the investment flow was âproof that when the worlds largest democracies do business together everyone winsâThe ambassadors remarks come at a time when India and the United States are deepening economic ties across multiple fronts with bilateral trade defence cooperation and technology partnerships all gaining pace under the current administrations in both countriesGor however did not disclose the names of the 12 Indian companies that announced investments in the USEarlier in March the US trade deficit widened as imports outpaced exports even as the American goods gap with India narrowed compared to the same period last yearThe US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis said the overall goods and services deficit rose to 603 billion in the month up 25 billion from a revised 578 billion in FebruaryMoreover US exports in March stood at 3209 billion an increase of 62 billion from February while imports climbed by 87 billion to 3812 billionThe detailed country data showed US exports to India rose to about 43 billion in March while imports from India totalled around 84 billion IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-companies-plan-to-invest-over-205-billion-in-us-sergio-gor-672574.html Wed, 06 May 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-vietnams-prez-to-lam-hold-bilateral-talks-at-hyderabad-house-672589.html New Delhi May 6 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Vietnamese President To Lam in Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday and held wideranging discussions across the spectrum of bilateral relations along with regional and global issues of mutual interestEarlier in the day the Vietnamese President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed the Vietnamese President upon his arrivalChildren in traditional costumes holding the Vietnamese national flag and the Tricolour also warmly welcomed the visiting leaderLater the visiting President also paid homage to Mamata Gandhi at RajghatIn a post on X the Ministry of External Affairs said Paying homage to the Mahatma General Secretary President To Lam of Vietnam paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat Bapus principles and ideals continue to inspire IndiaVietnam relationsPresident To Lam arrived in Bihars Gayaji on Tuesday where Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary extended a warm welcome to him He then offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya Later on Tuesday he landed in Delhi Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai welcomed the visiting leader at the airportLater National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval called on Vietnams President To Lam on Tuesday holding discussions on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nationsnbspNSA Shri Ajit Doval called on General Secretary President Mr To Lam of Vietnam They exchanged views on strengthening the multifaceted comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries Mr To Lam looked forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the engagements scheduled over the next two days Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on XThe MEA stated that President To Lams visit to India will strengthen bilateral tiesChao mung Excellency General Secretary President of Vietnam Mr To Lam has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India He was accorded a warm welcome and received by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai Jaiswal posted on XThis year we are marking the milestone of 10 years of IndiaVietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership The visit will further strengthen our multifaceted and robust bilateral relations he addedTo Lam also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will be in India till May 7 This is his first visit to India after being elected as the President of Vietnam last monthPresident Droupadi Murmu will also hold a meeting with the visiting leader Other leaders are also expected to call on President To Lam in New DelhiDuring his visit President To Lam is also scheduled to travel to Mumbai He will visit the National Stock Exchange meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Governor He is also scheduled to attend a business forum in MumbaiIndia and Vietnam share historical and civilisational ties which have steadily deepened over the years President To Lams visit coincides with the special occasion of the two countries marking the 10th anniversary of the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Vietnam in 2016 the MEA stated earlierThe engagement between leaders is expected to provide fresh momentum to the robust bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam it addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-vietnams-prez-to-lam-hold-bilateral-talks-at-hyderabad-house-672589.html Wed, 06 May 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-gas-supply-disrupted-in-balochistans-sohbatpur-after-assailants-blow-up-pipeline-672615.html Quetta May 6 Gas supply was disrupted in Sohbatpur district of Pakistans Balochistan after unidentified assailants blew up a gas pipeline local media reported on Wednesday The assailants on Tuesday targeted a sixinch diameter gas pipeline which passed under the Bahadur Ali Khoso Bridge in Bhand Sharif Goth and detonated explosives After the blast gas supply was disrupted in Sohbatpur Faridabad Bhand Sharif Hairdin Chatan Patti Dargai Jiani Daulat Ghari and other rural and urban areas Pakistans daily Dawn reportedFollowing the explosion police reached the site of the incident cordoned off the area and began a probeOn May 1 the Baloch Republican Guards BRG on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack on April 29 that damaged machinery at a road construction site near Pat Feeder Peropol in the Pakistani provincial city of Dera Murad JamaliAccording to police officials unidentified attackers fired rockets at the site which destroyed machinery and forced work to stop They added that an investigation was underway and no casualties were reported The Balochistan Post reportedBRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch stated in a media statement that the groups fighters had targeted a âmilitary companyâ working on government construction projects in the area claiming the companyâs machines were âcompletely destroyedâAccording to the statement the attack happened on the road near Pit Feeder Piropal in the Dera Murad Jamali area of ââNaseerabadThe spokesperson also warned local contractors to stay away from âstate projectsâ warning that they would be responsible for their own lives and financial lossesHe added that the organisation accepts responsibility for the attack and continues such operations âuntil the independence of BalochistanâLast month the Balochistan Liberation Front BLF and BRG claimed responsibility for several attacks on the Pakistani forces and installations in Awaran Jhao Basima and Sibi areas of Pakistans BalochistanThe BRG also took responsibility for damaging a major gas pipeline transporting fuel from Balochistans Sui gas field to Karachi in MarchAccording to the Spokesperson Dostain Baloch the explosion severely damaged the pipeline carrying natural gas from Sui to KarachiReiterating its opposition to what BRG described as the exploitation of Balochistans natural resources the group warned that it would continue targeting such activities The Balochistan Post reportedThese latest incidents come against the backdrop of escalating attacks by Baloch groups targeting Pakistani military and police forces across Balochistan in recent days resulting in heavy casualties and damage to the infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-gas-supply-disrupted-in-balochistans-sohbatpur-after-assailants-blow-up-pipeline-672615.html Wed, 06 May 2026 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-forces-kill-two-forcibly-disappear-four-civilians-in-balochistan-rights-body-672627.html Quetta May 6 As violence against civilians escalate across Balochistan a leading human rights organisation brought to light the extrajudicial killing of two civilians and enforced disappearance of four others allegedly at the hands of Pakistani forces Condemning the brutal incidents Paank the Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department mentioned that the bulletriddled bodies of Ajmal Baloch and Saeed Ahmed were dumped on May 3 in the Nalent area of Pasni in the Gwadar districtAccording to the rights body Ajmal was abducted from Gwadar city on August 21 2025 by personnel of Pakistans Frontier Corps FC and Military agenciesFollowing his abduction he remained missing for nearly nine months with no access to legal recourse or communication with his familyCiting information Paank mentioned that Saeed Ahmed was forcibly taken from his hometown in the Jiwani area of Gwadar on December 9 2025 by personnel of the FCThe rights body described the incident as part of an ongoing pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan by Pakistani forcesHighlighting the atrocities against civilians across Balochistan Paank revealed that two brothers 41yearold Ghulam Rasool and 47yearold Abdulla Jan were abducted by personnel of Pakistanâs Counter Terrorism Department CTD on May 3 during a latenight raid on their residence in the Barkhan districtIn a separate incident another student 27yearold Nasrat Khan was forcibly disappeared in the early hours of May 3 from Brewery Road in the provincial capital Quetta by the CTD personnelâThe arbitrary detention of a student in a latenight operation raises serious concerns regarding due process and the continued pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan Nasrat Khanâs whereabouts remain unknown placing his life and safety at grave riskâ Paank notedThe rights body also strongly condemned the enforced disappearance of 23yearold bus driver Javid Baloch He was reportedly abducted on the evening of April 29 at Dhoor Checkpoint in Gwadar by personnel of Military IntelligenceEarlier on Tuesday a sitin protest staged by the students outside Bolan Medical College BMC in Quetta entered its fourteenth consecutive day with demonstrators demanding the release of Khadija BalochAccording to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC Khadija was abducted on April 21 by Pakistani security forces from the BMC female hostel in Quetta and shifted to an undisclosed locationExpressing grave concern the BYC said âEvery day many people are becoming victims of enforced disappearance Along with Baloch men now Baloch women are also increasingly being subjected to enforced disappearances Khadija Baloch has now been missing for fourteen days and is being held in the stateâs dark cells Her only crime is her national identity because she is Baloch And being Baloch has become the greatest crime in the eyes of the stateâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-forces-kill-two-forcibly-disappear-four-civilians-in-balochistan-rights-body-672627.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-reports-4th-swine-fever-outbreak-this-year-672628.html Tokyo May 6 Japans agriculture ministry said that a new outbreak of swine fever has been confirmed at a farm in the central prefecture of Shizuoka marking the fourth such case reported in the country this year According to the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries nearly 3000 pigs at the farm in the city of Fujinomiya will be culledLocal authorities received a report of piglet deaths from the farm on Monday and conducted an onsite inspection Test results confirmed that the pigs had been infected with classical swine feverThe ministry said that all pigs at the affected farm will be culled incinerated and buried An epidemiological investigation team will also be dispatched to trace the source of the infection while measures such as disinfection and preventing wild animals from entering the farm will be strengthenedSwine fever is a highly infectious viral disease It is not a danger to human health but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economyThe virus is highly resistant in the environment meaning that it can survive on clothes boots wheels and other materials It can also survive in various pork products such as ham sausages or bacon Therefore human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not takenPigs are a primary source of household income in many countries The spread of ASF across the world has devastated familyrun pig farms often the mainstay of peopleâs livelihoods and a driver of upward mobility It has also reduced opportunities to access healthcare and educationMoreover pork meat is one of the primary sources of animal proteins accounting for more than 35 per cent of the global meat intake Hence this disease poses a serious problem for food security worldwideThis disease is also a concern for biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems as it affects not only domestic farmed pigs but also wild boars including native breeds IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-reports-4th-swine-fever-outbreak-this-year-672628.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-link-in-punjab-twin-blasts-suspected-aimed-to-create-panic-ahead-of-op-sindoor-anniversary-672630.html New Delhi May 6 The blasts that took place in Amritsar and Jalandhar in Punjab clearly have an ISI imprint the National Investigation Agency NIA has learnt The twin blasts were carried out on the instructions of ISIbacked handlers based in Pakistan the initial probe has found One significant angle that comes to the fore is the timing of these blasts They were carried out just days ahead of the anniversary of Operation SindoorThe operation was carried out by the Indian armed forces on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam attack During the operation the armed forces took down a significant amount of terror infrastructure in Pakistan occupied Kashmir PoK and PakistanInvestigators suspect that the blasts in Punjab were meant to send out a message to the security agencies that Pakistan is still capable of hitting India despite Operation Sindoor While the timing of the blasts is one part of it investigators also say that the bigger aim was to create panic in the minds of the peopleThe blasts also took place at a time when the ISI has been desperately pushing for a Khalistan movement revival in Punjab An official said that the ISI has been looking for locals who are radicalised to carry out such attacksThe idea is to pick up radicalised youth and then guide them to carry out lowintensity blasts at regular intervals across the state of Punjab the official also said The role of some radical youth has come under the scanner of both the Punjab Police and the NIAAnother official said the ISI has been creating local cells in Punjab to execute such attacks They are guiding these persons to carry out blasts and also execute attacks using grenadesAn Intelligence Bureau official said the Punjab Police would need to be on alert as such activities are likely to rise in the days to come The ISI wants to shift focus away from Jammu and Kashmir temporarily while putting in all efforts into PunjabIt is the local units that the agencies need to worry about These persons are new to the trade and hence there is very little police scrutiny on them Further these locals are not used for multiple attacks They are told to strike and then go underground These persons are given their next assignment only after the cooling period is overThe official added that in order to continue with this strategy the ISI would look to recruit at least 100 such youth across the state the official addedOfficials say that the plan is to attack sensitive and crowded locations On April 28 the Patiala police busted a module that was backed by the ISIIt was learnt that this proKhalistan module had planned to carry out a blast on a railway track near Shambu Within 12 hours of the probe being launched the police arrested Pardeep Singh Khalsa Kulwinder Singh Satnam Singh and Gurpreet SinghAnother official said the instruction to carry out lowintensity blasts is a planned strategy Lowintensity attacks do not require heavy ammunition This makes preparation easier and the detection also remains lowThere is a greater chance of the plan being foiled if these proKhalistan elements attempt largescale attacks Planning attacks on a larger scale requires much more effort and time This in turn can lead to information getting leaked and the module being busted the official also addedThe NIA would look at the larger picture and the direct links that the ISI has to these attacksThe probe is crucial and comes at a time when the ISI has clearly decided to scale up its activities across Punjab in a desperate bid to revive the Khalistan movement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-link-in-punjab-twin-blasts-suspected-aimed-to-create-panic-ahead-of-op-sindoor-anniversary-672630.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/six-more-child-deaths-push-bangladesh-measles-toll-to-317-amid-worsening-outbreak-672645.html Dhaka May 6 At least six children died from measles and measleslike symptoms in Bangladesh pushing the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 317 as the country grapples with an alarming health crisis according to local media reports According to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday morningThe DGHS stated that among the six fatalities two patients had tested positive for measles while four died with symptomsThe two confirmed deaths were recorded in the Dhaka division taking the total death toll to 54Additionally the four suspected measles deaths were reported including two from the Sylhet division and one each in the Khulna and Rajshahi divisions bringing the total death toll to 263 Bangladeshâs leading newspaper The Daily Star reportedReports suggest that 259 new confirmed cases were recorded during the same period taking the total tally of confirmed cases to 5726Additionally the DGHS recorded 1186 new suspected cases in the last 24 hours pushing the overall suspected cases to 42979Earlier on Monday morning Bangladesh registered the highest singleday death toll from measles and measleslike symptoms with 17 child fatalities reported over the preceding 24 hoursAs measles has killed more than 300 children since midMarch and infected more than 47000 across Bangladesh a report described the outbreak as an avoidable disaster and called for accountability from the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus who dismantled a functional vaccine procurement system without the capacity to rebuild itâThe countryâs measles vaccination coverage rose steadily for two decades becoming an international model for lowincome countries That record has now been squandered with shocking negligence by the past interim governmentâ an editorial report in The Daily Star statedAccording to the report Bangladeshs Health Population and Nutrition Sector Programmeâwhich had been in place since 1998âwas scrapped in March 2025 without an adequate exit strategyIt stated that the stalled vaccine procurement dwindling medicine supplies to more than 14000 community clinics and exhausted buffer stocks during the tenure of the interim government had worsened the situationSlamming the interim governmentâs actions the report said âThe lack of accountability warrants a probe committeeâone with the authority to establish individual responsibility The deaths of children are tragic Those who dismantled this programme must answer for each of these deathsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/six-more-child-deaths-push-bangladesh-measles-toll-to-317-amid-worsening-outbreak-672645.html Wed, 06 May 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-enhanced-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-pm-modi-672649.html New Delhi May 6 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that ties between India and Vietnam have been elevated to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership While addressing a joint press meet with Vietnamese President To Lam following their talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday PM Modi called Vietnam a key pillar of Indias Act East policy and Vision MahasagarPM Modi said One decade back during my first visit to Vietnam Vietnam became Indias first Comprehensive Strategic Partner in ASEAN Since then our relations have made rapid and comprehensive progress Along with the civilisational ties our trade technology and tourism ties have also strengthened Building on this strong foundation today we are taking our relations to the level of an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic PartnershipExtending a warm welcome to the Vietnamese President PM Modi said I am immensely pleased to extend a hearty welcome to President To Lam in India After becoming President of Vietnam his visit to India within just one month accompanied by a highlevel delegation along with several business leaders clearly demonstrates the priority he accords to IndiaVietnam relationsPresident To Lam of Vietnam started his visit to India from Bodh Gaya This reflects the shared civilisational and spiritual heritage of our two nations Through his visit and our meaningful discussions we are transforming the goodwill between us into concrete outcomes he addedPM Modi stated that more than 15 crore people had darshan of Buddhist relics when they were exhibited in Vietnam in 2025 He noted that heritage and development hold significance in the IndiaVietnam partnershipHe stated that the two nations share a common outlook in the IndoPacific region He announced that India will broaden its ties with ASEAN with Vietnams cooperationVietnam is a key pillar of Indias Act East Policy and Vision Mahasagar In the IndoPacific region as well we share a common outlook Through our strengthening defence and security cooperation we will continue to contribute to the rule of law peace stability and prosperity With Vietnams cooperation India will also broaden its relations with ASEAN he saidPM Modi expressed gratitude to Vietnam for condemning the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam and backing New Delhi in the fight against terrorismThe Prime Minister said We are grateful to Vietnam for strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and for standing with us in our fight against terrorism In this period of global upheaval and economic challenges India and Vietnam are emerging as the worldâs fastestgrowing economies on the strength of their talent good governance and economic reforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-enhanced-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-pm-modi-672649.html Wed, 06 May 2026 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-partnership-can-rev-up-pace-of-ai-adoption-672651.html New Delhi May 6 India has the potential to give the US a further edge in the race for AI adoption with American tech giants such as Google Microsoft and Amazon already committing billions of dollars in investments to build AI hubs across India according to an article in Arab News These investments are aimed to ensure that USdesigned technology forms the backbone of the Global Southâs largest economy If the future of the digital world is built on USIndian infrastructure the world will remain open and secure But if it is built on Chinaâs proprietary technology stack the global order will fracture the article written by Ylli Bajraktari and Dhruva Jaishankar states Although the US maintains a decisive edge in frontier models and highend compute China has proven that its capacity for innovation is a force to be reckoned with To counter this the US needs the talent and dataset scaling that only India can provide the article opines âIndia offers more than just a massive market It provides populationscale datasets drawn from almost 15 billion people making it a vital theater for testing AI in realworld environments â from rural agriculture to urban healthcare Moreover with an AI talent pool projected to exceed 125 million by 2027 India provides the intellectual heft and human capital required to sustain a hightempo innovation cycleâ the article states Potential however is not the same as proficiency While Indiaâs talent pool is vast much more must be done to match skills to specific AI tasks Bridging this gap should be seen as a US imperative Integrating Indian talent into USled ecosystems is the only way for American firms to maintain their edge against a competitor that views technology as a tool of state control rather than a means of individual empowerment the article further states It presents a fourpoint plan to turn the current USIndia momentum in AI into a permanent strategic advantage It suggests that linking Indiaâs burgeoning startup ecosystem with the technological tools and capital available in the US can create common solutions for an array of global challengesSecond the two countries can cooperate in constructing resilient infrastructure and supply chains Their efforts should encompass not only critical minerals and semiconductors but also undersea cables open telecommunications networks and data centersThird India and the US will need to collaborate on creating a seamless highskill ecosystem for talent With rising antiimmigrant sentiments in the US and many other countries this will require navigating potentially treacherous political territoryLastly to enable all the above India and the US must align their technological standards intellectual property rights and cybersecurity policies far more than they do today Translating shared values into common agendas is the only way to reduce bilateral friction and accelerate cooperation the article observes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-india-partnership-can-rev-up-pace-of-ai-adoption-672651.html Wed, 06 May 2026 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/a-mother-dies-from-preventable-complications-every-hour-in-afghanistan-who-672663.html Kabul May 6 A mother dies from preventable complications every hour in Afghanistan the World Health Organisation WHO said showcasing a health system still struggling to protect women during pregnancy and childbirth local media reported on Wednesday In a statement issued on International Day of the Midwife the WHO said the maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan remains among the highest across the world at 521 deaths per 100000 live births even as access to basic care has improved over the past 20 years Afghanistans Amu TV reportedMany of these deaths occurred due to conditions that can be treated or prevented including haemorrhage hypertension infection and hindered labour the WHO said The consequences are often longlasting and severe for women who survive such complicationsSince the late 2000s Afghanistan has witnessed progress in maternal and child health according to the WHO Antenatal care coverage has witnessed rise from 31 per cent to 76 per cent and the share of births attended by skilled health workers has risen from 24 per cent to 67 per cent The agency said child mortality has witnessed a drop from 129 deaths per 1000 live births in 2000 to 56 in 2023 However the WHO stated that women in rural and underserved areas face the greatest risksAccording to the WHO one of the most serious complications faced by women is obstetric fistula a condition caused mainly by prolonged obstructed labour that could result in women facing several medical problems and social stigma Amu TV reportedThe WHO said the condition remains underreported since many women lack access to specialised care or do not know that it can be treated In order to address these challenges the WHO said that it is increasing maternal and child health services in Afghanistan with the support of the Islamic Development BankLast month the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund UNICEF warned that Afghanistan risks losing up to 20000 women teachers and 5400 healthcare workers by 2030 amid continuing restrictions on girlsâ education and womenâs employment in the countryIn its latest analysis titled âThe Cost of Inaction on Girlsâ Education and Womenâs Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan UNICEF said that female representation in the civil services fell from 21 per cent to 177 per cent between 2023 and 2025It cautioned that the declining number of trained women professionals in schools and hospitals across Afghanistan would have devastating consequences for childrens education health outcomes and future opportunitiesâRestrictions on girlsâ and womens education and work are already costing the country US84 million annually in lost economic output with losses compounding over time as they remain blocked from education and employmentâ UNICEF mentionedAccording to the UN agency removing women from teaching and healthcare services in Afghanistan â two sectors where they are permitted to work and are critically needed â directly harms children as it will lead to fewer girls in schools and reduced care for women and childrenThe impact it said is particularly severe in healthcare where societal context often prevents women from receiving medical services from men while the declining number of female health workers will directly limit maternal newborn and child health services IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/a-mother-dies-from-preventable-complications-every-hour-in-afghanistan-who-672663.html Wed, 06 May 2026 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-condemns-detention-of-aurat-march-leaders-in-pakistan-672681.html Islamabad May 6 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP on Wednesday has condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers and volunteers outside the Karachi Press Club where they had gathered to hold a press conference The rights body stated that preventing people from holding press conference showcases an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is considered a threat instead of a democratic necessity leading Pakistani news network Geo News reportedThe HRCPs statement comes after police on Tuesday briefly arrested several Aurat March leaders including activist and artist artist Sheema Kermani outside the Karachi Press ClubHRCP strongly condemns the arrest of several organisers and volunteers of Aurat March from outside the Karachi Press Club where they were scheduled to address a press conference This incident is not isolated overreach but rather part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern the systematic denial of public space to citizens seeking to articulate their rights HRCP posted on XThe rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are constitutionally guaranteed Preventing citizens particularly women and marginalised groups from even convening a press conference reflects an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is treated as a threat rather than a democratic necessity it addedThe organisers of the press conference said that the detained people included Kermani transgender activist Shehzadi Rai Muniza and others South Superintendent of Police SSP Manzoor Ali stated that several women leaders were taken to a police station before being released shortly after After the incident police deployment around the Karachi Press Club was increased Aurat March organisers stated that the leaders had gathered for a press conference when the police detained them Geo News reportedOn May 2 media bodies and civil society organisations voiced concerns over increasing curbs on press freedom and growing risks to journalists in PakistanIn a joint statement released to mark the World Press Freedom Day the Joint Action Committee â comprising the Pakistan Broadcasters Association PBA the All Pakistan Newspapers Society APNS the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors CPNE the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors AMEND and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists PFUJ termed the past year challenging for journalism with growing restrictions around the world the daily Dawn reportedIt stated that the state of freedom of expression has not been satisfactory in Pakistan According to the statement journalists in Pakistan face harassment arrests violence and increasing pressure from state institutions while media outlets face editorial interference demonstrating how outlets are being controlled at various levels and tactics being used like government advertisements to get editorial control limiting the right to information through censorship and taking dissenting voices off air IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-condemns-detention-of-aurat-march-leaders-in-pakistan-672681.html Wed, 06 May 2026 18:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/three-indians-injured-in-uae-after-irans-attack-672347.html Abu Dhabi May 5 The Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates UAE has said that three Indian nationals have been injured in todays attacks in Fujairah The Embassy said that it is in touch with local authorities to ensure adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationalsThe UAEs Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the renewed unprovoked Iranian aggression using missiles and dronesThe Ministry also confirmed that three Indian nationals were injured due to the results of Irans attack on civilian sites and facilitiesThe Ministry called the actions of Iran an unacceptable act of aggression and a direct threat to the UAEs security stability and territorial integrityIt said the attacks are in violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United NationsThe Ministry emphasises that the UAE will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances and that the UAE reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to these unprovoked attacks in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty national security territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens residents and visitors in accordance with international lawIt stressed the need to immediately halt these attacks and ensure full compliance with the cessation of all hostilitiesThe UAE holds Iran fully responsible for these unprovoked attacks and their repercussions the statement saidThe UAEs Ministry of Defence on Monday reported that it detected four cruise missiles launched from Iran towards various areas across the countryThe Ministry reported that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of successful interception of the aerial threatsUAEs National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority NCEMA on X said that Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updatesThe authority also asked the people not to approach touch or photograph any fragments or objects that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions and allow the relevant authorities to assess the situation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/three-indians-injured-in-uae-after-irans-attack-672347.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-canada-kick-off-second-round-of-free-trade-talks-672348.html New Delhi May 5 India and Canada began the second round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement with the two sides aiming to seal the deal by yearend The fiveday talks in New Delhi come on Monday ahead of the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyals scheduled visit to Canada at the end of this month to accelerate the momentum of the economic engagement as the two countries target increasing bilateral trade to 50 billion by 2030 The attempt is to fasttrack talks so that the agreement can be concluded by the yearend as decided by the Prime Ministers of the two countries earlier this year a senior official told IANS The first round of negotiations for the pact officially called the IndiaCanada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA took place in March this year following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi Prime Minister Carneys visit to India set the tone for a marked improvement in diplomatic ties between the two countries that had hit rock bottom during his predecessor Justin Trudeau as Canadas Prime Minister The Trudeau government was seen to be encouraging Sikh extremists to pursue an antiIndia agenda in Canada Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney set a yearend target to complete the negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA between the two countries and agreed to deepen bilateral collaboration in the energy and critical mineral sectors during their meeting at New Delhi in March this year The leaders expressed confidence that a comprehensive trade framework would serve as a durable economic anchor for the partnership and support the shared aspiration of expanding bilateral trade to CAD 70 billionRs 465 lakh crore by 2030 according to joint statement issued after the summit between the two leadersIndiaCanada bilateral trade in goods stood at 866 billion in 202425 while Indias exports to the country touched 422 billionMajor items of Indias exports to Canada include pharmaceutical products machinery parts and mechanical appliances iron and steel articles electronic goods organic chemicals jewellery gems and precious stones garments and textiles seafood engineering goods and auto parts Indias major imports from Canada include pulses fertilisers mineral fuels wood pulp gems and precious stones aircraft parts machinery parts and iron and aluminium scrap Indias IT sector is the main contributor to services exports to Canada IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-canada-kick-off-second-round-of-free-trade-talks-672348.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-us-conflict-on-brink-of-reigniting-as-washington-project-for-stranded-ships-sets-off-volleys-by-both-672351.html New York May 4 The conflict between Iran and the US was on the brink of reigniting as Washingtons Project Freedom to free ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz set off attacks by both sides with Tehran also striking neighbours US Central Command CENTCOM Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said on Monday that Iran sent a barrage of cruise missiles and drones at ships in the Strait and the US Navy retaliated shooting them downHe added that six Iranian speedboats that threatened ships were taken outBut beyond the Strait Iran appears to have resumed attacks on its neighboursThe United Arab Emirates reported that its Fujairah Oil Industry Zone was attacked by Iranian drones and its Defence Ministry said it was fending off drones and missilesOmans new agency ONA reported that a housing complex near the Strait was hit and two expatriates whose nationality was not disclosed were injuredIran appeared to be targeting other countries directly rather than the USAn official statement quoted by Irans PressTV said that it had sent missiles and drones near US warships rather than at them a nuanced differentiationUS President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that a South Korean ship had come under Iranian attackNo other ships were damaged he addedThe Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC Spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi had earlier warned that it would forcefully stop any ship trying to break through the blockade his country had imposed according to the Iranian governments PressTVIt also denied that any of its boats had been sunkThe US denied Iranian claims that two of its missiles had struck its shipsUS CENTCOM Chief Cooper said that ships belonging to 87 countries were stranded in the Strait and the US was reaching out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic through the StraitThe CENTCOM said that two USflagged ships had already gone through the Strait safelyOn Saturday an Indian gas ship operating under Marshal Islands flag managed to chart its way through the Strait but it was not known if there was a deal with Iran for itIran has been demanding tolls for ships to go through the Strait which the US has condemned and the United Nations has declared illegal under international lawNeither side has made headway on negotiations to end the confrontation between them defiant on their demandsThe US would theoretically be free of Congressional restraints from resuming the war full scale because the US CENTCOM Chief said the conflict that began February 28 was truncated by the April 7 ceasefire agreement short of the 60day limit for the Legislatures approvalHe could claim a new cycle was beginning if Iran resumed major attacks IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-us-conflict-on-brink-of-reigniting-as-washington-project-for-stranded-ships-sets-off-volleys-by-both-672351.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/missiles-launched-towards-uae-from-iran-defence-ministry-672353.html Abu Dhabi May 5 The United Arab Emirates UAEs Defence Ministry has reported that it detected four cruise missiles launched from Iran towards various areas across the country The Ministry reported on Monday that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of successful interception of the aerial threatsUAEs National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority NCEMA on social media platform X said that Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updatesThe authority also asked the people not to approach touch or photograph any fragments or objects that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions and allow the relevant authorities to assess the situationThe Authority issued a warning on Monday the last warning was on April 8 2026 according to their posts on XThe Ministry said that out of four cruise missiles three were engaged successfully over the countrys territorial waters while one fell in the seaOn April 3 the UAEs Ministry of Defence said that its air defence engaged 18 ballistic missiles four cruise missiles and 47 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs launched from IranAccording to the statement the UAEs air defences have engaged 475 ballistic missiles 23 cruise missiles and 2085 UAVs since the start of Iranian attacksThe attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty in addition to the martyrdom of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces as well as nine fatalities of Pakistani Nepali Bangladeshi Palestinian and Indian nationalities it addedA total of 203 people were also injured with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe The injured included nationals of the UAE Egypt Sudan Ethiopia the Philippines Pakistan Iran India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Azerbaijan Yemen Uganda Eritrea Lebanon Afghanistan Bahrain Comoros Turkey Iraq Nepal Nigeria Oman Jordan Palestine Ghana Indonesia Sweden and Tunisia the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/missiles-launched-towards-uae-from-iran-defence-ministry-672353.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:57:00 +0530