DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:47:02 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/international/india-condemns-killing-of-un-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-667310.html United Nations March 31 India condemned on Monday the killing of peacekeepers in Lebanon and said it would seek accountability for the crimeâ Three peacekeepers from Indonesia with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL were killed within 24 hours according to UnderSecretary for Peace Operations JeanPierre LacroixâIndiaâs United Nations Mission said in a statement âWe condemn the recent attacks on United Nations Peacekeepers deployed in UNIFIL and pay our homage to the fallen Blue HelmetsââThe United Nations did not disclose the identity of the attackers pending investigationsâLacroix said the incidents were unacceptable and stressed that peacekeepers must never be a targetâSecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres also condemned the killing on Sunday according to his Spokesperson Stephane DujarricâUNIFIL operates in an area of Lebanon bordering Israel where Hezbollah and Israel are active Its mission is to help the Lebanese government regain control of the area from Hezbollah and also acts as a tenuous buffer with IsraelâIndiaâs mission statement noted that the country had piloted the Security Council resolution in 2021 when it was an elected member calling for accountability for those who attack peacekeepers It added that India will continue to pursue action against the perpetratorsâIt further highlighted that India is one of the largest and longestserving contributors to United Nations Peacekeeping and has lost the most personnel to this cause Historically India has lost 164 personnel in peace operations six of them with UNIFILâCurrently 642 Indians are serving with UNIFIL including 540 troopsLacroix said an Indonesian peacekeeper died on Sunday in an explosion inside a UNIFIL base âOn Monday two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed when an explosion hit a UNIFIL logistics convoy destroying their vehicle while two others were injured âHe added that the origin of the explosion has not been determinedâDujarric said that in another incident on Saturday a UNIFIL convoy was subjected to six warning shots fired by Israel Defence Force elements stationed nearby resulting in small arms impact on one of the vehicles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-condemns-killing-of-un-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-667310.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-iran-deal-as-strikes-intensify-667311.html Washington March 31 The United States is intensifying strikes on Iran while pursuing a deal to end Tehranâs nuclear ambitions the White House said Monday describing a dualtrack approach of military pressure and diplomacyâ Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ongoing operation was âmoving ahead successfully and according to planâ with more than â11000 enemy targetsâ struck so farâShe said the campaign had sharply degraded Iranâs military capabilities Ballistic missile and drone attacks were âdown by roughly 90 per centâ while US forces had destroyed âmore than 150â naval vessels leaving Iranâs navy âcombat ineffectiveâââOur military continues to obliterate Iranâs defence industrial baseâ she said adding that ânearly 70 per centâ of its missile drone and naval production facilities had been damaged or destroyedâLeavitt said US and Israeli forces had âasserted air dominance over Iranâ completing more than â11000 successful combat flightsââAt the same time she confirmed that talks with Iran were continuing âTalks are continuing and going wellâ she said noting that âwhat is said publicly isâ much different than whatâs being communicated to us privatelyââPresident Donald Trump has issued a âtenday pauseâ on planned strikes targeting Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure to allow space for negotiations she saidâLeavitt described the moment as âa truly onceinageneration opportunityâ for Iran to âpermanently abandon their nuclear ambitionsââBut she warned that if Tehran rejects a deal âthe greatest military in the history of the world continues to stand byâ to ensure this regime continues to pay a grave price one way or anotherââShe said the Pentagonâs timeline for the operation remained â4 to 6 weeksâ with the campaign now on âday 30âââThe mission will continue until the objectives are achievedâ she said listing goals including destroying Iranâs navy dismantling its missile and drone infrastructure and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weaponâLeavitt also stressed that diplomacy remained central âThe President has always said that diplomacy is his number one optionâ she said while adding that military operations would continue alongside negotiationsâShe said the administration was testing private assurances from Iranian interlocutors warning that any commitments would be verifiedâThe White House also linked the military campaign to broader strategic aims including ensuring Iran âcan no longer control the worldâs free flow of energy through the Strait of HormuzââThe current escalation marks one of the most significant US military campaigns against Iran in decades amid longstanding tensions over Tehranâs nuclear ambitions and regional roleâFor India developments in the Gulf remain closely watched given its dependence on energy imports and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for global oil supply chains IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-iran-deal-as-strikes-intensify-667311.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-eyes-arab-support-for-iran-war-costs-667312.html Washington March 31 The Trump administration on Monday signalled that Arab nations could be asked to help bear the financial burden of the ongoing military campaign against Iran even as US forces continue largescale operations in the regionâ Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the idea of Gulf partners contributing to war costs was under consideration echoing past arrangements during earlier USled conflicts in the Middle EastââI think its something the President would be quite interested in calling them to doâ she said when asked whether countries such as Saudi Arabia Kuwait or the UAE would be expected to contributeâShe added âI wont get ahead of him on that but certainly its an idea that I know that he hasââThe comments come as the United States presses ahead with its military campaign in Iran which the White House says has significantly degraded Tehranâs military capabilitiesâLeavitt said more than â11000 enemy targets have been struck to dateâ while Iranâs missile and drone attacks are âdown by roughly 90 per centââShe said US forces had destroyed âmore than 150â Iranian naval vessels leaving the navy âcombat ineffectiveâ and damaged or destroyed ânearly 70 per centâ of its missile drone and naval production facilitiesâAt the same time the administration is pursuing negotiations with Iran describing the moment as âa truly onceinageneration opportunityâ for Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitionsââTalks are continuing and going wellâ she said adding that private discussions appear more constructive than public statementsâPresident Donald Trump has also ordered a âtenday pauseâ on strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure to allow space for diplomacyâThe question of war financing comes amid rising costs associated with sustained military operations and heightened deployments in the regionâDuring the 1990â91 Gulf War a significant portion of US military expenses was offset by contributions from allied Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-eyes-arab-support-for-iran-war-costs-667312.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-allows-oil-to-cuba-on-humanitarian-grounds-667313.html Washington March 31 The United States has allowed an oil shipment to reach Cuba on humanitarian grounds even as it maintained there has been no formal change in its sanctions policy the White House said Mondayâ Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision was made on a âcasebycase basisâ to address the urgent needs of the Cuban peopleââAs the President saidâ we allowed this ship to reach Cuba in order to provide humanitarian needs to the Cuban peopleâ she saidâShe stressed that the move does not signal a broader policy shiftââThere has been no formal change with respect to sanction policyâ Leavitt said adding that such decisions would continue to be evaluated individuallyâThe clarification came after questions over whether the United States was easing restrictions on oil shipments to Cuba particularly involving Russian tankersâLeavitt rejected suggestions of a wider relaxation saying âThese decisions are being made on a casebycase basis right nowâShe added that the US still reserves the right to enforce sanctions including the seizure of vessels where legally applicableâWe still reserve the right to seize vesselsâ that violate the United States sanctions policyâ she saidAt the same time the administration has also emphasised flexibility in specific circumstancesâThe President and the administration also reserve the right to waive thoseâ on a casebycase basisâ she said in response to a questionâThe President threatened to tear up any country that would send oil to Cuba but now the US is letting this Russian tanker go to Cuba Is this a policy change or is he willing to let more tankers into Cubaâ she was askedâThis was a decision that will continue to be made on a casebycase basis for humanitarian reasons or otherwise but theres been no firm change in our sanctions policyâ Leavitt saidâPresident Shienbaum of Mexico also said that Mexico is exploring different ways to restart some of those shipments to Cuba Is the administration okay with that at this timeâ another reporter askedâTheres been no change in our sanctions policy We still reserve the right to seize vessels if its legally applicable that are headed towards Cuba and that violate the United States sanctions policy but of course the President and the administration also reserve the right to waive those seizures on a casebycase basisâ Leavitt said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-allows-oil-to-cuba-on-humanitarian-grounds-667313.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/as-china-expands-at-sea-us-debates-mining-ocean-floor-667316.html Washington March 31 Concern over Chinaâs dominance in critical minerals is driving renewed US interest in deepsea mining even as experts have cautioned lawmakers that the ecological risks beneath the waves remain poorly understood Lawmakers and industry leaders at a Congressional hearing stressed the urgency of securing supply chains for minerals such as cobalt nickel and copper which are essential to defence systems clean energy and advanced technologiesCongressman Scott Franklin said these resources are âvital to industries across our countryâ warning that adversaries like China âwill undoubtedly seek to undermine the United StatesâIndustry executives argued that the US has both the technology and regulatory framework to move ahead Gerard Barron CEO of The Metals Company told lawmakers that âwe know enough to manage risksâ pointing to decades of research and recent advances that reduce environmental disturbanceBarron said that deepseabed nodules could significantly reduce the USs dependence on imports noting that they contain metals critical to sectors such as defence artificial intelligence and energy He added that modern systems leave âalmost invisible ripples on the sea floorâ and limit environmental impact to relatively small areasBut scientists warned that the push to accelerate mining may be prematureDr Astrid Leitner a deepsea ecologist said âthe best available data is insufficient to enable the responsible development of deepsea miningâ highlighting gaps in baseline data on biodiversity ecosystem functions and longterm impactsShe cautioned that mining could lead to âbiodiversity lossâ and âpossible extinctionsâ with effects that may be longlasting or irreversibleLawmakers across party lines acknowledged the scale of uncertainty Ranking member Gabe Amo said the ocean remains âone of the least understood ecosystems on earthâ adding that the consequences of missteps could be âlonglasting and in some cases irreversibleâThe hearing also underscored how little of the ocean has been mapped or exploredBrian Connon of Saildrone said only â54 per cent of the US EEZ has been mappedâ leaving vast areas of American waters unexploredVeteran explorer Robert Ballard told lawmakers that humans have seen just â0001 per cent of the deep oceanâ stressing that exploration must precede any largescale commercial activityDespite the uncertainties geopolitical competition is accelerating the debateLawmakers repeatedly pointed to Chinaâs lead in mineral processing and ocean research According to testimony China produces nearly 70 per cent of the worldâs rare earth elements and has invested heavily in mapping and exploration capabilitiesSupporters of deepsea mining argue that failing to act could leave the US dependent on foreign supply chains Critics counter that moving too quickly risks damaging ecosystems that play a crucial role in regulating the climate supporting fisheries and maintaining ocean health IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/as-china-expands-at-sea-us-debates-mining-ocean-floor-667316.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-seek-data-on-gun-exports-667317.html Washington March 31 Senior US lawmakers have pressed the Commerce Department to release detailed data on exports of Americanmade semiautomatic weapons citing concerns that such sales are fuelling criminal violence abroad In a letter to Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks said US firearm exports account for a significant share of crime guns traced globallyData from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives ATF shows that legal US firearm exports are responsible for âalmost 20 per cent of crime gun traces in Central America and over 37 per cent globally outside of North AmericaâThe lawmakers warned that âWithout proper controls legal firearm exports are often diverted into the underground market and end up arming militia cartels and other criminal actors abroad particularly in the Western HemisphereâThey said this trend risks undermining US national security and foreign policy objectivesâAs this Administration attempts to combat cartels and other transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere it must ensure that the illicit and legal flow of USmade weapons across our borders are not contributing to instability and violence and undercutting the national security and foreign policy of the United Statesâ the lawmakers wroteWarren the ranking member of the Senate Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and Meeks ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said they are seeking the information under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 ECRA which mandates congressional oversight of export controlsUnder the law the Commerce Department is required to provide relevant information to congressional committees upon request including data tied to export licences and regulatory complianceIn the letter the lawmakers have asked the department to provide a comprehensive breakdown of exports of semiautomatic firearms and related accessories including rifles pistols shotguns and associated components classified under specific export control categoriesTheir request seeks monthly data since January 2025 on the number of licences approved countries receiving the exports and the types and volumes of weapons authorised for saleThey also asked for details on the type of buyers involved including whether exports were approved for wholesale distributors retailers or individual customersIn addition the lawmakers requested âa detailed accounting and list of prior notifications provided to Congressâ and information on any monitoring conducted to track diversion of weapons into illicit marketsIt seeks information on pre and postshipment checks carried out by the Bureau of Industry and Security as well as the number of personnel assigned to monitor such diversion risks IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-seek-data-on-gun-exports-667317.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-push-bills-against-sharia-law-667319.html Washington March 31 Republican lawmakers used a coordinated House floor debate to push for new laws targeting Sharia law saying âseven bills stand readyâ to ensure no foreign religious code enters the US legal system The hourlong special order was led by Keith Self and Chip Roy cochairs of the Sharia Free America Caucus which lawmakers said has grown rapidly since its launch three months agoSelf told the House that the caucus now has â60 membersâ from â25 states across the United Statesâ calling it a sign of rising concern nationwideFraming the issue as a constitutional matter Self said âAmerica was founded on a timeless principle individual freedom secured by selfgovernment under a clear and supreme rule of constitutional lawâRoy argued that lawmakers must confront what he described as a broader ideological challenge âYou cannot win a war that you do not acknowledge existsâ he saidCongressmen who took the floor during this hourlong debate were Randy Weber Mark Harris Mary Miller Russ Fulcher Buddy Carter Barry Moore Sheri Biggs Randy Fine Eli Crane and Scott PerrySeveral lawmakers stressed that the US Constitution must remain the sole legal authority Weber said âThere is one law of the land the Constitution of the United States periodâ Fulcher added âSharia law cannot coexist with the US Constitution and the American rule of lawâMembers linked their concerns to security and recent incidents Self said âMarch has seen multiple incidents linked to Islamist extremismâ while others warned of what they described as threats from withinTexas featured prominently in the debate Self pointed to a mosquelinked development in Plano alleging it was âa parallel societyâ a defacto Sharia enclaveâ operating within his district He also referred to a proposed larger housing project that remains under regulatory and legal scrutinyLawmakers called for legislative action with Self saying âseven bills stand readyâ to address what members described as Shariaâs influence Moore said âno foreign legal code should ever influence American courtsâ while Biggs added âIf you come to America you come to live under American laws periodâFine described the moment as significant saying lawmakers were speaking âopenly and honestly about one of the greatest threats that is facing the United States todayâCaucus leaders urged broader participation Self called on colleagues âRepublican or Democratâ to join the effort saying the goal was to defend âone nation one constitution one rule of lawâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-push-bills-against-sharia-law-667319.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/attacks-on-healthcare-in-lebanon-surge-as-humanitarian-access-tightens-in-gaza-un-667320.html United Nations March 31 Amid Middle East hostilities UN humanitarians pointed to a sharp rise in attacks on healthcare in Lebanon and growing obstacles for humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA said attacks on healthcare facilities ambulances and medical personnel in Lebanon have risen at an alarming rateThe World Health Organization WHO reported seven incidents over the weekend alone which killed at least nine health workers while they were on dutyIn southern Lebanon OCHA said that strikes hit ambulances including vehicles transporting casualties from an earlier attack in the town of Kfar Sir in Nabatieh governorateSince the escalation began OCHA said 87 attacks on healthcare have been recorded killing 52 health workers and injuring 126 othersIn a joint statement issued over the weekend UNs deputy special coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza and WHO Representative in Lebanon Abdinasir Abubakar called for the protection of health workers and first responders saying that medical personnel and facilities must never be targetedThe office said Lebanese authorities reported that at least 96 people were killed over the weekend bringing the total number of people killed since the escalation began to 1238 with more than 3500 injuredOCHA said that despite deteriorating security conditions the office and its partners continue to work closely with the government to reach people in need WHO and health partners have provided more than 33500 medical consultations to displaced people and delivered essential medicines to over 22500 peopleIn the occupied Palestinian territories OCHA said lethal attacks affecting civilians continue in both Gaza and the West Bank as restrictions on humanitarian operations continue to mountOver the weekend airstrikes and shelling reportedly hit residential areas in Gaza In the West Bank OCHA recorded reports of fatal shootings by Israeli forces and attacks linked to Israeli settlersInternational nongovernmental organizations NGOs said Monday they intend to file a petition of appeal with Israeli High Court of Justice challenging a new Israeli NGO registration system which they say further restricts their ability to operate in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territoriesOCHA said that international NGOs play a critical role in the humanitarian response collectively delivering around 1 billion in assistance each year in the territories The new registration requirements are among several measures undermining peoples access to humanitarian servicesThe office called on Israeli authorities to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to reverse policies that obstruct humanitarian operations and to ensure that humanitarian organisations can operate in line with humanitarian principles Xinhua news agency reportedOCHA said that civilians must always be protected and that in the context of law enforcement lethal force must be used only as a last resort Perpetrators of unlawful attacks must be held to account IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/attacks-on-healthcare-in-lebanon-surge-as-humanitarian-access-tightens-in-gaza-un-667320.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-urges-king-charles-to-meet-epstein-victims-667322.html Washington March 31 US Congressman Ro Khanna has asked King Charles III to meet survivors of Jeffrey Epsteinâs abuse during his upcoming visit to the United States calling it a step towards accountability for a powerful global network In a letter sent ahead of the Kingâs expected address to a joint meeting of Congress in the week of April 27 Khanna requested a private meeting between the monarch and survivorsâThe effort to release the Epstein files is about justice for the survivors Leaders in the US and around the world must hold Epsteinâs powerful network accountable Hearing the survivorsâ stories and concerns is an important step That is why I am respectfully requesting a meeting between King Charles and survivors of Epsteinâs abuseâ Khanna saidKhanna coauthor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act said survivors wanted such a meeting and should be allowed to speak directly about how powerful individuals and institutions failed themIn the letter Khanna referred to recent developments in the United Kingdom that have brought renewed scrutiny to individuals and institutions linked to Epstein and his networkâThese developments have raised serious questions about conduct access and whether positions of public trust were misused or whether public institutions helped shield wrongdoingâ he wroteKhanna also cited the Kingâs own call for a âfull fair and properâ investigation saying it recognised the seriousness of the concernsThe Congressman underlined that the case was not confined to the United States noting Epsteinâs links to Britain through Ghislaine Maxwell and his connections with British public figuresâThese connections raise broader questions about how Epstein was able to maintain influence credibility and protection across borders for so longâ Khanna saidHe also pointed to efforts by members of Congress to seek testimony from Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson regarding their reported ties to EpsteinAccording to the letter Prince Andrew did not respond to congressional outreach while Mandelson declined to cooperate citing an ongoing criminal investigation In both cases Congress was unable to secure testimonyKhanna said a meeting between the King and survivors could help identify any additional information that British institutions and individuals might be able to shareâIt would also ensure that survivors are heard directly and that these matters are addressed with transparency seriousness and accountabilityâ he wroteHe added that he was making the request âwith full respect for the importanceâ of the Kingâs visit IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-urges-king-charles-to-meet-epstein-victims-667322.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/vietnams-capital-logs-29-covid-19-cases-since-start-of-year-667323.html Hanoi March 31 Vietnams capital Hanoi has recorded 29 COVID19 cases since the start of the year with no deaths reported local daily Tuoi Tre reported Tuesday The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control reported 17 new infections across 12 communes and wards between March 20 and 27 up from three cases in the previous week according to the reportRegarding the BA32 variant which is currently being monitored by the World Health Organization WHO the local health department advised the public not to panic while remaining vigilant The WHO said the variant shows some antigenic changes and immune escape characteristics under laboratory conditionsThe local health authority urged the public to maintain preventive measures such as wearing masks in crowded or enclosed spaces regular disinfection and seeking medical care in case of worsening symptoms Xinhua news agency reportedRecently a newly identified Covid19 variant informally dubbed Cicada has been detected in limited clusters across multiple regions prompting scientists to closely monitor its characteristics transmissibility and potential impactAccording to the WHO COVID19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARSCoV2 virusMost people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment However some will become seriously ill and require medical attention Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease diabetes chronic respiratory disease or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness Anyone can get sick with COVID19 and become seriously ill or die at any ageThe best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 metre apart from others wearing a properly fitted mask and washing your hands or using an alcoholbased rub frequently Get vaccinated when itâs your turn and follow local guidanceThe virus can spread from an infected personâs mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough sneeze speak sing or breathe These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols It is important to practice respiratory etiquette for example by coughing into a flexed elbow and to stay home and selfisolate until you recover if you feel unwell IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/vietnams-capital-logs-29-covid-19-cases-since-start-of-year-667323.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-parliament-starts-process-to-adopt-plan-on-strait-of-hormuz-management-667342.html Tehran March 31 Irans parliament has kicked off a process to approve a plan to exercise smart management over the Strait of Hormuz Abbas Goudarzi spokesman for the Iranian parliaments presiding board said the new plan has been added to the legislatures agenda after gathering over 250 signatures from the members of parliament MPs Parliament has 290 seats in total Xinhua news agency reproted quoting the semiofficial Tasnim news agencyHe said the plan aims to enhance the waterways security and collect tolls from vessels in the local currency the rialEarlier on Sunday senior MP Alireza Salimi said the doubleurgency plan has four main objectives ensuring shipping security charging environmental polluters collecting fees for guidance services and establishing a regional development fundThe development came with Irans tight control over the Strait of Hormuz where it has since late last month barred passage for vessels linked to Israel the United States and their alliesMeanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday accused some European countries of remaining silent about brutal attacks against the Iranian people while focusing only on the conflicts economic impactAraghchi spoke by phone with French Foreign Minister JeanNoel Barrot to discuss the fallout from recent USIsraeli strikes on Iran and rising regional tensions according to a statement from Irans Foreign MinistryHe warned that Iran would continue defensive operations including strikes on US and Israeli military bases in regional countries and cautioned that any provocative moves in the Strait of Hormuz including at the United Nations could escalate the crisis furtherBarrot reaffirmed Frances opposition to attacks on civilian targets and called for stronger diplomatic efforts to end the war and restore regional stability also expressing concern over tensions across West Asia including in Lebanon according to the Iranian statementOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-parliament-starts-process-to-adopt-plan-on-strait-of-hormuz-management-667342.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-defence-secretarys-broker-looks-to-buy-defence-fund-before-iran-attack-667350.html New York March 31 A broker for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth explored a multimilliondollar investment in defence stocks just weeks before a USIsrael strike on Iran The broker at Morgan Stanley approached BlackRock in February about allocating funds into a defencefocused ETF tied to contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Such companies typically benefit from rising military spending amid geopolitical tensions and military activity Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Financial TimesThe investment did not go through due to Morgan Stanleys platform availability constraints but the timing is raising scrutiny given Hegseths prominent role in shaping US policy toward IranThe Pentagon said the report was incorrect and demanded a retractionThis allegation is entirely false and fabricated Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said on social media This is yet another baseless dishonest smear designed to mislead the publicThe report came amid a wider scrutiny of trades made in financial and prediction markets ahead of US President Donald Trumps major policy decisions local media reportedMeanwhile President Trump has told aides that hes willing to end the USIsraeli war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday night citing Trump administration officialsTrump and his aides recently assessed that a mission to pry open the crucial global energy waterway would push the war with Iran beyond his timeline of four to six weeks said the reportAs a result Trump decided that the United States should focus on achieving its primary objectives of crippling Irans navy and missile stockpiles while simultaneously pressuring Tehran diplomatically to restore the free flow of trade through the strait and if these efforts fail the White House would press European and Gulf allies to take the lead in reopening it according to the officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-defence-secretarys-broker-looks-to-buy-defence-fund-before-iran-attack-667350.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-clash-over-troops-war-powers-667153.html Washington March 30 US lawmakers are sharply divided over the prospect of deploying ground troops in Iran with senior politicians warning of escalating risks unclear objectives and the need for Congressional approval The debate has intensified amid media reports of potential military escalation CNN reported that âthousands more US service members arrive in the Middle East as a new front opens in the warâ while President Donald Trump said the conflict is ânot finished yetâDemocratic Senator Andy Kim cautioned against deeper military involvement calling the moment one of the most consequential in recent memory âWe cannot have American troops on the ground in Iranâ he told CNN warning that such a move would be âsuch a risky operationâKim questioned the strategic clarity of the mission saying it would âonly prolong it and increase the risk at a time that we have seen already so many service members put at harms wayâHe also raised concerns over the lack of a defined endgame âItâs a constantly changing objectiveâ he said reflecting broader unease among lawmakers about the administrationâs war strategyRepublicans however defended the administrationâs approach framing it as necessary to counter Iranâs capabilities House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the focus remains on eliminating threats linked to nuclear and missile programmesâThatâs the real threat they pose to the United States and the rest of the world that President Trump is working to take outâ Scalise told ABC News adding that operations were âgetting closeâ to achieving their goalsHe stressed that the administration had engaged Congress through classified briefings involving both partiesStill divisions persist even within Republican ranks Congresswoman Nancy Mace told CNN any decision to deploy troops must go through lawmakers âIf were going to do that then come to Congress and get the proper authorities to do soâ she saidMace also underscored concerns about the human cost âI worry about the impact of war on our troops and our sons and daughters that were sending into warâ she saidDemocratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam echoed calls for Congressional oversight âThis president should be coming to Congress nowâ especially for putting in ground troopsâ he told the CNNThe political divide reflects wider uncertainty over US objectives including whether the focus is dismantling Iranâs nuclear capability targeting missile systems or pursuing regime change IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-clash-over-troops-war-powers-667153.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-cuba-will-be-next-as-crisis-deepens-667154.html Washington March 30 US President Donald Trump said Cuba âwill be nextâ to face collapse describing the island nation as a failing state while signalling Washingtonâs willingness to allow oil shipments to ease conditions for its people âCubaâs gonna be nextâ Cubaâs a mess Itâs a failing country and theyâre gonna be nextâ Trump told reporters aboard Air Force OneHe said the United States would step in to support Cuban Americans and others affected âWe will be there to help it outâ weâll be there to help our great Cuban Americans outâ he saidTrump attributed Cubaâs condition to its leadership âThey have a bad regime They have very bad and corrupt leadershipâ he saidThe remarks came as he addressed reports that the United States may allow oil shipments including from Russia to reach Cuba amid its economic difficultiesâI told them if a country wants to send some oil to Cuba right now I have no problem with thatâ Trump saidHe added that such shipments would not significantly alter geopolitical dynamics âWhether itâs Russia or notâ it doesnât bother me much Itâs not gonna have an impactâ he saidTrump argued that allowing fuel supplies would primarily benefit ordinary Cubans rather than the government âIâd prefer letting it inâ because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you needâ he saidAt the same time he maintained that additional oil deliveries would not reverse Cubaâs broader trajectory âWhether or not they get a boat of oil itâs not gonna matter Cubaâs finishedâ he saidTrumpâs comments suggest a dualtrack approach combining pressure on Havanaâs leadership with limited humanitarian flexibility aimed at mitigating hardship for civiliansCuba has faced prolonged economic strain in recent years marked by fuel shortages power outages and declining foreign exchange earnings US sanctions and restrictions alongside structural challenges within the Cuban economy have compounded the crisis IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-cuba-will-be-next-as-crisis-deepens-667154.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-signals-possible-iran-deal-amid-escalation-667155.html Washington March 30 President Donald Trump said that a deal with Iran may be close even as he described extensive US strikes that he said had weakened the countryâs military and leadership and accelerated negotiations âI do see a deal in Iranâ could be soon tooâ Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from MaraLago in FloridaHe said the United States was engaged in both direct and indirect talks with Tehran âWe are negotiating with them directly and indirectly We have emissaries but we also are dealing directlyâ he saidTrump linked the diplomatic push to recent military action claiming sweeping destruction of Iranian assets âWe were gonna knock out 158 ships their entire Navy which we didâ we knocked out their entire Air Forceâ most of their missilesâ he saidHe argued the strikes had reshaped Iranâs leadership âIt is truly regime changeâ we have a groupâ a new regimeâ people that weâve never dealt with before that are acting very reasonableâ Trump saidAccording to Trump Tehran had responded positively to US demands âWe asked for 15 things and for the most partâ theyâre agreeing with us on the planâ he saidHe also cited what he described as goodwill gestures from Iran âThey gave us 10 massive boat loads of oilâ and today they gave us another 20 boatloads of oil that starts being shipped tomorrowâ he saidStill Trump acknowledged uncertainty around a final agreement âI think weâll make a deal with them pretty sure But itâs possible we wonâtâ he saidAsked about the possibility of deploying US troops Trump said Washington retained multiple options âWe have tremendous numbers of ships over thereâ I just have lots of alternativesâ he saidHe reiterated his firm stance on Iranâs nuclear programme âI donât want Iran to have a nuclear weaponâ if they had a nuclear weapon theyâd use it immediatelyâ he saidTrump warned of severe consequences if Tehran failed to comply âTheyâre gonna give up nuclear weaponsâ and maybe have a great country again But if they donâtâ theyâre not even gonna have a countryâ he saidHe also said regional allies had stepped up their response following recent attacks âSaudi Arabia is fighting back hardâ Qatar is fighting back UAE is fighting backâ theyâre all fighting backâ he said adding that the countries were âa hundred per cent on our sideâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-signals-possible-iran-deal-amid-escalation-667155.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-heavy-water-plant-severely-damaged-not-operational-iaea-667156.html Vienna March 30 Irans heavy water production plant at Khondab located in central Iran has been severely damaged and is no longer operational the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA said Based on independent analysis of satellite imagery and knowledge of the installation the IAEA has confirmed the heavy water production plant at Khondab which Iran reported had been attacked on March 27 has sustained severe damage and is no longer operational the IAEA said on social platform XThe plant contains no declared nuclear material the IAEA added Xinhua news agency reportsOn March 27 the IAEA said that it had been informed by Iran that the heavy water production plant in Khondab was hit but it confirmed that no radiation risk was identified The strikes came amid the ongoing USIsraelIran conflict that started on February 28Earlier on Saturday the IAEA confirmed that Iran had reported new strikes on key facilities including the heavy water production plant at Khondab The agency noted that there is no radiation risk from the strike as the installation contains no declared nuclear materialTaking to social media platform X the agency announced âIAEA informed by Iran that the heavy water production plant at Khondab was also hit today No radiation risk seen as installation contains no declared nuclear materialâSeparately Iran reported that the Khuzestan Steel Production Factory an industrial facility using sealed radioactive sourcesâCobalt60 Coâ60 and Cesium137 Csâ137âfor industrial gauging was also targeted Authorities said there was no offsite radiation release and the facility remains under normal operationsEarlier on Friday the IAEA also raised alarms over military activity near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant marking the third such strike in 10 days IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-heavy-water-plant-severely-damaged-not-operational-iaea-667156.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rising-mental-health-treatment-in-us-paired-with-worsening-outcomes-experts-warn-667157.html Washington March 30 An increasingly large number of Americans are receiving mental health treatment but experts have told lawmakers that outcomes are worsening pointing to overdiagnosis and flawed incentives At a Congressional roundtable on mental health lawmakers and witnesses described a system expanding rapidly in reach and cost yet struggling to deliver measurable improvementsCongressman Glenn Grothman said the number of adults receiving mental health care has more than doubled over two decades rising from 27 million in 2002 to about 60 million in 2024 Yet he noted âdepression rates are at historic highsâ and suicide rates have climbed back to âtheir highest levels in decadesââThat raises a fundamental questionâ Grothman said âIf we are treating more people than ever before why are we not seeing better resultsâDavid Hyman a health law professor said the problem lies in how the system is structured Spending on mental health and substance use disorders has grown faster than overall healthcare spending now accounting for roughly 5 per cent of the total But he warned that higher spending does not necessarily translate into better outcomesâWhen we pay for services we get services we donât necessarily get better mental healthâ Hyman said pointing to âmisaligned incentivesâ and a lack of reliable measures of effectivenessHe also highlighted persistent fraud concerns describing mental health as a âfraudlaced industryâ with recurring cases of billing for services not performed and falsified records Enforcement efforts he said have had ârelatively little impactâ with the system often slow to detect and deter abusePsychiatrist Sally Satel told lawmakers that part of the disconnect stems from overdiagnosis and the medicalisation of everyday distressâClinicians are in fact overdiagnosing too many peopleâ who do not have a psychiatric conditionâ she said adding that some conditions are also genuinely increasingShe pointed to a sharp rise in diagnoses among children In 2023 one in 36 children was identified with autism compared with one in 110 in 2006 At the same time roughly one in 10 young people are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often with limited evaluation and early reliance on medicationSatel said behavioural therapies are frequently bypassed âThe rush to medicate before trying behavioural treatmentsâ has become common she said even though such therapies can be effective when applied over timeShe also raised concerns about disability programmes noting that mental health conditions account for a large share of recipients and are often not reassessed âOne of the most damaging consequencesâ is that a patient has now been taken out of the workforceâ she said describing work as âone of the best therapies there isâLaura Delano a former patient and founder of the Inner Compass Initiative offered a stark account of longterm treatment and its consequences She said millions of Americans are placed on psychiatric medications without clear information on longterm risks or how to discontinue them safelyâNearly a million people have found their way to our information and resourcesâ she said adding that many struggle with withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop medicationâWhat we are calling a mental health crisis is in large part a crisis of overmedicalizationâ she said describing a system that reduces complex human struggles to medical conditions requiring pharmaceutical treatmentAt the same time suicide rates and reported mental health challenges â particularly among young people â have increased prompting renewed scrutiny of how care is delivered and whether current approaches address underlying social behavioural and economic factors driving distress IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rising-mental-health-treatment-in-us-paired-with-worsening-outcomes-experts-warn-667157.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-pushes-voter-id-attacks-mail-in-ballots-667158.html Washington March 30 US President Donald Trump renewed his push for sweeping election reforms calling for mandatory voter identification and sharply criticising mailin ballots as âinherently dishonestâ Speaking aboard Air Force One Trump urged Republicans to take aggressive legislative steps including ending the Senate filibuster to pass what he described as the âSave America ActââThey should terminate the filibuster just vote and youâll get everything you wantâ he saidTrump outlined a set of priorities centred on tightening voting rules âWe have voter ID we have proof of citizenship Itâs so importantâ he saidHe singled out mailin voting for criticism âMailin ballots have to be stoppedâ other than that mailin ballots are inherently dishonestâ he said while noting limited exceptions for âthe militaryâ sick peopleâ disabledâ and people that are travellingâThe president argued that stricter rules enjoy broad public backing âItâs polling at 87 per centâ with all voters including Democratsâ he said of voter ID requirementsHe accused Democratic leaders of opposing such measures for political reasons âThe only ones that donât want it areâ these corrupt Democrat leaders because it will not give them the ability to cheat in an electionâ Trump saidTrump framed the proposed changes as central to election integrity âWhy wouldnât you want voter ID Thereâs not a reason in the world you wouldnât want it except to cheatâ he saidResponding to questions the president spoke about his policy goals tied to the legislation including restrictions on transgender participation in sports and changes to voting procedures presenting them as part of a wider political agendaTrump said Republican leaders have said they lack the votes to end the filibuster But he insisted leadership should push harder âThatâs what being a leader is You have to get the votesâ he saidTrumpâs comments come amid ongoing debates in Washington over voting access and election security issues that have become increasingly polarised in recent election cycles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-pushes-voter-id-attacks-mail-in-ballots-667158.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-could-take-irans-kharg-island-667162.html Washington March 30 US President Donald Trump said that he wants to take the oil in Iran and could seize Kharg Island the countrys oil export hub In an interview with the Financial Times Trump said To be honest with you my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran comparing the US move to Venezuela where Washington intends to control the oil industry indefinitely after it forcibly seized President Nicolas Maduro in January Xinhua news agency reportedTaking Iranian oil would involve seizing Kharg Island through which over 90 per cent of Irans oil is exported the Financial Times reported warning that such an assault risks raising casualties and prolonging the warMaybe we take Kharg Island maybe we dont We have a lot of options it quoted Trump as saying It would also mean we had to be there for a whileHe added that he believed Iran had little or no defence on the island We could take it very easily he saidTrumps remarks came as he steps up the US military buildup in the Middle East while weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1000 pounds of uranium from Iran according to US officialsHe has also encouraged his advisers to press Iran to agree to surrender the material as a condition for ending the war The Wall Street Journal reported citing an anonymous source familiar with Trumps thinkingThe Pentagon is reportedly deploying up to 10000 additional ground troops to the region with the US Central Command announcing Saturday that over 3500 troops including 2500 Marines had arrived in the Middle EastDespite the threat Trump noted that indirect talks between the United States and Iran via Pakistani emissaries were making progress A deal could be made fairly quickly he saidOil prices have surged since the United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28 with Brent crude rising as high as 1195 a barrel in March the highest since June 2022 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-could-take-irans-kharg-island-667162.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-killed-in-iran-strike-on-kuwait-plant-toll-rises-to-8-in-west-asia-conflict-667163.html Kuwait City March 30 An Indian worker was killed in a strike carried out by Iran on a power and water desalination facility in Kuwait early on Monday the Kuwaiti government announced This has now pushed the number of Indian nationals killed in the ongoing West Asia conflict to at least eight In a post on X Kuwaitâs Ministry of Electricity and Water confirmed that the attack also caused damage to a service building at the facility and strongly condemned it as a âsinful Iranian aggressionâ against the Gulf nationâThis attack resulted in the death of an employee of Indian nationality and caused severe material damage to the buildingâ the Ministry said in Arabic roughly translated to EnglishOfficials added that emergency and technical response teams were immediately deployed to the site to manage the situation contain the damage and ensure that operations at the facility continued without major disruptionThe Ministry further emphasised that the âsafety and stability of the electricity and water infrastructure constitute a top priorityâ noting that technical teams are actively working to anticipate any further risks and ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential servicesThe latest fatality comes days after another tragic incident in the United Arab Emirates where an Indian national lost his life last Thursday after being struck by falling debris when a ballistic missile was intercepted over Abu DhabiAt the time the Indian Embassy had said it was âclosely working with the UAE authorities to provide all possible support and assistanceâ to those affectedFollowing an interministerial review meeting held on Friday the government had stated that seven Indian nationals had been killed in the Middle East conflict so far with one person reported missing Mondayâs incident has now taken the death toll higherThe conflict which has now entered its fifth week erupted after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran triggering a broader regional escalationSince then Iranian forces have carried out retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries hosting American military installations leading to casualties and significant damage to critical infrastructure across the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-killed-in-iran-strike-on-kuwait-plant-toll-rises-to-8-in-west-asia-conflict-667163.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-80-pc-of-south-koreas-teens-adults-concerned-over-ai-based-online-abuse-poll-667165.html Seoul March 30 More than 80 per cent of South Koreas teenagers and adults expressed concerns over online abuse involving the misuse of generative artificial intelligence AI tools such as the creation of deepfake videos and disinformation a poll showed on Monday According to the poll conducted from September to November last year on teenagers and adults by the Korea Media and Communications Commission KMCC 894 per cent of teenagers said they recognise the seriousness of AIdriven cyber violence while 876 per cent of adults said the sameThe survey was conducted on 9296 students from fourthgrade elementary school to thirdyear high school and 7521 adults aged 19 to 69Teenage respondents cited the ease of creating content with AI tools as their top concern while adults expressed fears over the potential for repeated harm from AIgenerated materialsThe poll additionally showed 423 per cent of teenagers experienced some form of cyber abuse in 2025 down 05 percentage point from a year earlier The figure for adults came to 158 per cent up 23 percentage points over the same periodBy channel teenagers said they were mainly exposed to cyber abuse via text messages and online gaming platforms while adults reported similar experiences primarily through text messages or social mediaFor both teenagers and adults strangers accounted for the largest share of abusers followed by friends Yonhap news agency reportedCyber abuse is not just an ethical issue online but an issue that can harm peoples dignity and violate the right to happiness as guaranteed by the Constitution said KMCC Chair Kim Jongcheol noting the government will make efforts to promote the healthy use of digital platformsOnline abuse is the harmful targeting of individuals or groups via digital platforms including social media messaging apps and gaming sites It includes cyberbullying doxing nonconsensual sharing of intimate images hate speech stalking and AIdriven deepfake abuse Such behaviour causes severe psychological social and economic damage IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-80-pc-of-south-koreas-teens-adults-concerned-over-ai-based-online-abuse-poll-667165.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-to-halve-fuel-tax-for-three-months-667166.html Canberra March 30 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday announced the government will halve its tax on fuel sales in response to recordhigh prices Albanese told reporters in Canberra after meeting with the state and territory leaders on Monday morning that the fuel excise will be cut for three months from WednesdaynbspHe said that the initiative would reduce the cost of petrol and diesel by 263 cents per liter amid rising prices driven by the Middle East conflict oil crisisAccording to the latest data from the Australian Institute of Petroleum AIP the national average price for regular unleaded fuel hit a record high of 253 Australian dollars about 173 per litre in the week to Sunday an increase of 63 per cent from 238 Australian dollars the previous weeknbspThe national average diesel price rose by 97 per cent in the same period to 31 Australian dollars per liter the AIP said We understand that Australians are under serious pressure Albanese said on MondayAdditionally he announced that the road user charge of 324 cents per liter of diesel used by heavy vehicles will be reduced to zero for three months to provide relief for the trucking industry Xinhua news agency reportednbspTreasurer Jim Chalmers said the two measures would cost the government an estimated 255 billion Australian dollars in lost revenueFrom an economic point of view the end of the conflict in the Middle East cant come soon enough and in the interim the government is stepping up to provide relief where we can do that in a responsible way he saidnbspOn top of the costofliving relief measures Albanese said on Monday that the state and territory leaders have agreed to a national plan that outlines how governments will work together on fuel security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-to-halve-fuel-tax-for-three-months-667166.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodias-parliament-adopts-law-on-combating-online-scams-with-life-imprisonment-for-scam-bosses-667182.html Phnom Penh March 30 The National Assembly of Cambodia on Monday passed a draft law on combating online scams which will deliver up to 30 years or life imprisonment to scam bosses A total of 112 lawmakers in attendance unanimously approved the draft billAccording to the bill online scam bosses will face between 15 and 30 years or life imprisonment if their operations lead to one or many deathsRingleaders of online scam centres will face between five and 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 billion riels 250000 and they will face between 10 and 20 years in jail and a fine of up to 2 billion riels 500000 if their operations are found to involve violence torture illegal confinement human trafficking or forced laborOnline scammers will be imprisoned between two and five years with a fine of up to 500 million riels 125000Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Koeut Rith said Cambodia was one of many countries in the region that criminals had used to operate online scamsThis crime has not only seriously affected public security and order but also badly damaged Cambodias reputation and image on the international stage he told the parliamentKoeut Rith said the law would enhance the effectiveness of the fight against online scams aiming at safeguarding security and public order as well as enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation in combating online scamsThe draft bill will need to be finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgationThe kingdom has launched an unprecedented nationwide crackdown on cyber scam networks to maintain social security safety and public order and to restore the kingdoms image on the international stage Xinhua news agency reportedThe Southeast Asian country is committed to eradicating all online scam centres by April this yearDeputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha said in February that Cambodia had deported more than 30000 suspected foreign scammers as over 210000 others had voluntarily left the kingdom after operations against online scams had intensified since June 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodias-parliament-adopts-law-on-combating-online-scams-with-life-imprisonment-for-scam-bosses-667182.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/khalid-bin-walid-camp-reactivated-hizbul-mujahideens-silent-revival-alarms-agencies-667205.html New Delhi March 30 The Hizbul Mujahideen may be largely gone but Indian agencies have picked up intercepts about a possible rebuilding of the terror outfit The leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen has managed to lie low for several years now The outfits operatives have largely been wiped out in Jammu and Kashmir The crackdown on the Hizbul Mujahideen which began with the killing of Burhan Wani continued until the top commanders were erased in Jammu and KashmirEven during Operation Sindoor the Hizbul Mujahideen faced heavy losses when their terror infrastructure was hit The Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack in which several innocent tourists were killedAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the Hizbul Mujahideen appears to be down and out The leadership has maintained a stoic silence in a bid to make it seem that the outfit is completely out of reckoning In reality there has been a silent attempt being made for the last couple of months aimed at reviving the terror group for operations in Jammu and KashmirThe official explained that for the ISI reviving the Hizbul Mujahideen is important as it is the only group that has managed the most traction in Jammu and Kashmir The ISI tried to float The Resistance Front but the results were limited as it is a wellknown fact that the outfit is an offshoot of the LashkareTaibaThe ISI hopes that once the Hizbul Mujahideen is back in action it will be able to draw the locals into its fold This has become very important for the ISI as it is in desperate need of a homegrown outfit Since the Indian security agencies have hit the terror infrastructure in Pakistan hard the ISI has not been able to send in its operatives into India This is also a result of high security along the borders both at the Line of Control LoC and the International Border IBOfficials say that they have been noticing activity at the Khalid bin Walid camp located at the Guldheri Mohalla of Garhi Habibullah at Balakot Pakistan This camp of the Hizbul Mujahideen had shut down following the Balakot airstrike carried out by the Indian Air Force IAF in which a JaisheMohammed training facility was targetedAnother official said that as per recent inputs by the Intelligence agencies the Khalid bin Walid camp has become functional The Hizbul Mujahideen operatives who are part of this camp are maintaining a low profile They are aware that this camp is very much within the striking distance of the IAF and hence the activities being undertaken at the camp are lowkey the official addedThe reopening of this camp is a worry for the Indian security agencies It is not an ordinary camp and before the 2019 Balakot air strikes at least 100 terrorists were trained annually The likes of Wani and Riyaz Naikoo and scores of other Hizbul Mujahideen operatives were trained at the Khalid bin Walid camp officials sayThe ISI has also deployed some LashkareTaiba operatives to assist the Hizbul Mujahideen cadres during the training programme Further the LashkareTaiba has also been directed to help the Hizbul Mujahideen in recruitment The outfit has been scouting for those who crossed over from Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan over the last couple of years This is a clear indication that the Hizbul Mujahideen is only looking for locals from Jammu and KashmirIt is clear that it does not want Pakistanis as part of the group and there is a risk of the traction being reduced in Jammu and Kashmir Officials say that the Hizbul Mujahideen was at its peak when it came to operations and recruitment when it was being headed by the locals such as Burhan Wani The Hizbul Mujahideen wants to follow the same pattern as it did before 2016The downfall of the Hizbul Mujahideen began following the death of Burhan Wani on July 8 2016 Officials say that they are keeping a close watch on the developments unfolding at Balakot The agencies are also monitoring the various supporters and the sympathisers this group has in Jammu and Kashmir Keeping the Valley quiet and not allowing traction by these groups is extremely crucial as the Hizbul Mujahideen makes a bid at revival the official also added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/khalid-bin-walid-camp-reactivated-hizbul-mujahideens-silent-revival-alarms-agencies-667205.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-groups-slam-looming-eviction-of-christian-working-class-community-667212.html Islamabad March 30 Human rights activists and civil society organisations have strongly condemned the planned demolition and forced eviction of residents in Allama Iqbal Colony a 25yearold predominantly Christian workingclass settlement in Islamabad The community now faces an imminent threat of clearance in the coming days raising serious concerns over minority rights and displacement Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP alongside the All Party Alliance for Katchi Abadis the National Commission for Justice and Peace the Awami Workers Party Aurat March Islamabad and allied civil society organisations unequivocally rejected the ongoing pattern of evictions carried out by the Capital Development Authority CDA in Islamabad citing lack of due process adequate notice and lawful rehabilitationAccording to the organisations these âactions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader and deeply unjust approachâ by Pakistani authorities that disproportionately targets lowincome communities across Islamabadâs katchi abadis informal settlementsââaffecting families who have lived and worked in these areas for decadesâ Expressing concern they said that the continued disregard for Pakistans 2015 Supreme Court stay order and the absence of a coherent and rightsbased policy reflect a disturbing erosion of legal protections for marginalised citizensâThis issue transcends any single religious or social group The demolition of katchi abadis represents a systemic assault on the housing dignity and livelihoods of workingclass communities Women and children are particularly vulnerable facing heightened risks of displacement insecurity and loss of access to basic services The climate of fear surrounding these evictions further suppresses the ability of affected residents to organise and assert their rightsâ the groups mentionedThe organisations called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately halt all planned and ongoing eviction operations including in Allama Iqbal Colony and Rimsha Colony and to fully comply with existing judicial directivesâWe would remind the CDA that it is bound by prior Supreme Court orders to all the provincesâas well as the CDAâto develop and submit comprehensive policies for all informal settlements which the provinces have already completedâ the groups statedâAdditionally the government must urgently develop and implement a national transparent inclusive and rightscompliant framework that guarantees security of tenure ensures prior consultation with affected communities and provides fair resettlement within a reasonable radius along with adequate compensation where displacement is unavoidableâ it addedThe organisations demanded meaningful engagement with representatives of katchi abadi communities as well as accountability for âarbitrary and unlawful actionsâ undertaken in the name of urban development by the Pakistani authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-groups-slam-looming-eviction-of-christian-working-class-community-667212.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-pakistan-face-big-risk-on-economic-front-due-to-iran-war-report-667215.html New Delhi March 30 The Middle East crisis poses a greater risk to Bangladesh Pakistan and Sri Lanka among the South Asian countries due to their high dependence on imported energy and limited reserve supplies according to an SampP Global Ratings report Since these countries are particularly vulnerable to rising oil prices and potential supply disruptions a prolonged price and supply shock in global energy markets could hit their sovereign credit ratings the report statesSampP Global Ratings which provides analystdriven credit ratings research and sustainable finance opinions said such insights are essential for helping market participants translate complexity into clarity and make decisions with confidencePakistan Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are showing signs of economic recovery While progress has been made sustained high energy prices and potential disruptions to trade and remittances could derail their fragile economies the report states It also points out that Laos is comparatively less exposed due to its reliance on hydropower generation and a more balanced fiscal position While still vulnerable to extended energy price and supply shocks the conditions supporting the positive outlook on its longterm ratings remain intact for nowOur ratings on Bangladesh can likely withstand the shortterm economic disruptions associated with our basecase scenario the credit rating agency saidHowever the country faces mounting risks to growth inflation and its external balance if the rise in energy prices persists longer than anticipatedHigher fuel prices are likely to stall the gradual decline in inflation over the next three to six months and could weaken the economys recovery momentum The report points out that the Bangladesh economy is almost entirely reliant on imports for crude and refined oil products Oil reserves are likely to last less than one month after which measures to curb consumption may become more stringent if imports remain constrainedNearly 50 per cent of Bangladeshs electricity generation is gasfired with almost a quarter of its gas demand met through imports which could also potentially take a hit in case of a prolonged West Asia conflictThe country is already grappling with persistently high inflation which rose to 92 per cent in February from 86 per cent in January alongside a prolonged slowdown in growth following the collapse of the previous government in mid2024Bangladeshs revenuetoGDP ratio is among the lowest of all rated sovereigns estimated at around 9 per cent for the current fiscal year ending June 2026The war also poses an unwelcome headwind to Bangladeshs improving external balance position Foreign exchange reserves rose to 296 billion as of March 12 2026 up significantly from 197 billion during the same period in 2025 the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-pakistan-face-big-risk-on-economic-front-due-to-iran-war-report-667215.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-awami-league-leader-critically-wounded-in-gun-attack-667219.html Dhaka March 30 An Awami League leader was critically wounded after being shot by unidentified assailants in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia district in the latest incident of political violence in Bangladesh according to local media reports The victim was identified as 52yearold Shafiqul Islam Azam a former general secretary of Awami League in Amla Union of Mirpur The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Sadarpur Bazar in Amla UnionAccording to police Shafiqul was at his business establishment when a group of individuals called him outside and shot him before fleeing the scene Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reportedReports suggest that he was rescued by the locals in a critical condition and taken to Kushtia General HospitalResident Medical Officer Hossain Imam said that Shafiqul suffered gunshot injuries to his right eye left jaw and upper abdomenâThe abdominal injury has likely damaged blood vessels causing heavy bleeding His condition is criticalâ UNB quoted Imam as saying He further said that Shafiqul has been referred to Dhaka for advanced medical careThree rounds of live bullets a magazine and a motorcycle were reportedly recovered from the scene by the police while Assistant Superintendent of Police in Mirpur Circle Muhammad Mahmudul Haque Majumder said that the matter is under investigationThis latest incident of violence reflects a continuing pattern of attacks on Awami League leaders and activists that has persisted since the eighteenmonth tenure of the former Muhammad Yunusled interim governmentRecently another Awami League leader died in custody at Keraniganj Central Jail in Dhaka as custodial deaths of the party members continue to rise in BangladeshThe 55yearold Shahnur Alam Shanto died on the night of March 13 while undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute and Hospital in Dhaka during his incarceration local media reportedEarlier this month the Awami League expressed grave concern over what it described as ongoing mass arrests and custodial killings of political leaders and activists across the country saying the actions violate fundamental rights and undermine justice and the rule of lawThe party alleged that the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP government has followed the path of the former Yunusled interim government by using state machinery to carry out repression torture and suppression aimed at silencing dissent and pursuing political vengeanceMass arrests of political leaders and activists along with deaths in custody continue to occur Repeated arrests indiscriminate remand orders and reports of custodial deaths are causing pain and anger across the nation the Awami League stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-awami-league-leader-critically-wounded-in-gun-attack-667219.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/oli-arrest-row-puts-new-nepal-govts-justice-claims-under-scrutiny-667236.html New Delhi March 30 IANS Since the arrest of former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his then colleague exHome Minister Ramesh Lekhak for their reported role in the September 2025 firing that left many dead in Kathmandu mixed reactions have been coming from the Himalayan nation over administrative exercise and intentnbspPressure had been building ever since a probe agency submitted its findings and recommendations to the interim government on March 8 There were growing calls to make the report public However the then administration is understood to have deferred the decision preferring that the incoming Prime Minister and cabinet take a call on the matterEven so excerpts from the nearly 1000page report began appearing in sections of Nepals media prompting the interim government to consider releasing it just days before the new government was sworn inHowever according to a report in The Kathmandu Post on Sunday The Gen Z uprising probe report on which these arrests were based has yet to be made public The arrests also appeared selective with other top security officials named in the report sparedThe report further said The proper way would have been to first make the report public after which the police could have taken the case against the two politicians to court Instead the hasty arrests have fuelled suspicions that the new government could use its supermajority to target its opponentsIncidentally both Nepal and Bangladesh saw new democratically elected governments emerge after youthled protests over alleged misrule though the course of events differed in the two countries both neighbours of IndiaIn Nepal a new government took office after youthled protests over alleged misgovernance KP Sharma Oli though ousted participated in the electoral process but lost to incumbent Balendra Shah In contrast in Bangladesh former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid unrest and a court later awarded her the death sentence over alleged atrocities Her party the Awami League has since been barred from political activityWithout drawing direct parallels the article urged caution on the part of Nepals new leadershipWe hope that the new government on which people have pinned such high hopes acts with more caution in the future including the cases of Oli and Lekhak This is vital to delivering justice to the families of those who were killed during the Gen Z uprising which is one of the governments justifications for the arrests All those who were involved in the brutal suppression of peaceful protests on September 8 last year must be brought to book it saidYet if the government is seen to be selectively targeting a few people while sparing others implicated in suppressing the uprising the legitimacy of the whole process of prosecution and justicedelivery to victim families starting with the formation of the Gauri Bahadur Karkiled commission last year will come into question it stressedWhile a similar crackdown by law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh had led to the deaths of several protesters followed by mob violence and attacks on Awami League members and minority Hindus no comparable incidents of retaliatory violence have been reported in Nepal under the interim governmentThe article also noted the reform promises of Nepals new administration highlighting a 100point reform agenda that ranges from boosting the flagging economy to reducing politicisation of universities and bureaucracyIt observed If even half the pledges are implemented Nepal will be a much better place to live and work in Moreover the new Shah government seems intent on making a strong start so that people can immediately feel the changeWith its mandate the government has a chance to work wonders for the country It should not let that mandate go to waste by getting embroiled in such distractions that could easily have been avoided the piece opinedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/oli-arrest-row-puts-new-nepal-govts-justice-claims-under-scrutiny-667236.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cuba-slams-us-for-lying-over-fuel-blockade-666965.html Havana March 29 Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the United States for blatantly lying over a fuel blockade against the island In a post on social media platform X Rodriguez said US claims contradict its own executive orders and regulations citing a January 29 executive order and subsequent US measures as evidence of a brutal blockade on fuel supplies to CubaHe said the measures include threats of sanctions against third countries and foreign companies supplying oil to Cuba as well as hostile actions targeting oil tankers Xinhua news agency reportedRodriguez added that Washingtons policy aims to weaken Cubas economy hinder its development cut off its sources of income and restrict its access to markets and technologyCuba has been facing a severe economic and energy crisis due to decades of US sanctions The United Nations says fuel shortage is pushing the country into a humanitarian crisis Meanwhile US President Donald Trump threatened Cuba is next following US attacks on Venezuela and IranCuba is next by the way but pretend I didnt say that please Pretend I didnt say that Please please please media please disregard that statement Thank you very much Cubas next Trump said on Friday local time at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Miami FloridaThe remarks came after the US military raided Venezuela and forcibly seized the oilrich South American countrys president Nicolas Maduro on January 3 and launched the ongoing massive joint attacks with Israel on Iran on February 28Earlier this month Trump threatened that Cuba is going to fall pretty soon but his administration will focus on Iran right now IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cuba-slams-us-for-lying-over-fuel-blockade-666965.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-irgc-claims-downing-of-us-f-16-mq-9-drone-in-southern-airspace-666966.html Tehran March 29 Irans Islamic Revolution Guard Corps IRGC claimed its air defence has struck a US F16 Fighting Falcon and an MQ9 Reaper drone in the countrys southern airspace Making the announcement in a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News the IRGC said the US fighter jet and drone were hit during joint retaliatory missile and drone operations by its Navy and Aerospace Division against heavy industries belonging to the United States and Israel Xinhua news agency reportedIt added that the US Central Command CENTCOM has also confessed that its F16 Fighting Falcon was targetedIn a post on social media platform X CENTCOM said A US Air Force F16 Fighting Falcon lands at a base in the Middle East after a combat flight in support of Operation Epic FuryAdditionally IRGC said on Saturday that it destroyed a Ukrainian antidrone equipment depot in Dubai the United Arab Emirates used to assist US forcesEbrahim Zolfaghari spokesman for Irans main military command Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters said that a warehouse in Dubai containing Ukrainian antidrone systems and housing 21 Ukrainians had been targeted and destroyed in a joint operation by the IRGCs Air Force and NavyUkraines Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi denied the information as a lie the InterfaxUkraine news agency reported on SaturdayThis information does not correspond to reality It is fake InterfaxUkraine also quoted a spokesperson for Rustem Umerov secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council as sayingThe development came amid heightened tensions following joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran starting on February 28 to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and US interests across the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-irgc-claims-downing-of-us-f-16-mq-9-drone-in-southern-airspace-666966.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-deploys-3-500-marine-troops-to-middle-east-amid-war-against-iran-666967.html New York March 29 The US Central Command CENTCOM announced that a task force of 3500 marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East US Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli LHA 7 arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility March 27 CENTCOM said in a brief post on social media platform X on Saturday Xinhua news agency reportedThe Americaclass amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about 3500 sailors and marines in addition to transport and strike fighter aircraft as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets CENTCOM said in the postThe arrival is part of a broader US military buildup tied to the ongoing war with Iran with amphibious forces capable of conducting both seabased strikes and ground operations online news portal ynetnewscom reported on Saturday adding such units are typically used for rapid deployments including securing strategic locations evacuations or potential assaults on coastal targetsThe Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Thursday that the Pentagon was considering deploying up to 10000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to give US President Donald Trump more military options beyond diplomacyThe force likely to include infantry and armored vehicles would be added to the roughly 5000 Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division already ordered to the region said the report citing Department of Defense officialsIt was unclear exactly where the forces would be deployed in the Middle East but they are expected to be within striking distance of Iran and its Kharg Island a crucial oil export hub the WSJ report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-deploys-3-500-marine-troops-to-middle-east-amid-war-against-iran-666967.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/no-kings-protests-sweep-us-against-trump-policies-666968.html Washington March 29 Mass protests swept across the United States as hundreds of thousands gathered in cities nationwide under the banner of âNo Kingsâ targeting President Donald Trumpâs immigration and foreign policy Organisers said the demonstrations were part of a coordinated national mobilisation with more than 3000 events planned across the country The flagship rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul drew one of the largest crowds with estimates of over 200000 participantsProtesters marched chanted slogans and held signs criticising the Trump administration particularly its immigration enforcement actions and involvement in the Iran conflict In several cities demonstrators lined major streets while others gathered in public squares waving placards and chanting in unisonIn St Paul Minnesota the rally served as the central event of the day It featured political leaders and prominent cultural figures Gov Tim Walz addressed the crowd and introduced musician Bruce Springsteen who performed âStreets of MinneapolisâOther wellknown personalities including Sen Bernie Sanders Joan Baez Maggie Rogers and Jane Fonda also appeared at the event reflecting the intersection of political activism and cultural expression at the protestsThousands of protestors participated in cities including New York Washington Los Angeles Chicago and San Francisco Protesters gathered in large numbers marched through downtown areas and organised rallies outside government buildingsParticipants expressed a wide range of grievances including opposition to immigration enforcement economic concerns and broader criticism of the administrationâs policiesIn Los Angeles hundreds marched through city streets following a gathering outside City Hall where protestersIn Houston demonstrators carried a giant replica of the US Constitution through downtown symbolising what organisers described as a defence of democratic valuesSome demonstrations included performances speeches and symbolic acts such as carrying replicas of the US ConstitutionIn a separate statement Representative John Larson said âToday we are here to say THERE ARE NO KINGS IN AMERICAâ warning of what he described as a âdangerous misuse of powerâ and adding âIf we the people remain united and continue to speak up we will not be defeatedââIn America we do not bow to kingsâ said Senator Kristin GillibrandâOur president should be focused on bringing down grocery prices making health care affordable and ensuring every family can get ahead not using their position to boost their own personal brand It is time that we institute this ban and make sure that our government serves the people not one personâs egoâ she saidâToday in 2026 our message isNo more kings We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy In America We the People will ruleâ Senator Bernie Sanders saidâBut letâs be clear This moment is not just about one manâs greed one manâs corruption or one manâs contempt for our Constitution This is about a handful of the wealthiest people on Earth who in their insatiable greed have taken over our economy have taken over our political system have taken over our media in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the working families of our countryâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/no-kings-protests-sweep-us-against-trump-policies-666968.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-undermining-international-norms-in-conflict-with-afghanistan-report-666975.html IslamabadKabul March 29 Pakistan despite claiming selfdefence in its conflict with Afghanistan cannot evade strict requirements of international law governing the use of force particularly in the territory of another nation The norms necessitate proportional response and clear distinction between military and civilian targets a report has highlighted According to a report in international magazine âThe Diplomat there is no principle in international law that allows a state to pursue a perceived security threat by attacking another countryâs territory putting civilian centres at risk of destruction and subsequently reduce it to security rhetoric It added that if such reasoning is accepted the world enters an era in which every nation could simply claim We have evidenceâ and treat it as a licence to bomb neighbouring countriesâIn recent weeks Pakistan has intensified its airstrikes on Afghanistan Civilians including children are paying the highest price for the ongoing conflict between the neighbouring countries Among these attacks the bombing of a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul was the most shocking According to the United Nations 143 people were killed in that strike and hundreds more were wounded a figure that reflects nothing less than a human catastropheâ the report detailedCiting the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA the report said that three weeks preceding the attack on the Kabul rehabilitation Pakistani strikes had killed at least 70 people injured 478 others and displaced around 115000 people in AfghanistanâThe silence surrounding this escalating conflict is profound and damning Afghanistan today is suffocating under the harsh and repressive policies of the Taliban on the one hand and facing crossborder attacks on the other The people of Afghanistan are trapped in a multilayered siege freedom and security have been taken from within while from the outside their safety is being dangerously violatedâ it addedAccording to the report Pakistanâs current conduct is not accidental but the result of prolonged silence and selective accountability by the international communityâAt the same time from February 28 until now the world has been consumed by the war involving the United States Israel and Iran a war that has now entered its fourth week and in which Iran in response to Israeli and American strikes has targeted countries hosting US bases as well as Gulf energy infrastructure In such an atmosphere Afghanistan has once again been pushed to the marginsâ it mentionedThe report warned that the continued silence of the international community is not merely a failure towards Afghanistan but enabling a system of impunityâIt is normalising a dangerous standard that the bombing of medical centres and civilian areas can take place but because the victims live in an isolated and abandoned country no serious accountability for those responsible for the attack and killing will follow That is not only a threat to Afghanistan it is a threat to the international order itself Once punishment is removed from the scene the law begins to lose its meaningâ it noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-undermining-international-norms-in-conflict-with-afghanistan-report-666975.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-malta-agree-to-deepen-cooperation-in-ict-healthcare-and-renewable-energy-667029.html Valetta March 29 India and Malta held fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations in Valletta and reviewed bilateral ties The two nations agreed to take forward cooperation in sectors like Information and Communications Technology healthcare renewable energy pharmaceuticals and education During the meeting India and Malta discussed ways to deepen economic and commercial relations particularly in the light of the recently concluded IndiaEuropean Union EU Free Trade Agreement FTA according to the statement released by Ministry of External Affairs MEA on Sunday The officials of two nations spoke about regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue their cooperation in the multilateral domainIn a statement MEA stated In the consultations both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the steady progress in IndiaMalta ties marked by the milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025They welcomed the recent upswing in the bilateral engagements marked by highlevel visits The discussions focused on areas of cooperation such as trade and investments tourism technology and innovation maritime sector and cooperation in educational and cultural fields it addedSecretary West MEA Sibi George and Christopher Cutajar Permanent Secretary Maltas Ministry of Foreign Affairs cochaired the meeting held on FridayDuring the visit Sibi George called on Maltas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ian Borg and discussed ways to strengthen the ongoing cooperation between two nations while also broadening the scope of bilateral engagementGeorge and Brigadier Clinton J O Neill Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta also held a meeting and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperationSibi George also interacted with business leaders in Malta and discussed ways to further strengthen growing business ties trade and investment between two nationsMEA Secretary also visited the St Johnâs CoCathedral in VallettaIn a post on X Indian High Commission in Malta stated During his visit to Malta Secretary West Sibi George along with High Commission of India officials visited the St Johnâs CoCathedral in Valletta a key historic site known for its Baroque architecture which holds central place in Maltaâs cultural heritageIndia and Malta share friendly and cordial relations India was one of the first countries to recognise Maltas independence in 1964 and in 1965 established diplomatic relations with it India and Malta share a common heritage being members of the Commonwealth according to High Commission of India in Malta statement Malta attaches high degree of importance to Commonwealth and had hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in 2005 and 2015 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-malta-agree-to-deepen-cooperation-in-ict-healthcare-and-renewable-energy-667029.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-killed-10-injured-as-mini-bus-strikes-motorists-in-eastern-afghanistan-667032.html Kabul March 29 One commuter was killed and 10 others sustained injuries as a minibus struck two motorists in east Afghanistans Laghman province said a statement of the provincial police office on Sunday A minibus according to the statement struck a threewheel rickshaw and a motorbike simultaneously due to carelessness in the provincial capital Mehtarlam on Saturday afternoon killing one on the spot and injuring 10 others including five children and two women Xinhua News Agency reported All the injured commuters have been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment the statement said calling on drivers to respect traffic rules and regulations while driving to avoid road accidents On March 1 at least three people were killed and six others injured in a highway accident in northern Afghanistans Jawzjan province the provincial police office said in a statementThe incident occurred when two highspeed vehicles collided due to reckless driving in the Hadbakhshi region along the JawzjanSari Pul highway killing both drivers and a female passenger on the spot and injuring six others including two children the statement added The injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment according to the statement which also urged drivers to strictly adhere to traffic rules to prevent further tragediesDeadly road accidents remain a persistent problem in wartorn Afghanistan often attributed to deteriorating road conditions reckless driving and inadequate safety measures amid the countrys challenging terrain and limited infrastructureEarlier on January 31 provincial police office said that three commuters were killed and two others sustained injuries in a road accident in northern Afghanistans Baghlan provinceThe fatal incident occurred when two speeding vehicles collided in the QalaeBaday region of Dushi district killing three passengers including a woman and a child on the spot and injuring two others according to the statementThis follows another deadly crash in northern Badakhshan province on January 29 in which two people died and one was injured after a vehicle veered off a mountainous road and plunged into a ravine IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-killed-10-injured-as-mini-bus-strikes-motorists-in-eastern-afghanistan-667032.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bookhyderabad-days-by-microsoft-executive-traces-roots-of-leadership-667066.html Washington March 28 An Indian American senior executive at Microsoft has turned to memory and meaning in a new memoir that argues leadership is shaped long before one writes a line of code Ravi Vedula Corporate Vice President at Microsoft said his book Hyderabad Days draws from recollections and vignettes of life in the 80s and 90s adding that those years remain very formative and continue to guide his thinking in engineering and leadershipThose childhood memories are things I use till today Vedula said in an interview with IANS describing them as the value system and the operating principles of how I think about leadership now and in engineeringThe book releasing March 31 centres on growing up in a Hyderabad colony and frames those experiences as a proxy for all neighbourhoods where anyone grew up he said stressing that this is not just my story its yours tooVedula said each chapter ends with a reflective postscript linking childhood incidents to presentday lessons Simple episodes pooling money to buy a cricket ball or resolving disputes in gully cricket become a story of teamworkâ doing more with lessâ finding community with each otherHe said the structure allowed him to move beyond slice of life vignettes and connect them to a broader leadership frame rooted in storytelling rather than formal frameworksA recurring theme is community I felt like I was raised by everybody in the neighbourhood he said recalling a chapter titled everybodys childHe also points to resourcefulness often described in India as jugaad and teamwork as defining traits Family influences especially his mothers quiet sacrifices form another strand It was service It was leadership he saidVedula who moved to the United States in 1993 for higher studies and joined Microsoft in 2000 said the book deliberately focuses on what he calls the preimmigrant storyNo one ever tells the preimmigrant story he said adding that his life has been shaped by India America and India where America gave me wings India gave me grounding and rootsReflecting on the rise of Indian professionals in the US technology sector he said those early influences may play a role We tend to be resourcefulâ we tend to work within constraintsâ I have to believe that all of that is part of it he saidOn artificial intelligence Vedula argued that technological shifts only reinforce the importance of human values Our humanity our ethics our valuesâ are going to be core ingredients for us to be able to shape AI for the future he saidHe added that while AI may take over routine work there is a part of your job that has been shaped by your judgment your values which will remain centralVedula said the memoir is not about nostalgia alone but about what we cannot afford to lose as we shape the futureThe books proceeds he said will go towards funding heart surgeries for children in IndiaVedula who now leads a global data and analytics organisation at Microsoft has worked across major product transitions including Exchange Office 365 and the companys cloud evolution His career reflects the broader trajectory of Indianorigin leaders in global technology firms particularly in Silicon Valley and the US corporate ecosystemVedulas reflections also intersect with a wider shift in how the Indian diaspora is documenting its journey Unlike earlier narratives that focused primarily on migration and professional success Hyderabad Days places emphasis on formative environments neighbourhoods families and shared cultural experiences that shaped individuals before they entered global systemsHe suggested that the rapid pace of technological and social change risks eroding those foundational experiences We just dont have enough shared moments anymore because of such distractions he said referring to the shift from collective family experiences such as watching a single television programme together to highly individualised screendriven livesThe contrast he noted is stark across generations We cannot imagine a life without digital media and social media and mobiles he said adding that children today are living a completely different reality from those who grew up in the predigital eraYet he cautioned against viewing the past through a purely nostalgic lens Instead he framed those experiences as a repository of enduring principles The book isnt really about the past he said The book is about what is nonnegotiable as we shape the futureVedula also addressed the pressures facing younger generations particularly those growing up in the United States It is hard to be a kid in this generation he said citing the combined impact of social media constant information flow and evolving career landscapes shaped by artificial intelligenceHe emphasised the importance of maintaining human connection and social grounding Having friends having people who care about you and having people that you care aboutâ interacting with a person in conversation he said remains an essential anchor amid rapid changeThe book also reflects Vedulas long career arc across technological transformation from early enterprise software to cloud computing and now artificial intelligence He described witnessing these shifts firsthand noting that software isnt built in perfect conditions and often requires adaptability and resilience traits he links back to his upbringing in IndiaOn Indias evolution as a technology hub Vedula called its progress quite remarkable pointing to its talent pool and expanding ecosystem However he said the next phase would require breakthroughs at a global scale Nothing has emerged on the global stage in a way that I think India still has to figure out he said adding that AI could act as a real great equaliserLooking ahead Vedula plans a series of book engagements across technology hubs in the United States including Seattle and Silicon Valley with a subsequent outreach in India once the print edition becomes available thereHe said the memoir is aimed not only at readers who share similar childhoods but also at younger members of the diaspora seeking to understand their roots Perhaps the next generationâ will finally figure out how their parents lived and how their parents grew he saidVedula reiterated that the narrative is intentionally universal This is not unique to meâ this is everyones story he said positioning the book as both a personal account and a collective memory of a generation shaped by community constraint and aspiration IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bookhyderabad-days-by-microsoft-executive-traces-roots-of-leadership-667066.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-based-fundraiser-raises-200-000-to-empower-one-lakh-indians-with-disabilities-667068.html Washington March 29 A communityled fundraiser in the national capital has raised 200000 as a USbased nonprofit body set a goal to support 100000 people with special abilities in India this year through assistive technology healthcare access and volunteerdriven programmes The VOSAP Voice of Specially Abled People gala in Fairfax a suburb of Washington DC brought together donors professionals and student volunteers to back disability inclusion effortsFounder Pranav Desai said the organisation is focused on scaling impact through technology and community engagement âWe have been able to create a community with a single shared goal letâs harness ability letâs empower people with disabilitiesâ he saidHe said early intervention remains critical âIf a child is born with disabilityâ if theyâre not supported with what they need they will end up without education That means without employmentâ he said He added that âassistive deviceâ completely changes their livesâDesai said the organisation has grown rapidly in recent years It has moved from helping a few hundred individuals to tens of thousands annually âWe want to be the transformation catalystâ whatever we do has a farreaching impactâ he saidEminent IndianAmerican doctor and philanthropist Dr Vinod Shah highlighted the importance of dignity âAnytime you give a sight anytime you give a mobilityâ that is nothing more support than giving the dignity to an individualâ he saidPhilanthropist Ila Shah shared her experience of visiting a school for blind students in India She said structured support can enable independence âThe school was giving vocational trainingâ so they can get a job and they can be independent and live with dignityâ she saidThe event showcased technologyled solutions for people with visual hearing and mobility impairments These include assistive devices AIenabled tools and communication platforms for the deaf and deafblindDesai said the model goes beyond charity âStop thinking welfareâ just look at their ability And then there are trillions of dollars for the worldâ he saidHe also highlighted the role of technology in scaling operations The organisation uses digital platforms to identify beneficiaries process applications and monitor impact in real timeAdvocacy is another key focus VOSAP engages with policymakers in India and global platforms to push for accessibility and inclusionYouth volunteers play a central role in its work Students contribute research outreach and programme execution âThey have found purposeâ Desai saidThe gala ended with an appeal for continued support âWe all have to speak up If we donât speak up people would not understand the abilities of people with disabilitiesâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-based-fundraiser-raises-200-000-to-empower-one-lakh-indians-with-disabilities-667068.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-no-lockdowns-no-rationing-india-stays-steady-amid-world-energy-crisis-667070.html New Delhi March 29 How does it feel to sit steady while everything around you seems to be on fire It is an unsettling image but it aptly captures Indias position in todays world At a time when much of the globe is grappling with the cascading effects of a conflicttriggered energy crisis India appears relatively stable The ongoing tensions involving the US Israel and Iran have sent shockwaves through global energy markets Countries across continents are scrambling to respond to sudden shortages and rising prices of oil and gas a situation few would have imagined before February 28 happenedThe Gulf region long considered the epicentre of global energy supply is itself under strain As disruptions ripple outward governments worldwide are being forced into emergency measuresAnd in the middle of this turbulence India finds itself in a comparatively comfortable position For a country of 140 crore people the availability of petrol diesel and piped natural gas PNG remains largely stable There are concerns around LPG in some pockets but much of it appears driven by panic buying and hoarding rather than any systemic shortageThe situation gives a sense of pride and places India high up During the Covid19 pandemic when many powerful nations turned inward shutting borders and guarding resources India stepped up both domestically and globally Through the Vaccine Maitri initiative it extended support to nearly 100 countries reinforcing its role as a dependable partner in times of crisisTodays situation though different in nature once again highlights contrasts across countries Several governments have had to take harsh measures that directly affect daily life Pakistan has sharply increased fuel prices introduced workfromhome measures and shut educational institutions Sri Lanka has cut down public lighting reduced airconditioning use in state offices and adopted a fourday workfromhome model Bangladesh has enforced fuel rationing and closed universities Vietnam has also moved to remote working The Philippines has declared a national energy emergencyEven developed economies are not immune Australia is witnessing fuel shortages with hundreds of service stations running dry exacerbated by panic buying Price increases and demand spikes are becoming common across marketsAgainst this backdrop Indias position stands out There has been no hike in petrol diesel or gas prices so far Supplies remain available and the government has maintained that the country has adequate reserves reportedly enough for over two months along with measures to boost domestic production and encourage alternatives such as PNGFor ordinary Indians this translates into a degree of normalcy that is increasingly rare elsewhere Vehicles continue to run fuel is accessible and daily life remains largely unaffected In contrast even in the US rising fuel prices have pushed up the overall cost of living contributing to inflationary pressuresAmid this the political discourse at home has been far from measured Criticism is an essential part of democracy but there is a thin line between questioning the government and fuelling unnecessary anxietyWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised concerns about a possible lockdown a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled virtual meeting with the chief ministers to discuss the fuel situation amid the ongoing West Asia conflict on March 27 Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi warned of compromised energy security attributing it to foreign policy failures Akhilesh Yadav spoke of widespread LPG shortagesThese are serious claims but they sit uneasily with the ground reality When the crisis itself is global and largely beyond the control of any single government the focus perhaps should be on constructive suggestions rather than amplifying fearsThe political heat may continue to rise but on the ground the picture remains steady Roads are busy fuel stations are functioning pipelines are supplying gas and households are managing their needsIndia has not stopped The country is witnessing hectic political activity revolving around Assembly elections in four states and one union territory and the inauguration of premier development projects such as the Noida International Airport the enthralling IPL tournament has also begun international halfmarathons are also being held in some states and Dhurandhar continues to make a dream runFor once in a world under strain India stands on relatively steady ground The road ahead may not be without challenges if the Gulf conflict escalates but this is hardly the time to panic A measured response and some trust in the governments handling will serve better than alarmismDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-no-lockdowns-no-rationing-india-stays-steady-amid-world-energy-crisis-667070.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-south-waziristan-residents-face-mobile-network-disruptions-internet-outages-667084.html Islamabad March 29 Residents of Lower South Waziristan in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been facing difficulties for the past two months due to mobile network disruptions and prolonged internet outages in several areas local media reported on Sunday Users of major telecom operators have said that they were facing persistent signal issues and frequent internet shutdowns disrupting communication and access to essential online services The situation has affected people from all walks of life including journalists traders business owners and students as they depend on digital connectivity for their daily activities Pakistani daily Dawn reportedOn Saturday local members of the Wazir tribe said that mobile signals in parts of Wana and Birmal tehsils have remained weak or completely unavailable for the past few weeks They mentioned that internet services also remain suspended for extended periodsThe most impacted regions include Sholam Spin Tanai Azam Warsak Ghowa Khowah Dabkot and Raghzai where residents are facing issues in making phone calls sending messages or using online platforms Many users have termed the situation unprecedented as connectivity in this era is considered a basic necessityResidents have said that the ongoing mobile disruption has impacted their routine lives Students have expressed concern over the inability to attend online classes complete assignments or use academic resources which they fear may impact their educational progressSimilarly members of the business community and trade associations have said that they suffered financial losses due to the breakdown in communication channels Dawn reportedJournalists have also reported that limited access to communication tools has affected timely reporting and information gatheringResidents of the impacted regions have urged the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority PTA to ensure the restoration of mobile and internet services on an emergency basis IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-south-waziristan-residents-face-mobile-network-disruptions-internet-outages-667084.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/olis-arrest-should-not-be-viewed-as-retaliation-says-ex-nepal-minister-chaulagain-666951.html Kathmandu March 28 According to former Nepal Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by the newlyelected government should not be viewed as retaliation Speaking to IANS Chaulagain called the Prime Minister Balendra Shahled new government young and inclusive Former Nepal PM Oli and exHome Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested on Saturday in connection with a culpable homiciderelated case linked to the forceful suppression of Gen Z protests in 2025 that left several protesters deadHere are some excerpts from the interviewIANS The former Prime Minister of Nepal has been arrested How do you see thatMP Chaulagain I think it is a part of the routine process that this new Nepal government has initiated A committee was formed and that panel had provided its investigation report to the previous government and it was in the process of implementation So we see this as part of the implementation of that reportIANS This arrest is being linked to the Gen Z protests during which protestors where shot at and many diedMP Chaulagain This is all about the investigation yes On the 8th of September 2025 mass shooting targeting youths schoolchildren and Gen Z protestors took place That was the reason behind the initial revolt leading to widespread destruction That was the essence of the report In a way this arrest is linked to thatIANS Was this arrest already planned or was it a move by the new governmentMP Chaulagain No one cannot say it was preplanned This new government was just formed yesterday and the first decision they made was to take cognizance of the investigation report This is in public interest due to demands from the youth Gen Zs The report was accepted by the previous government and this new decision has come from the first Cabinet I think So it is a routine process you may sayThis new government needed to give a message to the public that they are keeping their promises Those who were involved in the September uprising those who overexercised their power should be punished It is also linked to the fresh mandate by the people through this ballot So that is why I think this new government wanted to show that they are fulfilling their promises to the peopleIANS After this arrest will the situation in Nepal remain stable or could the Oli supporters create problemsMP Chaulagain Yes there are some protests Specially people who support exPM OliThere are some voices which say this government might be moving towards a retaliatory approach But if it is properly handled through the judicial process that will not cause big trouble Because the government has the authority to make sure that they have implemented all governing mechanisms So the arrest should not be viewed as retaliation But if they do not provide clear justice or if legal procedures arent followed then it is a big problemSo we hope that this current government handles this with proper judicial processes legal procedures then it should not be a big issue Even though politically some sections may come out against this they will raise their voice but overall if you look at the fresh mandate the public sentiment is towards this Balendra Shah government So protests will not increase in a big way that is what I can surmiseIANS How do you see the new government in NepalMP Chaulagain Historically it is seen as truly representing the characteristics of Nepal The diversity we have ethnic or linguistic diversity it represents that All the provinces are represented and it has shown an inclusive nature At the same time there are educated people in it welltrained in many fields And it is a very young government as well IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/olis-arrest-should-not-be-viewed-as-retaliation-says-ex-nepal-minister-chaulagain-666951.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-lpg-price-surge-intensifies-hardship-for-citizens-666961.html Islamabad March 28 The average price of liquefied petroleum gas LPG in Pakistan has surged to Rs 39005135 per 1167 kg cylinder from Rs 31503968 amid the conflict in West Asia local media reported Citing data from the Sensitive Price Index SPI published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics PBS for the week ending March 26 Pakistani daily Dawn reported that the most significant price hikes were recorded across various cities in Punjab provinceReports suggest that as gas prices rise fares for LPGrun private transport have increased placing additional pressure on low and middleincome commuters dependent on LPGdriven rickshaws buses and minibusesAmid the global rise in LPG prices triggered by the conflict the gas supplies from Iran which previously ranged between 10000 and 12000 tonnes a day have declined due to the Eid and Nawroz holidaysAccording to M Ali Haider Convenor of the Standing Committee on LPG of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry three vessels carrying about 20000 imported LPG arrived in Pakistan during MarchHe said the country needs around 2m tonnes of LPG annually of which 12m tonnes are imported and 800000 tonnes are produced by local refineriesLast week a report highlighted that Pakistan has limited petroleum reserves with crude oil stocks sufficient for just 11 days raising concerns over energy security amid disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia conflictBriefing the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum the secretary of petroleum said the country currently has diesel reserves for 21 days petrol for 27 days LPG for nine days and jet fuel for 14 days according to a report in The Express TribuneNearly 70 per cent of Pakistans petroleum imports come from the Middle East and the ongoing conflict has disrupted key shipping routes and supply chains the official saidPakistan is in talks with Iran to secure permission for oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz which could allow four vessels to transport crude cargoes if approvedOfficials also warned of a potential gas crisis with the country likely to face a severe shortage after April 14 due to disruptions in liquefied natural gas LNG suppliesOf the eight LNG cargoes expected in March only two reached Pakistan while several shipments scheduled for April may also be affected IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-lpg-price-surge-intensifies-hardship-for-citizens-666961.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-shifts-tone-as-iran-war-reshapes-ties-666762.html Washington March 27 China is recalibrating its approach to the Iran conflict signalling support for deescalation as it prepares for highstakes talks with the United States a former senior US government official said The remarks come as President Donald Trump plans a visit to China next month even as the conflict in the Gulf continues to escalateâIt was quite remarkable that the President was prepared to go to China really in the middle of this substantial warâ the former official said describing the timing as âvery unusualâThe official said countries across Asia are closely watching the proposed summit given its potential impact on regional stability and economic conditionsâEvery country in Asia is watching for and anticipating what to expect when President Trump visits Chinaâ the official saidA second former US government official said the conflict has provided both sides with space to recalibrate following recent economic discussionsâThe operations in the Gulf became a political cover for both sides to play for more timeâ the official said referring to talks held in ParisThe official said China has continued to signal readiness to host the US President even as details remain unsettledâThe Chinese this morning more or less signaled that they would still be ready to host him but didnât confirm datesâ the official saidAt the same time Chinaâs messaging on the conflict has shown signs of adjustment after recent diplomatic engagementâMuch more focused onâ promoting peace slightly nudging the Iranians to the tableâ a third former US official said describing the shift as subtle but notableThe official added that this was âmore or less an olive branch to the United Statesâ suggesting Beijing is seeking to stabilise the situation ahead of highlevel engagementThe evolving dynamics also reflect the intersection of the Iran conflict with broader USChina negotiationsâTo what extent do US negotiators now start raising things likeâ Chinese purchases of Iranian oilâ the second official said pointing to a potential expansion of the agendaThe official also flagged concerns about possible Chinese support to IranâBefore the conflict the Chinese had talked about selling anti ship missiles to the Iraniansâ the official said adding that such developments would be closely watchedDespite these complexities both sides appear to be maintaining engagementâI thinkâ itâs in their interest and itâs in our interest tooâ the official said referring to continued signalling around the summitThe Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worldâs most critical energy corridors handling a significant share of global oil and gas shipments Any disruption has immediate implications for global markets particularly for major Asian economies dependent on energy importsUSChina relations have been marked by competition and periodic engagement across trade technology and security A potential summit amid an active conflict underscores how geopolitical crises and major power negotiations are increasingly intertwined IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-shifts-tone-as-iran-war-reshapes-ties-666762.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shift-to-gulf-may-hit-indo-pacific-666763.html Washington March 27 The ongoing conflict in the Gulf could weaken Americaâs strategic posture in the IndoPacific raising concerns for partners like India as military resources and attention shift away from Asia senior former US officials warned The official said the crisis is already beginning to affect US planning in other regions particularly Asia where Washington has sought to build deterrence against ChinaâThis will impact our plans in other parts of the world in particular in Asiaâ a second former US government official said pointing to growing strain on US military resourcesThe official noted that significant capabilities including air defence systems have already been redirected to the GulfâWe have almost all of our air defense systems in the region right now and many of them came out of Asiaâ the official said adding that the US has been âusing a lot of firepower on thisâ only a month inâThe comments highlight a key concern among Asian capitals including New Delhi that a prolonged Middle East conflict could dilute the US focus on the IndoPacificA senior former US official said such shifts tend to have lasting effectsâForce posture decisions tend to be very stickyâ the official said warning that even if major operations end deployments are likely to continue for an extended periodâYouâre looking at probably a pretty extended period of containmentâ and thatâs going to require US forces in the region for quite some timeâ the official addedThe official drew parallels with earlier deployments noting that forces moved during past crises have often remained in place long after initial operations concludedâThere will be global tradeoffs over timeâ the second official said warning that sustained operations could affect US readiness in other theatresâMoney is not going to solve a time and physics problem for the American militaryâ the official addedBeyond military resources the crisis is also consuming the attention of senior US leadership which analysts say could further slow strategic initiatives in AsiaâThe time and attention of senior leaders are just elsewhere right nowâ the first official said noting that the Middle East has historically drawn focus away from other regionsFor India and other IndoPacific partners this raises questions about the consistency of US strategic engagement particularly at a time when regional competition is intensifyingThe official said that even before the current crisis Asian allies were dealing with unresolved trade and economic issues with Washington adding to the strainâAlmost every bilateral relationship between the United States and countries of Asiaâ there are actually substantial issues that are as yet unresolvedâ the official saidAt the same time the Gulf conflict could create new demands on US allies and partnersâI think almost all Asian countriesâ are anticipating being asked in some way to support issues associated with US continuing involvement in the Gulfâ the official saidHowever such support may be difficult to secureâThe warâ is deeply unpopular not just in Europe but across most of the polities of Asiaâ the official said pointing to domestic political constraints facing governments in the regionThe IndoPacific has been the centrepiece of US strategic planning in recent years particularly in response to Chinaâs rise For India which has deepened defence and security cooperation with Washington sustained US engagement in the region remains a key pillar of its strategic calculusBut repeated crises in the Middle East have historically pulled US resources and focus away from Asia A prolonged conflict in the Gulf could once again test the balance between Americaâs global commitments and its IndoPacific priorities with direct implications for partners like India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shift-to-gulf-may-hit-indo-pacific-666763.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-strike-reach-enters-indian-ocean-focus-666764.html Washington March 27 Iranâs suspected attempt to target a military base in the Indian Ocean has raised alarm in Washington US officials warned that Tehranâs missile programme is expanding its reach into waters close to India Lawmakers pointed to a reported launch toward Diego Garcia The base is a key USUK military facility in the Indian Ocean They said the incident shows Iran can project power far beyond its regionGeneral Stephen Whiting head of US Space Command said Iranâs missile and space programmes are closely linkedâBallistic missiles are space rocketsâ he saidUS officials said Iran has already developed key elements needed for longrange strikes Senator Tom Cotton said Tehran could combine launch systems with reentry vehicle technology to extend its reachâThatâs correctâ the senior defence witness said when asked if Iran could achieve this quicklyAdmiral Richard Carroll head of US Strategic Command said Iran has demonstrated core capabilitiesâTheyâve demonstrated that technologyâ he saidLawmakers said Iranâs space launch programme could support missile development They noted that satellite launch systems use similar technology to longrange missilesThe hearing highlighted risks for US forces and partners in the IndoPacific The Indian Ocean is a key route for global trade and energy supplies It has not traditionally been seen as within Iranâs strike range That view is now changingOfficials also raised concerns about cyber threats Whiting said cyber is the âsoft underbellyâ of space systems He warned that adversaries may prefer cyber attacks because they are cheaper and harder to traceLawmakers said Iranâs growing capabilities complicate security planning They called for stronger missile warning systems and better spacebased trackingThe United States has long tracked Iranâs missile and nuclear programmes Washington sees them as a key source of instability in the regionIranâs missile programme has advanced steadily in recent years Its parallel space efforts have supported that progressFor India the development is significant Iranâs expanding reach into the Indian Ocean adds a new security factor in a region vital for trade and energy flows IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-strike-reach-enters-indian-ocean-focus-666764.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-moves-to-raise-h-1b-wage-floors-666765.html Washington March 27 The US Department of Labor has proposed new rules to raise wages for foreign workers under H1B and other visa programmes The move aims to align foreign worker pay with US market wages Officials say it will protect American workers and reduce misuse of the systemâThe Trump Administration is committed to ensuring that American workers are not disadvantaged by unfair wage practicesâ Labour Secretary Lori ChavezDeRemer saidThe proposal changes how âprevailing wagesâ are calculated These wages set the minimum pay employers must offer foreign workersUnder the new plan entrylevel wages would rise sharply The lowest level would move from about the 17th percentile to the 34th percentile The highest level would rise from the 67th to the 88th percentileOfficials say current wage levels are too low They argue this allows companies to hire foreign workers at cheaper rates than US workersGovernment data shows H1B workers are often paid less than Americans in similar jobs The gap is about 10000 on average the proposal saysThe Department said this creates an incentive to replace US workers with lowerpaid foreign labourUnder existing rules employers must pay either the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to US workers The higher of the two applies But the prevailing wage acts as a floor and critics say it is set too lowThe new rule aims to raise that floor It would better reflect workers with similar skills and experienceThe proposal would apply to new applications It would not change existing approvalsThe Department estimates wages could rise by about 14000 per worker each year This could increase labour costs for employersOfficials say the goal is to restore fairness in the labour market They say foreign workers should not undercut US wagesPublic comments will be accepted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register on March 27The H1B visa is the main US programme for hiring foreign skilled workers Many later move to permanent residency through other visa categoriesThe proposed changes could have a major impact on employers and foreign professionals especially in the technology sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-moves-to-raise-h-1b-wage-floors-666765.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-targets-indo-pacific-arms-delays-666766.html Washington March 27 Two US senators have introduced a bipartisan bill to examine delays in weapons deliveries to key IndoPacific partners The legislation called the First Island Chain Deterrence Act seeks a detailed review of how such delays affect US military readiness in the regionSenators Michael Bennet and Pete Ricketts said backlogs in arms sales are weakening deterrence against ChinaâSince the Truman Administration Democratic and Republican administrations alike have recognised that a credible defense of the First Island Chain is essential to a stable IndoPacific and thus US national securityâ Bennet saidâBut our commitment is only as strong as our ability to arm our allies and partnersâ he said âRight now delays and backlogs are undermining that credibilityâRicketts said regional allies are increasing defence spending but need faster deliveriesâOur allies and partners in the IndoPacific act as force multipliers in our collective effort to deter Communist Chinaâs aggressionâ he saidâTo enhance their defence capabilities they need the weapons they purchase from us fasterâ he addedThe bill directs the Comptroller General to submit a report within 18 months on delays in US arms sales to Japan Taiwan and the PhilippinesThe report will examine how these delays affect the Pentagonâs ability to âbuild posture and sustain a strong denial defence in the First Island ChainâThe First Island Chain runs from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines It is seen as a key line of defence in the western PacificThe legislation also asks for details on pending arms sales that have been approved but not delivered It calls for an analysis of delays caused by Pentagon processes production limits and competing global prioritiesLawmakers say delays could push allies to look for other suppliers They warn this could weaken coordination in a crisisThe bill defines a âstrong denial defenseâ as preventing an adversary from acting by making success too difficultThe proposal aligns with the Trump administrationâs 2026 National Defense Strategy That strategy calls for a strong defence posture along the First Island ChainBennet has supported other measures to strengthen ties with IndoPacific partners These include efforts to expand AUKUS cooperation and improve coordination in space with alliesConcerns about delays come as demand for US weapons rises The defence industrial base is under strain due to supply chain issues and global conflictsJapan and the Philippines are US treaty allies and play a key role in regional security Taiwan is central to US planning for potential conflict with ChinaIndia is not part of the First Island Chain But it is a key partner in the IndoPacific through the Quad grouping with the United States Japan and Australia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-targets-indo-pacific-arms-delays-666766.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-deeper-pakistan-ties-calls-relationship-complex-666767.html Washington March 27 Senior US lawmakers and officials are pushing for deeper more resultsdriven ties with Pakistan calling the relationship âcomplexâ A bipartisan symposium on Capitol Hill hosted by Tom Suozzi and Jack Bergman on Wednesday brought together more than 200 policymakers diplomats and experts to assess the trajectory of USPakistan relationsâAt a time when our country and our world feel increasingly divided itâs more important than ever to strengthen our relationships with key partners like Pakistanâ Suozzi said âThe relationship between the United States and Pakistan has been complex but it is also filled with opportunity especially when we focus on shared interests like security economic growth and human dignityâBergman stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation across divides âThat kind of unity doesnât happen by chance It starts with conversation It starts with a shared belief that progress is possible when people come together exchange ideas openly and engage respectfullyâ he said He added that disagreements must be handled âwith respectâ to achieve lasting progressPakistanâs Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh described the relationship as enduring and consequential âPakistanâs relationship is certainly one of the most important and consequential relationships reflected in multiple successful partnerships that unfolded over the past almost eight decadesâ he said âEach time we have come together it has been consequential beyond the bilateral domain and has actually benefited the whole wide worldâAssistant Secretary of State S Paul Kapur said Washington wants tangible outcomes âWe want to ensure the goodwill and highlevel attention in the USPakistan bilateral relationship translate into concrete benefits for the American and Pakistani peopleâThe symposium featured panel discussions on security and economic cooperation Experts examined regional stability including Pakistanâs ties with India and China and the scope for expanding trade and investmentMichael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council said the partnership is âin a good placeâ but needs to become more sustainable over time Touqir Hussain a former ambassador cautioned that US policy must go beyond optics âIf America wants good partners it should have good policies And the criterion of a good policy should not simply be that it looks good in Washingtonâ he saidSecurity concerns were a key focus Lisa Curtis warned that the TehrikiTaliban Pakistan TTP remains âa dangerous and deadly organizationâ and stressed the US interest in ensuring Pakistanâs stability Hassan Abbas highlighted the need to strengthen civilian law enforcement to address terrorism organised crime and crossborder threatsOn the economic front Sofyan Yusufi pointed to Pakistanâs push toward digitisation and macroeconomic adjustments but said clearer industrial policy is needed to boost exports and foreign exchange Esperanza Jelalian of the US Chamber of Commerce said renewed engagement has opened opportunities for private sector investment and called for resolving bilateral trade issuesâThis conference is about learning from the past understanding where we are today and charting a smarter more cooperative path forward between our two countriesâ Suozzi said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pushes-deeper-pakistan-ties-calls-relationship-complex-666767.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/maduro-makes-second-appearance-at-new-york-courthouse-666768.html New York March 27 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made his second appearance in a New York court after his forcible seizure by US troops in a military raid in Caracas in early January During his first arraignment on January 5 Maduro pleaded not guilty to all US charges against him including drug trafficking and told the court that he was kidnapped from his Caracas residence and he remains president of Venezuela Xinhua news agency reportedOn Thursday Maduros lawyer continued pushing the judge to throw out the charges in court and argued that the United States is violating Maduros constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds from paying for his legal feesThough doubting Washingtons justification for barring Maduro from using Venezuelas funds to cover his legal defense the judge denied the dismissal of the caseOn January 3 US military forces launched a largescale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores before transporting them to New York The US attacks have shocked the international community triggering a stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwideThe couple has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn New York since their seizure in CaracasProtesters gathered outside the courthouse which was heavily guarded by law enforcement officers chanting slogans and demanding that Maduro be freed immediatelyWere here today standing with Nicholas Maduro and Cilia Flores Jacoe Muldoon a young protester told Xinhua We think charges should be dismissed and that they should be freedAnother protester said that the United States had no right to kidnap an elected leader of another country adding that the Venezuelan people are united to face the challengesIn Muldoons eyes the situation in Venezuela and that in Iran are definitely connected as the United States launched aggressions overseas to seize resources globallyMore and more countries are standing up against the United States as it tries to maintain its hegemony over the world he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/maduro-makes-second-appearance-at-new-york-courthouse-666768.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-moves-to-overhaul-military-it-systems-666769.html Washington March 27 The Pentagon is pushing to overhaul its information technology systems Officials say outdated networks and cyber risks could hurt military readiness Defence Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies outlined the plan at a House hearing She said the department is driving a âbold transformationâ to turn technology into a âdecisive warfighting advantageââOur focus is to enable data supremacy and decision superiorityâ she saidLawmakers said strong networks are critical âIf the networks donât work well nothing else willâ said committee chair Don BaconDavies described four main prioritiesFirst the Pentagon plans to modernise its network backbone This includes cables satellites and 5G systems She said 5G is already deployed at most US military installationsSecond the department will replace outdated systems Davies said legacy IT remains a major problem âLegacy IT does pose quite a significant problemâ she saidShe said many old systems are not updated That makes them harder to secureLawmakers agreed Some described federal systems as slow and outdated They said this hurts efficiency and securityThird the Pentagon will strengthen cybersecurity Davies said the department is moving away from âchecklist driven complianceâInstead it will use a riskbased model This includes automation and continuous monitoring The department is also expanding âzero trustâ securityDavies said cyber risks extend beyond Pentagon networks She warned about threats to contractors and supply chains The department must look âmuch more holisticallyâ at security across the defence industrial baseFourth the Pentagon will focus on workforce Davies said it is expanding recruitment and training for cyber professionalsDavies said cryptography is a âcritical cornerstoneâ She said the department is preparing for new encryption standardsOfficials also flagged risks in operational technology This includes systems used in shipyards and energy networks Davies said many were ânever intended to be connected directly to the internetâThe hearing also focused on slow approvals for new technology Davies said the system âis much slower than it needs to beâLawmakers warned that cyber threats are growing They cited risks from China Russia Iran and North KoreaThe Pentagon has faced pressure to modernise its systems Officials say digital strength is now key to military power Recent defence strategies have focused on cloud computing artificial intelligence and cybersecurityThe department has also faced scrutiny over outdated systems and audit failures Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for faster reforms and stronger partnerships with industry IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-moves-to-overhaul-military-it-systems-666769.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-imecs-role-in-strengthening-global-connectivity-amid-west-asia-conflict-666791.html Paris March 27 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar emphasised the importance of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC in bolstering global connectivity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions during the G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting in France He noted that the conflict in West Asia reinforces the need for resilient trade routes and secure supply chainsAddressing the session EAM Jaishankar highlighted that Indiaâs expanding trade agreements with major global partners including the Free Trade Agreement FTA with the European Union the European Free Trade Association EFTA and the United Kingdom have added significant value to IMECTaking to social media platform X on Friday he posted âShared views about IMEC at the second session of the G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting with invited partners The uncertainties arising from the conflicts in West Asia only make a stronger case for more resilient trade corridors and supply chainsâHe further stated âAt the same time Indiaâs FTAs with the European Union EFTA members and the UK have enhanced the utility of IMECâEAM Jaishankar also appreciated the growing enthusiasm among international partners to realise the connectivity initiative He underscored the urgency of reforms within the United Nations Security Council and highlighted challenges faced by the Global SouthâHighlighted the urgency of UNSC reforms streamlining peacekeeping operations and strengthening humanitarian supply chains Specifically raised the Global Southâs concerns about energy challenges fertiliser supplies and food securityâ he saidOn the sidelines he held bilateral discussions with the UK and German Foreign Ministers Posting on X he said âA good discussion with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper covering both bilateral and global issuesâFollowing his meeting with the German Foreign Minister EAM said âFollowed up on our recent telecon with German FM Johann WadephulâEAM Jaishankar arrived in France on Thursday for the twoday G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting On arrival he posted âArrived at Abbaye des VauxdeCernay France to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting with Partner Countries Was received warmly by French Foreign Minister JeanNoel Barrot for my first bilateralâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-imecs-role-in-strengthening-global-connectivity-amid-west-asia-conflict-666791.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-imecs-role-in-strengthening-global-connectivity-amid-west-asia-conflict-666792.html Paris March 27 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar emphasised the importance of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC in bolstering global connectivity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions during the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in FrancenbspHe noted that the conflict in West Asia reinforces the need for resilient trade routes and secure supply chainsnbspAddressing the session EAM Jaishankar highlighted that Indias expanding trade agreements with major global partners including the Free Trade Agreement FTA with the European Union the European Free Trade Association EFTA and the United Kingdom have added significant value to IMECTaking to social media platform X on Friday he posted Shared views about IMEC at the second session of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting with invited partners The uncertainties arising from the conflicts in West Asia only make a stronger case for more resilient trade corridors and supply chainsnbspHe further stated At the same time Indias FTAs with the European Union EFTA members and the UK have enhanced the utility of IMECnbspEAM Jaishankar also appreciated the growing enthusiasm among international partners to realise the connectivity initiative He underscored the urgency of reforms within the United Nations Security Council and highlighted challenges faced by the Global SouthHighlighted the urgency of UNSC reforms streamlining peacekeeping operations and strengthening humanitarian supply chains Specifically raised the Global Souths concerns about energy challenges fertiliser supplies and food security he saidnbspOn the sidelines he held bilateral discussions with the UK and German Foreign Ministers Posting on X he said A good discussion with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper covering both bilateral and global issuesFollowing his meeting with the German Foreign Minister EAM said Followed up on our recent telecon with German FM Johann WadephulnbspEAM Jaishankar arrived in France on Thursday for the twoday G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting On arrival he posted Arrived at Abbaye des VauxdeCernay France to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting with Partner Countries Was received warmly by French Foreign Minister JeanNoel Barrot for my first bilateralIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-highlights-imecs-role-in-strengthening-global-connectivity-amid-west-asia-conflict-666792.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pan-india-fake-currency-network-expands-as-new-entry-points-emerge-666794.html New Delhi March 27 Indiaâs security agencies have flagged the increasing number of entry points through which fake currency is being circulated in the market At first fake currency was being pushed into Nepal from Pakistan before making its entry into India However with the Indian agencies stepping up vigilance at the Nepal border the focus shifted to Malda in West Bengal The National Investigation Agency NIA which is probing a majority of these cases found that Malda had sophisticated printing units They would source the material from Pakistan through the Bangladesh border and then print the fake notes before circulating themAn Intelligence Bureau official says that at the moment the number of areas from where this racket is being operated has increased Murshidabad and Nadia in West Bengal too have become hot spots for this racket the official saidHe further stated that the other main points where this racket is flourishing are Coastal Andhra Tamil Nadu Kerala Gujarat Delhi and MaharashtraIn addition to West Bengal being the main supplier of fake currency such notes are also originating from Dubai before they make their way into the South Indian states the officials also addedAnother official said that the network is still controlled across India by the Dawood Ibrahim syndicateThe ISI has instructed the syndicate to ramp up production and take a panIndia approach while running this racket the official added This explains why there are so many instances of fake currency rackets being busted across the countryIn addition to increasing entry points the syndicate has also been relying heavily on social media to run this racket For instance in Malkapur Maharashtra the deals to trade in fake currency were struck on social mediaIn addition to Malkapur in Maharashtra Pune and Bhiwandi have also become major points where this trade takes place an official saidThe official said that apart from using social media as a meeting point these people are using technology heavily to further the trade These people were found to be using Artificial Intelligence AI to gather more information to make the note look authenticAI was used to ask questions on how to print the notes correctly and how to avoid being caught by law enforcement agencies Most of the material to print the fake notes is sourced from PakistanThe Pakistan Security Printing Corporation PSPC Karachi has been the main source for the syndicate to procure the materialNow the syndicate is also procuring Chinesesourced paper which is another added headache for the agenciesThe printing and distribution of fake currency is part of an ISI strategy to hurt India economically An official said it is clear that the ISI wants to expand this business and probably has a printing unit in every stateFor now the distribution routes have been increased The official adds that in addition to West Bengal West Godavari and East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh have become a major hub for the circulation and distribution of fake currency The notes that land in these areas are circulated only in the southern statesThis goes on to show that the syndicate is being regionspecific It is creating similar points for circulation and distribution in other regions as wellThis reduces the risk of getting busted as the transportation routes are shorter Further the syndicate does not want any interaction between the units in the various regions as more contact would mean that the chances of detection are high IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pan-india-fake-currency-network-expands-as-new-entry-points-emerge-666794.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-alleges-another-extrajudicial-killing-of-civilian-by-pakistan-forces-in-balochistan-666797.html Quetta March 27 A leading human rights organisation has alleged that Pakistani forces carried out another extrajudicial killing of a civilian in Balochistan raising fresh concerns over human rights violations in the region Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC mentioned that 30yearold farmer Ubaid Ullah was shot dead on March 20 near Hajika Cross in the province by personnel of Pakistanâs Frontier Corps who later labelled him a militantThe rights body alleged that no one in Balochistan is safe from Pakistani forces with civilians often killed or disappeared and later labelled as militants âThere appears to be no rule of law but rather what some describe as an undeclared form of martial law in the regionâ the BYC statedCondemning the brutal killing the BYC described it as part of ongoing oppression by Pakistani forces and demanded an immediate end to such actions The rights body called on the international human rights organisations to take urgent notice of the abuses and demand transparency accountability and the protection of civilian lives across BalochistanIn its latest report the BYC stated that the human rights situation in Balochistan deteriorated sharply during January and February documenting the violation of fundamental human rights including the right to life by Pakistani authoritiesâThe period was marked by surging violence and lawlessness where human life lost its value to just a number Baloch identity is recorded as the main target of statesanctioned violence In a region where there is an armed resistance against the state the civilians are paying an unbearable cost They are suspected of being traitors terrorists militants insurgents or criminals if their identity is Baloch irrespective of their age gender or professionâ the BYC statedSuch state violence is historical and systematic which aims to keep colonial control over land resources and people exploit natural wealth and crush any form of resistance by the indigenous peopleâ it addedAs per the findings there was a sharp rise in enforced disappearances with 86 cases in January and 102 cases in FebruaryAdditionally extrajudicial killing of civilians also surged in the aftermath of Baloch insurgent attacks on state and government installations In February the report said 46 civilians were killedall young Baloch civilians including 5 minors âSystematic torture and inhuman treatment continue to inflict physical and psychological pain on victims and their families Fundamental freedoms are banned and law is openly being used against Baloch citizens The state and government authorities are blatantly using collective punishment on entire families communities and native populations in order to break their will to resist and behave as subjects deprived of basic rightsâ the BYC stressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-alleges-another-extrajudicial-killing-of-civilian-by-pakistan-forces-in-balochistan-666797.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-blasphemy-laws-paralyse-institutions-undermine-justice-rights-group-666804.html Islamabad March 27 A leading minority rights group on Friday alleged that Pakistanâs blasphemy laws are being exploited as a tool of systematic coercion enabling organised religious groups and their allies to intimidate judges prosecutors police and politicians effectively holding the countryâs justice system and broader state machinery hostage According to the Voice of Pakistan Minority VOPM this âblasphemy complexâ relies on fear of mob violence targeted killings and economic blackmail to âparalyseâ institutions tasked with protecting rights and upholding the rule of lawâPakistanâs blasphemy provisions carry a mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment but their wording is vague and broad making mere accusations enough to trigger arrest and detention Human rights organisations have documented that these laws are routinely used to settle personal scores grab land and persecute religious minorities rather than to address genuine incitement or hate speech the rights body statedCiting recent investigations the VOPM stated that blasphemy accusations are not only spontaneous expressions of outrage but in many cases orchestrated by organised networksThe rights body noted that human rights lawyers in Pakistan have described a coordinated âblasphemy business groupâ or âIslamist gangâ that manufactures cases often by circulating allegedly blasphemous content online filing complaints and then extorting the accused or their familiesIt added that judges in Pakistan hearing such blasphemy cases operate under an atmosphere of direct and at times lethal intimidationHuman rights groups the VOPM said document instances where judges âhave been openly threatened in courtrooms pressured by crowds outside court premises and denounced in sermons or social media campaigns when they show leniency or demand solid evidenceâLawyers defending those accused of blasphemy face similar or greater danger several have been assassinated including prominent rights lawyer Rashid Rehman who was shot dead in his office after defending an academic accused of blasphemy following explicit threats over his role in the case Because of these patterns of violence many lawyers refuse to take such cases leaving the accused without meaningful legal representation and further skewing proceedings toward conviction or endless detention the rights body mentionedâThe climate of fear means that judges often deny bail avoid deciding cases promptly or pass responsibility upward in the judicial hierarchy to avoid individual blameâ it addedThe rights body cited observers noting that Pakistani courts frequently disregard existing procedural safeguards â such as requirements for prompt investigations and protections against false accusations turning trials into prolonged ordeals where managing extremist pressure takes precedence over delivering justiceHighlighting the grim situation the VOPM said âUntil Pakistan acknowledges its own central role in empowering the blasphemy gang its judiciary and state machinery will remain captives not only of extremists on the street but also of the cowardice and complicity that sit at the heart of the state itselfâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-blasphemy-laws-paralyse-institutions-undermine-justice-rights-group-666804.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-fuel-import-bill-likely-to-jump-by-40-pc-due-to-middle-east-crisis-666817.html New Delhi March 27 Bangladeshâs annual fossil fuel import bill is projected to soar by 48 billion a 40 per cent increase from 2025 levels due to the Middle East crisis according to a new analysis by Zero Carbon Analytics ZCA âThis type of crisis is repeating itself echoing the price shocks caused by Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine causing the costs of Bangladeshâs dependence on fossil fuels and its delayed energy transition to mountâ the ZCA analysts wrote in its latest reportIt noted that the RussiaUkraine conflict had sent Bangladesh into an economic crisis with GDP levels only recovering in 2025 Asian liquefied natural gas LNG rose by 390 per cent in the year leading up to Russiaâs invasion followed by a 48 per cent increase in the five months after it resulting in power demand shortfalls and months of power cuts In October 2022 blackouts left 130 million people without powerThe hefty price tag driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens to severely drain the countryâs foreign exchange reserves reducing its import cover ratio from 57 months to 49 monthsThe crisis exposes Dhakaâs deep vulnerability to volatile international energy markets as 46 per cent of the countryâs total energy supply came from imports in 2023 In the fiscal year 20242025 imports accounted for 65 per cent of its power needsMuch of this vital fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz where shipping is now severely disrupted Bangladesh imports around 14 million tonnes of crude oil through the strait annually under longterm contracts with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil CompanyAn Aramco cargo of 100000 tonnes bound for Bangladesh is already delayed in the Gulf because of the war noted the ZCA reportSupply pressures are emerging across multiple energy sectors Confirming the squeeze on refined products the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation BPC reported in early March âAround 60000 tonnes out of the 293000 tonnes of diesel planned for import in March have been deferred or cancelledâSimultaneously Qatar which accounts for 75 per cent of Bangladeshâs LNG imports has suspended production and shipments Deep LNG dependence is driving fiscal distress across the power sectorSix out of seven LNG cargoes scheduled for April in the import plan of the stateowned Petrobangla which is mandated to manage oil gas and other mineral resources are expected to pass through the strait Delivery of half the remaining cargoes is uncertain according to reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-fuel-import-bill-likely-to-jump-by-40-pc-due-to-middle-east-crisis-666817.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-military-pushes-icbm-ambitions-as-ordinary-citizens-suffer-666848.html Islamabad March 27 Pakistani military establishment under the leadership of Asim Munir has abandoned the facade of economic recovery and opted for a strategic psychosis As ordinary Pakistani citizens struggle with recordbreaking inflation and a collapsing power grid the Men in Olive Green are diverting the nations dwindling resources towards Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ICBM development and reconstruction of their proxy terror networks a recent report has highlighted From Strategic Partner to Global Pariah Rawalpindis ICBM ambitions and proxy wars have sealed Pakistans fate Every bluff eventually gets called out Pakistans came on March 14 2026 when the US Intelligence Communityâs Annual Threat Assessment stripped away a fiction that Islamabad had carefully maintained for the better part of three decades The phrase strategic restraint â once Rawalpindis diplomatic armour â now lies in ruin a report in The Sunday Guardian detailedIn its place a far harsher designation a converging source of risk listed alongside North Korea and Iran as a direct threat to global stability Geography had long made Pakistan too inconvenient to confront That inconvenience no longer outweighs the danger it addedAccording to the report the most explosive revelation in the US Intelligence Communityâs Annual Threat Assessment ATA is the formal grouping of Pakistan with China Russia and North Korea as a direct threat to the USThe ATA warns that Pakistan is developing increasingly sophisticated missile technology intended to strike targets far beyond the South Asian theatre This is no longer about credible minimum deterrence against India This is a rogue states bid for global blackmail it mentionedâUnder Munir the military has traded bread for ballistics The assessment notes that if current trends continue Pakistan could soon field ICBMs capable of threatening Western capitals For a country surviving on IMF life support this move toward longrange nuclear delivery is not securityâ it is a suicide note for Pakistans international relations it stressedThe report noted that New Delhis yearslong dossiers on Pakistansponsored terror were dismissed by the West as mere bilateral grievancesHowever the 2026 US assessment explicitly cites the April 2025 Pahalgam attack where 26 innocents were slaughtered as the definitive proof that Pakistanlinked terror remains a nucleartriggerAs India advances toward a 7 trillion economy deploying satellites and building global semiconductor hubs Pakistan remains benchmarked against the standards of pariah statesThe 2026 US report recognised that while Indiaâs âOperation Sindoorâ was a precise surgical measure to eliminate 100 terrorists in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir POK the subcontinent remains vulnerable due to Pakistanâs refusal to dismantle the permissive environment for terrorIndiaâs position the report said has been validated at the United Nations the Financial Action Task Force FATF and now within the US intelligence communityThe Munir Doctrine of nuclear blackmail and proxy terror has reached a point of diminishing returns it emphasised IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-military-pushes-icbm-ambitions-as-ordinary-citizens-suffer-666848.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-says-iran-war-nearing-goals-talks-on-666637.html Washington March 26 The White House has said that US military operations against Iran are âahead of scheduleâ and nearing core objectives even as Washington continues âproductiveâ talks with Tehran aimed at ending the conflict White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday local time that the United States was close to achieving the main goals of âOperation Epic Furyâ describing the campaign as a âresounding military triumphâ after nearly four weeks of combat operationsâJust over three weeks in its abundantly clear that Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding military triumphâ she said adding that more than 9000 enemy targets had been struck so farLeavitt said Iranâs missile and drone attacks had dropped âby roughly 90 per centâ since the start of the operation She also claimed the US had destroyed more than 140 Iranian naval vessels calling it âthe largest elimination of a navy over a threeweek period since World War IIââOur military efforts grow more successful with each passing day steadily degrading Irans ability to terrorise merchant shipsâ she saidThe White House said the campaign had significantly weakened Iranâs ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a critical global energy chokepoint Over the weekend US forces dropped âseveral 5000pound bombsâ on an underground facility used to store antiship missiles and launchers near the straitLeavitt said the US was âvery close to meeting the core objectivesâ of the operation which officials had earlier estimated would take four to six weeks At 25 days into the campaign she said the military was âahead of schedule and performing exceptionallyâDespite the ongoing strikes Washington signalled openness to diplomacy Leavitt said Iran had indicated it wanted to engage after recent US pressureâFollowing President Trumpâs powerful threat on Saturday evening it was made clear to the United States that Iran wanted to talkâ she saidShe confirmed that talks over the past three days had been âproductiveâ leading President Donald Trump to temporarily postpone planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructureHowever she warned that military action could intensify if negotiations failâIf Iran fails to accept the reality of the current momentâ President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit beforeâ Leavitt said adding that the president âdoes not bluffâShe also dismissed media reports about a proposed US â15point planâ to end the war calling them partly inaccurate and based on âspeculative plans from anonymous sourcesâThe administration is working to stabilise global energy markets amid the conflict Measures include coordinating with international partners to release oil supplies and issuing waivers to ease fuel constraintsLeavitt said there was no immediate timeline for fully reopening tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz but described it as a key objectiveOn diplomacy she reiterated that negotiations remain sensitive and ongoing âWeâre not going to get into the nittygritty detailsâ these talks are ongoingâ she saidThe White House also announced that President Trumpâs meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing on May 14â15 after being postponed due to the conflict IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-says-iran-war-nearing-goals-talks-on-666637.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-faces-twin-nuclear-threat-china-russia-trump-official-666640.html Washington March 26 The United States is now confronting two nuclear peer adversaries China and Russia in a rapidly shifting global security landscape Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno told lawmakers during a highstakes congressional hearing DiNanno said the evolving threat environment marks a historic shift with Washington facing simultaneous nuclear challenges from both Beijing and Moscow as well as rising risks from smaller nuclear statesHe emphasised that traditional arms control frameworks are no longer sufficient to address the scale and complexity of current geopolitical and technological challengesâAs a nomineeâ I committed to seeking verifiable and enforceable arms control agreements that enhance Americaâs national securityâ DiNanno said adding that his office is focused on modernising outdated mechanismsThe undersecretary argued that existing treaties had failed to reflect presentday realities particularly the expansion of nuclear capabilities by US adversariesâNew STARTâ only constrained the United States while allowing Russia to build and maintain a vast theatreranged nuclear arsenalâ he said defending the administrationâs decision to move beyond the expired agreementDiNanno said the administration is now pursuing updated frameworks aligned with President Donald Trumpâs vision for new agreements that are enforceable and adaptable to emerging threatsâThe Presidentâ called for a new treatyâ he said noting that future arrangements must account for technological change and broader strategic competitionOutlining the scope of his office DiNanno said the State Departmentâs expanded âT familyâ integrates key security functions including arms control nonproliferation counterterrorism and politicalmilitary affairs under a unified structureâThe reorganisation consolidated the departmentâs international security functionsâ he said adding that the new structure improves coordination across export controls sanctions enforcement and treaty verificationHe highlighted that his team oversees a broad portfolio ranging from preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to managing arms sales and coordinating international security partnershipsâOur team works on critical national security mattersâ from preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to countering terrorismâ DiNanno saidâAt the State Department our goal is diplomacyâ managing those alliancesâ he said noting the importance of information sharing to counter nextgeneration threatsThe remarks come at a time when global arms control frameworks are under increasing strain The expiration of the New START treaty has removed key limits on US and Russian strategic arsenals raising concerns about a renewed arms raceAt the same time Chinaâs expanding nuclear programme outside any binding arms reduction framework has complicated efforts to establish new multilateral agreements signalling a shift toward a more fragmented and uncertain global nuclear order IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-faces-twin-nuclear-threat-china-russia-trump-official-666640.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-officials-lawmakers-warn-of-china-edge-in-space-shift-666641.html Washington March 26 US lawmakers and officials have warned of risks in the transition from the International Space Station ISS to commercial space platforms as China expands its presence in low Earth orbit House Science Committee Chairman Brian Babin on Wednesday local time said âThe International Space Stationâ is a remarkable accomplishment that demonstrates the ingenuity of the American space programâHe stated the ISS has supported human spaceflight and research for more than 25 years But he noted the station is ageing and the next phase must be handled carefullySubcommittee Chairman Mike Haridopolos stressed the need for competition with China âAmerica must lead in low Earth orbitâ he saidHe said space leadership is not only about deep space missions It also depends on the strength in low Earth orbitSafety concerns were raised by Charles J Precourt Member of the Aerospace Safety Advisory PanelâThe ISS is operating in the highestrisk phase of its lifecycleâ Precourt saidHe said ageing systems and wear are increasing risksâContinued safe operation is achievable but it is not assured without sustained engineering rigour disciplined risk management and adequate resourcingâ he saidPrecourt also warned about the transitionâThere is a credible risk of a gap in US human spaceflight capability in low Earth orbitâ he saidHe said such a gap could affect research and future missionsIndustry leaders pointed to strong demand for spacebased workDavid Cavossa President of the Commercial Space Federation said âThe global valueâ is already estimated at 570 billion and projected to grow to 18 trillion by 2035âHe said private research on the ISS has grown fastCavossa urged policy clarity âNASA should proceed with the CLD procurement and provide industry with certainty of its acquisition strategy requirements and procurement timelineâ he saidHe warned that delays could hurt investment and slow new stationsNASA said it is preparing for the shiftJoel R Montalbano Acting Associate Administrator for Space Operations said âNASAâs strategy will spur private sector initiative and a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030âHe added NASA aims to be âone of many customers in a robust commercial marketplace in LEOâMontalbano said the ISS has supported major research in science and human healthLawmakers stated that avoiding a gap in human presence in orbit is criticalBabin warned that after decades of continuous presence any gap would be significantThe ISS was completed in 2011 after years of delays It has hosted nearly 200 American astronautsChina launched its Tiangong space station in 2022 It has been continuously crewed since thenUS officials said the next few years will decide leadership in low Earth orbit IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-officials-lawmakers-warn-of-china-edge-in-space-shift-666641.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-missile-hits-dimona-near-israeli-nuclear-site-report-666642.html Tel Aviv March 26 A missile fired from Iran has evaded Israels air defence systems and struck the city of Dimona near which Israels main nuclear facility and reactor are located stateowned Kan TV reported Air raid sirens in the area sounded in the morning and early afternoon on Wednesday local time warning of incoming missile attacks according to the Home Front Command The Israeli military did not officially confirm whether the missile was interceptedThe Magen David Adom ambulance service reported no injuriesKan reported that the missile struck Dimona located about 13 km northwest of the nuclear site in the Negev Desert without elaborating on whether there was damage reports Xinhua news agencyThe Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Centre often referred to as the Dimona reactor is one of Israels most heavily guarded sitesIran has repeatedly targeted the area since Saturday when a missile attack injured 64 people in Dimona Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear facilityEarlier on March 24 a missile fired from Iran struck Tel Aviv injuring several people and damaging buildings and vehicles Israeli authorities saidLoud explosions were heard across the city with eyewitnesses reporting large plumes of smoke rising from both northern and southern parts of the countrys commercial hubIsraels Army Radio citing security officials reported that it was apparently a clustertype missile containing several bomblets each weighing about 100 kg with the bomblets or their fragments impacting several sitesAt an impact site in northern Tel Aviv a missile struck between buildings causing a powerful blast wave that heavily damaged three buildings Miki David commander of the Tel Aviv district in the Home Front Command told reporters at the scene He said shelters in the buildings remained intact and those inside were unharmedImages shared on social media showed that the impact left a craterIn a statement the Israeli military said search and rescue teams were operating at several sites in central Israel after impacts were reportedThe Magen David Adom ambulance service said six people were lightly injured and did not require hospital treatmentAir raid sirens were activated seven times across Israel overnight and into Tuesday morning amid continued missile fire from Iran The last missile attack activated sirens in southern Israel including in Dimona where Israels nuclear facility is locatedThe strike came as the regional conflict entered its 25th day with tensions remaining high despite US President Donald Trumps claim of ongoing negotiations which Iran dismissed as fake news IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-missile-hits-dimona-near-israeli-nuclear-site-report-666642.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-blocks-entry-for-iranian-visa-holders-666645.html Canberra March 26 The Australian government has moved to block the entry of temporary visa holders from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East Tony Burke minister for home affairs on Wednesday night announced that he has used laws passed by the federal parliament earlier in March to temporarily restrict Iranian visitor visa holders from traveling to AustraliaHe said in a statement that the move would protect the integrity and sustainability of Australias migration system citing government concerns that the conflict has increased the risk that some visitors from Iran may be unlikely or unable to depart Australia when their visas expireThe sixmonth ban will only apply to people who have a subclass 600 visitor visa linked to an Iranian passport and does not apply to visa holders already in Australia spouses or children of Australian citizens or permanent residents or parents of a child younger than 18 already in AustraliaThe subclass 600 visa allows holders to stay in Australia for up to 12 months for tourism or to visit familyThere are many visitor visas which were issued before the conflict in Iran which may not have been issued if they were applied for now Burke saidThe Australian government is closely monitoring global developments and will adjust settings as required to ensure Australias migration system remains orderly fair and sustainableHe said that the government would continue to assess visa applications and would allow a small number of impacted people from Iran to travel to Australia with sympathetic consideration to be given to cases involving parents of Australian citizens Xinhua news agency reported The government indicated that a limited number of travellers may still be allowed entry on a casebycase basisApplicants can seek exemptions through special travel permissions particularly under compelling or humanitarian circumstances IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-blocks-entry-for-iranian-visa-holders-666645.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/emergency-warning-issued-for-severe-cyclone-in-northwest-australia-666646.html Sydney March 26 Authorities have warned that Tropical Cyclone Narelle will hit Australias northwest coast as a severe Category 4 storm after sweeping across the country The Bureau of Meteorology BoM said in an update at 5 am Australian Western Standard Time on Thursday 2100 GMT on Wednesday Tropical Cyclone Narelle was 240 km off the north coast of Western Australia WA and steadily intensifyingIt said that the cyclone was at Category 3 strength as of Thursday morning and expected to reach Category 4 before impacting the northwest coast of the remote Pilbara region from Thursday night bringing very destructive wind gusts of up to 275 km per hour and heavy rainfallThe WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services DFES has issued an emergency alert for a 600 km stretch of coast urging people to prepare to take shelter and charge mobile devices in case power goes outThere is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area it saidThe emergency warning zone encompasses Karratha the largest city in the Pilbara region with a population of approximately 22000 peopleSchools were closed on Thursday and Qantas and Virgin Australia have canceled flights in and out of the airport in Port Hedland the secondlargest population center in the region and the site of Australias highest tonnage port Xinhua news agency reported Tropical Cyclone Narelle hit the far north of the east coast state of Queensland as a Category 4 storm on March 20 and the Northern Territory as a Category 3 storm two days later but avoided towns and caused only minimal damageMore than 100 millimeters 4 inches of rain fell across a wide area of the Northern Territory during Narelleâs passage according to news reports Australiaâs BOM warned of minor to major flooding of several rivers The storm arrived amid a severe wet season in the region that had already caused damaging floods and prompted evacuations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/emergency-warning-issued-for-severe-cyclone-in-northwest-australia-666646.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-raise-concerns-over-illegal-online-sale-of-abortion-pills-flag-india-link-666650.html Washington March 26 A group of US senators have urged federal regulators to act against illegal online sales of abortion pills flagging links to overseas supply chains including India In a letter to Food and Drug Administration FDA Commissioner Martin Makary on Wednesday the lawmakers called for âimmediate actionâ to stop âmisbranded and unapproved versions of the chemical abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostolâ entering the US marketThey said the âillegal sale of these drugs harms women and undermines the FDAâs core mission to protect American consumersâThe senators warned that easy online access without medical supervision âposes serious risks to womenâs health and increases the risk of forced and coerced abortionsâThe letter draws attention to global supply chains It said drugs sold by foreign websites âoften come from a variety of manufacturers in IndiaâLawmakers said the scale of the online market is growing fast One provider sent 43259 packages to 30 US states in a year Another estimate said âas many as 100000 packagesâ were shipped into the US in 2023The senators identified four main channels These include USbased telehealth clinics foreign clinics informal networks and online pharmacies Many they said operate without prescriptions or proper oversightThey said some websites falsely claim to sell âFDAapprovedâ drugs In reality they ship unapproved versions from overseas manufacturersThe letter also raised safety concerns Some platforms advise users not to tell doctors they took the drugsThe lawmakers urged the FDA to step up enforcement They called for warning letters action against website domains and stronger coordination with customs and postal authorities to intercept shipmentsThey also asked for criminal investigations The letter cited a 2020 case where a US resident was prosecuted for selling abortion pills sourced from India without prescriptionsThe senators said the FDA must âfully leverage its authoritiesâ and prioritise the issueThe letter was led by Senator Bill Cassidy It was signed by Senators Steve Daines James Lankford Cindy HydeSmith and Lindsey GrahamThey have asked the FDA to respond with details of enforcement steps by April 8Medication abortion is widely used in the US It typically involves mifepristone followed by misoprostol under regulated conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-raise-concerns-over-illegal-online-sale-of-abortion-pills-flag-india-link-666650.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-to-power-patent-system-overhaul-uspto-chief-666651.html Tehran March 26 The head of the US Patent and Trademark Office has said artificial intelligence will drive a sweeping overhaul of the patent system as he defended reforms aimed at cutting delays and improving patent quality Testifying before a House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday local time USPTO Director John Squires said the agency is deploying AI tools to accelerate patent examination and reduce a growing backlog of applicationsâAI tools will become our examinersâ superpowersâ Squires told lawmakers adding that new systems can identify prior art faster and help examiners handle increasingly complex filingsHe said the office had already begun integrating AI across patent and trademark processes including tools that generate search results within seconds instead of monthsSquires framed the effort as part of a broader push to modernise the agency and strengthen the US innovation ecosystem He described the USPTO as the âCentral Bank of innovationâ saying each patent or trademark represents âa potential job a new business a competitive advantageâThe agency is also targeting a reduction in its backlog of unexamined patent applications which had risen to historic levels Squires said efforts are underway to cut the backlog significantly while improving patent qualityBut the reforms drew sharp scrutiny from lawmakers with Democrats warning that policy changes could weaken oversight and politicise a traditionally independent agencyRanking member Hank Johnson said the USPTO had been âdrawn squarelyâ into partisan politics and raised concerns about employee morale and shifting rulesâWhen policy shifts with the political whims of an administration it is American innovation that pays the priceâ Johnson saidA key point of contention was the agencyâs handling of patent challenges under the Patent Trial and Appeal Board PTAB Critics argued that limiting repeated challenges could allow weak patents to stand and increase litigation costsSquires defended the changes saying they are designed to prevent abuse of the system and bring finality to disputesâThere should be a point in time where thereâs quiet titleâ and itâs got to be adjudicated once and for allâ he saidLawmakers also raised concerns about foreign influence and national security risks including the role of foreignbacked entities in patent disputesSquires said the USPTO has taken steps to tighten disclosure rules and block foreign sovereign actors from participating in certain proceedingsThe hearing also touched on a controversial trademark filing linked to a proposed âBoard of Peaceâ initiative with some lawmakers questioning potential conflicts of interestThe USPTO received over 475000 new patent applications in fiscal year 2025 reflecting steady growth in demand for intellectual property protectionSquires said AI and IT modernisation would be central to managing this demand alongside continued funding through user fees IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-to-power-patent-system-overhaul-uspto-chief-666651.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-grip-on-key-minerals-sparks-us-alarm-lawmakers-demand-swift-supply-chain-fixes-666652.html Washington March 25 Top American lawmakers and experts have warned that the countrys heavy reliance on foreign critical minerals especially those from China poses a direct threat to national security and called for urgent steps to build resilient domestic supply chains At a House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday Congressman Paul Gosar said the âvery security of our nation relies heavily on a steady inputâ of minerals essential for defence systems electronics and advanced technologies He pointed to copper rare earths and lithium as key inputs for fighter jets missiles and batteriesGosar warned that the US remains heavily reliant on imports âWe import half of our supply of 20 of the 60 mineralsâ and we are entirely reliant on the importation of 13â he said adding that China dominates global processing and refining capacityLawmakers from both parties agreed that the supply chain vulnerability has strategic implications Representative Jared Huffman said the issue was not just about resources but governance alleging that billions in federal investments lacked transparency and oversightExpert witnesses told the panel that China has effectively âweaponisedâ mineral supply chains Gracelin Baskaran said the key question was no longer whether China controls critical minerals but how quickly the US can build alternative supply chainsâThe question is what the United States does about itâ she said calling for coordinated industrial policy and stronger alliances to secure supplyGeologist Simon Jowitt said the US has âhuge unrealised mineral potentialâ but remains underexplored due to limited geoscientific data and slow permitting He stressed that exploration is the foundation of any supply chain and can deliver significant economic returnsJowitt also underscored the need for a full domestic ecosystem âThereâs no point in just having mineral deposits without having an entirety of a supply chainâ he said arguing that processing and refining must accompany mining to ensure securityNational security expert Abigail Hunter highlighted structural challenges noting that supply chains take years to build while disruptions can occur âovernightâ She said Chinaâs control over processing creates a âchoke pointâ that allows it to influence global markets rapidlyâCapacity must be built in advanceâ Hunter said warning that relying on imports during crises could leave US defence systems vulnerableAt the same time watchdog groups raised concerns about government investment strategies Faith Williams said federal equity stakes in mining firms could create conflicts of interest and reduce transparencyâCorruption or the appearance thereof is bad for businessâ she said cautioning that unclear rules could distort markets and increase costs for taxpayersDespite political divisions there was broad agreement that critical minerals underpin both economic growth and military capability Lawmakers cited their role in everything from semiconductors and smartphones to advanced weapons systemsThe hearing also highlighted the economic stakes Mining contributes billions to the US GDP and supports nearly two million jobs with wages significantly above the national averageExperts said solutions would require a combination of domestic production allied cooperation and demandside policies Baskaran urged creating a âmarket of 26 billion consumersâ among US allies to counterbalance Chinaâs dominanceThe issue has gained urgency amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing demand for minerals driven by clean energy defence modernisation and digital infrastructure placing supply chain resilience at the centre of US strategic planning IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-grip-on-key-minerals-sparks-us-alarm-lawmakers-demand-swift-supply-chain-fixes-666652.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-today-to-attend-g7-foreign-ministers-meet--666657.html New Delhi March 26 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will visit Abbaye des VauxdeCernay in France from Thursday to Friday to take part in the G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting FMM with partner countries the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in an official statement According to the MEA EAM Jaishankar will attend the meeting at the invitation of JeanNoel Barrot Franceâs Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs On the sidelines of the meeting he is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts from various participating nationsThe G7 Foreign Ministersâ Meeting is scheduled to deliberate on a range of pressing global issues including the ongoing war in Ukraine reconstruction efforts maritime security concerns and reforms in global governance systems as per a background briefing by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign AffairsProviding details of the agenda spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said the meeting comes soon after informal consultations held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and will act as a preparatory stage for the upcoming G7 Leadersâ Summit All this culminates in the preparation of the summit of Evian It will take place between the 13th and 15th of June the briefing noted adding that the discussions at the ministerial level would help shape the outcomes for leadersâ deliberationsOfficials indicated that the meeting will focus on both immediate global crises and longterm structural challenges Obviously in the way that we will try as much as we can not only to have this informal gathering of what is generally speaking a G7 meeting but also to have some concrete results the spokesperson said stressing the importance of actionable outcomesA major focus area will be Ukraine with dedicated sessions on reconstruction and regional security The second session will be on reconstruction The aim is to have at least three impactful results the briefing stated referring to discussions on nuclear safety humanitarian demining and funding mechanisms for rebuilding efforts The role of institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also expected to be highlighted particularly in mobilising investments for Ukraineâs recoveryThe meeting will further address maritime security and supply chain resilience A separate session is also expected to focus on maritime routes and ensuring the freedom of navigationOn the issue of governance the G7 is looking at advancing reforms to strengthen multilateral systems More generally out of that there will be more innovative approaches to integrate horizontal threats that are endangering the sovereignties of the different states the briefing said pointing to efforts to modernise global governance frameworksThe meeting will also feature participation from several nonG7 partner countries including India South Korea Saudi Arabia Brazil and Ukraine reflecting a broader outreach initiative by the grouping We will be having all of these sessions on Thursday and the one on the morning of Friday the official said adding that side events and working lunches will provide further opportunities for detailed exchanges among participants IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-today-to-attend-g7-foreign-ministers-meet--666657.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-warns-space-is-now-a-key-warfighting-domain-666658.html Washington March 26 The United States warned that space is now a contested warfighting domain with China and Russia developing capabilities to threaten American satellites Senior defence and intelligence officials told lawmakers on Wednesday local time that modern warfare depends heavily on space systems These include communications navigation and intelligenceâOuter space is an increasingly complex and contested warfighting domainâ Assistant Secretary of War for Space Policy Marc Berkowitz saidHe said adversaries are building systems to deny the US access to space and weaken its military edge He described China as the âpacing competitorâ shaping US strategyOfficials said recent conflicts have shown the growing role of space They pointed to operations in the Middle East and lessons from Ukraine Satellitebased systems helped track targets support troops and counter enemy actionsLt Gen Douglas Schiess of the US Space Force said space superiority is critical for military success He said Guardians provide missile warning communications and electronic warfare support to forces in the fieldOfficials warned that threats to space assets are rising fast These include antisatellite weapons cyber attacks and electronic jammingThe National GeospatialIntelligence Agency said adversaries are investing in systems to âdisrupt degrade and deny accessâ in spaceThe National Reconnaissance Office said it is expanding its satellite network It now operates more than 200 satellites as part of a shift to more resilient systemsUS officials said they are working to speed up space acquisitions They are also relying more on private companies to deliver new technologiesThomas Ainsworth the Air Forceâs top space acquisition official said the goal is to deliver capabilities faster and at lower cost He said the US must use innovation from the commercial space sectorLawmakers raised concerns about the defence industrial base They said supply chains and workforce shortages could affect future space programmesThe hearing comes as the Trump administration pushes a new missile defence plan known as the Golden Dome Officials said the system will rely on spacebased sensors and interceptors to track and stop advanced threatsOfficials said control of space will shape future conflicts Satellites now support nearly every military operation on land sea and airThe United States has relied on space systems for decades But the domain is becoming more crowded and competitive China has rapidly expanded its satellite network Russia continues to develop counterspace weaponsThe growing competition in space is expected to deepen cooperation with allies and partners especially in the IndoPacific where Chinaâs capabilities remain a key concern IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-warns-space-is-now-a-key-warfighting-domain-666658.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-weighs-how-to-regulate-token-finance-666664.html Washington March 26 US lawmakers grappled with a difficult question facing modern finance how to embrace new technology without exposing investors and markets to fresh risks At a congressional hearing on Wednesday local time policymakers and industry leaders debated the rise of tokenised securities a fastevolving system that promises quicker trades and wider access but also raises concerns about oversight transparency and financial stabilityHouse Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill said tokenisation using distributed ledger technology to represent financial instruments could improve âefficiency transparency and accessibilityâ in capital marketsBut he cautioned that the transition raises âvery important legal and regulatory policy questionsâ and must not weaken investor safeguardsRanking Member Maxine Waters warned that past financial innovations had failed ordinary Americans recalling that similar promises ahead of the 2008 crisis âallowed Wall Street to build a process that legitimatised predatory loansâShe questioned whether tokenisation could introduce new costs and risks while benefiting intermediariesIndustry witnesses broadly agreed that tokenisation could modernise market infrastructure but differed on how far existing laws should adaptKenneth Bentsen President of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association said âtokenised securities are securitiesâ and should remain subject to current investor protection and market integrity rulesHe stressed that US markets remain the âdeepest most liquidâ globally because of strong regulatory frameworks warning against broad exemptions that could create gaps in oversightSummer Mersinger CEO of the Blockchain Association argued that tokenisation represents âthe next phase in the evolution of capital market infrastructureâ enabling faster settlement reduced costs and broader investor accessShe urged regulators to provide clarity warning that innovation is already moving to jurisdictions with more predictable rulesJohn Zecca of Nasdaq said the technology should be seen as an evolution similar to the shift from paper shares to electronic trading âA tokenised share is still a shareâ he said adding that the goal is to modernise systems without changing ownership rights or weakening regulationSalman Banaei of Plume pointed to global competition noting that most tokenised markets are currently developing outside the United States He said clearer rules could help channel global capital into US markets and expand investor participationLawmakers across parties raised concerns about risks tied to decentralised trading systems including gaps in antimoney laundering compliance potential market manipulation and weaker transparencySome warned that faster nearinstant settlement a key benefit of tokenisation could also accelerate financial stress in volatile markets increasing the speed of selloffs or liquidity shocksOthers flagged the risk of fragmented price discovery if tokenised and traditional versions of the same securities trade on separate platformsThe debate now centres on whether the United States can modernise its regulatory system fast enough to retain leadership while preserving the safeguards that underpin investor trustTokenisation lawmakers were told is not just about technology it is about the future structure of capital markets and who sets the rules for them IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-weighs-how-to-regulate-token-finance-666664.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/retirement-lifeline-nears-breaking-point-us-social-security-faces-financial-crisis-666666.html Washington March 26 Social Security the backbone of retirement security for millions of Americans is approaching a financial cliff with lawmakers warning that benefits could be cut sharply within the decade if Congress fails to act At a Senate Budget Committee hearing lawmakers from both parties said the programme faces a worsening funding gap driven by demographic shifts rising costs and insufficient revenue Projections show the main trust fund could be exhausted as early as 2032 leaving the system able to pay only a fraction of scheduled benefitsâThis program is under stress because of demographicsâ Senator Lindsey Graham said pointing to fewer workers supporting a growing number of retireesOfficials warned that once the trust fund is depleted benefits could be cut by roughly a quarter For millions of Americans who depend on Social Security as their primary source of income even modest reductions would have immediate consequencesâItâs right hereâ Senator Jeff Merkley said noting that the shortfall could hit within the current political cycleExperts told lawmakers that the scale of the challenge leaves few easy options Karen Glenn said programme income is projected to fall short of costs âin all future yearsâ adding that lawmakers would need to increase revenue reduce benefits or pursue a combination of both to restore solvencyData presented at the hearing showed that about 72 million Americans are expected to receive Social Security benefits in 2033 underscoring the systemâs reach across the populationThe debate exposed sharp differences over how to address the shortfall Senator Bill Cassidy proposed creating a governmentbacked investment fund to supplement the programmeâs finances arguing that a diversified approach could help offset future borrowing needsOthers emphasised raising revenue Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said that without additional funding the system would be unable to maintain full benefitsLawmakers also discussed a wide range of potential measures including increasing payroll taxes lifting caps on taxable income adjusting retirement age and meanstesting benefits While no consensus emerged there was broad agreement that delay would make the problem harder to solveâWaiting makes this harderâ Senator Tim Kaine said urging earlier action rather than waiting for a crisisSocial Security currently pays nearly 16 trillion annually to more than 70 million beneficiaries making it the largest federal programme For many retirees the monthly check is not supplemental but essentialEstablished in 1935 during the Great Depression Social Security was designed as a safety net to prevent poverty in old ageToday longer life expectancy and lower birth rates mean fewer workers are contributing to support a larger retired population Without legislative action the programmeâs financial imbalance is expected to widen bringing the prospect of benefit cuts closer and intensifying pressure on Congress to act IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/retirement-lifeline-nears-breaking-point-us-social-security-faces-financial-crisis-666666.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/food-poisoning-hits-multiple-schools-in-japans-osaka-affecting-over-600-666680.html Tokyo March 26 More than 600 students and staff members at multiple schools in Kumatori Town Osaka have reported symptoms of food poisoning public broadcaster NHK reported Thursday Students and staff members at eight elementary and junior high schools in the town have successively developed symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting since last Thursday As of Tuesday the total number of those affected reached 633 according to the reportThe local health center detected norovirus in some of the affected students The same virus was also found in employees of a company that supplied bread for school lunches to all elementary and junior high schools in the town Xinhua news agency reportedBased on these findings the public health centre determined that the outbreak was caused by food poisoning from bread served in school lunches and imposed a fiveday business suspension on the related manufacturerFood poisoning a type of foodborne illness is a sickness people get from something they ate or drank The causes are germs or other harmful things in the food or drinkSymptoms of food poisoning often include upset stomach loose stools and vomiting Symptoms most often start within hours or days of eating the foodMost people with food poisoning have mild illness and get better without treatment But sometimes food poisoning causes serious illness or complicationsSymptoms of food poisoning a type of foodborne illness vary depending on what causes the illness They may begin within hours or weeks depending on the causeCommon symptoms are Upset stomach vomiting loose stools sometimes bloody stomach pain and cramps and feverInfections that spread through food poisoning are contagious When youâre infected you can spread germs through tiny particles of vomit or poop These particles can linger on surfaces or on your fingers They can transfer to another person if they touch those surfaces or if you touch their food Food poisoning infections can spread fast in close quarters They often spread in schools and cruise ships IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/food-poisoning-hits-multiple-schools-in-japans-osaka-affecting-over-600-666680.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-today-to-attend-g7-foreign-ministers-meet-666692.html New Delhi March 26 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will visit Abbaye des VauxdeCernay in France from Thursday to Friday to take part in the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting FMM with partner countries the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in an official statementnbspAccording to the MEA EAM Jaishankar will attend the meeting at the invitation of JeanNoel Barrot Frances Minister for Europe and Foreign AffairsnbspOn the sidelines of the meeting he is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts from various participating nationsThe G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting is scheduled to deliberate on a range of pressing global issues including the ongoing war in Ukraine reconstruction efforts maritime security concerns and reforms in global governance systems as per a background briefing by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign AffairsProviding details of the agenda spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said the meeting comes soon after informal consultations held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and will act as a preparatory stage for the upcoming G7 Leaders SummitnbspAll this culminates in the preparation of the summit of Evian It will take place between the 13th and 15th of June the briefing noted adding that the discussions at the ministerial level would help shape the outcomes for leaders deliberationsOfficials indicated that the meeting will focus on both immediate global crises and longterm structural challenges Obviously in the way that we will try as much as we can not only to have this informal gathering of what is generally speaking a G7 meeting but also to have some concrete results the spokesperson said stressing the importance of actionable outcomesA major focus area will be Ukraine with dedicated sessions on reconstruction and regional securitynbspThe second session will be on reconstruction The aim is to have at least three impactful results the briefing stated referring to discussions on nuclear safety humanitarian demining and funding mechanisms for rebuilding efforts The role of institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also expected to be highlighted particularly in mobilising investments for Ukraines recoveryThe meeting will further address maritime security and supply chain resiliencenbspA separate session is also expected to focus on maritime routes and ensuring the freedom of navigationOn the issue of governance the G7 is looking at advancing reforms to strengthen multilateral systems More generally out of that there will be more innovative approaches to integrate horizontal threats that are endangering the sovereignties of the different states the briefing said pointing to efforts to modernise global governance frameworksThe meeting will also feature participation from several nonG7 partner countries including India South Korea Saudi Arabia Brazil and Ukraine reflecting a broader outreach initiative by the groupingnbspWe will be having all of these sessions on Thursday and the one on the morning of Friday the official said adding that side events and working lunches will provide further opportunities for detailed exchanges among participantsIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-today-to-attend-g7-foreign-ministers-meet-666692.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/west-asia-crisis-oppn-voices-support-to-govt-on-national-interest-despite-political-differences-666699.html New Delhi March 26 In the aftermath of the allparty meeting on West Asia Biju Janata Dal BJD MP Sasmit Patra and BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo have highlighted their perspectives on Indiaâs diplomatic stance and regional security while underscoring Indiaâs growing role in international affairs Speaking to IANS Patra recalled historical precedents in regional diplomacy stating âIn 1981 when relations between Iran and the United States deteriorated Pakistan had created a small channel to communicate with Iran If Iran wanted to convey something or America wanted to communicate through another country this channel was used This existed in 1971 in 1981 and even todayâHe added âPakistan cannot compete with India on any international platform whether in the economy or any other field today tomorrow or in the coming daysâEmphasising Indiaâs role in securing maritime routes Patra noted âIndian ships are getting safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and India has also provided protection to some Iranian naval fleets The ships heading toward Sri Lanka were affected but the ones in India were safe My party is always ready even though we have political disagreements with the government but when it comes to India we all stand unitedâPatra also outlined the agenda of the allparty meeting highlighting that two major issues were discussed Diplomacy and Indiaâs position on the West Asia conflict and energy security particularly the availability of oil and natural gas in the countryâThe Opposition parties raised several questions on both topics Indiaâs role in the West Asia conflict and the domestic availability of petroleum oil and natural gasâ he saidReacting to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars statement in the allparty meeting SP MP Virendra Singh said The truth is that we are not a broker country like PakistanMeanwhile BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo took a sharper stance on Pakistanâs international actions âAt the global level if any country is playing the biggest role in diplomatic meddling it is Islamabad Pakistan was even willing to provide bases to the US to attack Muslims in Iran So itâs all just a drama First protect your own borders before speaking about other issuesâ he saidThe discussions at the allparty meeting came at a time when India is actively navigating the complexities of West Asian geopolitics while ensuring energy security amid global uncertaintiesAfter the meeting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju noted that discussions were extensive covering both government responses and Opposition suggestionsI have heard in detail all the suggestions made by the Opposition parties and from the government side All the queries and all the confusion whatever was there all were clearly explained by the government The Opposition parties at the end of the meeting stated which is very important that they thank the government for calling this allparty meeting and they also asserted that in such a difficult challenging situation we will all have to stand together he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/west-asia-crisis-oppn-voices-support-to-govt-on-national-interest-despite-political-differences-666699.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-over-14-000-schools-damaged-by-2022-floods-in-sindh-still-await-restoration-666720.html Islamabad March 26 As many as 14343 of the 19808 schools damaged during the disastrous 2022 floods in Pakistans Sindh province are still awaiting restoration local media has revealed citing official data Around 2268 schools were completely destroyed while 3197 suffered partial damage during the devastating floods So far the government working through provincial federal and donorfunded programs have started the reconstruction and rehabilitation work of 5465 schools implying that 14343 schools are still waiting for restoration according to a report in Pakistans leading daily Pakistan Observer The report highlighted that Pakistan is already facing serious educational crisis as millions of children remain out of school due to social economic and infrastructural challenges The continuous delay in reconstructing flooddamaged schools in Sindh only deteriorates this situation depriving thousands of children of their fundamental right to educationThe fact that nearly four years have passed since the devastating floods yet a large majority of schools remain in disrepair is deeply concerning The scale of reconstruction undertaken so far is far less than what the situation demands and this state of affairs cannot be ignored Education is the foundation of any progressive society Every day that a school remains nonfunctional is a day lost for the children who are already struggling to access basic learning opportunities The Sindh government must urgently prioritize the completion of all damaged schools Pakistan Observer statedMeanwhile nearly 28 per cent of children in Pakistan aged between 516 years remain out of school Quite alarmingly girls are disproportionately impacted as 34 per cent of girls are not enrolled in schools in comparison to 22 per cent of boys local media reportedThese disparities are more seen in rural regions of Pakistan especially for girls where exclusion for education is more pointing to how gender and geography reduce educational accessTwothirds of Pakistanis aged 10 years and above have attended school at some point as access to education remains highly unequal in Pakistan The Express Tribune recently reported citing the HIES survey by Gallup PakistanPakistans national literacy rate stands at 63 per cent with male literacy at 73 per cent and female at 52 per centAccording to the Express Tribune report literacy in urban areas stands at 77 per cent compared to 56 per cent in rural areas While 68 per cent of children are enrolled in primary school the numbers reduce sharply at higher levels of education Only 40 per cent study in middle school and around 30 per cent in matriculationThis sharp drop in the number of students continuing education in schools highlights the challenges faced by them especially in rural and underprivileged areas pointing to structural barriers such as safety concerns school distance and rising opportunity costs like children age especially pronounced for rural girlsAccording to the report financial pressure domestic responsibilities and limited postprimary schooling options contribute to children not continuing education in schools These challenges further increase for girls due to social expectations and early marriage IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-over-14-000-schools-damaged-by-2022-floods-in-sindh-still-await-restoration-666720.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-farm-sector-faces-fertiliser-shortage-as-iran-war-hits-supply-666729.html New Delhi March 26 As the Gulf conflict continues the disruption in global fertiliser markets has again exposed the weaknesses of Pakistanâs farm input security according to local media reports While domestic capacity has insulated Pakistan from the worst effects of the urea shock the same cannot be said for diammonium phosphate where reliance on imports leaves the farm economy vulnerable according to an article in the Dawn newspaperLocal production in the case of urea has helped farmers avoid reducing fertiliser use which would have meant lower output and higher food prices DAP is a different story Pakistan produces only around 07 million tonnes annually but needs more than 2 million a gap it fills almost entirely through imports from the Middle East In normal conditions this reliance is manageable though pricey In the current disruption it is a critical fault line the article statedUnlike urea where domestic stocks and production continuity provide a cushion DAP imports are directly exposed to price volatility and logistical bottlenecks Supply disruptions shipping constraints and feedstock shortages are already tightening global availability Prolonged disruption could sharply raise landed costs limit availability during sowing periods and force farmers to either reduce application or switch to a suboptimal nutrient mix it observedThe implications for agriculture are significant DAP plays a crucial role in earlystage crop development particularly for staple crops Its underapplication cannot be easily compensated for by urea or other nutrients without compromising yields In this sense the DAP shortfall is not merely a supply issue it is also a threat to output farm incomes price stability and by extension food security the article pointed outAt a minimum an uninterrupted gas supply to the existing DAP plant must be ensured Beyond that policymakers must revisit the broader incentive structure to encourage capacity expansion and gradually limit import dependence As geopolitical uncertainties persist the gap between resilience and vulnerability will increasingly be defined by what the country can produce at home and what it cannot the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-farm-sector-faces-fertiliser-shortage-as-iran-war-hits-supply-666729.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-explosion-destroys-govt-school-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwas-bannu-666756.html Islamabad March 26 A government school was destroyed in an explosion in Ghora village of Bannu city in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday local media reported The explosion occurred after unidentified assailants planted explosives at the Government Primary School Noor Jan Baka Khel in Ghora village of Bannu Pakistans leading daily Dawn reported The school structure was completely destroyed following the explosionAccording to the police sources militants were allegedly present inside the school and were preparing an Improvised Explosive Device IED when the explosion took place as per the report So far this claim has not been confirmed officiallyA police official said that reports of a possible suicide attacker had been received with Bannu Police Lines believed to be the possible target The Bannu Police Lines Road has been shut to all traffic and security has been increased across the city to stop any untoward incidentPakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has witnessed rise in targetted attacks in the past year The Centre for Research and Security Studies CRSS in its annual report revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a rise in violence last year as fatalities increased from 1620 in 2024 to 2331 in 2025Last week an assistant subinspector of the Elite Force was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Mano Banda area of Gandigar in Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province according to policeBacha Yousaf Khan was targetted by unidentified assailants outside his residence He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries According to police sources Khan was heading to mosque to offer prayers when he was targetted Dawn reported The Gandigar police lodged a case against unknown assailants and began a probeOn March 13 at least seven police personnel were killed in a blast near a police vehicle in the Bettani tribal of Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province According to a spokesperson of the local police the explosion took place near a police mobile causing death of six police personnel and injuries to one policeman Pakistans leading media outlet Geo News reportedAccording to the spokesperson the explosion took place near a police mobile causing death of six police personnel and injuring another policeman The injured police personnel was taken to the hospital however he succumbed to his injuries during treatment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-explosion-destroys-govt-school-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwas-bannu-666756.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-sends-iran-15-point-war-end-plan-666476.html Washington March 25 The United States has sent Iran a sweeping 15point plan to end the war and dismantle its nuclear programme media reports said as President Donald Trump claimed Tehran âwould like to make a dealâ The proposal sent through intermediaries outlines a broad framework to halt hostilities curb Iranâs nuclear ambitions and reshape its regional posture according to officials cited by The Wall Street JournalThe document calls for Iran to dismantle its three main nuclear facilities end any enrichment of nuclear material on its soil and suspend its ballistic missile programme It also seeks to curb Tehranâs support for proxy groups and ensure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz the report saidThe plan includes a onemonth ceasefire and demands that Iran commit to never pursuing a nuclear weapon It requires Tehran to halt enrichment activities and hand over all enriched material to the International Atomic Energy Agency under an agreed timetableIt also calls for taking the Natanz Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities out of service and destroying them while granting the UN nuclear watchdog full access to information inside IranOn the regional front the proposal pushes Iran to abandon its proxy strategy and halt funding and arming of such groups It also includes provisions to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as a free maritime passageMissile issues would be addressed at a later stage with limits on quantity and range The plan further proposes restricting Iranâs military capabilities to selfdefence purposes onlyIn return Iran would see all nuclearrelated sanctions lifted The United States would also support the development of a civilian nuclear programme in Bushehr to generate electricity while monitoring it officials told the publicationThe proposal also includes abolishing the âsnapbackâ mechanism that allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctionsThe framework broadly reflects earlier demands made during the Trump administration before the war began on February 28 according to The Wall Street JournalThe plan has been delivered through intermediaries with Pakistan emerging as a key conduit in the diplomatic effort alongside Turkey and Egypt which are pushing to arrange talks between US and Iranian officials according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and The New York TimesDespite the diplomatic push both sides remain far apart with Iran continuing attacks across the region including strikes on Israel Kuwait Bahrain and Saudi Arabia the reports saidPresident Trump struck an optimistic tone on Tuesday saying Iran was ready to negotiate âTheyâd like to make a dealâ he told reporters during an Oval Office event âTheyâve agreed they will never have a nuclear weaponâHe also said talks were underway âWeâre talking to the right leaders and they want to make a deal so badlyâ Trump said according to The Washington PostThe diplomatic effort comes amid continued military escalation and economic pressure linked to the conflict now in its fourth week The New York Times reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-sends-iran-15-point-war-end-plan-666476.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/oil-markets-volatile-amid-conflict-fears-diplomacy-hopes-666477.html Washington March 25 Oil markets swung sharply as investors weighed fears of a prolonged Middle East conflict against signs of possible diplomatic progress with prices briefly topping 100 before retreating Wall Street struggled for direction Crude rose bonds sold off and stocks fell as conflicting signals emerged from Washington and the region according to reporting by The Wall Street JournalFrontmonth Brent crude climbed 46 per cent to 10449 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate rose 48 per cent to 9235 the Journal reportedThe gains came after reports that the Pentagon was deploying a combat brigade to the Middle East even as President Donald Trump signalled that peace talks with Iran were progressingInvestors were left searching for direction as markets reacted to both escalation risks and diplomatic signalsAnalysts warned that sustained high oil prices could act as a drag on growth âThe longer oil stays higher itâs almost like an automatic governor on the economyâ said David Lundgren a portfolio manager and chief market strategist at Little Harbor AdvisorsThe volatility extended across asset classes The Nasdaq fell 08 per cent the SampP 500 dipped 04 per cent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped slightly while Treasury yields climbedMarket participants also flagged the risk of a broader economic shock An oilprice surge âis going to be a stagflationary shock to the economyâ said Qian Wang of VanguardAt the same time traders bet that prices could rise further Wagers on Brent reaching 110 a barrel were among the most popular positions reflecting expectations that supply disruptions could persistYet sentiment shifted later in the day as signs of diplomacy emerged Oil prices fell in early trade on âsigns of progress in a resolution to the Middle East conflictâ with analysts pointing to âpledges for peace in the region continue with the aid of Pakistan Qatar and othersâ according to The Wall Street JournalTrump also insisted his administration was in talks with Iran and referred to an oil and gasrelated âpresentâ from Tehran the Journal reportedDespite these signals economists cautioned that any relief in energy prices would be slow âPrices rise like a rocket fall like a featherâ said Mark Zandi chief economist at Moodyâs Analytics as reported by The New York TimesEven if the conflict ends quickly it could take âsix to eight weeks for oil production and shipments to normalizeâ analysts told the Times with prices likely to settle above prewar levelsIndustry executives echoed the uncertainty âWe donât have any idea where the price is going to goâ said Mike Sommers of the American Petroleum Institute according to the TimesThere are also structural constraints Gasoline prices remain elevated near 4 a gallon and a drop in crude would take time to filter through refining and distribution systems according to a CNN analysisMarkets remain highly sensitive to developments around the Strait of Hormuz a critical chokepoint for global oil flows Disruptions there have amplified price swings and heightened geopolitical risk IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/oil-markets-volatile-amid-conflict-fears-diplomacy-hopes-666477.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-readies-82nd-airborne-division-troops-for-middle-east-666478.html Washington March 25 The Pentagon is preparing to deploy thousands of troops from the Armyâs 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East signalling a potential escalation in the Iran conflict even as Washington explores diplomatic options According to multiple media reports it is preparing to deploy about 3000 troops from the Armyâs 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East adding to thousands of Marines already heading to the regionNo decision has been made for US troops to enter Iran officials said But the military buildup raises the possibility that American forces could be drawn deeper into the conflict Politico reportedSeparate reporting by CBS News said parts of the 82nd Airborne â including command elements and ground forces â are expected to be deployed One US official indicated the initial contingent could be fewer than 1500 troopsThe 82nd Airborne is among the US militaryâs premier rapidresponse units It can deploy globally within hours Its âImmediate Response Forceâ is capable of moving within 18 hours giving the White House flexible military options according to The New York TimesThe troop movement comes as the war enters its fourth week So far the United States has relied largely on an air campaign using fighter jets bombers and dronesAccording to US Central Command more than 9000 military targets inside Iran have been struck since late February These include missile launchers naval assets and defence industrial facilitiesFighting in the region continues Iran has carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks on Israel and other countries even as Washington signals openness to talksThe Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint Iranian actions have disrupted access to the waterway through which about a fifth of the worldâs oil passes pushing up global energy pricesThe US already has around 50000 troops in the Middle East The additional deployments suggest a broader military role could be under consideration including potential operations linked to securing shipping lanesThe New York Times reported that military planners are examining scenarios in which paratroopers could be positioned within striking distance of Iran Marines could also be used to secure key infrastructure or support operations around strategic oil routesAt the same time President Donald Trump has said negotiations with Iran are underway He indicated that members of his administration were engaged in talks and suggested that Tehran âwould like to make a dealâ according to CBS NewsIran has publicly denied any direct negotiations calling such reports âfake newsâThe current conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets Since then it has expanded into a wider regional confrontation involving missile exchanges drone attacks and threats to global energy suppliesThe Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis Any prolonged disruption could have serious implications for global oil markets including India which depends heavily on energy imports routed through the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-readies-82nd-airborne-division-troops-for-middle-east-666478.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/45-nations-join-melanias-tech-alliance-666479.html Washington March 25 First Lady Melania Trump launched a new global coalition bringing together 45 countries and major technology companies calling for a coordinated push to expand access to education and technology for children worldwide Addressing the inaugural âFostering the Future Togetherâ summit at the US Department of State she said âAs people we dream As leaders we progress As nations we will build Beginning today letâs accelerate our new global allianceâthis bondâto positively impact the progress of our childrenâThe twoday summit brings together international leaders first spouses and major tech firms to collaborate on expanding educational tools and strengthening protections for children in digital environmentsâOur coalitionâs mission is to empower children by providing greater access to technology and education This is a historic moment in timeâ the First Lady saidIn her address the First Lady outlined a roadmap focused on creating innovative learning programmes advocating supportive education policies sponsoring techfocused legislation and building partnerships between governments and the private sectorâOur shared vision prioritises children above political philosophy geographical borders and local prejudicesâ she said urging members to commit to âhosting a regional meeting conduct a research study advance new partnerships collaborate with another member nationâThe summit is structured around four key areas EdTech tools artificial intelligence in education online safety and digital literacyShe also highlighted the participation of major American technology companies underscoring the role of industry in shaping the initiative âNever before have so many tech visionaries stood before such a large global audience of leaders in the State Department and the White House over a twoday periodâ she saidShe cited companies including OpenAI Palantir xAI Google Meta Adobe Microsoft and Zoom calling the gathering âunprecedentedââThis room is filled with extraordinary human capital Leaders harness it to elevate your children to empower your people and to accelerate your economiesâ she saidThe coalitionâs platform she added would act as a âcapability multiplierâ anchored in artificial intelligence education and global leadershipâOur key driver to cultivate the skills young people need to be successful in this rapidly evolving worldâ Trump said stressing the need for âconcrete initiatives that equip young people with the skills and knowledge they needâThe First Lady said the summit marks âonly the beginningâ of a broader global effort âTogether letâs invest expand access and create opportunities for education and technologyâ she saidDay one of the summit marks the first large inperson gathering of the coalition since its launch during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 The discussions will continue at the White House on WednesdayThe initiative reflects growing global focus on digital education and safe online environments for children as governments and companies grapple with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in classroomsIn recent years policymakers across countries have pushed for stronger safeguards for children online while also expanding access to digital learning tools The involvement of major technology firms signals an increasing reliance on publicprivate partnerships to scale education solutions globally IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/45-nations-join-melanias-tech-alliance-666479.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-army-launches-drone-marketplace-666480.html Washington March 25 The US Army has launched a digital marketplace to speed up drone purchases and expand access to advanced unmanned systems for its forces and allies The platform will allow Army units government partners and allied nations to compare and buy vetted drone systems Officials said it will reduce delays and deliver technology to soldiers fasterThe marketplace was developed with Amazon Web Services and the Army Enterprise Cloud Management Agency It includes tools for comparing systems collecting feedback and placing ordersâThe UAS Marketplace is a prime example of how the Army is transforming its acquisition processes to be more agile competitive and effectiveâ said Brent G Ingraham the Army Acquisition ExecutiveâBy lowering barriers to entry and partnering with a wider range of industrial innovators we are building a more resilient and responsive defense industrial base which is essential for equipping our force and deterring our adversariesâ he saidOfficials said the platform marks a shift from traditional procurement methods It aims to create a more competitive and transparent system and expand the supplier baseMaj Gen Clair Gill said the platform reflects a change in approachâThe success of this marketplace directly demonstrates the power of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive construct to deliver tailored capability faster and more efficientlyâ Gill saidâIt represents a pivotal shift in our acquisition mindset and is a cornerstone of Army Aviations modernization strategyâ he addedRodney Davis said the system responds to field requirementsâThe UAS Marketplace is a direct response to the evolving needs of our Soldiers on the groundâ Davis saidâBy creating a dynamic and competitive environment we are not just buying drones we are delivering versatile and advanced aerial capabilities that will give our formations a decisive edge in multidomain operationsâ he saidOfficials said the platform is built for speed and scaleâThe UAS Marketplace is a transformative approach to acquisitionâ said Col Danielle MedagliaâBy fostering competition and innovation we are ensuring that Soldiers have access to the most advanced technologies to meet their mission requirements This strategy is about delivering capability at scale and at speedâ she saidThe Army will also use the marketplace to support allies and partners It aims to streamline foreign military sales and strengthen defence tiesThe platform will be displayed at the Association of the United States Army Global Force Symposium in Huntsville Alabama A separate showcase is planned in AprilDrones have become central to modern warfare They are used for surveillance targeting and combat roles Recent conflicts have shown their growing importance on the battlefieldThe US military is pushing to modernise procurement systems It is focusing on speed and flexibility The new marketplace is part of that effort to maintain a technological edge IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-army-launches-drone-marketplace-666480.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/govt-to-convene-all-party-meet-today-on-west-asia-crisis-666481.html New Delhi March 25 The government will hold an allparty meeting on Wednesday to brief political leaders on the evolving crisis in West Asia amid rising concerns over its economic and security implications for India The meeting scheduled for 5 pm inside the Parliament complex will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to brief party leaders on the latest developments and Indiaâs diplomatic stance The initiative follows statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both Houses of Parliament where he described the situation as an âunprecedented crisisâ with potentially longlasting consequencesThe conflict in West Asia has now entered its fourth week disrupting key maritime trade routes particularly through the Strait of Hormuz The tensions have contributed to volatility in global energy markets and raised concerns over supply chains and inflation prompting the government to step up consultations with political stakeholdersOpposition parties including the Congress have been pressing the government for a detailed discussion in Parliament on the issue In the Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the governmentâs decision to opt for a briefing instead of a full debate arguing that the gravity of the situation warranted a comprehensive discussion in the HouseLeader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also attacked the government alleging that Indiaâs foreign policy has become âcompromisedâ and driven by personal considerations rather than national interest While welcoming the move to hold an allparty meeting Gandhi stated that he would be unable to attend due to a prior engagement in KeralaThe allparty meeting comes a day after Rajnath Singh chaired a highlevel security review attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan the three service chiefs and senior officials including DRDO Chairman Dr Samir Kamat to assess the evolving regional situationWith geopolitical tensions escalating and their global fallout becoming more pronounced the meeting is expected to serve as a key platform for the government to brief opposition leaders and seek broader political consensus on Indiaâs approach to the crisis IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/govt-to-convene-all-party-meet-today-on-west-asia-crisis-666481.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-accelerates-low-cost-arms-stockpiling-retains-high-end-edge-666482.html Washington March 25 Senior Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the US military is accelerating efforts to build large stockpiles of lowcost weapons even as it maintains reliance on highend munitions for future conflicts Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Lt Gen Steve Whitney Director of Force Structure Resources and Assessment J8 at the Joint Staff said the push is aimed at creating a balanced arsenalâLowcost and developmental munitions can complement the traditional munitions in our arsenal and we call this a high low mixâ Whitney said âAnd to be perfectly clear both are neededâThe hearing underscored growing concern in Congress that current spending remains heavily skewed toward expensive systems Chairman Roger Wicker noted that a recent Pentagon plan allocated about 97 per cent of funds to highcost munitions and just 3 per cent to lowercost alternativesWhitney said that ratio is expected to evolve but cautioned against quick projections âI think itâs going to be a couple of years before we have a good understanding of what the true end balance isâ he saidNavy Rear Adm Elizabeth S Okano principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy Research Development and Acquisition said the Navy is undergoing a âfundamental shift in how we arm the fleetââWe need deeper magazines and we need them nowâ Okano told lawmakers outlining a threephase approach to stabilise production bring in new industry players and scale outputShe pointed to increased funding for programmes like the Tomahawk and Standard Missile and said new initiatives such as the Multimission Affordable Capacity Effector Mace aim to deliver cheaper scalable weapons Industry she said has been challenged to produce such systems for âno more than 300000 per roundâ and field them by 2027Major General Frank J Lozano Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal said the Army is opening the door to nontraditional companies to speed up innovation and reduce costsâSmaller new companies who have never done business with the Army before are proving new capabilities and providing the department with potential new options and affordability and scalabilityâ Lozano saidHe cited a venturebacked firm developing the Blackbeard Ground Launch System noting it had already conducted âat least 25 test events over the past year using their own capitalâAn Air Force acquisition official said recent programmes have dramatically shortened timelines In one case the official said the process from concept to contract took four months while prototypes were flying âin 4 to 7 monthsâ with production beginning â14 months from the first ideaâLawmakers raised concerns over bottlenecks in supply chains skilled labour shortages and limited access to testing ranges One official acknowledged that âthe congestion rate the access to ranges may continue to be an issue going forwardâOfficials also pointed to lessons from Ukraine where rapid iteration has become critical Whitney said the conflict highlighted âthe rapid pace of innovationâ while another official noted systems there can be modified âsometimes within a couple of daysâThe Pentagonâs shift toward lowercost highvolume weapons reflects lessons from recent conflicts where munitions are consumed at a far faster rate than anticipated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-accelerates-low-cost-arms-stockpiling-retains-high-end-edge-666482.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-drug-trafficker-detained-in-philippines-repatriated-for-investigation-666483.html Seoul March 25 A South Korean national detained in the Philippines was temporarily repatriated to South Korea on Wednesday to face an investigation into alleged crossborder drug trafficking Cheong Wa Dae said The convicted criminal Park Wangyeol has been serving a 60year prison sentence in the Philippines since 2022 for killing three South Koreans in 2016 The 48yearold is also suspected of smuggling drugs into South Korea through accomplices via social media platforms and is known as a drug kingpin operating under the Telegram alias WorldwidePark arrived at Incheon International Airport just west of Seoul aboard an Asiana Airlines passenger flight at 634 amHe was seen handcuffed and surrounded by dozens of police and justice ministry officials as he left the airport to be transferred to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial PoliceThe repatriation comes about three weeks after President Lee Jae Myung requested Manilas cooperation during summit talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr following more than nine years of efforts by Seoul to secure his returnParks repatriation demonstrates the governments firm commitment to ensuring that criminals hiding overseas are held accountable by all means presidential spokesperson Kang Yujung said in a written briefingUpon his arrival slated for Wednesday morning law enforcement authorities will immediately take Park into custody and launch a fullscale investigation into the drug trafficking allegations according to a crossborder crime response task forcePark is being brought to South Korea under the extradition treaty between the two countries which allows for temporary repatriation for criminal proceedings by suspending trial or the execution of a sentence in the Philippines Yonhap news agency reportedThe government will thoroughly uncover all criminal activities committed by Park and ensure he is strictly punished by tracking down his accomplices and illicit proceeds to the end Kang saidThe government will step up efforts to combat transnational crimes and strengthen international coordination in pursuing fugitives abroad the spokesperson added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-drug-trafficker-detained-in-philippines-repatriated-for-investigation-666483.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/man-charged-after-20-kg-of-heroin-found-in-luggage-at-sydney-airport-666484.html Sydney March 25 Australian police have charged a man over an alleged attempt to smuggle 20 kg of heroin into the country from Thailand The Australian Border Force ABF and Australian Federal Police AFP said on Wednesday that the 26yearold man from the state of New South Wales was selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok on January 24During the examination ABF officers located 34 vacuumsealed bags containing a combined 20 kg of heroinAccording to authorities the heroin had an estimated value of 10 million Australian dollars 7 million and could have supplied 100000 street dealsThe case was turned over to AFP officers who arrested the 26yearold and charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a bordercontrolled drug which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonmentAFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said that the attempted importation highlights the determination of organized crime groups to exploit international travel pathways for profit Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on December 8 Australian authorities had charged a New Zealand national after 21 kg of heroin was located hidden in luggage at Sydney AirportThe AFP and ABF had said in a joint statement that the 21yearold man from New Zealand had been selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from ThailandDuring the examination ABF officers had allegedly located 21 vacuumsealed bags containing a white powdered substance Subsequent testing returned a positive result for heroin which had an estimated total weight of 21 kgAFP officers had seized the packages and charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a bordercontrolled drug At the time authorities had noted that if convicted he faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonmentAccording to authorities the seized volume of heroin had an estimated value of over 10 million Australian dollars 66 million and could have supplied around 100000 streetlevel deals IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/man-charged-after-20-kg-of-heroin-found-in-luggage-at-sydney-airport-666484.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/1971-tapes-us-refused-to-condemn-pakistan-despite-genocide-warnings-666487.html Washington March 25 Secret transcripts of a 1971 conversation between President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger show the United States refusing to condemn Pakistanâs military crackdown in East Pakistan despite warnings from its own diplomat of possible âgenocideâ The exchange recorded on March 28 1971 captures Kissinger informing Nixon about a dissent cable from US Consul Archer Blood in Dacca who had reported largescale killings of civiliansâWeâve had a bleeding bleating cable from our Consul in Dacca who wants us to put out a statement condemning what the West Pakistanis are doing But of course we wonât consider itâ Kissinger said according to the transcriptNixon responded bluntly âOh for Christâs sakeâKissinger then dismissed the diplomat saying âWell heâs just one of these pansiesâWhen Nixon asked âAnd he says âcondemning themââ Kissinger replied âYeah for genocideâNixon then ordered action against the consul âWell now remove him I want him out of the jobâ he saidThe conversation further shows a clear decision not to publicly criticise Pakistanâs actions âI wouldnât put out a statement praising it but weâre not going to condemn it eitherâ Nixon said later in the callKissinger warned that taking a public stand could trigger backlash âIf we do that weâre going to have antiAmerican riots in West Pakistanâ he saidThe transcripts are part of The Kissinger Tapes a newly published book by historian Tom Wells released in March based on hundreds of secretly recorded telephone conversations from Kissingerâs tenure during the Nixon administration between 1969 and 1974The book draws on thousands of pages of âtelconsâ that were recovered and declassified after a prolonged legal effort led by the National Security Archive More than 15000 pages of transcripts were eventually released in 2004Wells writes that the material offers âa panoramic view of his tenure in powerâ and sheds light on key decisions and controversies of the era including US responses to human rights abuses committed by allied regimesThe 1971 dissent by Archer Blood later known as the âBlood telegramâ remains one of the most significant protests by US diplomats against official policy Blood had urged Washington to take a moral stand against the killings in East PakistanThe events in East Pakistan in 1971 led to a humanitarian crisis and eventually to the creation of Bangladesh after India intervened militarily later that year Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of civilians were killed during the conflict IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/1971-tapes-us-refused-to-condemn-pakistan-despite-genocide-warnings-666487.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-eases-to-37-pc-666488.html Canberra March 25 Australias annual rate of inflation fell to 37 per cent in February defying the expectation of economists who had forecast it would remain at 38 per cent According to official data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS on Wednesday the consumer price index CPI rose by 37 per cent in the year to February down from the 38 per cent reported in December and JanuaryThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier on Wednesday that financial markets were expecting headline inflation to remain at 38 per cent for the third consecutive monthThe ABS said that the annual trimmed mean a measure of underlying inflation preferred by the Reserve Bank of Australia RBA remained unchanged at 33 per cent in February above the central banks 23 per cent target rangeWednesdays data follows a decision by the RBAs Monetary Policy Board on March 17 to lift the official cash rate for the second consecutive month to 41 per centThe board said at the time that higher fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East would add to inflationResponding to the ABS data Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday that inflation was too high before the outbreak of the war and that the conflict would make it worse Xinhua news agency reportedChalmers said earlier in March that a prolonged conflict could cause inflation to peak at above 50 per cent in 2026 and said in a speech to a business event on Tuesday that the government is working through a broader than usual range of options to address inflationThe ABS identified a 72 per cent rise in housing prices as the biggest driver of inflation in the year to February followed by a 31 per cent rise in food and nonalcoholic beverage prices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-eases-to-37-pc-666488.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hasina-says-efforts-on-in-bangladesh-to-rehabilitate-perpetrators-of-1971-genocide-by-pakistan-666509.html Dhaka March 25 As Bangladesh observes Genocide Day on Wednesday former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the millions of people killed during the 1971 brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces Recalling it as the most horrific night in the life of the Bangladeshi people Hasina said on March 25 1971 the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight beginning a systematic campaign to exterminate the Bangladeshi BengalisWithin nine months the death toll of this brutal genocide rose to over 3 million Since such extreme brutality had no precedent in Bengali history an exact Bengali term for genocide has never truly emerged the commonly used word genocide is applied to convey its meaning read a statement issued by the former PM which was posted by Awami League on its social media platform XOn this dark night I remember the great leader of the Bengali liberation struggle the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was arrested that very night by the occupying Pakistani forces I pay my respects to the countless martyrs whose sacred blood has stained this soil she addedHasina stated that to ensure that the atrocities and barbarity committed by the occupying Pakistani forces are recognised both nationally and internationally the Awami League government during its tenure made a historic declaration on March 11 2017 in the national Parliament marking March 25 as Genocide Day We have sought to inform the world about the heavy price of our independence and to strengthen the global demand for justice for this genocide said the former PMHasina stressed that despite domestic and international conspiracies and pressure the former Awami League government ensured that several identified perpetrators of crimes against humanity face exemplary punishment through due legal processThis was not an act of vengeance she said but a necessary step toward justice the rule of law and ending the culture of impunitySlamming the former Muhammad Yunusled interim government Hasina said During the tenure of the Yunus government this trial process was halted and convicted war criminals were released A deathrow war criminal was even made a member of the National Parliament thereby dishonouring the sacrifice of millions of martyrsIn continuation of this trend there are ongoing efforts to deliberately undermine the sacred memory of the martyrs and to rehabilitate collaborators of the perpetrators and defeated forces in various ways This is not only a distortion of history but also an attack on the spirit of the freedom fight she addedEmphasising the unity shown during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War the former PM said that any attempt to rehabilitate the killers and reintroduce Pakistani ideology in the country must be resisted through national solidarity IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hasina-says-efforts-on-in-bangladesh-to-rehabilitate-perpetrators-of-1971-genocide-by-pakistan-666509.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-leans-on-sunni-groups-to-curb-shia-mobilisation-maintain-iran-neutrality-666511.html New Delhi March 25 For Pakistanâs Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir countering the proIran Shia mobilisation in the country is increasingly becoming a headache For Pakistan countering this mobilisation is important as it is threatening to become bigger However the dilemma the establishment faces is that it cannot use its official machinery to take on the mobilisation of the Shias Pakistan has chosen to mediate between Iran and the United States and hence it needs to remain neutral Any direct action against the Shia mobilisation would infuriate Iran and this is something that Islamabad wants to avoidAn official said that Pakistan has now brought back its proxies to take on this problem The Pakistan Army chief has ordered hardline Sunni elements and leaders from the SipaheSabah SeS and JamaatudDawah JuD to take on the Shias who are mobilising in large numbers in support of Iran These groups have in the past come to the rescue of the Pakistan establishment When it comes to countering protesters who were seeking justice for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan it was these elements who took to the streetsThe members of the SeS and JuD have the backing of the army and ISI and have been given a free hand to indulge in street violence against those who are questioning the establishment an official saidThe SeS is a banned Sunni Deobandi Islamist organisation and a former political party that was founded in 1985 This outfit came into existence only to oppose Shia influence in Pakistan The SeS has a history of being involved in sectarian conflicts including violence with the Shia organisation ShipaheMuhammad PakistanThe JuD on the other hand is the charity wing of the LashkareTaiba The JuD follows the Ahli Hadith interpretation of Islam which is similar to Wahhabism and SalafismAn Intelligence Bureau official said that by involving the SeS and JuD the Pakistan army chief would look to put down the mobilisation of the Shia Since these groups have no accountability the violence would not be blamed on the state but on two individual organisations This helps in the deniability factor when Pakistan speaks with Iran the official addedSuch violence will no doubt be scrutinised internationally and by foreign Intelligence agencies The establishment would however try to get away by putting the blame on the SeS and JuD while stating that it has nothing to do with themAnother official said that both groups have been given immunity by the establishment This means that they can choose to act the way they pleaseAnother official said that with such a plan in place one could anticipate street violence and bloody clashes with the Shias in PakistanBy trying to mediate between Iran and the US Pakistan wants to place itself in a position of power Pakistan also wants to claim geopolitical relevance by offering to mediate between the two warring nationsField Marshal Asim Munir has taken this task upon himself and has been engaging directly with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian He has also been leveraging his relations with some of the Gulf nations and the USWith Pakistan wanting geopolitical relevance it cannot afford to officially crush the mobilisation that is taking place in support of Iran If Pakistan ends up angering Iran at this juncture then Tehran may not come to the table This would hurt Pakistanâs ambitions of playing mediator and reclaiming geopolitical importance another official saidThe JuD and the SeS have readily accepted what the Pakistan army chief has said as they have done in the past Officials say that both these outfits have had an agenda against the Shias for a long time and hence the offer made by Field Marshal Munir is more than welcome for them IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-leans-on-sunni-groups-to-curb-shia-mobilisation-maintain-iran-neutrality-666511.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-eases-to-37-per-cent-666517.html Canberra March 25 Australias annual rate of inflation fell to 37 per cent in February defying the expectation of economists who had forecast it would remain at 38 per cent According to official data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS on Wednesday the consumer price index CPI rose by 37 per cent in the year to February down from the 38 per cent reported in December and January Xinhua news agency reportedThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier on Wednesday that financial markets were expecting headline inflation to remain at 38 per cent for the third consecutive monthThe ABS said that the annual trimmed mean a measure of underlying inflation preferred by the Reserve Bank of Australia RBA remained unchanged at 33 per cent in February above the central banks 23 per cent target rangeWednesdays data follows a decision by the RBAs Monetary Policy Board on March 17 to lift the official cash rate for the second consecutive month to 41 per centThe board said at the time that higher fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East would add to inflationResponding to the ABS data Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday that inflation was too high before the outbreak of the war and that the conflict would make it worseChalmers said earlier in March that a prolonged conflict could cause inflation to peak at above 50 per cent in 2026 and said in a speech to a business event on Tuesday that the government is working through a broader than usual range of options to address inflationThe ABS identified a 72 per cent rise in housing prices as the biggest driver of inflation in the year to February followed by a 31 per cent rise in food and nonalcoholic beverage prices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-eases-to-37-per-cent-666517.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-rate-falls-from-38-per-cent-to-37-per-cent-666518.html Canberra March 25 Australias annual rate of inflation fell to 37 per cent in February defying the expectation of economists who had forecast it would remain at 38 per cent According to official data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS on Wednesday the consumer price index CPI rose by 37 per cent in the year to February down from the 38 per cent reported in December and January Xinhua news agency reportedThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier on Wednesday that financial markets were expecting headline inflation to remain at 38 per cent for the third consecutive monthThe ABS said that the annual trimmed mean a measure of underlying inflation preferred by the Reserve Bank of Australia RBA remained unchanged at 33 per cent in February above the central banks 23 per cent target rangeWednesdays data follows a decision by the RBAs Monetary Policy Board on March 17 to lift the official cash rate for the second consecutive month to 41 per centThe board said at the time that higher fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East would add to inflationResponding to the ABS data Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday that inflation was too high before the outbreak of the war and that the conflict would make it worseChalmers said earlier in March that a prolonged conflict could cause inflation to peak at above 50 per cent in 2026 and said in a speech to a business event on Tuesday that the government is working through a broader than usual range of options to address inflationThe ABS identified a 72 per cent rise in housing prices as the biggest driver of inflation in the year to February followed by a 31 per cent rise in food and nonalcoholic beverage prices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-inflation-rate-falls-from-38-per-cent-to-37-per-cent-666518.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-inflation-rate-falls-from-38-per-cent-to-37-per-cent-666519.html Canberra March 25 Australias annual rate of inflation fell to 37 per cent in February defying the expectation of economists who had forecast it would remain at 38 per cent According to official data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS on Wednesday the consumer price index CPI rose by 37 per cent in the year to February down from the 38 per cent reported in December and January Xinhua news agency reportedThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier on Wednesday that financial markets were expecting headline inflation to remain at 38 per cent for the third consecutive monthThe ABS said that the annual trimmed mean a measure of underlying inflation preferred by the Reserve Bank of Australia RBA remained unchanged at 33 per cent in February above the central banks 23 per cent target rangeWednesdays data follows a decision by the RBAs Monetary Policy Board on March 17 to lift the official cash rate for the second consecutive month to 41 per centThe board said at the time that higher fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East would add to inflationResponding to the ABS data Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday that inflation was too high before the outbreak of the war and that the conflict would make it worseChalmers said earlier in March that a prolonged conflict could cause inflation to peak at above 50 per cent in 2026 and said in a speech to a business event on Tuesday that the government is working through a broader than usual range of options to address inflationThe ABS identified a 72 per cent rise in housing prices as the biggest driver of inflation in the year to February followed by a 31 per cent rise in food and nonalcoholic beverage prices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-inflation-rate-falls-from-38-per-cent-to-37-per-cent-666519.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/social-democrats-lead-denmarks-election-neither-bloc-wins-majority-666521.html Copenhagen March 25 Denmarks Social Democrats remained the largest party in Tuesdays parliamentary election according to preliminary results from Denmark proper early Wednesday But neither the leftleaning red bloc nor the rightleaning blue bloc secured an outright majority in the Folketing the unicameral Danish parliament Xinhua news agency reportedThe Folketing comprises 179 seats in total 175 elected in Denmark proper plus two each from Greenland and the Faroe Islands Results from Greenland and the Faroe Islands are yet to be finalisedPreliminary results from Denmark proper showed that the Social Democrats won about 219 per cent of the vote and 38 seats down by 12 from the previous election The Socialist Peoples Party secured 20 seats followed by Venstre the Liberal Party of Denmark with 18 seats Liberal Alliance and the Danish Peoples Party each took 16 seatsBased on the Denmark proper tally the red bloc secured 84 seats compared with 77 for the blue bloc Since a majority in the Folketing requires 90 seats the Moderates which won 14 seats were expected to play a pivotal role in the coming negotiations on government formationSpeaking after the vote Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen signaled that she was prepared to take responsibility in the upcoming negotiations and continue seeking to lead the country while acknowledging that talks to form a new government were unlikely to be easyUnder Denmarks multiparty parliamentary system elections often lead to coalition or minority governments Talks among party leaders will determine the formation of the new government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/social-democrats-lead-denmarks-election-neither-bloc-wins-majority-666521.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/only-26-per-cent-of-australians-supportive-of-war-on-iran-poll-666522.html Canberra March 25 Only 26 per cent of Australians approve of the US and Israels strikes on Iran and half the population would oppose the deployment of Australian troops a poll has found The latest edition of The Essential Report a monthly poll on social and political issues conducted by independent firm Essential Research found that 10 per cent of Australians strongly approve and 16 per cent approve of the US and Israels decision to initiate strikes on Iran Xinhua news agency reportedBy comparison 27 per cent of respondents said they strongly disapprove of the war and 15 per cent said they disapprove with the remaining participants either neutral or unsureAsked about Australias involvement in the ongoing conflict 50 per cent of participants in the poll said they would oppose sending troops to support USIsraeli ground operations in Iran compared to 21 per cent who said they would support such a moveRespondents were also more likely to oppose than support Australia sending weapons and equipment to support thirdparty nations impacted by Iranian retaliatory strikes such as the United Arab EmiratesA clear majority of respondents 60 per cent were supportive of Australia working with international organizations to help peace talks and prevent further escalationIn terms of diplomatic and trade relationships 34 per cent of participants in the poll said that Australia should be working less closely with the United States up from 14 per cent in 2021The poll of 1008 people last week found 43 per cent disapproved of the US and Israeli bombardment of Iran while just 26 per cent backed the move Some 31 per cent were unsure or responded âdonât knowâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/only-26-per-cent-of-australians-supportive-of-war-on-iran-poll-666522.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-california-diesel-prices-hit-record-high-666523.html Los Angeles March 25 Diesel prices in the US state of California have risen to a record high according to the latest data from the American Automobile Association AAA The average price of diesel in California reached 7018 per gallon on Tuesday the highest level recorded in AAAs database By comparison the current US national average price for diesel is about 5345 per gallon Xinhua news agency reportedUS media reports attributed the rising diesel prices to reduced oilrefining capacity and disruptions in global energy shipments amid the war in Iran California has lost two refineries since October 2025 eliminating roughly 20 per cent of its refining capacityThe increase in diesel prices is driving up transportation costs with potential ripple effects on food building materials and retail goods shipped by dieselpowered trucks reports saidCalifornia continues to face limited refinery capacity amid the ongoing war in Iran disrupting global shipmentsIts arguably the worst time for diesel prices to skyrocketTheres a lot of sleepless nights Theres a lot of stress and people just trying to do the best they can said Andrew Genasci executive director of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Anything thats coming onto the farm or leaving the farm is now more expensiveAccording to AAA this new price has topped all previous records including the first few months of Russias war in Ukraine in 2022A lot of oil is being held up by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East Even if the strait opened now all that oil still needs to make its way through the refineries which means prices wouldnt immediately drop IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-california-diesel-prices-hit-record-high-666523.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-rubio-speak-on-middle-east-tensions-666182.html Washington March 24 Indiaâs External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over the phone on Monday about the West Asia crisis They reviewed its impact on the global economy and energy supplies Both agreed to continue working togetherâ âHad a detailed telecon this evening with US SecRubioâ Jaishankar said in a post on X This was the first call between the two leaders after the war in IranâHe said the talks âfocused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economyââJaishankar added that both sides âparticularly spoke about energy security concernsââHe said they âagreed to remain in touchââIn Washington in a readout of the call the State Department said they agreed on the importance of continuing to work together to advance mutual prioritiesââSecretary Rubio spoke today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankarâ Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott saidââThe two officials discussed the current situation in the Middle Eastâ he saidââThe Secretary and Minister agreed on the importance of continuing to work together to advance mutual prioritiesâ Pigott addedâThe call comes amid rising tensions in West Asia The conflict has added pressure on global markets Energy prices remain sensitive to developments in the regionâIndia and the United States have expanded their strategic partnership over the past decade They cooperate in defence technology and energyâWest Asia remains critical for both countries Stability in the region affects global trade inflation and energy flows Continued dialogue is seen as essential IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-rubio-speak-on-middle-east-tensions-666182.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ceo-sets-helpline-after-fatal-air-canada-crash-666183.html Washington March 23 Air Canadas CEO Michael Rousseau has announced a dedicated helpline and special assistance team for families after a runway collision at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport killed two pilots and injured dozens Today is a very somber day at Air Canada Air Canada President and CEO Rousseau said on Monday adding I want to express our deepest sorrow for everyone affectedThe aircraft Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 from Montreal collided with a Port Authority fire truck while landing late Sunday triggering a major emergency response and shutting down operations at one of the busiest US airportsRousseau said the airlines immediate focus is on supporting passengers crew and their families Our efforts are focused on the needs of our passengers and crew members along with their families and loved ones he addedThe airline has activated its Special Assistance Team and set up a helpline for families seeking information Anything we can do now were doing Rousseau saidThe flight operated by Jazz Aviation was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members for a total of 76 people on board Rousseau confirmed We now know that the planes Captain and the first officer were killed in this accidentAuthorities said at least 41 passengers and crew were taken to hospitals Many have since been released though some injuries were described as serious Two people in the fire truck were also hospitalised but were in stable conditionOfficials said the fire truck had been responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft and was crossing the runway when the collision occurred Moments later the Air Canada plane which had just landed struck the vehicleAir traffic control audio captured the urgency A controller is heard shouting Truck One stop stop stop seconds before the crashImages from the spot showed severe damage to the nose of the aircraft with debris scattered across the runway Emergency vehicles filled the area as rescue operations continued through the nightRousseau said the airline is working closely with authorities and will share updates as they are confirmed Were fully supporting the relevant investigative authorities in their investigation to learn everything we can about these events he addedThe Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at LaGuardia The airport remained closed for several hours with more than 500 flights cancelledOfficials said the crash occurred around 1140 pm ET Preliminary data indicated the aircraft was travelling at high speed moments before impactUS Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said his prayers this morning are with the families impacted while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident deeply saddeningA passenger described the impact saying It was like the plane jolted and you heard the pilot try to brakeAir Canada said it will release further details as they are verified and urged the public to rely on official updates IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ceo-sets-helpline-after-fatal-air-canada-crash-666183.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-seizes-on-memphis-crime-decline-to-sell-broader-agenda-666185.html Washington March 24 President Donald Trump went to Memphis to celebrate a sharp reported drop in violent crime and used the moment to argue that aggressive federal intervention can restore order in troubled American cities At a roundtable on Monday Trump presented the city as a model for his lawandorder approachâWeâve achieved one of the largest fastest declines in violent crime ever recordedâ Trump said citing a 60 per cent drop in robberies a 74 per cent fall in carjackings and motor vehicle thefts and a 70 per cent reduction in murders from their peakThe task force launched in September 2025 and modelled on a similar initiative in Washington brought together federal state and local agencies as well as the National GuardUS Marshals Service Director Gady Serralta said the operation had made âover 7342 arrestsâ in just over six months including 44 homicide cases 812 drug offences and 757 gangrelated offences He added that more than 1200 illegal firearms had been seized and 150 missing children located and returnedSerralta said the effort had led to a 43 per cent reduction in total serious crimes a 37 per cent drop in murder a 40 per cent decline in sexual assault a 56 per cent reduction in robbery and a 68 per cent fall in motor vehicle theftsAttorney General Pam Bondi said the results reflected coordination across agencies âSome people choose to tolerate crime but you chose law and order and thatâs why this task force workedâ she saidTennessee Governor Bill Lee said the changes were already visible âWhatâs happened in the last six months has changed that story entirelyâ he said calling the shift âgenerational changeâTrump also announced that National Guard members serving on the Memphis task force as well as in Washington New Orleans and border missions would receive the same benefits as activeduty troopsSeveral officials framed Memphis as part of a broader national strategy FBI Director Kash Patel said law enforcement had been able to âcapture gang bangers rapists murderers drug dealers at record historic levelsâ ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said 619 undocumented immigrants had been arrested though he noted the operation âwasnât an immigrationled operationâThe event also carried a strong political message Trump blamed Democrats for disruptions at US airports linked to a Department of Homeland Security funding dispute and urged Republicans not to agree to any deal unless it included voter identification and proof of citizenship measuresBefore turning to domestic issues Trump said he had ordered a temporary pause in planned US strikes on Iranian energy targets following talks with Tehran âWe are now having really good discussionsâ he said adding that the United States would give diplomacy âfive daysâLocal voices at the event described the impact of crime and the changes in recent months Business owner Tim Pugh said repeated thefts and robberies had hurt his operations while resident Dalisia Ballinger described living with fear before the crackdown âItâs been almost six months and itâs like a whole new worldâ she saidMemphis has long struggled with violent crime and public safety remains a central political issue across the United States Trump has made crime reduction border enforcement and support for police key pillars of his administration IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-seizes-on-memphis-crime-decline-to-sell-broader-agenda-666185.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-iran-leadership-hit-amid-escalation-666186.html Washington March 24 US President Donald Trump said that successive layers of Iranâs leadership had been âeliminatedâ during ongoing US military operations saying the country was struggling to find new leaders amid sustained pressure Speaking at a roundtable on Monday in Memphis Trump said US strikes had not only targeted military infrastructure but also senior figures within Iranâs system âWe eliminated their leaders We had the first set of leaders theyâre goneâ he saidHe added that attempts to replace them had also been hit âThen the second set 88 people met to pick a new leader and theyâre now extinguishedâ Trump said describing a cycle in which new leadership groups were repeatedly targetedâAnd then theyâre meeting again but now nobody wants to be the leaderâ he said calling it âone of the few political jobs that nobody wants anywhere in the worldâTrump said the operations were part of a broader effort to dismantle Iranâs ability to threaten the United States and its allies âWeâre systematically dismantling the regimeâs ability to threaten Americaâ he saidHe linked the pressure on Iranâs leadership to what he described as significant military losses âWe knocked out their Navy We knocked out their air force We knocked out their antiaircraft We knocked out everythingâ Trump saidAccording to Trump the campaign had also severely degraded Iranâs missile capabilities âWeâre destroying their ballistic missiles and dronesâ programs with launchers down by more than 90 per centâ he saidHe argued that the strikes had shifted Iranâs negotiating position âItâs only because of the great job that our military did is the reason they mean businessâ Trump said âThey want to settleâAt the same time Trump said the United States had opened a short diplomatic window indicating that planned strikes on certain targets had been postponed to allow for talksâWeâre giving it five days and then weâre going to see where that takes usâ he said adding that Iran had âone more opportunityâ to end its threatsTrump reiterated that the central US objective remained unchanged âWeâll ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weaponâ he saidHe also said Iranian officials had previously signalled their nuclear capability in talks âIts own negotiators bragged to our representatives about having enough material to make nuclear weaponsâ Trump saidTrump suggested that Iranâs actions in the region had backfired âThey started shooting all of their neighboursâ he said adding that âtheir neighbours then turned against themâHe said the situation had left Iran weakened both militarily and politically âTheyâre not threatening us anymoreâ Trump saidThe remarks present a picture of a campaign aimed not only at military assets but also at leadership structures suggesting an effort to destabilise decisionmaking within Iran while forcing it towards negotiations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-iran-leadership-hit-amid-escalation-666186.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-steps-up-diplomacy-on-iran-middle-east-666187.html Washington March 24 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held calls with counterparts in India Canada and Kenya focusing on Iran the Middle East crisis and broader security coordination his spokesperson said Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Kenyan President William Ruto as Washington intensified diplomatic outreach on Iran and regional stabilityIn their call the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East âThe two officials discussed the current situation in the Middle Eastâ State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a readout of the callâThe Secretary and Minister agreed on the importance of continuing to work together to advance mutual prioritiesâThe IndiaUS conversation comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia with both sides signalling continued coordination on shared strategic interestsRubioâs call with Canadaâs Foreign Minister Anand focused more directly on Iran and US actions targeting its nuclear programmeThe two discussed âinternational security and the decisive actions taken by President Trump to dismantle Iranâs nuclear program and increase pressure on the Iranian regimeâ the readout saidThe Secretary also raised Haiti during the conversation outlining USbacked efforts to restore stabilityHe âaddressed our efforts to promote security and stability in Haiti including support for the UNauthorized Gang Suppression Forceâ according to the statementIn a separate call with Kenyan President William Ruto Rubio thanked Nairobi for its position on Iran and its role in regional security effortsHe âthanked President Ruto for his public condemnation of Iranian aggression against Gulf States and discussed the objectives of Operation Epic FuryâRubio also acknowledged Kenyaâs contributions to stabilisation efforts in HaitiHe âexpressed his gratitude for Kenyaâs significant contributions to peace and security in Haiti and Kenyaâs commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to the Gang Suppression ForceâThe two leaders additionally discussed economic tiesThe flurry of calls highlights Washingtonâs effort to align key partners across regions on Iran and broader security challenges India Canada and Kenya represent strategic partners in Asia North America and Africa respectively with roles in diplomacy security cooperation and peacekeeping IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-steps-up-diplomacy-on-iran-middle-east-666187.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-2-100-children-killed-or-injured-since-escalation-in-mideast-conflict-un-666188.html United Nations March 24 More than 2100 children have been killed or injured since the military escalation in the Middle East UN Childrens Fund UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban said Twentythree days into the escalating conflict in the Middle East children across the region are paying a devastating price A further descent into a wider or protracted conflict would be catastrophic for millions more Chaiban told reporters on Monday at the UN headquarters in New YorkThe casualties included 206 children killed in Iran 118 in Lebanon four in Israel and one in Kuwait he said Xinhua news agency reportedThat is an average of approximately 87 children either killed or injured every day since the beginning of the war Chaiban saidAlongside the dead and wounded there has been rapid displacement across several countries driven by relentless bombardment and evacuation orders that have emptied communities he saidIn Iran the UN Refugee Agency estimated that up to 32 million people have been displaced including up to 864000 children while in Lebanon more than 1 million people are displaced including an estimated 370000 children he saidAccording to Chaiban across the Middle East around 448 million children were already living in conflictaffected settings before the escalationTalking about his recent visit to Lebanon Chaiban said what he witnessed there and what is unfolding across the region requires the full attention and a clear collective responseIn Lebanon more than 350 public schools were used as shelters disrupting the education of around 100000 students and public services were under severe pressure with water systems damaged and health workers killed as they tried to rescue populations he saidWhile UNICEF has reached 151000 internallydisplaced persons in more than 250 shelters and in hardtoreach areas with essential nonfood items and was providing water and sanitation support in 188 shelters serving around 46000 people the scale of needs is increasing faster than available resources he warnedWe remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law adding that as the secretarygeneral has indicated we need a deescalation and a political way forward to this war he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-2-100-children-killed-or-injured-since-escalation-in-mideast-conflict-un-666188.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-mcgovern-marks-historic-community-engagement-during-temple-visit-in-massachusetts-666189.html Washington March 24 During a visit to the Sri Lakshmi Temple in Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern engaged with community members in a moment organisers described as both symbolic and historic The March 21 visit to the temple in Ashland marked organisers said the first time a sitting US Congressman had visited a Hindu temple in Massachusetts reflecting growing outreach to diverse faith communitiesMcGovern Chairman of the House Rules Committee interacted with attendees on civic participation religious inclusion and public policy The engagement highlighted his outreach to communities across the state and efforts to promote interfaith understandingâThis historic visit reflects the strength and vibrancy of the Hindu American community and the importance of building bridges across cultures and faithsâ said Dr Lakshmi Thalanki Massachusetts Chapter president of Americans 4 Hindus A4H who organised the eventRamesh Vishwanath Kapur president of the USIndia Security Council underscored the importance of stronger USIndia ties and acknowledged McGovernâs support for the communityKapur said the Congressman has âconsistently supported the needs of the Indian American community over the yearsâ and stressed the need for unity among Indian AmericansDuring the event McGovern read a formal citation issued by his office honouring Gaurishankar Chandrashekhar a master percussionist and music educator recognising his 25 years of mentorship and service The recognition was celebrated by his students at the templeDr Thalanki also spoke about key philosophical ideas from Hindu traditions She highlighted âEkam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadantiâ â truth is one though expressed in many ways â as a reflection of acceptance of diverse beliefsâHinduism teaches us not to divide or conflict over differing pathsâ she said âIt is inherently aligned with secular values rooted in acceptance and the ability to embrace and assimilate diversity as part of everyday lifeâShe also referred to âVasudhaiva Kutumbakamâ the concept of the world as one family and said such values promote harmony and mutual respect in a global contextAs part of the visit McGovern was presented with a vigraha of Devi Sri Lakshmi during the Navaratri celebrations symbolising the importance of female strength Temple priests and leaders also gifted him a coin of Sri Ganesha seen as the remover of obstaclesTemple representatives said the visit reflected the principle of âAthiti Devo Bhavaâ â the guest is God â highlighting the communityâs emphasis on respect and hospitalityPramit Maakoday Global President of A4H pointed to the contributions of Indian Americans describing them as highly educated and actively engaged in civic life Ram Gupta a supporter of A4H spoke about Hindu concepts such as Dharma and Karma describing the faith as inclusive and centred on the betterment of humanitySeveral other community members and leaders attended the event including volunteers cultural contributors and local political aspirants reflecting the growing civic participation of the diasporaThe Sri Lakshmi Temple serves as a spiritual and cultural hub for the Hindu community in New England offering religious services and community programmes throughout the year IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-mcgovern-marks-historic-community-engagement-during-temple-visit-in-massachusetts-666189.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/markets-rally-as-trump-signals-pause-in-iran-strikes-energy-risks-persist-666190.html Washington March 24 Global markets rallied after President Donald Trump signalled a pause in strikes on Iran but analysts warned that the underlying energy crisis remains unresolved Stocks surged and oil prices fell sharply after Trump said the United States was holding talks with Iran The SampP 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both rose more than 1 percent while Brent crude dropped below 100 a barrel The Washington Post reportedThe Wall Street Journal reported that markets reversed course within minutes of Trumpâs social media post Oil prices fell from above 112 a barrel to below 100 while stock futures swung from losses to gainsInvestors welcomed signs of a possible diplomatic path Many had feared a prolonged conflict that could further disrupt global energy suppliesHowever the optimism may be premature The New York Times reported that similar market rallies earlier in the conflict faded quickly after fresh attacks and renewed tensionsAnalysts said the current rally reflects expectations rather than confirmed developments on the ground There is still no clear evidence of direct negotiations between Washington and TehranThe deeper concern is the scale of the energy shock The New York Times citing the International Energy Agency reported that the disruption caused by the war is worse than the combined oil shocks of the 1970sThe agency said global oil supply has dropped by around 11 million barrels a day since the conflict began Prices remain volatile despite the recent fallMuch of the risk centres on the Strait of Hormuz Around 30 per cent of global crude passes through the route Iran has threatened to disrupt shipping raising fears of further supply shocksEven if fighting slows experts say the damage to energy systems could take time to repair The International Energy Agency warned that markets may not stabilise quickly even if the war ends soonThe Wall Street Journal also noted that traders remain cautious Some investors said the rally was driven more by hope than by any lasting change in fundamentalsUncertainty over Iranâs nuclear programme and the risk of renewed strikes continue to weigh on the longerterm outlookFor India the stakes are high The country depends heavily on crude imports from the Gulf Any sustained disruption could push up fuel prices and inflationA prolonged crisis could also affect global growth trade flows and currency stability Even as markets react to shortterm signals the broader economic risks remain IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/markets-rally-as-trump-signals-pause-in-iran-strikes-energy-risks-persist-666190.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-state-to-ban-under-16s-from-riding-electric-mobility-devices-666196.html Sydney March 24 Children younger than 16 will be banned from riding electric mobility devices in the Australian state of Queensland under new safety laws announced on Tuesday Queenslands state government said on Tuesday that it has accepted or accepted in principle all 28 recommendations made by a parliamentary inquiry into emobility safety including the under16 banBrent Mickelberg Queenslands minister for transport said in a statement that the government will introduce nationleading reforms to parliament within days to legislate the inquirys recommendationsUnder the new laws ebike and escooter riders will be required to at least hold a Queensland learner drivers license the minimum age for which is 16 to ensure they have knowledge of road rulesThe parliamentary inquiry found that 12 people were killed and 6300 were injured in emobilityrelated incidents in Queensland in 2025We are banning under16s from these devices because the safety of kids is paramount Mickelberg said on TuesdayThe new laws will also introduce speed limits of 10 km per hour for emobility devices on footpaths and grant police additional powers to seize and destroy illegal devices and subject riders to random breath tests Xinhua news agency reportedLast year Australias worldfirst social media ban for under16s came into effect with 10 major platformsâincluding Facebook YouTube TikTok and Xârequired to prevent them from holding accountsPrime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the government made the change to support children who have grown up with algorithms endless social media feeds and the pressure they bring He also encouraged students to make the most of their school holidays rather than spending all their time scrolling on their phonesAustralias teen social media ban had drawn significant international interest with countries including Denmark Malaysia Brazil Indonesia and New Zealand reportedly considering similar measures IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-state-to-ban-under-16s-from-riding-electric-mobility-devices-666196.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-colombian-military-aircraft-crash-rises-to-66-666197.html Bogota March 24 The death toll from a Colombian military aircraft crash in southern Colombias Putumayo region has risen to 66 with 57 others injured local media reported citing military sources There were 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board the C130 Hercules transport plane Carlos Silva commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force FAC said in a video posted by the FAC on X adding that an investigative team has been sent to determine the causes of the crash Xinhua news agency reportedColombian President Gustavo Petro in a post on X said that the status of more than 40 pepople on board the plane is yet to be confirmedIn a video posted to social media Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva said the plane had 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board while stating that the authorities were investigating the cause of the crashColombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X earlier on Monday that a transport plane went down during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo He added that military units were at the scene and the cause of the crash has not yet been determinedSanchez expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims noting that all care protocols have been activated to support those affectedSome of the injured soldiers were flown to the capital Bogota for treatmentSanchez has sent condolences to the families of those affectedPetro said the crash âshould never have happenedâ He lamented the lack of modernisation of the armed forces which he attributed to âbureaucratic difficultiesâThe accident took place when the Lockheed Martinbuilt Hercules C130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru Colombias defence minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier on XColombian President Gustavo Petro thanked the people who rushed to the crash site to save the lives of those aboardFlight data shows the plane was a C130H Hercules an older model of the C130 series that first entered service in March 1965 according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin The plane had been donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020Footage shared across social platforms captured the moment the troop transport aircraft went into a steep dive shortly after departure Additional media from local source BluRadio depicted heavy smoke billowing from the wreckage following the impact While these visuals have not been independently confirmed by HT BluRadio noted that the accident occurred only 3 km away from a populated area IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-colombian-military-aircraft-crash-rises-to-66-666197.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/california-indian-dance-academy-set-for-disney-stage-666198.html Washington March 24 A Southern Californiabased Indian dance academy has been selected to perform at the Diwali Dance Fest at Walt Disney World marking a major milestone for the Santa Clarita group Ghungroo Dance School was selected from 25 teams among more than 400 applicants The selection highlights its growing recognition and strong performance record a media release said MondayFounded by dance instructor Jini Valiaveettil the school offers weekly classes in Bollywood and semiclassical dance It caters to all age groups from young children to adultsThe academy has built a reputation for inclusive training Students come from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds The focus is on rhythm movement and communityâBollyhop has become such a hit across Southern Californiaâ Valiaveettil said âWeâve created something that resonates with dancers from many different cultures Itâs exciting to see students connect with Indian music and movement in a new wayâThe schoolâs teaching team includes Karthika Ashok who specialises in classical Indian and Bollywood dance Manya Aggarwal brings a modern approach with Bollyhop a fusion of Bollywood and hiphopThis blend of traditional and contemporary styles has helped the school reach younger audiencesGhungroo dancers regularly perform at major cultural events in Southern California They were part of the inauguration of the Radha Krishna Dham Hindu Temple in TarzanaThey have also performed at Indian Independence Day celebrations across the region These events draw large and diverse crowdsThe school is also involved in community outreach It has worked with CRY America to support initiatives for underprivileged children in India through cultural programmes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/california-indian-dance-academy-set-for-disney-stage-666198.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/have-sold-their-souls-imran-khan-on-pak-judiciarys-inhumane-treatment-of-bushra-bibi-666255.html Islamabad March 24 Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has voiced concern over the inhumane treatment his wife Bushra Bibi has been subjected to in prison Kasim Khan the jailed former Prime Ministers son took to his social media platform X stating that he had spoken to his father on March 21 who asked him to convey a message In the message Imran accused Pakistans judiciary of compromising its integrity and targeting his wife The judges in this country should be ashamed of themselves Time and time again we have gone to the judiciary But they have sold their souls for their paid personal privileges They have sold their integrity They know they cannot break me so they turn to my wife How can they allow this inhumane treatment of Bushra Bibi simply to blackmail me She spends 24 hours a day in isolation except for 30 minutes with me per week and even that is often ignored said Imran which was posted by Kasim on XIt is unIslamic to harm women children and the elderly and their motives are plain and clear The judges are responsible for the justice in a society They should be ashamed of themselves the former PM addedImran and his wife Bushra Bibi have been incarcerated since August 2023 and are currently lodged at the highsecurity Adiala Jail in RawalpindiMeanwhile on Monday Imran underwent a third eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences PIMS with his party raising alarm over the treatment in the absence of his family and personal physiciansAccording to a hospital statement the PTI founder was taken to PIMS for a third dose of an antiVEGF intravitreal injectionThe injection was administered and he was kept there for a while to ensure that he was stable after which he was allowed to be shifted to Adiala jail Pakistani daily Dawn quoted a senior doctor as saying adding that the procedure involved administering the injection in the eye chamberSpeaking to Dawn PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the party persisted in its demand that the treatment be conducted in the presence of personal physicians and with family involvementWe demand that Khan Sahib should be shifted to Shifa International Hospital and detailed medical investigations be conducted there he further saidReports about Imran Khans eye ailment right central retinal vein occlusion CRVO surfaced in January His first medical procedure which was conducted on January 24 was revealed by the government five days laterSince then the opposition has accused the government of a lack of transparency on the matter and not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran Khan and not allowing him to consult his personal physicians The government has rejected the allegations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/have-sold-their-souls-imran-khan-on-pak-judiciarys-inhumane-treatment-of-bushra-bibi-666255.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-ranked-worlds-most-polluted-nation-in-2025-report-666262.html Islamabad March 24 Pakistan has been ranked as the worlds smoggiest nation in 2025 with concentrations of hazardous small particles known as PM25 up to 13 times higher than the recommended World Health Organisation WHO level a research revealed on Tuesday local media reported In its annual report Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir said that 13 nations and territories kept average PM25 levels at the WHO standard of less than 5 microgrammes per cubic metre last year witnessing a rise from seven in 2024 Pakistans leading daily Dawn reported The report revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories did not meet the WHO guideline Bangladesh and Tajikistan have been ranked at the second and third spot on the worlds most polluted list Chad which was ranked as the smoggiest nation in 2024 has been ranked fourth in 2025 Only 14 per cent of the cities in the world met the WHO standard in 2025 The nations that met the WHO standard in 2025 included Australia Iceland Estonia and Panama Laos Cambodia and Indonesia witnessed decline in PM25 in comparison to the previous year due to the wetter and windier La Nina weather Dawn reported According to the report released by IQAir 75 countries had lower PM25 levels in 2025 compared to 2024 with 54 reporting higher average concentrationsIn 2024 Pakistan was ranked among the top most polluted nations in the world The average PM25 concentration in Pakistan was high more than the safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre set by WHO Only 17 per cent of global cities in 2024 kept average PM25 levels at the WHO standard Pakistans another leading daily The Express Tribune reportedThe smog crisis in Pakistan is not only a health concern but also a setback in the nations efforts to improve air quality Cities like Lahore and Karachi face intense pollution even during winter when fog an industrial emissions together deteriorate air quality IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-ranked-worlds-most-polluted-nation-in-2025-report-666262.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-operations-against-afghan-refugees-set-to-intensify-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-666266.html Islamabad March 24 Crackdown on undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to intensify after Eid holidays as per reliable sources local media reported on Tuesday The authorities had imposed a temporary halt on arrests during the Eid period to allow families to observe the festival peacefully As the Eid celebrations concluded law enforcement personnel are poised to resume strict actions targeting Afghan refugees who do not have valid documents Pakistans leading daily The Express Tribune reportedThe process of shutting nine Afghan refugee camps was halted during the Eid holidays will resume shortly after the break ends Meanwhile a voluntary repatriation drive for Afghan nationals is set to begin on Wednesday encouraging those who want to go back to Afghanistan Policybased measures have been put in place to determine the future status of Afghan refugees having citizen cards A fresh survey to update refugee data has been suggested in Peshawar The Express Tribune reported Special focus will be placed on refugees owning businesses those who have obtained Pakistani documents illegally Afghan women married to Pakistani men and other mixedstatus cases On March 15 over 300 illegal Afghan refugees have been detained by police during raids carried out in various parts of Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local media reported A crackdown was launched after the district administration and police officials decision to deport illegal Afghans daily Dawn reported citing sources The police had ordered Station House Officers SHOs to keep data of all illegal Afghans in the jurisdictions of their police stationsAccording to sources 341 Afghan refugees were arrested during raids conducted in Topi Razaar Chota Lahor tehsils and other parts of Swabi on March 15 They mentioned that the raids will continue and all Afghan refugees who are illegally residing in Swabi will be detained and deported to AfghanistanAround 30000 Afghan refugees still live in various parts of Swabi with most of them having proper documentation while others stay illegally The sources revealed that these Afghan refugees were residing in Gandaf Refugees Camp and Gohati Refugees Camp and a large number of them were staying in various farming fields and cities Dawn reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-operations-against-afghan-refugees-set-to-intensify-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-666266.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/economists-cut-asean-6-gdp-growth-amid-west-asia-conflict-666288.html Kuala Lumpur March 24 Economists have trimmed ASEAN6 gross domestic product GDP growth forecast to 45 per cent in 2026 from 48 per cent and to 47 per cent in 2027 from 48 per cent due to the fallout of the conflict in West Asia The ASEAN6 nations refer to Indonesia Singapore Thailand Vietnam the Philippines and MalaysiaMaybank Investment Bank said in a recent note that the downgrades are larger for the Philippines 04 percentage points Vietnam 04 percentage points and Thailand 03 percentage pointsSurging energy prices and disruptions to commodity supplies will be negative for most ASEAN countries which are net oil and gas importers said the research houseAccording to Maybank Malaysia is the only country in the region that stands out as a net energy exporter which will help cushion the impact of the Middle East shockIt also said a steep rise in energy prices will worsen the current account balances and weaken the currencies of ASEANs net energy importers reports Xinhua news agencyMaybank has also raised ASEAN6 inflation forecast to 27 per cent in 2026 from 22 per cent and 27 per cent in 2027 from 25 per cent with higher adjustments for Thailand 08 percentage points in 2026 the Philippines 05 percentage points and Indonesia 05 percentage pointsThe energy price shock has shortcircuited the monetary easing cycle Higher energy prices and fuel subsidies will add to the fiscal burdens of Indonesia Thailand and Malaysia Indonesias 3 per cent fiscal deficit ceiling may be tested if the oil shock is protracted it addedCountries worldwide are taking drastic measures to conserve fuel and ensure continued energy access for their people in the wake of the disruption in oil and gas supplies triggered by the escalation in the Middle East conflictThe effect of the current disruptions in West Asia is equivalent to the two major oil crises in the 1970s and the 2022 natural gas crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine all put together according to a top official of the International Energy Agency IEANations across Asia Africa and Europe have adopted a range of extraordinary steps including additional public holidays workfromhome mandates fuel rationing and industrial shutdowns to extend limited fuel reserves IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/economists-cut-asean-6-gdp-growth-amid-west-asia-conflict-666288.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/several-injured-in-iranian-missile-attack-on-tel-aviv-666318.html Tel Aviv March 24 A missile fired from Iran struck Tel Aviv on Tuesday injuring several people and damaging buildings and vehicles Israeli authorities said Loud explosions were heard across the city with eyewitnesses reporting large plumes of smoke rising from both northern and southern parts of the countrys commercial hubIsraels Army Radio citing security officials reported that it was apparently a clustertype missile containing several bomblets each weighing about 100 kg with the bomblets or their fragments impacting several sites reports Xinhua news agencyAt an impact site in northern Tel Aviv a missile struck between buildings causing a powerful blast wave that heavily damaged three buildings Miki David commander of the Tel Aviv district in the Home Front Command told reporters at the scene He said shelters in the buildings remained intact and those inside were unharmedImages shared on social media showed that the impact left a craterIn a statement the Israeli military said search and rescue teams were operating at several sites in central Israel after impacts were reportedThe Magen David Adom ambulance service said six people were lightly injured and did not require hospital treatmentAir raid sirens were activated seven times across Israel overnight and into Tuesday morning amid continued missile fire from Iran The last missile attack activated sirens in southern Israel including in Dimona where Israels nuclear facility is locatedThe strike came as the regional conflict entered its 25th day with tensions remaining high despite US President Donald Trumps claim of ongoing negotiations which Iran dismissed as fake newsMeanwhile on Monday The New York Times citing senior defence officials reported that the Pentagon is weighing a possible deployment of airborne troops to support military operations in IranThe combat forces would come from the US Armys 82nd Airborne Divisions Immediate Response Force a brigade of about 3000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours said the report noting that so far nothing had been ordered by the Pentagon or the US Central CommandThese forces could be used to seize Kharg Island Irans main oil export hub according to the reportAnother option being considered should US President Donald Trump authorise US troops to seize the island is an attack by about 2500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit which is on its way to the Middle East said the report citing officials speaking on condition of anonymityThe Immediate Response Force or ready brigade has deployed on short notice several times in recent years said the reportThe US Central Command said on Monday that the US military has conducted more than 9000 strikes in Iran including damaging or sinking over 140 Iranian naval vessels since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28 disrupting global shipping sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/several-injured-in-iranian-missile-attack-on-tel-aviv-666318.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/digital-transformation-emerges-as-new-engine-for-sustainable-development-in-asia-report-666320.html Hainan March 24 Digital transformation has emerged as a new engine for sustainable development in Asia according to a report by the Boao Forum for Asia BFA released on Tuesday Asia has taken the initiative to explore futureoriented development models through digital technologies striving to translate its diverse economic structures into overall competitiveness and regional resilience says the report titled Sustainable Development Asia and the World Annual Report 2026 Sustainable Development in Asia amid Global TransformationDigital economy has become a key driver of economic growth in Asia the report notes citing figures showing that by 2025 Asias digital economy had reached a scale of 27 trillion US dollars accounting for 46 per cent of GDP reports Xinhua news agencySpecifically artificial intelligence has become a vital driver of social and economic progress across Asia the report notesThe widespread adoption and crossindustry deployment of artificial intelligence applications across the AsiaPacific region are reshaping productivity structures boosting the productivity of small and mediumsized enterprises driving job growth and strengthening societal resilience in the public services sector among other outcomesMoreover the report also highlights another trend in Asias sustainable development driven by digital resilience noting that green digital technologies are leading lowcarbon transformationDigitalisationdriven green manufacturing and smart factories have become the core of industrial upgrading in AsiaPacific leading the way in energy efficiency improvements and sustainable growth the report saysFounded in 2001 the BFA is a nongovernmental and nonprofit international organisation committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goalsThemed Shaping a Shared Future New Dynamics New Opportunities New Cooperation the BFA Annual Conference 2026 runs from March 24 to 27 in Boao a coastal town in Chinas southern island province of Hainan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/digital-transformation-emerges-as-new-engine-for-sustainable-development-in-asia-report-666320.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-flags-pakistans-inhumane-policy-of-collective-punishment-in-balochistan-666322.html Quetta March 24 The Baloch National Movement BNM on Tuesday accused Pakistan of continuing with the inhumane policy of collective punishment across Balochistan Can you imagine that in the 21st century an entire family is punished for the alleged actions of a single individual Collective punishment is a practice associated with colonial regimes and authoritarian systems of the past Yet in Balochistan the state of Pakistan continues to implement this inhumane policy and has recently even acknowledged it openly the BNM statedExpressing concern the organisation said that in Balochistan collective punishment is not merely a theoretical issue but a lived reality of thousands of affected families with justice and rule of law nearly absent and fundamental human rights systematically violated It added that the province has become a vast prison and increasingly a killing field and torture zoneHighlighting the growing wave of violence across Balochistan the BNM noted that within just 20 days as many as 22 Baloch youths were forcibly disappeared from different areas in Panjgur district subjected to severe torture in custody and killed one by one with their bodies dumpedFor many their only crime was having relatives associated with the Baloch national movement or raising their voices for human rights in Europe It addedThe BNM said that the case of its chairman Naseem Baloch demonstrated the policy of political repression and collective punishment with his elderly and ill father and two uncles forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces solely because of Naseems political roleIt noted that the BNM chairman himself had previously been subjected to enforced disappearance and severe torture on two occasions before being forced into exileAs enforced disappearances and coercion across Balochistan continue to mount the BNM said that young men women and even children are forcibly disappeared on a daily basis while families are pressured into holding press conferences and forced to publicly disown their relatives In many cases it said victims are never produced before a court denied legal representation and after months or years in custody presented to the media for forced confessionsThe BNM called upon the international community human rights organisations and global institutions including the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to take urgent notice of the human rights abuses in Balochistan ensure independent investigations and hold perpetrators accountableThe organisation also urged the global community to press Pakistani authorities to end enforced disappearances and collective punishmentIt is a recognised reality that without international attention and intervention these violations will continue unchecked the BNM added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-flags-pakistans-inhumane-policy-of-collective-punishment-in-balochistan-666322.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/frederiksen-seeks-third-term-as-denmark-holds-snap-parliamentary-election-666357.html Copenhagen March 24 People in Denmark are voting on Tuesday for a snap parliamentary election called by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen who is seeking a third term The latest polls give the leftwing coalition behind Frederiksen a nineseat lead over the right bloc However none of the two sides are projected to win a majority of the 179 seats in Denmarks parliament the Folketing Euro News reportedFrederiksen who has been in office since 2019 has been praised for her leadership of not backing down after US President Donald Trumps repeated demands to annex Greenland a semiautonomous territory of the Denmark which Trump claims the US needs for national security reasonsDuring her second term support for Mette Frederiksen in Denmark reduced as the cost of living increased something that along with pensions and a potential wealth tax has been a campaign issue Frederiksen is known for her strong support for Ukraine amid its war with RussiaEarlier this month Frederiksen announced proposals including potential âemergency brakeâ on asylum and stringent controls on criminals who do not have legal residence Her government announced a plan to allow the deportation of foreigners who have been sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious crimesTwo centreright challengers Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen of the liberal Venstre Left party and Alex Vanopslagh 34 of the opposition Liberal Alliance LA hope to replace Mette Frederiksen as Denmark PM Euro News reportedMeanwhile the antiimmigration Danish Peopleâs Party DF seems wellplaced to make a come back after a weak performance during the previous election in 2022The issue of Greenland did not get much attention during the election campaign in Denmark Instead the campaign in Denmark has focused on domestic issues including inflation high nitrate levels in agricultural water and welfare stateDuring her address in Folketing in February Frederiksen said that voters would decide what direction Denmark will take over the next four years Xinhua News Agency reported The vote will decide the makeup of the 179member parliament which includes seats representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/frederiksen-seeks-third-term-as-denmark-holds-snap-parliamentary-election-666357.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/adbs-10-billion-credit-wont-solve-pakistans-institutional-challenges-without-deep-reforms-report-666359.html New Delhi March 24 The Asian Development Bankâs 10 billion credit to Pakistan till 2030 signalled continued multilateral confidence but underscores the countrys heavy reliance on external support and the urgent need for structural reforms to solve institutional challenges as per a media report The editorial from Dawn highlighted that capital inflows alone cannot fix institutional challengesThe focus on integrated solutions by combining policy reforms with financing and technical support shows that Pakistanâs challenges are institutional it saidThe ADBs emphasis on sustainable private sectorled development inclusive growth export competitiveness and sustainability and climate resilience proves its recognition that macroeconomic stabilisation alone wont suffice it notedThe institutions fiveyear partnership comes along with Pakistanâs economy showing signs of fragile stabilisation but remains vulnerable to internal and external shocks it addedPakistans growth model has been skewed towards consumption for decades underpinned by periodic external inflows due to its geostrategic location rather than productivity gains but that advantage has eroded according to the analysisBy prioritising governance and productivity reforms Pakistan can transition towards sustainable investment and exportdriven growth it saidThe editorial argued that with the Gulf conflict increasing energy market volatility and raising the risk of supply disruptions Islamabad faces a graver external shock than prior crisesâWithout deep structural reforms to diversify the production base enhance competitiveness and move up the value chain the external sector will remain a source of instability leaving any recovery vulnerable to even minor shocksâ it notedPakistanâs horoscope for 2026â2031 would be written in debt ledgers inflation charts and poverty lines another recent report had said warning of slow growth and inflation eroding household budgetsAnalysts said that stabilisation programmes and IMF support can only buy time but cannot generate sustained growth and a lack of decisive action from the government will lead employment to remain concentrated in informal lowâproductivity services IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/adbs-10-billion-credit-wont-solve-pakistans-institutional-challenges-without-deep-reforms-report-666359.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-reaction-to-ex-fbi-director-muellers-death-sparks-criticism-665990.html Washington March 22 US President Donald Trumps reaction to the death of former FBI Director Robert Mueller has drawn criticism across political circles including from senior Republicans Mueller who led the FBI for more than a decade and later oversaw the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election died on SaturdayShortly after the news broke Trump posted Robert Mueller just died Good Iâm glad heâs dead He can no longer hurt innocent peopleâThe remarks prompted immediate reactions with critics calling them inappropriate particularly in light of Muellerâs long record of public serviceSpeaking on ABC Newsâ This Week with George Stephanopoulos former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie condemned the statementâItâs reprehensible for anyone to say that about someone who had the life of service that Robert Mueller hadâ Christie saidHe added that it was âeven more reprehensibleâ for a sitting President to speak in such terms about a decorated military veteranMueller served in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat He also received other honours including a Bronze Star and a Navy Commendation MedalChristie who worked with Mueller during his tenure as US Attorney said differences in professional roles did not diminish his respect for Muellerâs serviceâThe one thing I can tell you about him is that when his country called him to service he never said noâ he saidHe also described Trumpâs reaction as stemming from personal grievance âIt comes from his own sense that the only thing that matters in the world is himâ Christie saidOthers on the programme also highlighted Muellerâs legacy noting his decades of service in law enforcement and national security rolesMueller was appointed FBI Director in 2001 and led the bureau through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks overseeing major counterterrorism efforts during a critical periodThe Russia probe led by Mueller as Special Counsel examined Moscowâs efforts to influence the 2016 election and potential links to the Trump campaign shaping US political discourse for years IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-reaction-to-ex-fbi-director-muellers-death-sparks-criticism-665990.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/air-india-group-to-operate-30-flights-to-west-asia-on-march-23-665992.html New Delhi March 22 Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 30 scheduled and nonscheduled flights to and from West Asia on March 23 even as services on several routes remain limited according to an official statement issued by the airline Both carriers will continue their scheduled operations to Jeddah with a total of 10 flights between India and the Saudi Arabian city Air India will operate one return service each from Delhi and Mumbai while Air India Express will run services from Bengaluru Kozhikode and MangaluruApart from Jeddah Air India Express will operate four scheduled flights to and from Muscat including services from Delhi and Mumbai It will also operate four scheduled flights to and from Riyadh from Bengaluru and KozhikodeIn addition to scheduled operations the Air India group will operate 12 nonscheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates UAE and Saudi Arabia subject to slot availability and operational conditions These flights are being operated with the necessary approvals from the Indian and local regulatory authoritiesAmong UAE destinations ad hoc services will be operated to Dubai Abu Dhabi and SharjahAir India will operate services between Delhi and Dubai while Air India Express will operate flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Abu Dhabi and Mangaluru with SharjahThe airline said there will be no scheduled or ad hoc operations to several destinations including Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain in the UAE Salalah in Oman Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Doha Kuwait and Tel AvivMeanwhile all Air India flights to and from North America Europe Australia and other regions will continue to operate as per schedulePassengers booked on routes where scheduled services remain temporarily suspended have been offered the option to rebook travel at no additional charge or opt for a full refund Air India has advised passengers to use its website or contact its customer support centres for assistanceAir India Express passengers particularly those travelling from UAE stations have been given the option to rebook on additional commercial flights without extra charges The airline has also enabled rebooking through its digital assistant on WhatsAppThe airline group said it is reaching out to affected passengers directly and is exploring the possibility of operating additional ad hoc flights to West Asian destinations depending on operational feasibility IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/air-india-group-to-operate-30-flights-to-west-asia-on-march-23-665992.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-not-blocked-665993.html Tehran March 23 Irans Foreign Ministry said that the Strait of Hormuz is not blocked and navigation continues in the waterway with necessary measures being taken due to wartime conditions In a statement elaborating on Irans positions amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks the ministry said that Iran has always respected the freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety adding that it has worked to uphold those principles over the years Xinhua news agency reportedThe ministry noted that following the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran a dangerous situation has been imposed on the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz directly impacting regional shipping safety and securityClaiming its legitimate right to selfdefence against the aggressors Iran has targeted US military bases and facilities in the region while adopting a series of measures to ensure that the aggressors and their supporters do not exploit the strait to advance their aggressive goals against the country it saidThe ministry confirmed that Iran has prevented the passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with the aggressors and those participating in the aggressions in accordance with the established principles of international lawNonhostile vessels belonging to or associated with other countries it said can secure safe passage through the strait in coordination with Iranian authorities provided they have not participated in or supported aggressive actions against Iran and comply with the announced safety and security regulationsIt stressed that the full restoration of sustainable security and stability to the strait requires an end to the antiIran military aggression and threats a halt to the destabilising actions of the United States and Israel and full respect for Irans legitimate interestsOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans thenSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-not-blocked-665993.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/all-options-on-table-in-iran-conflict-us-envoy-665994.html Washington March 23 The United States is pursuing a dualtrack approach on the Strait of Hormuz combining allied burdensharing with the threat of direct military action US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Speaking on CBS Newsâ âFace the Nationâ Waltz said âWell I think it can be both Its not necessarily mutually exclusiveâ when asked whether Washington intended to reopen the strategic waterway by force or rely on partnersHe pointed to growing allied involvement adding âWe have now seen Italy Germany France and a number of others commit to help with this effortâ while noting that Japan had also pledged naval support given that â80 per cent of what is coming out of the Gulf is going to AsiaâAt the same time Waltz underscored that the US was prepared to escalate âThe president has been clear too Hes going to continue to pound Irans capabilities its missiles its naval and its drone capabilityâ he saidThe remarks come amid President Donald Trumpâs warning that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy infrastructure Waltz declined to rule out targeting such facilities saying âI would never take anything off the table for the president certainly not on national televisionâWaltz said Iranâs military and civilian infrastructure are deeply intertwined The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps âcontrols a huge swath of Irans critical infrastructure their economy and certainly many of their governing institutionsâ he assertedâAnd so to the extent we are degrading their military capability and their defense industrial base all options should be on the tableâ Waltz addedPressed on concerns raised by the United Nations about potential war crimes linked to strikes on energy infrastructure Waltz defended the administrationâs position He said Iran âhas its grips on so much critical infrastructureâ and is âusing it to further not only the repression of its own people to attack its neighbors and in contravention of UN sanctions to march towards a nuclear weaponâHe also maintained that US targeting would remain focused âI have no doubt that the president the Pentagon and their team will ensure that what they target is geared towards the military infrastructure of Iranâ he said while accusing Tehran of deliberately blending military assets with civilian sitesOn Iranâs missile capabilities Waltz cited recent developments to challenge earlier intelligence assessments âThe UK just condemned the firing of an intermediate range ballistic missile at Diego Garciaâ he said warning that such systems âcould hit capitals in EuropeâHe further alleged that Iran had concealed advances through its civilian space programme âThis space program has been hiding that technologyâ he said adding that âthe reentry technology to marry the two really does not take very muchâThe ambassador defended the administrationâs strategy as preemptive âThank God the president is taking action now and stopping this march towards a fully fledged nuclear programâ he said drawing a comparison with North KoreaWaltz also dismissed polling that shows scepticism among Americans about the conflict He cited support within Republican ranks saying â90 per cent of Republicansâ support Trumps effort to destroy Irans nuclear capabilitiesâ and emphasised that the presidentâs priority was âto keep Americans safeâHe reiterated that no option including potential ground involvement had been ruled out âI think the president will keep all options on the table to secure these objectivesâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/all-options-on-table-in-iran-conflict-us-envoy-665994.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-visa-curbs-hit-india-china-hard-report-666013.html Washington March 23 Legal immigration to the United States has dropped sharply in the first eight months of 2025 with India and China among the hardest hit as the Trump administration tightened visa policies The Washington Post reported The State Department issued about 250000 fewer visas from January to August 2025 than during the same period in 2024 according to the report Overall approvals for permanent resident and temporary visas fell by 11 per cent based on official data released in early March the daily saidThe decline covers visas for students workers and family members of US citizens and legal residents Tourist visas also dropped during the same periodIndia and China saw some of the steepest declines Visas for their nationals fell by about 84000 the report said The drop was driven largely by fewer student worker and familyrelated visas The Washington Post saidInternational students were among the worst affected Student visas fell by more than 30 per cent in the first eight months of 2025 Exchange visitor visas also declined sharply dropping by nearly 30000Visa approvals for permanent residency or green cards also decreased The largest declines were seen in visas for workers certain relatives and nationals from countries such as Afghanistan and IraqOfficials and analysts linked the decline to a combination of policy changes and administrative factors These include a travel ban on 19 countries a temporary pause on student visa interviews and expanded vetting requirements including social media checks the daily saidStaffing cuts at the State Department also reduced processing capacity Fewer consular appointments and longer wait times were reported at several highdemand locationsâA visa is a privilege not a right Unlike the Biden administration President Trump is not willing to compromise the safety of American citizens to allow mass migration of unvetted foreign nationals into our countryâ State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said according to the reportWhite House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said âPresident Trump was elected with a resounding mandate to put American citizens first and every policy decision heâs made has reflected that priorityâAnalysts said both policy and demand factors may be driving the declineâWe donât have a separation of how much of this decline is caused by demand and how much is caused by policy and theyâre obviously both putting downward pressure on the number of visas that are issuedâ said Cecilia Esterline of the Niskanen CenterCritics argue the restrictions risk harming the US economy and global competitivenessâThereâs no policy more important to the present and future of the US economy than immigrationâ said Jason Furman of Harvard University âWhen we restrict immigration we donât just shortchange labor force growth today we also reduce innovation and productivity growth in the futureâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-visa-curbs-hit-india-china-hard-report-666013.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ashley-tellis-case-us-govt-opposes-bid-to-drop-charges-666014.html Washington March 23 The US government has opposed an attempt by wellknown American policy expert Ashley J Tellis to get serious charges against him dismissed saying he wrongly kept highly sensitive national security documents at his home for years Tellis is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on India and South Asia in the United States with a long career in government and strategic policy circlesAccording to government filings Tellis â who worked with the US State Department and the defence establishment â held toplevel security clearance but is accused of removing classified material from secure offices and storing it at his residenceProsecutors say the case is straightforward They allege that Tellis âremoved without authorization and retainedâ government documents including papers marked TOP SECRET and kept them in different parts of his homeThey argue that even if someone has permission to see classified material at work that does not mean they can take it home or keep it outside secure locationsIn their filing the government said the law applies to âany unauthorized possessionâ of national security information â meaning anyone who keeps such material without permission regardless of their positionTellisâ lawyers strongly disagreeThey say he had proper clearance and was allowed to access sensitive information as part of his job Because of that they argue he should not be treated as someone who had no right to the material at allHis legal team says the case is being brought under the wrong part of the law In simple terms they argue that the provision used by prosecutors is meant for people who were never authorised to have such information not for officials who handled it as part of their dutiesThey also point out that the government never asked Tellis to return the documents which they say is an important step under another part of the law that should apply in this caseThe government rejects that argument It says the issue is not whether Tellis once had access but whether he was allowed to keep those documents at home which it says he clearly was notProsecutors also argue that accepting the defenceâs view would create a loophole allowing officials to take classified material home and keep it without consequences unless authorities first discovered it and demanded its returnThe case now turns on a key question Does having access to classified information at work allow someone to keep it outside secure facilitiesThe court will decide whether the charges should move forward or be dismissed at this early stageThe case has drawn attention in Washingtons policy circles given Tellisâ standing as a respected voice on IndiaUS relations and South Asian security issuesThe outcome could have wider implications for how the US handles cases involving officials who take sensitive information out of secure government systems â an issue that has drawn global attention in recent years IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ashley-tellis-case-us-govt-opposes-bid-to-drop-charges-666014.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-imposes-2-million-transit-fee-on-select-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-666026.html Tehran March 23 Iran has begun charging certain vessels a transit fee of 2 million approximately Rs 188 crore to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in what officials describe as a new assertion of control amid its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on X that the strait remains âopen to everyoneâ â except for Iranâs adversaries â outlining Tehranâs latest stance on access to the crucial maritime routeThe policy has already been implemented according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi who spoke to state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting IRIB as cited by Iran International Boroujerdi said the move represents a shift toward what he called a new âsovereign regimeâ governing the waterwayâCollecting 2 million as transit fees from some vessels crossing the strait reflects Irans strengthâ Boroujerdi saidâNow because war has costs naturally we must do this and take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuzâ he added claiming the policy demonstrates the Islamic Republicâs âauthorityâEarlier Irans Foreign Ministry said that the Strait of Hormuz is not blocked and navigation continues in the waterway with necessary measures being taken due to wartime conditionsIn a statement elaborating on Irans positions amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks the ministry said that Iran has always respected the freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety adding that it has worked to uphold those principles over the yearsThe ministry noted that following the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran a dangerous situation has been imposed on the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz directly impacting regional shipping safety and securityClaiming its legitimate right to selfdefence against the aggressors Iran has targeted US military bases and facilities in the region while adopting a series of measures to ensure that the aggressors and their supporters do not exploit the strait to advance their aggressive goals against the country it saidThe announcement comes amid heightened tensions following a warning from former US President Donald Trump who said the United States could strike Iranâs power infrastructure if the strait is not reopened within 48 hoursTrump stated that if Iran failed to comply the US would destroy its âvarious POWER PLANTS STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRSTâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-imposes-2-million-transit-fee-on-select-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-666026.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-sets-water-energy-expectations-for-data-centres-666034.html Canberra March 23 The Australian government announced on Monday that it will fasttrack approval for data centres that use water sustainably and support the national clean energy transition Tim Ayres minister for industry and innovation and minister for science said on Monday that the new framework of expectations for data centres and artificial intelligence AI infrastructure developers will make it easier to invest in Australia by setting clear and consistent signalsHe said in a joint statement with Chris Bowen minister for climate change and energy and Andrew Charlton assistant minister for science technology and the digital economy that the expectations make it clear that data center developments must put the needs of the Australian people firstChris Bowen said âItâs no surprise that Australia is an attractive investment destination for data centre technology Weâre really proud of our abundant renewable energy resources our sunshine and wind has already helped us reach 51 per cent renewables on our gridUnder the new framework data centre projects that prioritise the national interest support the energy transition use water sustainably and responsibly invest in local skills and jobs and strengthen Australias research capability will be fasttracked through the planning and approval processAustralia is open for business but the kind of business that puts Australias national interest first Ayres saidThe Australian Energy Market Operator in 2025 estimated that data centers will consume around 6 percent of gridsupplied electricity by 2030 and 12 per cent by 2050 up from 2 per cent in 202425 Xinhua news agency reportedThe new framework says that new data centers will be expected to secure new and additional clean energy generation or storage to offset demand adopt industryleading efficiency measures and cover their share of transmission and distribution infrastructure costsBowen said that the measures would keep energy prices low for all consumers IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-govt-sets-water-energy-expectations-for-data-centres-666034.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-killed-in-libya-militia-clashes-666040.html Tripoli March 23 Armed clashes broke out in Zawiya a city about 60 km west of Tripoli leaving one person dead a local daily has reported AlBashti AlZahouf a member of the citys Council of Elders and Notables told AlMashhad newspaper that fighting erupted in the DilaQamouda area between two armed factions on Sunday Local time And both groups are affiliated with the Tripolibased Government of National Unity GNUThe fighting underscores persistent tensions in Zawiya where rival armed groups have repeatedly clashed despite calls from local leaders for calmSince the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 Libya has been split between two governments the Tripolibased Government of National Unity and the easternbased administration appointed by the House of Representatives Internal clashes frequently erupt resulting in casualties Libya remains divided between the UNrecognised GNU in the west and a rival eastern administration headed by Osama Hammad and backed by Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army reports Xinhua news agencyEarlier this month two members of armed formations were killed early Monday after a bulletproof vehicle was targeted by gunfire in the city of Zawiy local media had reportedA local source told AlMasar TV that gunmen opened fire on an armoured vehicle on a street in Zawiya killing one member of the armed formations instantly while the second died later of his woundsAlMasar TV citing a local source reported that the clashes were taking place between elements loyal to Mahmoud Bin Rajab commander of the Support Force of the Tripoli Security Directorate assigned by the Presidential Council and the First Support Unit led by Mohamed Bahroun a local powerful militia leader IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-killed-in-libya-militia-clashes-666040.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bolivian-president-urges-future-subnational-authorities-to-unite-in-tackling-crisis-666048.html La Paz March 23 Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira called on future subnational authorities to work with the central government to address the countrys economic and institutional challenges Paz Pereira made this appeal after casting his vote in the southern city of Tarija on Sunday local time where elections are being held to choose more than 5400 officials including governors mayors and local legislators for the 20262031 termWe will work with those elected by the will of the people he said adding that the elections offer an opportunity to strengthen democracy and encourage citizen participationHe said the current situation requires coordinated efforts among the central government regional authorities and the legislature to pursue a common agenda for national recovery reports Xinhua news agencyThe president also highlighted his administrations progress in economic management international engagement security and anticorruption effortsMore than 74 million eligible voters were expected to take part in the elections across more than 33000 polling stations Around 250000 personnel were deployed across the nation to ensure transparency and security in the subnational elections in which more than 74 million citizens were to voteAccording to Carlos Alberto Goitia a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal TSE the deployment covered all nine departments and 340 municipalities where over 5400 authorities will be elected for the 20262031 termThe deployment includes more than 200630 electoral jurors who were assigned to more than 33000 polling stations along with temporary staff police military personnel and prosecutorsAbout 18000 candidates were running in the elections reflecting the scale and complexity of the process Around 17000 temporary workers supported the preliminary results transmission system to provide early voting trendsMore than 32000 police officers were deployed to ensure election security while the armed forces will offer logistical support IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bolivian-president-urges-future-subnational-authorities-to-unite-in-tackling-crisis-666048.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/four-jewish-ambulances-torched-in-london-police-suspect-antisemitic-hate-crime-666059.html London March 22 Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community emergency service were set ablaze in the Golders Green area of north London Police are treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime according to local media reports Officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to Highfield Road at around 145 am on Monday local time following reports of a fire Authorities later confirmed that the incident is being investigated as a targeted hate crime according to The GuardianThe London Fire Brigade said six fire engines and nearly 40 firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze which caused damage to four vehicles Officials added that several cylinders inside the ambulances exploded during the fire leading to shattered windows in a nearby residential building No injuries were reported in the initial responseSuperintendent Sarah Jackson who oversees policing in the area said We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent inquiriesWe are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage Jackson was quoted as saying by The GuardianThere have been no arrests yet and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible you can do so anonymously if you wish she addedJackson further noted that police would be increasing their presence in the area We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence she saidThe local neighbourhood watch group Shomrim said it was aware of loud explosions heard early Monday morningThe explosions were caused by oxygen tanks not a bomb or explosive device Although some buildings have been evacuated no casualties have been reported Please avoid the area while investigations continue the organisation saidLocal councillor Dean Cohen who visited the site said the incident has deeply unsettled residentsHe told Jewish News that the attack occurring in the car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shock waves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UKThe incident comes amid heightened global tensions following the ongoing West Asia conflict that escalated after February 28 strikes on Tehran by the United States and Israel which resulted in the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiAgainst this backdrop London has also witnessed largescale protests On Saturday thousands of demonstrators took to the streets joining a broader wave of protests across Europe opposing US and Israeli military actions against IranIn the British capital a sea of demonstrators marched from Russell Square to Whitehall on Saturday waving banners and chanting slogans condemning the attacks Their voices echoed through central London as concerns over the escalating conflict spilt onto the streetsAt a rally later in the day participants called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to foreign intervention in the Middle East Mariam a protester holding a sign reading Stop the war on Iran criticised Washingtons characterisation of the operation as Epic Fury calling it instead an Epic FailureNo foreign intervention Hands off the Middle East and stop bombing People have the right to live in peace You cannot bomb people to democracy she saidAnother protester Adrian who had travelled from Birmingham described the strikes on Iran as completely outrageous and quite frankly exhausting He warned that the consequences including rising oil prices and global insecurity were already being felt IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/four-jewish-ambulances-torched-in-london-police-suspect-antisemitic-hate-crime-666059.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-calls-for-unity-action-to-address-racism-665910.html United Nations March 22 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres called for unity and action to address the ancient poison of racism which he said is alive and kicking in every community society country and region of the world In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed annually on March 21 Guterres said racism lives on in the legacies of colonialism enslavement and oppression which drive so many of the problems today from economic social and political inequality to discriminatory policies and practices and to outright conflicts Xinhua news agency reportedAnd it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into realworld violence and abuse he warnedThe antidote is unity and action the UN chief said calling on all governments institutions businesses and communities to work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity justice equality and human rights that belong to every personThis means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action now marking its 25th year which includes concrete steps to end racism racial discrimination xenophobia and related intolerance he addedToday and every day we must take a stand We must fight for the dignity rights and belonging of every person on earth and erase the stain of racism from our world Guterres saidThe International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 to raise awareness and encourage global action against racism IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-calls-for-unity-action-to-address-racism-665910.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/robert-mueller-remembered-for-boosting-indiaus-counterterror-ties-665921.html Washington March 22 Robert S Mueller III the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose career came to define Americaâs post911 security architecture and later its political divisions is being remembered in India for a quieter but enduring legacy â his role in shaping modern IndiaUS counterterror cooperation Mueller who died at 81 engaged with India at critical moments in its security trajectory beginning soon after he took charge of the FBI and continuing through the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacksHis first official visit to India came on January 21â22 2002 just months after the September 11 attacks in the United States and weeks after the assault on Indiaâs Parliament At the time both countries were recalibrating their approach to terrorismIn New Delhi Mueller met with Indian officials to discuss intelligence sharing joint investigations and expanding counterterrorism coordination The visit marked an early step in what would become a deeper institutional relationship between American and Indian security agencies particularly in tracking crossborder terror networks operating in South AsiaThat relationship would be tested â and transformed â years laterIn the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks Mueller returned to India in early 2009 when the country was still grappling with the scale of the coordinated assault that killed more than 160 people and exposed vulnerabilities in urban security and international intelligencesharingThis time his meetings carried a different urgencyMueller met the then Home Minister and P Chidambaram National Security Adviser MK Narayanan and senior intelligence officials to discuss the investigation into the attacks and the broader challenge of transnational terrorism The discussions focused on access to evidence intelligence flows and coordination across agenciesAfter the meetings Mueller framed the attacks in global terms saying âTerrorism is not just a local issue It is not an issue of one country it is an issue across the worldâHe also underscored the scale of collaboration that followed noting that there had been âunprecedented cooperation between our various agencies both during the Mumbai attacks and afterâThat cooperation was extensive laying the groundwork for an unprecedented level of cooperation in the counterterrorism sector between the two countriesLed by Muller FBI teams worked alongside Indian investigators analysing communications reconstructing digital trails and assisting in forensic work that helped establish links between the attackers and handlers operating from Pakistan Investigators conducted dozens of interviews and extracted data from damaged devices recovered from the attack sitesWeeks later speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on February 23 2009 Mueller returned to Mumbai as a defining example of modern terrorism and international cooperationâThis type of attack reminds us that terrorists with large agendas and little money can use rudimentary weapons to maximize their impactâ he said pointing to the need for coordinated global responsesFor India that period marked a turning point Intelligencesharing with the United States became faster and more structured Cooperation expanded into cyber forensics counterterror financing aviation security and joint investigative mechanisms The FBIâs engagement following the Mumbai attacks also contributed to improvements in Indiaâs forensic capabilities and crisis response systemsMuellerâs role in that shift was understated but significant He operated less as a political figure and more as a career investigator building trust through operational collaborationHis engagement with India also helped reinforce a broader US recognition of India as a frontline state in combating terrorism emanating from the region particularly networks linked to Pakistanbased groupsYet his legacy in the United States remains far more contestedIn the hours after his death that divide was starkUS President Donald Trump responded with a blunt message writing âGood Iâm glad heâs dead He can no longer hurt innocent peopleâThe remark stood in sharp contrast to tributes from other leadersFormer President George W Bush said âLaura and I are deeply saddened by the loss of Robert Mueller Bob dedicated his life to public serviceâ crediting him with helping lead the country through the aftermath of September 11 and strengthening homeland securityBarack Obama described him as âone of the finest directors in the history of the FBIâ praising his ârelentless commitment to the rule of lawâ and his role in âsaving countless livesâLawmakers offered more nuanced views Representative Mike Turner said Muellerâs investigation âeffectively ended the Russia hoaxâ but added that it âdamaged his reputationâ while noting that he âwas nonetheless committed to the truthâThe contrast reflects the dual nature of Muellerâs career To many in Washington he symbolised institutional integrity and restraint To others he remained a central figure in a politically charged investigation that deepened national divisionsIn India however the memory is more aligned with cooperation than controversyMueller is associated with a moment when the United States became a handson partner in addressing one of Indiaâs most serious terrorist attacks His visits â in 2002 and again in 2009 â frame a period in which IndiaUS counterterror cooperation evolved from dialogue to operational depthThe Mumbai attacks became a catalyst for that transformation In the years that followed India and the United States expanded cooperation across intelligence sharing homeland security counterterrorism financing and joint working groupsToday that framework remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship shaping how the two countries respond to evolving threats ranging from crossborder terrorism to digital radicalisationMueller who rarely sought the spotlight might not have framed his legacy in these terms But in India his role in the aftermath of Mumbai is remembered as a defining episode â one in which quiet coordination helped reshape a critical partnership even as his later work would divide the nation he served IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/robert-mueller-remembered-for-boosting-indiaus-counterterror-ties-665921.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-set-to-convene-first-session-of-new-supreme-peoples-assembly-665931.html Seoul March 22 North Korea is set to hold the first session of its new Supreme Peoples Assembly SPA on Sunday amid attention on whether the regime will codify its hostile policy toward South Korea in its constitution The parliamentary session comes after new deputies were selected following last months Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers Party of KoreaThe countrys Korean Central News Agency KCNA said Tuesday the session will be held in Pyongyang to deliberate on the election of the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea the elections of the state leadership and subcommittees of the SPA and the revision and supplement of the Socialist ConstitutionNorth Korean leader Kim Jongun has defined the two Koreas as two countries hostile to each other and whether this policy will be codified in the constitution is being closely watched by officials and analysts in South Korea and other regional powers Yonhap News Agency reported Also of interest is whether Kim will deliver a speech addressing North Koreas relations with the South the United States and other countriesThe KCNA said the agenda will include the fiveyear national economic development plan adopted at the congress and the state budget for 2026Kim is expected to be reelected as the countrys top leader with the same title of chief of the State Affairs CommissionParty secretary Jo Yongwon known as one of Kims closest aides is widely expected to be elected chairman of the SPA standing committee likely replacing Choe Ryonghae who was relieved of the post during the congress and excluded from the newterm parliamentNorth Korea typically convenes an SPA session after a party congress to legislate laws needed to implement decisions made at the congressThe parliament however is widely seen as a body that rubberstamps decisions made by the ruling party IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-set-to-convene-first-session-of-new-supreme-peoples-assembly-665931.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-attempts-to-dominate-global-energy-market-russian-fm-665934.html Moscow March 22 The United States is pursuing a doctrine of domination in global energy markets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russian media They the United States care only about their own wellbeing They are ready to defend this prosperity by any means coups abductions or assassinations of leaders of countries that have natural resources Washington desires All of this is related to oil said Lavrov on SaturdayLavrov further asserted that the United States follows the principle that its interests always take precedence over international agreements reports Xinhua news agencyHe pointed out that the United States has historically welcomed and continues to welcome Russias marginalisation in European energy markets He emphasised that for the United States to cooperate with Russia it must first respect Russias interests Earlier on Friday the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that European politicians are deliberately plunging their countries into crisis and darkness by continuing to reject Russian energy resourcesIt is not a technical disaster nor any natural cataclysms that are causing the global crisis in the European Union EU but rather the decisions of its own leaders who are simply flipping the switch Maria Zakharova said in a post on her Telegram channelOn Friday European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the EUs unwavering position which categorically precludes member states from procuring Russian natural gas even in the event of a severe energy crisis in Europe amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle EastThe stance had met with resistance from some of its member countries heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban earlier this month called on the EU to suspend sanctions on Russian energy warning that rising oil prices and supply disruptions pose risks to regional energy security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-attempts-to-dominate-global-energy-market-russian-fm-665934.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/british-nuclear-powered-submarine-arrives-in-arabian-sea-report-665935.html Moscow March 22 A nuclearpowered Royal Navy submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea capable of launching cruise missile attacks on Iran British media reported quoting military sources The submarine HMS Anson is fitted with Tomahawk Block IV landattack missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and is believed to be in the deep waters of the northern Arabian Sea the Daily Mail said on Saturday local timeThis means that British forces have the capacity to launch attacks on Iran if the conflict escalates it addedIf authorised by the prime minister the report said HMS Anson would be given the order to fire and would rise close to the surface and dispatch four missiles reports Xinhua news agencyEarlier on Friday the United Kingdom agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to carry out operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz according to a Downing Street statement Britain is working with international partners to develop a viable plan to safeguard international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz said the statement released on Friday local timeDespite the move the statement stressed that the UK is committed to not getting drawn into the wider conflictIranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned his British counterpart on Friday against providing any assistance to the US and Israeli aggression against Iran cautioning that such support would fuel further escalation reports Xinhua news agencyLater Araghchi took to X and said Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the IsraelUS war of choice on Iran Ignoring his own People Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran Iran will exercise its right to selfdefence he saidThe UK government however has pushed back In the same conversation Cooper cautioned Iran against targeting UK bases territory or interests underscoring the risk of further escalationTensions intensified after Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia a strategically important joint USUK base in the Indian Ocean Neither missile struck its targetone reportedly failed midflight while the other was engaged by a US naval interceptor though it remains unclear whether it was successfully destroyedThe attempted strike has raised concerns about Irans missile capabilities as Diego Garcia lies approximately 4000 kilometres from Iranian territory suggesting a potentially greater range than previously assessed The base plays a critical role in regional security hosting US bombers nuclear submarines and guidedmissile destroyers IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/british-nuclear-powered-submarine-arrives-in-arabian-sea-report-665935.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sri-lanka-sees-another-round-of-fuel-price-hike-bus-services-affected-665940.html Colombo March 22 Sri Lankas stateowned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation announced a revision of fuel prices All fuel products including auto diesel petrol and kerosene saw price hikes ranging from 60 rupees 019 US dollars to 90 rupees per litre effective from midnight on Saturday Lanka IOC another major petroleum company in Sri Lanka said it would align its prices with the revised rates set by the corporationThis marks the third price hike of fuel in Sri Lanka in less than a months time Previously the countrys petroleum companies adjusted fuel prices on February 28 and March 9 The price of auto diesel for instance has now reached 382 rupees per litre compared to the prepricehike price of 281 rupees per litreDue to the sharp increase in fuel prices around 90 per cent of privately operated buses were expected to be withdrawn from service on Sunday according to the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association LPBOALPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said bus owners had decided not to operate services after fuel prices were raised on March 21 describing the increase as the highest percentage hike recorded He noted that diesel prices had risen by 31 per centHe added that bus services are expected to resume once fares are revised as operators have indicated that current rates are not sufficient to cover costs under the new fuel pricing The LPBOA said that a minimum fare increase of 15 per cent is expectedThe National Transport Commission Sri Lankas public bus service provider also said it would implement measures to revise bus fares on March 22 with calculations currently underwayBus operators have previously pointed out that several earlier fuel price increases were not followed by fare adjustments IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sri-lanka-sees-another-round-of-fuel-price-hike-bus-services-affected-665940.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/huge-crowds-of-tourists-enjoy-equinox-sunrise-at-cambodias-iconic-angkor-wat-665943.html Siem Reap Cambodia March 22 Huge crowds of tourists rallied in front of the famed Angkor Wat temple here in northwest Cambodia early Sunday morning to watch the stunning sunrise during the spring equinox A large number of national and international tourists gathered to capture memorable photos of the sunrise aligning with the central tower of Angkor Wat Tourism Minister Huot Hak said in a post on social mediaEquinox sunrise is an extraordinary and rare phenomenon that occurs only twice a year he addedThe APSARA National Authority ANA the government agency responsible for managing safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province said the Angkor equinoxes happen twice a yearThe first event called the Vernal Equinox which can happen between March 21 and 23 and the second event called the Autumnal Equinox which can occur between September 21 and 23 reports Xinhua citing ANAs quote in a news releaseThe Angkor equinox is an event during which the sun rises above the central tower of Angkor Wat creating a stunning spectacle that our Khmer ancestors bequeathed to humanity and providing insights into both faith and science the ANA saidAngkor Wat is one of the major temples in the UNESCOlisted Angkor Archaeological Park The 401squarekilometre park is home to 91 ancient temples which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuriesThe Southeast Asian countrys most popular tourist destination attracted a total of 955131 international tourists in 2025 generating a gross revenue of 447 million US dollars from ticket sales according to the stateowned Angkor Enterprise IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/huge-crowds-of-tourists-enjoy-equinox-sunrise-at-cambodias-iconic-angkor-wat-665943.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/parents-of-jampk-students-stranded-in-azerbaijan-seek-centres-urgent-intervention-665950.html Srinagar March 22 Parents of over 200 Jammu and Kashmir students stranded at the Azerbaijan border on Sunday demanded urgent Central government intervention for the safe return of their children Anxious parents have sought help for the safe return of these students as they face severe financial and health issuesThese parents have told reporters that more than 200 students are studying in Isfahan and Golestan provinces of Iran The parents said that these students have successfully crossed the IranArmenia border as the first essential step to return to their countryParents allege that the students have been left to arrange their travel independently placing a heavy financial burden on already distressed familiesâWe have been bearing all the expenses ourselves The government must at least facilitate their return at this crucial timeâ said one of the parents expressing frustration over what they described as inadequate logistical supportSeveral batches of students were expected to return to India between March 20 and March 25 including those from Shiraz UniversityIndian engineering students from Kerman have also reached the IranArmenia border and are currently awaiting visa clearances However the situation remains grim at the Azerbaijan border where over 100 Indian students are reportedly stranded due to procedural delaysOnly around 6 to 10 students are being issued exit codes each day which has significantly slowed down the evacuation process the parents saidMany students have been stuck at the border since March 12 missing scheduled flights and incurring heavy financial lossesParents claimed that around 250 Kashmiri students remain stuck at the Azerbaijan border with several suffering from chest infections and influenzalike symptoms while access to proper medical care remains limitedA total of 151 Indian students managed to cross the IranAzerbaijan border in the last 24 hours Some students with tickets for March 14 18 19 and 20 were allowed to cross but those students who had bookings for March 15 16 and 17 are still stranded the parents saidDespite some progress the overall situation remains critical Hundreds of students are still stranded at various border points grappling with financial hardships health risks and uncertainty as families continue to appeal for swift and comprehensive government intervention to ensure their safe return homeOver 1200 Kashmiri students were studying in Iran when the present conflict began on February 28Ministry of Foreign Affairs MEA has been in constant touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure that all Indian students are able to safely leave for their country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/parents-of-jampk-students-stranded-in-azerbaijan-seek-centres-urgent-intervention-665950.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ins-trikand-concludes-seychelles-visit-boosts-defence-ties-with-exercise-lamitiye-debut-665951.html New Delhi March 22 INS Trikand a frontline stealth frigate of the Indian Navy has departed from Port Victoria in Seychelles after successfully completing an engaging and productive port call During the visit Captain Sachin Kulkarni Commanding Officer of the ship called on senior government officials of Seychelles as well as the High Commissioner of India to the island nation The ship also handed over critical spares and essential stores to the Government of Seychelles as part of ongoing cooperationThe port call which began on March 16 concluded on March 20 and featured a range of operational and collaborative engagements between the two countriesINS Trikand also participated in the first triservices edition of Exercise Lamitiye 2026 alongside personnel from the Indian Army Indian Air Force and the Seychelles Defence Forces SDF This marked the maiden participation of the Indian Navy in the exerciseAs part of the harbour phase specialised Visit Board Search and Seizure VBSS training was conducted onboard including joint boarding drills involving personnel from both sidesThe exercise then progressed to the sea phase during which INS Trikand operated alongside SCGS Le Vigilant and carried out joint boarding operations at sea These operations involved a combined team of Indian Navy Marine Commandos and special forces from the Seychelles Defence ForcesSubsequently troops from the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces carried out coordinated landing operations on Praslin Island demonstrating joint operational capabilitiesSenior officials of the Seychelles Defence Forces including Chief of Defence Forces Major General Michael Rosette and Deputy Chief Brigadier Jean Attala along with other officers embarked on INS Trikand during the sea phase to observe the exerciseOfficials said the exercise served as a platform to enhance interoperability and deepen maritime cooperation between India and SeychellesThe name Lamitiye which translates to âfriendshipâ in the Creole language reflects the longstanding and close ties shared between the two nationsThe port call is in line with Indias vision of MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Region and underscores the Indian Navys commitment to remain a preferred security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ins-trikand-concludes-seychelles-visit-boosts-defence-ties-with-exercise-lamitiye-debut-665951.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/black-ops-links-in-myanmar-conflict-ukraine-denies-allegations-report-665957.html New Delhi March 22 A complex and controversial investigation involving foreign nationals has highlighted alleged links to covert activities in Myanmarâs ongoing conflict even as Ukraine has strongly denied all accusations according to a report The development follows action by Indiaâs National Investigation Agency NIA which reportedly arrested a group of Ukrainian citizens along with a US nationalAccording to a report by India Narrative âthe detainees have close ties to intelligence services and military unitsâ based on analysis of opensource information although no official confirmation has been provided by Washington which has declined to commentInvestigators claim the suspects entered India on tourist visas before illegally travelling to Mizoram and crossing into Myanmar through unofficial routes The individuals are accused of violating movement and border laws and more seriously of âtraining armed groups based in Myanmar using unmanned aerial vehicles UAVsâ including their assembly deployment and electronic warfare useThe report notes that the NIA suspects a wider network may be involved pointing out that multiple Ukrainian nationals had entered India and travelled to Mizoram without required permitsâGiven that 14 Ukrainian citizens entered India in this manner at various times and also travelled to Mizoram without permitsâHowever Ukrainian authorities have categorically rejected the claims stating that the allegations are âbaseless and incompatible with the countryâs official policyââUkrainian officials have stated that these allegations are baseless and incompatible with the countryâs official policy Kyiv has categorically denied that its nationals were involved in training militant groups in Myanmar or supplying them with drone technology However an analysis of opensource materials and data suggests that some of the detainees may be connected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine AFU and military intelligence HURâ the report statedAmong those identified in the investigation is Ivan Sukmanovsky who is reportedly linked through leaked data to a Ukrainian military unit Opensource findings suggest that the unit may have âelectronic warfare and reconnaissance capabilitiesâ raising questions about the expertise allegedly being transferredAnother detainee Marian Stefankiv was reportedly linked to the âArattaâ unit which according to the report âspecialises in assault and sabotage operations reconnaissance missionsâ and the use of unmanned systems in modern warfareâ In a past interview Stefankiv stated that he âbegan training in the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles immediatelyâ after joining the unit in 2014The report further claims that such activities reflect the âinternationalisation of Ukraineâs war experienceâ suggesting that expertise gained in its conflict with Russia may be leveraged in other global theatresIt further suggested that Ukrainian expertise in drone warfare âis being actively adoptedâ while intelligence agencies are evidently leveraging it for covert operations worldwideâNotably this is not the first time that Kyiv has supported illegal armed groups and terrorist organisations in various regions of the world Ukrainian intelligence agencies have previously been observed training militants in Mali and Sudan These actions are intended to oppose Russiafriendly governments and destabilise areas where Russian military forces are deployed said the reportWhile these claims remain contested the case has drawn attention to the increasingly complex overlap of regional conflicts intelligence operations and emerging drone warfare capabilities with investigations still ongoing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/black-ops-links-in-myanmar-conflict-ukraine-denies-allegations-report-665957.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-dhurandhar-isnt-just-cinema-its-indias-long-suppressed-anger-speaking-out-665958.html New Delhi March 22 Dhurandhar is not the kind of film you watch and move on from It lingers It provokes And more importantly it says something which a majority of Indians have felt for years but were rarely encouraged to articulate openly At its core the film taps into a sentiment that has existed for decades that Pakistans continued use of terrorism as state policy cannot be met with halfmeasures diplomatic niceties or intellectual hedging The urge to see its institutions ISI military establishment held accountable crushed and rendered incapable of bleeding India any further is not fringe sentiment It is mainstream real and Dhurandhar is the voiceSomewhere along the way a certain version of secularism took root one that often translated into silence on uncomfortable issues Speaking plainly about terrorism religious fault lines or historical grievances was quickly labelled as regressive or worse The result was a kind of selfcensorship where outrage had to be moderated and facts carefully packaged This didnt happen overnight It was built over decadesWhether it was the hesitation in addressing longpending issues like Ayodhya Kashi or Krishna Janmabhoomi or the discomfort in acknowledging targeted violence the pattern was visible Even policylevel statements like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs 2006 remark about the Muslim minority having the first claim on resources reinforced a perception of selective prioritisationAnd in that space of hesitation Pakistan found confidence From crossborder terrorism to covert destabilisation its strategy remained consistent What also remained consistent was Indias tendency to respond cautiously not just on the ground but in the narrative space also There were always voices ready to contextualise to explain away or to urge restraint even when the provocation was undeniableThis is precisely the space Dhurandhar walks into and disruptsThe film doesnt pretend to be neutral It doesnt try to balance outrage with diplomatic correctness Instead it leans into a sentiment that has been building quietlyIt also calls out quite directly the ecosystem that shaped public discourse for years one that often found moral complexity where many saw none The same ecosystem that mobilised outrage in selective cases for instance on Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon but remained conspicuously muted when it came to victims of terrorismIt is this films power that lies in its refusal to sanitise this reality It does not pretend that anger is illegitimate It does not dilute the brutality of terrorism Instead it channels a sentiment that has long existed beneath the surface the desire for accountability for clarity and yes for retributionAnd this is where Aditya Dhars voice becomes significant Discomfort to some is definitely there because Dhurandhar does not shy away from anythingThere is also a personal layer to all of thisAditya Dhars background as a Kashmiri Pandit is not incidental to his storytelling His communitys experience since the late 1980s marked by violence fear and the eventual exodus from the Valley remains one of the most underdiscussed chapters in Indias recent history For years that story existed on the margins Acknowledged but not fully confrontedDhars films from Uri The Surgical Strike to Article 370 and now Dhurandhar series seem to be part of an attempt to bring those narratives back into the mainstream Not subtly not cautiously but directly Predictably critics have labelled this as propagandaBut that raises a fair question when one set of narratives dominates for decades it is called balance When another perspective emerges especially one that is blunt and uncomfortable it is quickly dismissedPerhaps the real issue is not the film itself but the fact that it refuses to stay within familiar boundariesDhurandhar also reminds us of the legacy of RN Kao the architect of Indias external intelligence agency Research amp Analysis Wing RAW Within a few years of its creation it played a decisive role in the events leading to Bangladeshs liberation in 1971 a moment when India combined strategy with resolve Dhaka may have forgotten the struggle today but they owe it to him Pakistan despised Kao and blamed the Kashmiri Pandits for its 1971 debacleIt is said that Islamabad always wanted revenge on the community and it was executed in the late 1980s when its terrorists targeted Kashmiri Pandits abducting torturing and killing many men including leaders doctors engineers businessmen teachers government employees judges and lawyers by labelling them as Indian Intelligence Bureau agentsMany critics are claiming that the movie is propaganda but those who have suffered directly or indirectly from terrorism know that it is true Dhurandhar is the truth that has been kept under wraps for decades especially after terrorism in Punjab and KashmirDhurandhar doesnt claim to be subtle and maybe thats the point It reflects a shift especially among younger Indians towards questioning older narratives and asking uncomfortable questions Why were certain truths downplayed Why were some tragedies pushed aside And why was anger even when justified treated as something illegitimateBecause anger when it comes from repeated provocation and unresolved history doesnt simply disappear It buildsAnd sometimes it finds expression not in policy papers or debates but in cinema Dhurandhar is that expression And it showcases what a government and its system can do provided the leadership is strong and clear in thoughts and actionsDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-dhurandhar-isnt-just-cinema-its-indias-long-suppressed-anger-speaking-out-665958.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-advised-to-act-firmly-against-khalistani-extremist-activities-665959.html New Delhi March 22 Canada is facing fresh calls to take firm action against Khalistani extremist elements operating from its soil amid concerns that separatist networks continue to use the country as a base for antiIndia activities The issue has remained a persistent irritant in ties between India and Canada with New Delhi repeatedly raising concerns about proKhalistan groups organising events spreading propaganda and targeting Indian diplomatic missionsAn opinion piece published by Khalsa Vox argued that Ottawa can no longer ignore the activities of extremist elements advocating the creation of Khalistan and must move decisively against networks promoting violence and intimidationThe commentary said the problem is not about restricting legitimate political expression but about confronting individuals and organisations that glorify violence issue threats and attempt to radicalise sections of the diasporaIt noted that extremist rhetoric and campaigns directed at Indian diplomats and institutions have continued in recent years raising questions about the effectiveness of Canadaâs response to such activitiesThe article also emphasised that the vast majority of Sikhs living in Canada do not support separatist extremism and that conflating the broader community with fringe elements would be both inaccurate and harmfulAccording to the commentary failure to act against extremist groups risks allowing them to exploit democratic freedoms to promote divisive and violent agendas while damaging bilateral tiesIndia has on several occasions conveyed its concerns over the activities of proKhalistan organisations abroad urging Canadian authorities to take stronger action against groups and individuals linked to separatist propaganda and violenceThe opinion piece argued that decisive steps against extremist networks would not only help protect democratic institutions but could also contribute to rebuilding trust in relations between India and CanadaIt added that addressing the issue firmly would send a clear signal that advocacy of violence and intimidation has no place in democratic societies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-advised-to-act-firmly-against-khalistani-extremist-activities-665959.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mea-secretary-p-kumaran-visits-ta-prohm-temple-and-angkor-wat-temple-in-cambodia-665961.html Phnom Penh March 22 Indian Ministry of External Affairss MEA Secretary East P Kumaran visited Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodias Siem Reap on Sunday In a post on X MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Secretary East Shri P Kumaran visited Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap Cambodia where the Archaeological Survey of India is leading restoration and conservation efforts Two phases have been successfully completed with the third phase currently underwayThe Angkor Wat Temple is the worlds largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and is a shared IndiaCambodia civilisational heritageSecretary East Shri P Kumaran visited the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap the worldâs largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of IndiaCambodia shared civilizational heritage From 19861993 India was the first country to extend support for its restoration Jaiswal postedKumaran also visited the MekongGanga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textile Museum in Siem Reap on Saturday Jaiswal said adding The first museum of its kind in the country it showcases rich textile traditions from the MekongGanga region highlighting shared cultural heritageOn Friday Kumaran held a meeting with a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation KHY Sovanratana and discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investments heritage conservation and development partnershipSecretary East Shri P Kumaran met a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr KHY Sovanratana to review Indiaâs capacity building initiatives for Cambodia including training of Cambodian diplomats at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service SSIFS Ministry of External Affairs They also discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investments heritage conservation and development partnership Jaiswal posted on XIndia and Cambodia share warm and cordial relations In the context of Indiaâs âAct Eastâ policy and ASEAN Cambodia is an important interlocutor and a good partner according to the Indian Embassy in CambodiaIn contemporary times cooperation between two nations has expanded in various fields such as institutional capacity building human resource development and extension of financial assistance in infrastructure projects social security projects and capacity building in defence IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mea-secretary-p-kumaran-visits-ta-prohm-temple-and-angkor-wat-temple-in-cambodia-665961.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-person-killed-another-injured-after-pakistans-firing-in-afghanistan-says-taliban-665975.html Kabul March 22 Taliban accused Pakistani forces of firing on civilians in Afghanistans Kunar and Paktika provinces on Sunday killing one person and injuring another Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that Pakistani forces fired mortar rounds on the Shanpat area of Nari district in Kunar at around 930 am local time He said that one person was killed and a woman was injured in the attack Pakistani forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Paktikas Shkin district but no one was injured in the attack he saidToday Sunday the fourth day of Eid alFitr at 930 am a mortar shell was fired by the Pakistani military regime in the Shanpat area of ââââNari district of Kunar province resulting in the injury of a woman and the martyrdom of a civilian Similarly the militias of the said regime fired on a civilian vehicle in Shkin district of Paktika province Fortunately the passengers of the said vehicle escaped unharmed and there were no casualties Fitrat posted on XThe developments come despite a ceasefire announced by Afghanistan and Pakistan on the occasion of Eid However the Taliban has accused Pakistani forces of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and conducting attacks in Kunar and Nuristan during the Eid period causing civilian casualtiesOn Friday Afghanistans Chief of Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat accused the Pakistan military of violating the ceasefire along the Durand LineSeveral people were killed in attacks conducted by Pakistani forces in border areas according to the statement released by Afghanistans Ministry of Defence Fitrat stated that Pakistans continuous attacks despite the ceasefire demonstrates a lack of commitment and deception by Islamabad Ariana News reportedHe stated that Afghanistan has refrained from taking any retaliatory action to prevent further worsening of the situation and has remained committed to the ceasefire He warned that the ceasefire will become meaningless and the Taliban will give a decisive response to Pakistans actions if such attacks are repeated Ariana News reportedOn Wednesday Afghanistan said it would pause its Rad alZulm defensive operations for Eid at the request of mediating nations including Saudi Arabia Qatar and Turkey Pakistan also announced a temporary pause in military operations for Eid with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar saying that the decision was taken at the request of the regional mediators IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-person-killed-another-injured-after-pakistans-firing-in-afghanistan-says-taliban-665975.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-labels-democrats-greatest-enemy-in-truth-social-post-665982.html Washington March 22 US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the Democratic Party âthe greatest enemy America hasâ in a post on his Truth Social platform âNow with the death of Iran the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left Highly Incompetent Democrat Partyâ Trump wrote on Truth SocialHis remarks came amid rising tensions linked to Iran and a prolonged political standoff in WashingtonTrump did not explain what he meant by the âdeath of Iranâ The phrase appeared to be linked to recent developments involving Iran which have dominated the administrationâs foreign policy focusThe post also came as a partial government shutdown stretched beyond one monthDemocrats have urged lawmakers to reduce the scale of the funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security At the same time they have kept focus on Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE a key agency in Trumpâs immigration crackdownThe shutdown has exposed deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats over spending and immigration policyTrump did not refer directly to the shutdown in his post but he used strong language to attack his political opponentsHe described the Democrats as the âRadical Leftâ and âHighly Incompetentâ The language is similar to his past attacks on Democratic leadersThe remarks are likely to deepen partisan tensions Lawmakers from both parties are under pressure to reach a deal and end the shutdownSo far there is no clear sign of a breakthroughTrump has often used his Truth Social platform to speak directly to supporters He frequently uses it to criticise political rivals and shape public debateHis latest post links foreign policy developments with domestic politics reflecting his broader approach of framing opponents as a key threat IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-labels-democrats-greatest-enemy-in-truth-social-post-665982.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/temple-targets-spy-rings-feeding-isis-pre-poll-communal-strategy-665860.html New Delhi March 21 The spy rings that the Indian agencies have been unearthing in recent months were not just focussing on providing sensitive information regarding the Indian armed forces Within the espionage network there are a bunch of people who were instructed to only focus on places of religious worship Investigations have revealed that these persons were specifically told to scout for information relating to places of religious worship Many had gathered information regarding Hindu temples in various parts of the countryAn Intelligence Bureau official said that temples are being increasingly scanned by these elements This clearly signals that these people were providing information on temples so that the ISI could plot attacks An attack on a temple would lead to communal tensions and this is what the Pakistan spy agency has been aiming forThe official added that recent intercepts and the ongoing investigations into the espionage cases have revealed that the Pakistanbased elements are focussing heavily on hitting temples in India This is being done with the intention of inciting communal tensions in IndiaInciting communal violence is a stronger tool for the ISI when compared to a terror attack Such violence spreads easily and this causes a greater deal of instabilityMoreover there are elections that are round the corner in multiple states and if violence erupts at such a time it would add to the stress of the security mechanismOfficials say that in the first phase the spies have been asked to scout and provide information about smaller templesOnce the first phase of the plan is implemented then the idea was to move on to bigger places of worship the official also addedAnother disturbing trend that has come to light is that the spies recruited by the Pakistanis have been told to place cameras at sensitive locations This came to light during a probe by the Ghaziabad police following the arrest of six people from the Kaushambi area on March 14It was learnt that these persons had managed to install a camera at the Delhi Cantt railway station This helped the ISI in securing live feed from the stationSimilarly the members of the espionage network were told to install cameras near temples so that the logistics could be secured liveAccess to a live camera means that the planners of the terror attack will get to study the security detail liveThe changes and other details are also easily accessible to these elementsInciting communal tensions has been an old trick of the ISI Even when the Citizen Amendment Act CAA was passed there were several ISIbacked elements who ran a disinformation campaign that led to communal riots in many placesThe Intelligence agencies had that time warned that the ISIbacked elements have infiltrated the protests and are looking to spin a communal angle to the actEven the Pahalgam attack was aimed at inciting communal tensions apart from trying to ruin the tourism industry in Jammu and KashmirThe terrorists who carried out the attack asked the victims about their religion before killing themIt was a clear sign that the main ploy was to incite communal tensions and bring about a rift between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and those living in other parts of IndiaAnother official said that the ISIbacked elements are looking to carry out a major strike on places of worship ahead of the elections that will be held in April These elements are aware that elections are taking place in sensitive states and hence would look to take advantage of the situationElections are being held in West Bengal Tamil Nadu Kerala Assam and in the Union Territory of Puducherry Security is a concern in all these states as both internal and external elements would look to drum up communal tensionsAn official said that a close watch must be kept on religious sites as this is the time these elements would look to carry out a strike IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/temple-targets-spy-rings-feeding-isis-pre-poll-communal-strategy-665860.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-100-million-hezbollah-network-665868.html Washington March 21 The United States moved against what it described as a sprawling financial network that channelled more than 100 million to Hezbollah sanctioning individuals and companies operating across several countries The US Department of the Treasuryâs Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC designated 16 individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah financier Alaa Hassan Hamieh accusing him of overseeing a network of companies used to launder money and raise funds for the groupThe network spread across Lebanon Syria Poland Slovenia Qatar and Canada has been âinvolved in numerous economic projectsâ and is estimated to have enabled the diversion of funds since 2020 according to the TreasuryâIran is the head of the snake when it comes to global terrorism and its proxies such as Hezbollah carry out Tehranâs mission to sow chaos and destruction beyond its bordersâ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saidâHizballah continues to divert funds that rightfully belong to the Lebanese people to finance its terrorist operations This action targets key actors within its global financial network that sustain its militant activitiesâThe sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13224 which targets terrorist organisations and their financial backers Hezbollah has been designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation since 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity since 2001According to the Treasury Hezbollah funds both its militant wing and social programmes through a âwide array of revenue generation and sanctions evasion schemesâ many coordinated through its finance team Officials also said the group has used its influence in Lebanonâs government to divert funds for its own benefitHamieh who previously served as vice president of Lebanonâs Investment Development Authority is accused of exploiting his position in a trade arrangement between Iraq and Lebanon aimed at reconstruction Under that arrangement the agency had authority to determine beneficiaries and Hamieh allegedly received millions of dollars for projects linked to HezbollahThe designation also names foreignbased operatives including Syrian national Bahaa Addin Hashem and Lebanonbased Mohamad Jamil Salami who was linked to a sanctions evasion scheme involving telecommunications equipment destined for an Iranian company operating in SyriaQatarbased Raoof Fadel identified as the cofounder and chief executive of a logistics company tied to the networkâs Canadian operations was also designatedCompanies operating under the âSeven Seasâ and âCalllyncâ brands in Lebanon Europe and North America were included in the sanctions list Authorities said these entities were used for procurement financial transfers and money laundering in support of Hezbollahâs activitiesAs a result of the action all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities within US jurisdiction are blocked US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-100-million-hezbollah-network-665868.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-new-ai-policy-push-signals-shift-for-india-665871.html Washington Mar 21 The Trump administration unveiled a national framework on artificial intelligence which could shape Indian talent IT firms and policy debates as the US moves to lead the global AI race US new AI policy push signals shift for IRevealing the sixpoint plan to boost innovation protect citizens and strengthen US leadership the White House said it wants to âwin the AI race to usher in a new era of human flourishing economic competitiveness and national security for the American peopleâ It urged Congress to turn the plan into lawThe framework among others covers child safety economic growth intellectual property free speech innovation and workforce development These areas are closely linked to Indiaâs role in the US technology ecosystemâThe Administration recognises that some Americans feel uncertain about how this transformative technology will affect issues they care about like their childrenâs wellbeing or their monthly electricity billâ the White House said It added that these concerns ârequire strong Federal leadership to ensure the publicâs trust in how AI is developed and used in their daily livesâFor Indianorigin professionals the focus on an âAIready workforceâ is important Many Indians work in US technology jobs The plan calls for more training and skills development It says workers should âparticipate in and reap the rewards of AIdriven growthâThe policy also matters for Indiaâs IT services sector Indian firms support global AI systems through engineering and data work The administration wants to remove âoutdated or unnecessary barriers to innovationâ It also wants faster use of AI across industries This could increase demand for global tech partnershipsThe plan puts a strong focus on data centres and energy The White House said âratepayers should not foot the bill for data centresâ It asked Congress to speed up approvals It also wants companies to generate power onsite Expansion of AI infrastructure could affect global supply chains linked to IndiaOn intellectual property the administration seeks balance It said âthe creative works and unique identities of American innovators creators and publishers must be respected in the age of AIâ At the same time AI systems should learn from available dataThe framework also stresses free speech âAI cannot become a vehicle for government to dictate right and wrongthinkâ the White House said It wants safeguards against censorship of lawful expressionAnother key point is a single national policy The administration warned that âa patchwork of conflicting state laws would undermine American innovation and our ability to lead in the global AI raceâ A uniform system could help Indian firms operating across the US statesThe White House said it will work with Congress to pass the law It said the federal government must set clear national rules for AIGovernments around the world are racing to regulate AI The United States and China are leading this competition AI is now linked to economic power and national securityIndia is also expanding its AI ecosystem It is investing in technology and keeping rules flexible Decisions taken in Washington are likely to shape global standards Indian firms and professionals will have to adapt to these changes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-new-ai-policy-push-signals-shift-for-india-665871.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bruised-on-all-fronts-asim-munir-eyes-sectarian-flashpoint-in-pakistan-665872.html New Delhi March 21 Pakistan is in need of multiple diversions as it faces setbacks on multiple fronts The war in Afghanistan and the battle with the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP has left the security apparatus in Pakistan badly bruised The pressure on Field Marshal Asim Munir who is the head of the army is immense and he is in need of a major diversion Indian agencies tracking the developments in Pakistan say that Munirâs next move is to incite violence between the Sunnis and ShiasThe army chief is following in the footsteps of General ZiaulHaq who ran a major campaign to suppress the Shias in PakistanSince the beginning of the war in Iran the Shias have been targeted in Pakistan The rallies carried out in solidarity for Iran are being branded as antinational and antiSunniAsim Munir during a recent event humiliated the Shia Muslims and said that if they love Iran so much they should go to IranThis is a clear attempt at inciting tensions and hoping that the Shias would indulge in violence This in turn would lead to a major escalation of violence between the Shia and majority Sunni Muslim population in PakistanAnother official said that this latest ploy by Asim Munir is clearly aimed at dividing the population Hostilities between the Shias and Sunnis in Pakistan is nothing new However to stoke tensions at a time when the war in Iran is on is a dangerous game by the Pakistan army chiefThe Shia community has expressed shock following the triviality with which Asim Munir spoke about the communityPakistan watchers say that there are multiple reasons why the army chief has raked up the Shia issue again He has been doing this subtly for long but currently he has taken it to another level Munir is clearly trying to further the rift by painting a picture that the Shias have their loyalties elsewhereThe Shias have been trying to remind the army chief that their loyalties are not elsewhere and they would not go against their countryExpressing solidarity with Iran is not a crime and Munir is wrong in terming this as an act that is antinational the Shias sayOfficials say that the Pakistan army chief could not care less about the sentiments of the Shia community He is caught between the devil and the deep sea and all he wants is a diversion even if it meant that his country burns due to a communal conflictMunir is fed up of explaining to the people about the need for battles on multiple fronts especially when the economy of the country is dying with each passing dayFurther the war in Iran prompted the Pakistani establishment to take several austerity measures that included a hike in fuel prices All these measures are not helping and is having a bad impact on the common man officials sayWhile the internal strife is one part of the reason why Munir is trying to incite the Shias against the Sunnis the other remains the Saudi Arabia angleQuestions are being asked about Pakistanâs commitment to the pact by which it has to join the war if Saudi Arabia is being attacked The pact between the two countries says that an attack on either countries would be considered as an attack on bothIn the ongoing war Saudi Arabia has been targeted many times by missiles from Iran Officials say that the fact is that Pakistan may have signed the pact but in reality it does not have the bandwidth or resources to join the warThe Shias have been very vocal about their support for Iran since the war commenced This has not gone down too well with Saudi Arabia as the country views Iran as an enemyMunir is under pressure to shut down these voices and that explains the reason why he is desperate for an outbreak of violence between the Shia and Sunni Muslims in Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bruised-on-all-fronts-asim-munir-eyes-sectarian-flashpoint-in-pakistan-665872.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-chinas-debt-reach-in-indias-neighborhood-665873.html Washington March 21 Alarmed by Chinaâs expanding financial footprint in South Asia US lawmakers have pointed to mounting debt in countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka as they pushed to strengthen American tools to compete with Beijingâs global lending During a congressional hearing this week on the ExportImport Bank of the United States EXIM influential American lawmakers from both parties warned that Chinaâs statebacked financing is reshaping economic and strategic alignments in regions central to global competitionâThis is not developmental finance this is debt trap diplomacyâ Representative Zach Nunn said citing figures that showed Pakistan owing 77 billion and Sri Lanka 11 billion to Chinese state lendersCommittee Chairman Warren Davidson said the challenge posed by China has intensified noting that the Peopleâs Republic of China âis the worlds largest provider of export creditâ and operates outside established international frameworksLawmakers said China extended more than 23 billion in medium and longterm export credit in 2024 far outpacing the United StatesJovan Jovanovic president and chairman of EXIM told lawmakers that American companies are increasingly competing in markets shaped by heavy state support and subsidiesâToday American companies compete in markets where competitors deploy massive state financing subsidies and industrial policy to capture strategic industriesâ he saidHe warned that such competition has contributed to weakened economic security and job losses in the United States adding that the country âcannot afford to sit on the sidelinesâAt the centre of Washingtonâs response is the China and Transformational Exports Program CTEP designed to help American exporters compete in sectors where China has established dominanceJovanovic said âone out of every four transactions we do at the bank looks to the CTEP programâ describing it as âmission criticalâ to ensuring that the United States remains competitive in global marketsLawmakers argued that Chinaâs lending practices â particularly in infrastructure and resource sectors â have left several developing countries vulnerable to financial stress raising questions about longterm sustainabilityNunn said such arrangements âtrap developing nations in debtâ undercutting both local economies and US strategic interestsJovanovic said the United States must respond by offering a different model built on transparency and marketdriven partnershipsâWe cant compromise our valuesâ he said adding that the US must âthink creatively proactively and aggressivelyâ to advance its economic interestsA key initiative discussed during the hearing was âProject Vaultâ a proposed 10 billion publicprivate partnership to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals in the United StatesThe project is intended to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains â particularly those linked to China â and provide a buffer against disruptions affecting American manufacturersJovanovic said the initiative would help âderisk these supply chainsâ by combining government financing with private capital while allowing market demand to guide decisionsRepresentative Joyce Beatty said the bank enables US companies to âgo head to head with foreign rivalsâ adding that 90 per cent of its authorisations benefit small businessesThe hearing comes as Congress prepares to reauthorise EXIM later this year with lawmakers emphasising the need to sharpen its tools to compete with Chinaâs expanding global footprint IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-chinas-debt-reach-in-indias-neighborhood-665873.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-declares-iran-defeated-as-war-rages-665832.html Washington March 21 US President Donald Trump asserted that Iranâs military had been âfinishedâ even as fighting continued and global concerns mounted over oil routes and regional stability Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn and in a detailed statement Trump said the United States was close to concluding its military campaignâWe are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iranâ he saidTrump outlined a sweeping set of goals including âCompletely degrading Iranian Missile Capability Launchers and everything else pertaining to themâ âDestroying Iranâs Defense Industrial Baseâ and âEliminating their Navy and Air Force including AntiAircraft WeaponryâHe also emphasised preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons saying the United States would ensure Iran never gets âeven close to Nuclear CapabilityâIn his remarks to reporters Trump described the military balance as decisively in Washingtonâs favorâI think weâve wonâWeâve knocked out everything weâre roaming free From a military standpointâtheyâre finishedâ he saidDespite calls from some countries to pause the fighting Trump made clear he had no interest in a ceasefireâYou donât do a ceasefire when youâre literally obliterating the other sideâWeâre not looking to do thatâ he saidThe president also addressed concerns over the Strait of Hormuz a key global oil transit route suggesting that countries dependent on it should take the lead in securing itâWe donât use the strait the United States we donât need itâEurope needs it Korea Japan China a lot of other people so theyâll have to get involvedâ he saidHe described reopening the strait as âa simple military maneuverâ though he added it would require âa lot of helpâyou need ships you need volumeâ and noted that NATO had âso far havenât had the courageâ to actTrump also signaled expectations that US allies would play a larger role âThey should get involvedâ he said when asked about countries such as Australia and South Korea adding he was âvery surprisedâ by their reluctanceAt the same time he underscored alignment with Israel âWe want victory both of us And thatâs what weâve gotâ he saidOn broader diplomacy Trump said talks with Russia over Ukraine were continuing despite the conflict âWeâre talkingâThey take place almost every dayâ he saidHe brushed aside concerns about economic fallout including rising oil prices and market volatility saying the military campaign was necessary âWeâre not giving a nuclear weapon to terrorist thugs and weâre knocking the hell out of themâ he said adding that he believed the operation was âweeks ahead of scheduleâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-declares-iran-defeated-as-war-rages-665832.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-presses-allies-on-harmuz-rejects-ceasefire-with-iran-665834.html Washington March 21 President Donald Trump urged US allies and major global economies to take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz while firmly rejecting calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Iran conflict âWe donât use the Strait the United States we donât need itâEurope needs it Korea Japan China a lot of other people so theyâll have to get involvedâ Trump told reporters framing the vital oil route as a shared international burdenThe president said reopening the strait would be âa simple military maneuverâ but acknowledged it would require coordination and scale âItâs relatively safe but you need a lot of helpâyou need ships you need volumeâ he said adding that NATO had âso far havenât had the courageâ to actTrump also called out key partners in the IndoPacific âThey should get involvedâ he said of countries such as South Korea and Australia adding he was âvery surprisedâ by their reluctanceAt the same time Trump made clear that the United States would not pause its military campaign despite growing international calls for deescalationâYou donât do a ceasefire when youâre literally obliterating the other sideâWeâre not looking to do thatâ he saidHe described Iranâs military as severely weakened âThey donât have a navy they donât have an air forceâthey donât have antiaircraftâtheir leaders have all been killed at every levelâ Trump said underscoring his view that the campaign is nearing its objectivesTrump also pushed back on concerns over economic fallout including rising oil prices and market volatilityâWeâre not giving a nuclear weapon to terrorist thugs and weâre knocking the hell out of themâ he said adding that he had expected oil prices to rise more sharply than they haveThe president said the operation was progressing faster than anticipated âI think weâre weeks ahead of scheduleâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-presses-allies-on-harmuz-rejects-ceasefire-with-iran-665834.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nato-mission-temporarily-withdraws-from-iraq-amid-tensions-media-665836.html Baghdad March 21 The NATO mission in Iraq has commenced the temporary withdrawal of its personnel from the country due to security concerns a highranking security source told the Iraqi News Agency INA The source described the move as a temporary measure prompted by the ongoing conflict and concerns over the safety of mission members adding that they will return as soon as the war ends and the security situation in Iraq stabilises Xinhua news agency reported quoting INAThe NATO Mission Iraq a noncombat advisory one was established in 2018 at the request of the Iraqi government to strengthen its security sectorThe noncombat mission was created in 2018 at the request of Iraqi authorities to help the country as officials sought to bolster its security forces and fight against terrorism NATO personnel trained members of Iraqs security forces but werent deployed with them during combat operations according to the allianceUS Air Force Gen Alexus Grynkewich the commander of NATOs forces in Europe thanked Iraq and allies for assisting in the relocationI would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of NATO Mission Iraq who continued their mission throughout this period They are true professionals Grynkewich said in a statement FridayThe temporary exit occurs amid heightened tensions following joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran starting on February 28 to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and US interests across the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nato-mission-temporarily-withdraws-from-iraq-amid-tensions-media-665836.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-sues-harvard-university-over-alleged-antisemitism-665837.html Washington March 21 The Trump administration sued Harvard University over alleged antisemitism marking an escalation from the federal government after months of stalled negotiations between the two sides The complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts accused the Ivy League university of violating the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli people and turning a blind eye to antisemitism and discrimination against Jews and Israelis Xinhua news agency reportedJewish and Israeli students were subjected to severe pervasive and objectively offensive harassment on the ground of their race or national origin and they were excluded from participation in and denied the benefits of a Harvard education because of their race ethnicity or national origin the complaint allegedThe complaint also contended that Harvard had actual knowledge of and was deliberately indifferent to the harassment and exclusion of Jewish and Israeli students and that it intentionally discriminated against Jews and IsraelisSince January 2025 the US administration has issued threats to several US universities warning them of potential funding cuts if they fail to adjust their policies The main demands included eliminating what was described as antisemitism on campus and dismantling diversity initiatives that favor certain minority groupsIn April 2025 after Harvard rejected the US administrations demands the administration announced it would freeze 22 billion in multiyear grants and 60 million in multiyear contract funds for the universityIn February US President Donald Trump announced that his administration was seeking 1 billion in damages from Harvard University IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-sues-harvard-university-over-alleged-antisemitism-665837.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-10-dead-4-unaccounted-for-59-hurt-in-fire-at-auto-parts-plant-in-daejeon-665840.html Daejeon March 21 Ten people have been killed and four others are still reported missing in a large fire at a car parts plant in South Koreas Daejeon authorities said Saturday Another 59 people suffered serious or slight injuries Firefighters have been searching for the four people who were unaccounted for when the blaze startedOne of the bodies was found on the second floor of the factory and nine others were found on the third floor according to authoritiesA total of 170 workers were inside the plant when the fire was reported at around 117 pm on Friday The fire prompted the National Fire Agency to issue a national firefighting mobilisation order which is given when the scale of the fire is deemed to surpass the firefighting capacity of the local governmentFirefighters were earlier unable to enter the structure due to concerns it could collapse Also complicating the firefighting effort was 200 kilograms of sodium inside the building which could explode if poorly handled Yonhap news agency reportedAuthorities said they began overnight search operations at around 1050 pm on Friday after experts determined it was safe for firefighters to enter the buildingAn official at the authorities said firefighters plan to make allout efforts to rescue those who are unaccounted forWe plan to tear down the structures where the rescue dogs have already examined to deploy rescue workers and continue the search for those missing the official saidOn Friday South Korean Prime Minister Kim Minseok gave emergency instructions to the interior ministry and the fire agency to use all available equipment and personnel to rescue people and extinguish the fire his office saidHe had ordered the Daejeon metropolitan government and the police to ensure no further damage by implementing traffic control and evacuation measures IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-10-dead-4-unaccounted-for-59-hurt-in-fire-at-auto-parts-plant-in-daejeon-665840.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-airstrikes-in-lebanon-kill-20-raise-total-fatalities-to-1-021-beirut-665846.html Beirut March 21 At least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past 24 hours according to official figures The latest casualties released on Friday local time bring the cumulative death toll to 1021 with a total of 2641 people wounded since the escalation of hostilities on March 2Meanwhile displacement continues to rise sharply as ongoing strikes force more residents to flee their homes A total of 134616 displaced people are currently sheltering in 644 centres across the country the figures showEfforts to accommodate displaced populations remain under strain as the humanitarian situation deteriorates amid continued airstrikes reports Xinhua news agencyHezbollah entered the confrontation on March 2 by launching rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire on November 27 2024 prompting Israel to carry out an intensified military campaign targeting multiple areas across the country Earlier on Wednesday the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL said that the heavy exchange of fire along with escalating air and ground activities and the increased presence of Israeli forces inside the Lebanese territory are developments that raise deep concernIn a statement UNIFIL said that the violent escalation witnessed overnight marks a further worrying deterioration in the situation between Lebanon and Israel It also expressed concern over the renewed issuance of socalled evacuation orders by parties to the conflict which are affecting civilians on both sides of the Blue LineUNIFIL renewed its call on all parties to recommit to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to a full cessation of hostilities describing it as the only path toward achieving lasting stabilityIt noted that peacekeepers remain deployed at their positions within the area of operations in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line where they continue to report violations maintain communication with the parties and where possible facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-airstrikes-in-lebanon-kill-20-raise-total-fatalities-to-1-021-beirut-665846.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/poland-withdraws-troops-from-iraq-amid-security-concerns-665850.html Warsaw March 21 Poland has withdrawn its troops from Iraq amid a deteriorating security situation in the Middle East Defence Minister Wladyslaw KosiniakKamysz has announced The decision followed an assessment of operational conditions and potential risks KosiniakKamysz said in a post on the social media platform X on Friday local timeUp to 350 Polish soldiers had been deployed in Iraq reports Xinhua quoting the Polish Press Agency The contingent is also authorised to operate in Jordan Qatar and KuwaitMost personnel have already returned to Poland or are on their way back while some have been transferred to Jordan to continue their mission KosiniakKamysz added Meanwhile the NATO mission in Iraq has also commenced the temporary withdrawal of its personnel from the country due to security concerns a highranking security source told the Iraqi News Agency INA on FridayThe source described the move as a temporary measure prompted by the ongoing conflict and concerns over the safety of mission members adding that they will return as soon as the war ends and the security situation in Iraq stabilises according to INAThe NATO Mission Iraq a noncombat advisory one was established in 2018 at the request of the Iraqi government to strengthen its security sectorThe temporary exit occurred amid heightened tensions following Israel and the United States joint attacks launched on February 28 on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans thensupreme leader along with senior military commanders and civiliansIran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/poland-withdraws-troops-from-iraq-amid-security-concerns-665850.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-have-intelligence-on-israeli-plans-to-attack-its-infrastructure-665851.html Tehran March 21 Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that the country has intelligence about Israels plans to attack its infrastructure He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X on Friday local time while stressing that Iran would show zero restraint if its infrastructure is attackedWe are men and women of principles Iranians do not sneakattack adversaries while engaged in dialogue Only when attacked do we powerfully respond Araghchi said adding We have intelligence on Israeli plans to strike infrastructure Once again zero restraint if our infrastructure is attackedIn a post on X on Thursday Araghchi pointed to Irans retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure affiliated with the United States and Israel in the region saying Our response to Israels attack on our infrastructure employed a fraction of our powerThe only reason for restraint was respect for the requested deescalation Zero restraint if our infrastructures are struck again Any end to this war must address damage to our civilian sites he stressedOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East Meanwhile Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country does not seek war with Muslim states according to the official news agency IRNA He made the remarks in a message to extend congratulations on the arrival of Eid alFitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Nowruz the beginning of the Iranian new year that falls on March 21 Xinhua news agency reportedCommenting on recent tensions between Iran and some of the Arab states in the wake of the US and Israeli attacks Pezeshkian said We do not intend to have any difference with Muslim countries We do not seek conflict and war with Islamic states They are our brothersHe blamed the United States and Israel for the tensions that have arisen between Iran and the regions Muslim statesPezeshkian said Iran is ready to resolve all problems with its neighbours proposing to form a security structure comprising Muslim states in the Middle East to ensure peace security and stability in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-says-have-intelligence-on-israeli-plans-to-attack-its-infrastructure-665851.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-backs-opt-for-foreign-students-665704.html Washington March 20 US lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill to protect a key work programme for international students aiming to retain foreign graduates including thousands from India amid rising global competition for skilled talent Representatives Sam Liccardo Jay Obernolte and Indian American Raja Krishnamoorthi unveiled the Keep Innovators in America Act to codify the Optional Practical Training OPT programme into law providing longterm certainty for students universities and employersThe legislation seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to formally allow international students to undertake practical training and employment authorisation tied to their field of study including after completing degree requirementsFor more than three decades administrations from both parties have maintained OPT through rulemaking Lawmakers said codifying it would prevent abrupt policy shifts and ensure continuityâWe have a choice educate the best and brightest students in the US to help America succeed or send them home to China India and other rivals to launch companies to compete against usâ said LiccardoObernolte said the bill would bring clarity and accountability to the programme âCodifying the Optional Practical Training program provides needed clarity and accountability for a program that allows students to gain practical experience in their field of studyâ he said He added that retaining talent was critical âat a time of intensifying global competitionâThe move comes after the Trump administration signalled in November that it could eliminate the OPT programme raising concerns that UStrained talent could shift to competing economiesInternational students play a significant role in the US economy In the 2024â2025 academic year alone they contributed 429 billion supporting businesses research institutions and local communitiesSupport for the bill spans a wide coalition of industry groups universities and immigration advocatesJill Welch Executive Director of the US for Success Coalition said Congress has âan opportunity to provide clarity and stability by codifying OPT and ensuring the United States remains the worldâs leading destination for global talentâLinda Moore President and CEO of TechNet called the bill âa smart bipartisan step to strengthen US innovation and competitivenessâ adding that codifying OPT would provide âthe longterm certainty that students universities and employers needâTodd Schulte President of FWDus said allowing international students to work after graduation âis not just common sense it is essential to our countryâs long term economic strengthâAccording to Benjamin Johnson Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association international students are âa cornerstone of Americaâs innovation pipeline and a powerful driver of local economiesâ He noted they contribute more than 40 billion annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobsEducation groups said more than 290000 international students pursued OPT in the 2024â2025 academic year many in science technology engineering and mathematics fields helping fill workforce gapsIndustry leaders also stressed the national security and economic stakes Jason Oxman President and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council said the bill ensures âthe best students continue to receive practical training and employment authorisation to innovate in the USâ not abroadâScott Corley Executive Director of Compete America said maintaining OPT is âan essential step toward keeping top talent in the United States and ensuring our economy national security and innovation ecosystem remain the strongest in the worldâFor India the issue is particularly significant Indian students are among the largest cohorts of international students in the United States and many rely on OPT as a bridge between education and employmentOPT has long complemented the H1B visa system by allowing graduates to gain work experience before transitioning to longerterm employment pathways The programme is especially important in STEM sectors where US employers face persistent talent shortagesIn recent years global competition for skilled workers has intensified with countries such as Canada the United Kingdom and Australia expanding poststudy work options to attract international students IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-backs-opt-for-foreign-students-665704.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-split-over-iran-war-as-hearing-probes-justification-665706.html Washington March 20 As US intelligence officials laid out a stark assessment of rising global threats a congressional hearing revealed a deeper fracture in Washington â over whether the war with Iran was driven by evidence or political judgment Top intelligence officials told lawmakers that the United States faces a âcomplex and evolving threat landscapeâ spanning missile proliferation cyber warfare terrorism and organised crimeDirector of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said adversarial nations are advancing capabilities that could directly threaten the US homeland The intelligence community assesses that threats could expand âto more than 16000 missiles by 2035â from the current level of more than 3000She said China and Russia are developing advanced delivery systems capable of penetrating US missile defences while North Koreaâs intercontinental ballistic missiles can already reach American territory Pakistanâs missile programme could evolve into capabilities capable of striking the US and Iran has demonstrated technologies that could support future longrange missile developmentCyber threats are also intensifying Gabbard said China Russia Iran North Korea and nonstate actors continue to target US government and private sector networks as well as critical infrastructure The growing use of artificial intelligence is accelerating both the scale and speed of cyber operationsâFinancially or ideologically motivated nonstate actors are becoming more boldâ she said noting that ransomware groups are shifting to faster highvolume attacks that are harder to detectIslamist groups remain a persistent danger she said While alQaida and ISIS are weaker than at their peak their ideology continues to spread globally and inspire attacks she noted In 2025 there were at least three Islamist terrorist attacks in the United States and law enforcement disrupted at least 15 plots she told the lawmakersGabbard also highlighted the role of transnational criminal organisations particularly drug cartels which she said pose a âdaily and direct threatâ to Americans through trafficking of fentanyl and other narcoticsBut the hearing quickly shifted to the ongoing conflict with Iran exposing deep political divisionsCommittee Chairman Rick Crawford defended President Donald Trumpâs decision to launch military action saying diplomacy had failed and warning that âIran is committed to acquiring nuclear weaponsâHe said the president âmade a difficult but necessary decisionâ in response to a longstanding threatDemocrats strongly pushed back Ranking member Jim Himes said intelligence did not support claims that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United StatesâThe president has said that Iran was preparing an imminent attack on the United States That is not trueâ Himes said âNot one of your agencies has produced a single report saying that Iran posed an imminent threatâThe dispute over what constitutes an âimminent threatâ became central to the hearing Gabbard said the intelligence community provides assessments but does not make that determinationâThe presidentâ is responsible for what is an imminent threatâ she said based on the âtotality of information and intelligenceâCIA Director John Ratcliffe said intelligence indicated that in the event of a conflict between Iran and Israel the United States would likely face immediate attacks though he declined to elaborate in open sessionLawmakers also raised concerns about election security foreign influence and the omission of such threats from the unclassified assessment Gabbard said there are âmultiple platforms and venuesâ where intelligence on election threats is reportedThe hearing underscored the breadth of global risks outlined by intelligence agencies from geopolitical competition with China and Russia to instability in regions such as the Middle East Africa and Latin AmericaThe Annual Threat Assessment is presented to Congress each year to inform policymakers about the most pressing national security challenges facing the United StatesOfficials said the current environment is marked by overlapping threats across military technological and ideological domains requiring sustained vigilance and coordination across the intelligence community IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-split-over-iran-war-as-hearing-probes-justification-665706.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/new-nuclear-race-takes-shape-in-washington-665707.html Washington March 20 As electricity demand surges from artificial intelligence and industry US lawmakers and officials are turning to nuclear energy with new urgency framing it as central to economic strength and global power At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Thursday policymakers and industry leaders outlined an aggressive push to expand nuclear capacity backed by President Donald Trumpâs May 2025 executive orders to accelerate reactor deployment and rebuild domestic supply chainsâThe question is no longer how we use energy Itâs whether we have enough of itâ Chairman Senator Mike Lee said warning that industries will relocate if power demand is not met domestically âIf we cannot meet that demand here it will be met somewhere elseâThe executive orders direct the rapid deployment of advanced reactor technologies reforms in licensing processes and steps to strengthen the nuclear industrial base They also emphasise reducing reliance on foreign fuel supplies and expanding US leadership in global nuclear exportsAssistant Secretary of Energy Theodore Garrish said the administration was focused on restoring domestic uranium enrichment supporting new reactor construction expanding exports and completing the nuclear fuel cycleâWe should be able within the time frame of the next couple of years be able to have a very viable domestic uranium enrichment industryâ he said noting that reliance on imports had eroded US capacity over decadesOfficials said early progress was visible in pilot programmes aimed at demonstrating new reactor designs At least three test reactors are expected to achieve criticality by July 4 this year marking a key milestoneâIâm hopeful that we should be able to be successful on meeting the July 4 deadlineâ Garrish said though he acknowledged some manufacturing challengesJohn Wagner director of Idaho National Laboratory described the moment as a turning point âWe stand at an unprecedented inflection point in American nuclear energyâ he saidâThe question no longer is whether America needs nuclear energyâ itâs how much how quickly and how to make it happenâWagner said infrastructure was being accelerated to meet the administrationâs goals including new demonstration reactors and expanded fuel development efforts âI am no longer skeptical I am optimistic we will see it happenâ he said of the timeline for initial reactorsIndustry leaders pointed to rapidly growing electricity demand particularly from artificial intelligence and data centres as a key driver of the renewed focus on nuclear powerâThe US faces a pivotal moment as electricity demand surges due to AI data centers and restored American manufacturingâ said Mike Laufer chief executive of Kairos PowerâThe message from Washington is unambiguous â nuclear energy is needed nowâLaufer said new reactor technologies and milestonebased federal funding models were helping accelerate development while maintaining accountability He stressed that early investments were essential to bridge the gap between demonstration and largescale commercial deploymentLawmakers from both parties expressed support for expanding nuclear energy but raised concerns about costs supply chains and longterm waste managementSeveral senators noted that past nuclear projects had faced significant cost overruns deterring utilities from investing in new reactors Others highlighted the need to secure domestic fuel supplies and reduce dependence on countries such as RussiaThe hearing also underscored intensifying global competition âRussia and China both understand thisâ Lee said âTheyâre building reactors at scaleâ locking in fuel supply arrangements that tie countries to their technologyâThe United States currently operates the worldâs largest fleet of nuclear reactors supplying about onefifth of its electricity However new construction has slowed in recent decades due to high costs and regulatory challengesRecent legislation and executive actions aim to reverse that trend with bipartisan backing in Congress to expand nuclear capacity as part of a reliable and lowcarbon energy mix IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/new-nuclear-race-takes-shape-in-washington-665707.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-advance-bipartisan-push-on-healthcare-costs-665710.html Washington March 20 Facing rising health care costs and access gaps US senators advanced bipartisan proposals on drug pricing maternal care and insurance reform At a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee hearing lawmakers from both parties pitched a wide range of bills aimed at lowering costs expanding access and addressing workforce shortagesOpening the session Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy stressed the need for practical solutions âAs chair my focus is cutting through the noise to deliver for Louisiana and for the United States of Americaâ he said pointing to pressure on families as âhealth care drug prices college tuition is all too expensiveâSeveral senators focused on affordability in health care and child care Senator Tim Kaine highlighted a bipartisan bill to expand child care supply by supplementing workers pay noting a mismatch between costs and wages â43 per cent of our child care workers rely on public assistanceâ he said despite high fees paid by familiesKaine also promoted legislation to eliminate outofpocket costs tied to childbirth âNo mom should go without care because of a fear that they cant afford itâ he said citing average costs of about 3000 for pregnancy and delivery under employersponsored insuranceRural health care gaps were another key concern Senator Maggie Hassan said access to maternal services remains limited in many areas âIn some areas of New Hampshire it may take more than an hour to drive to the nearest labor and delivery unitâ she said backing a bill to equip rural hospitals and train staff for emergency obstetric careOn drug pricing Hassan criticised industry practices that delay the introduction of cheaper alternatives âPharmaceutical companies exploit loopholes in the patent system in order to build what are known as patent walls around their productsâ she said arguing this can block generic competition for yearsTransparency in pricing drew bipartisan support Senators Roger Marshall and John Hickenlooper pushed the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act which would require hospitals and insurers to disclose real prices upfront Hickenlooper said âThe lack of transparency in the health care industry is is outrageousâ while Marshall said the bill could âsave families potentially 1000 a monthâOther proposals discussed included expanding ALS research improving access to insulin boosting the nursing workforce increasing access to prostate cancer screening and strengthening mental health servicesAcross the hearing lawmakers repeatedly described their bills as bipartisan and ready for action signalling areas where cooperation remains possible despite broader political divisionsCassidy said committee staff was actively reviewing proposals and working through technical details noting strong interest in advancing several measures IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-advance-bipartisan-push-on-healthcare-costs-665710.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-dismissesun-rapporteursreporton-waqf-lawas-false-displayinghostilty-665746.html United Nations March 20 India has dismissed a report by the expert on minority issues as âfactually incorrectâ and displaying âhostilityâ to the country Gaurav Kumar Thakur a counsellor at Indiaâs UN Mission in Geneva said India rejects the assertions of Nicolas Levrat the special rapporteur on minority issues about the Waqf Amendment Act 2025His assertions are âfactually incorrect and based on a poor grasp of its background and historyâ Thakur said on Tuesday at a session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday in GenevaâThe tone and content of his comments reflect a clear perceived hostility towards Indiaâ Thakur addedThe Councilâs special rapporteurs are socalled independent experts who report on issues assigned to them in their personal capacities even though they carry the appearance of having the Councilâs imprimatur and donât necessarily reflect its viewâThe tone and contentâ of comments by Levrat a University of Geneva professor of European and International Law âreflect a clear perceived hostility towards Indiaâ Thakur saidLevrat asserted in a report that the Waqf Amendment Act âinfringes the capacity of Muslim communities to own and operate places of worshipâThakur said the aim of the law was âprogressiveâ to âpromote transparency gender equality and more effective work administrationâHe said it empowers minority Muslim sects like Bohras and Agakhanis by enshrining their âright to preserve the interests of their own community by establishing their own worship placesâLevratâs âcomments appear to rely on interaction with certain organisations whose only agenda is to peddle fake narratives and tarnish Indiaâs pluralistic ethos for their own political endsâ Thakur allegedIn a report on his activities Levrat said that he had consulted the Indian American Muslim Council in New YorkThakur declared âIndia is firmly committed to empowering ethnic religious and linguistic minorities and to nurturing our nationâs pluralistic characterââOur democratic ethos and Constitution guarantee fundamental rights to all its citizensâ he saidâThe constitution grants specific protections to all types of minorities and safeguards their identitiesâ and âall minorities whether defined by religion or language can establish an administrative authority to administer educational institutions of their choice and choose the medium of instructionâ he addedWomenâs rights and ensuring the representation of all Muslim sects in the Waqf bodies that administer Muslim charitable endowments are significant elements of the actIt requires that at least two Muslim women serve on the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards and it ensures female inheritance rightsRepresentation from various Muslim sects on State Waqf Boards is another mandate of the amendment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-dismissesun-rapporteursreporton-waqf-lawas-false-displayinghostilty-665746.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-dismissesun-rapporteursreporton-waqf-lawas-false-displayinghostility-665748.html United Nations March 20 India has dismissed a report by the expert on minority issues as âfactually incorrectâ and displaying âhostilityâ to the country Gaurav Kumar Thakur a counsellor at Indiaâs UN Mission in Geneva said India rejects the assertions of Nicolas Levrat the special rapporteur on minority issues about the Waqf Amendment Act 2025His assertions are âfactually incorrect and based on a poor grasp of its background and historyâ Thakur said on Tuesday at a session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday in GenevaâThe tone and content of his comments reflect a clear perceived hostility towards Indiaâ Thakur addedThe Councilâs special rapporteurs are socalled independent experts who report on issues assigned to them in their personal capacities even though they carry the appearance of having the Councilâs imprimatur and donât necessarily reflect its viewâThe tone and contentâ of comments by Levrat a University of Geneva professor of European and International Law âreflect a clear perceived hostility towards Indiaâ Thakur saidLevrat asserted in a report that the Waqf Amendment Act âinfringes the capacity of Muslim communities to own and operate places of worshipâThakur said the aim of the law was âprogressiveâ to âpromote transparency gender equality and more effective work administrationâHe said it empowers minority Muslim sects like Bohras and Agakhanis by enshrining their âright to preserve the interests of their own community by establishing their own worship placesâLevratâs âcomments appear to rely on interaction with certain organisations whose only agenda is to peddle fake narratives and tarnish Indiaâs pluralistic ethos for their own political endsâ Thakur allegedIn a report on his activities Levrat said that he had consulted the Indian American Muslim Council in New YorkThakur declared âIndia is firmly committed to empowering ethnic religious and linguistic minorities and to nurturing our nationâs pluralistic characterââOur democratic ethos and Constitution guarantee fundamental rights to all its citizensâ he saidâThe constitution grants specific protections to all types of minorities and safeguards their identitiesâ and âall minorities whether defined by religion or language can establish an administrative authority to administer educational institutions of their choice and choose the medium of instructionâ he addedWomenâs rights and ensuring the representation of all Muslim sects in the Waqf bodies that administer Muslim charitable endowments are significant elements of the actIt requires that at least two Muslim women serve on the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards and it ensures female inheritance rightsRepresentation from various Muslim sects on State Waqf Boards is another mandate of the amendment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-dismissesun-rapporteursreporton-waqf-lawas-false-displayinghostility-665748.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-jail-isi-looks-to-sajid-mir-to-drive-karachi-project-unified-command-push-665756.html New Delhi March 20 With the terror infrastructure largely in tatters Pakistan is likely to bring back Sajid Mir to fix the problem Mir who played a major role in executing the Mumbai 2611 attacks was handed over charge of Pakistanâs ambitious Karachi Project Mirâs existence was always denied by Pakistan However to get out of the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force FATF he was detained by Pakistan in 2022 and sentenced to 15 years in jail by a Lahore courtAlthough he remains in jail he has been told to oversee some important projects that the ISI wants to implementAn Intelligence Bureau official said that he is currently in charge of reviving the LashkareTaibaâs Muridke camp which was destroyed during Operation Sindoor Prior to his arrest he lived at the Ganda Nala lane in Lahore There are Intelligence inputs suggesting that Mir gets many visitors These visits are all linked with the revival of the LashkareTaiba and other terror groupsThe ISI did not want to use Mir for any of its operations immediately However the process to revive the LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammad which faced immense losses during Operation Sindoor has been harder than Pakistan expected The ISI had even decided that operations by these two terror groups and also the Hizbul Mujahideen would be carried out under a unified commandAn official said that when all these terror groups have one common goal and that is the destruction of India and the Kashmir issue the ISI must have felt that it was a good idea to have these groups operate unitedly Who better for the ISI than Sajid Mir to oversee the structural changes in these terror groups which the ISI wants to implementInputs suggest that the ISI has directed Mir to coordinate from jail For Mir coordinating operations from jail is no big task He has access and there are many times that he has been allowed to leave jail and meet with operatives covertly another official saidWhen India sought his extradition in 2020 in connection with the Mumbai 2611 attacks Pakistan had long denied his existence with shifting claims about his status Pakistan said that he was dead However the Pakistanis brought him back to life in 2022 to lower the heat it was facing from the FATFPakistan also floated a rumour that Mir had been poisoned but Indian agencies can confirm that the news is false The official added that roping Mir in to oversee these changes and shape the revival also fits perfectly into the larger plan of undertaking the Karachi ProjectIf Mir is able to get these terror groups under one command and ensure theyâre seamlessly functioning then implementing the Karachi Project becomes easier Another official said that reaching out to Mir is a risky move but Pakistan is ready to take itIt is Mirâs experience and expertise coupled with the fact that he is highly respected in terror circles that led the ISI to take such a riskOwing to free access he can summon anyone to jail and hand out instructions and also implement the planThe Karachi Project is an ambitious one which involves carrying out terror attacks at multiple locations in India The project has been in the making for many years now The first time the project was being discussed in Pakistan was when the Indian Mujahideen was very active However with the collapse of the Indian Mujahideen work on the project also slowed downThe idea was to have a strong homegrown terror network carry out attacks in India For the attacks from Pakistan the ISI had roped in the LashkareTaiba to undertake this project Officials say that if Hizbul Mujahideen JaisheMohammad and LashkareTaiba are able to work together then this project would become much strongerAnother aspect is the homegrown terror network The ISI has been working on nurturing a homegrown network in various parts of India It would want one to undertake operations in the North and the other in the South If this plan goes through then the three Pakistanbased terror groups would put all their efforts into Jammu and KashmirAnother official said that the ISI has also roped in Retd Major Hashim and the head of the LashkareTaibaâs naval wing Abu Yukoob to be part of this projectEarlier the plan for the setting up of homegrown operations in India involved recruiting youth from Gujarat Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra Kerala Delhi and Tamil Nadu The recruited youth were meant to travel to Pakistan undergo training and then return to India and carry out attacks Today the ISI has dropped the plan of moving these recruits to Pakistan as borders are on high alert and undertaking such an operation would be risky The recruited youth will be trained online and modules will be set up on the lines of the one that was busted at Faridabad officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-jail-isi-looks-to-sajid-mir-to-drive-karachi-project-unified-command-push-665756.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-accuses-pakistan-of-violating-ceasefire-along-durand-line-665765.html Kabul March 20 Afghanistans Chief of Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat has accused Pakistan military of violating the ceasefire along the Durand Line local media reported on Friday Several people were killed in attacks conducted by Pakistani forces in border areas according to the statement released by Afghanistans Ministry of Defence Fitrat stated that Pakistans continuous attacks despite the ceasefire demonstrates a lack of commitment and deception by Islamabad Afghanistanbased Ariana News reportedHe stated that Afghanistan has refrained from taking any retaliatory action to prevent further worsening of the situation and has remained committed to the ceasefire He warned that the ceasefire will become meaningless and Taliban will give a decisive response to Pakistans actions if such attacks are repeated On Wednesday Afghanistan said it would pause its Rad alZulm defensive operations for Eid at the request of mediating nations including Saudi Arabia Qatar and Turkiye Pakistan also announced temporary pause in military operations for Eid with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar saying that the decision was taken at the request of the regional mediatorsHowever according to officials Pakistani military forces fired over 70 artillery shells in Afghanistans Kunar province local media reported ZiaurRahman Spin Ghar head of information at Kunarâs Department of Information and Culture said 35 shells were fired in several areas including Barikot Dokalam and Tsongalai in Narai district Ariana News reported Furthermore 37 shells were reported in parts of Manogai district The authorities have urged residents to remain alert and seek shelter in safer areas as officials continue to monitor the situation On Tuesday Afghanistanâs Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi condemned Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul terming it a serious violation of humanitarian and Islamic principles He said that more than 408 people were killed and over 260 others were injured in Pakistani strike majority of them patients at a drug rehabilitation centre He accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian facilitiesSpeaking to diplomats and representatives from various organisations in Kabul Muttaqi said that the Pakistani airstrike targeted one of the most vulnerable groups in society â people who were receiving treatment for drug addictionHe said that repeated attacks since February including strikes on civilian areas in various parts of Afghanistan have diminished trust in diplomatic solutions He warned that Afghan forces will continue âproportionate and legitimateâ defensive responses if attacks continue emphasising that Afghanistan does not want war but will protect its sovereignty and territory IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-accuses-pakistan-of-violating-ceasefire-along-durand-line-665765.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/look-forward-to-working-closely-pm-modi-congratulates-charnvirakul-on-his-election-as-thailands-pm-665770.html New Delhi March 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Anutin Charnvirakul on his election as Thailands Prime Minister and expressed readiness to work closely with himnbspPM Modi stated that he and Charnvirakul will further deepen the strategic partnership between India and ThailandIn his congratulatory message on X PM Modi stated Heartiest congratulations to Mr Anutin Charnvirakul on his election as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand I look forward to working closely with him Together we will further deepen the multifaceted IndiaThailand Strategic Partnership Our ties are rooted in shared civilisational heritage close cultural connect and vibrant peopletopeople ties India and Thailand remain united in our shared aspirations for peace progress and prosperity for our peoplesPM Modis congratulatory message came after Charnvirakul a candidate from the Bhumjaithai Party was reelected as Thailands PM after he secured a simple majority in a vote cast by the House of Representatives on ThursdayCharnvirakul whose party holds majority of the seats in the freshlyelected House of Representatives was pitted for Thailand PMs position against Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut leader of the Peoples Party which secured second spot in the elections in February Xinhua News Agency reportedIn a roll call vote Charnvirakul received 293 votes surpassing the simple majority of 499 members in the lower house needed for approval House Speaker Sophon Zaram said Zaram stated that Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut secured 119 votes in his favourIn his address Charnvirakul assured members of parliament and senators that he would collaborate with all representatives to ensure Thailands prosperity and the public interest of its peopleCharnvirakul is pending endorsement by Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn to officially assume his new term as the 32nd PM of ThailandCharnvirakul has been Thailands PM since September last year after securing a win in the parliamentary vote after Thailand Constitutional Courts decision removed former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her premiership for breaching the constitution of the nation over an ethics breachIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/look-forward-to-working-closely-pm-modi-congratulates-charnvirakul-on-his-election-as-thailands-pm-665770.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-bangladesh-envoy-hamidullah-discuss-advancing-bilateral-ties-665774.html New Delhi March 20 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar met Riaz Hamidullah the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India in New Delhi on Friday with discussions focusing on advancing bilateral ties In a post on X EAM Jaishankar stated Met with High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah of Bangladesh Our conversation was focused on advancing our bilateral tiesIndia on Thursday said that it continues to assist Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries on the issue of energy supply requirements while balancing domestic needs refining capacity and diesel availabilityWhile addressing a weekly media briefing on Thursday Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India has received energy requests from Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives and other neighbouring countriesHe mentioned that India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation and continues to assist the South Asian nation along with other neighbouring countriesâAbout energy we have received requests from several of our neighbouring countries and I had spoken about this earlier as well We have received requests from Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives and some other neighbouring countries As I had indicated earlier India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation We are continuing to assist Bangladesh and our other neighbours even currently This is being done while factoring in our own requirements refining capacity and diesel availability said JaiswalWith the energy shipping routes having been impacted due to the ongoing West Asia conflict he mentioned that the supply of LPG remains a matter of concernTherefore we are prioritising domestic consumption and domestic consumers first Their needs will be taken care of and then we will decide how to manage LPG supply to commercial establishments However this remains a matter of concern due to the shortage of supplyâEarlier this month Indias High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma held a series of meetings with ministers of the newlyformed Tarique Rahman led Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP government discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between both countriesAccording to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka Verma called on Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Bangladeshâs Minister of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives to explore various areas of common interest including strengthening cooperation in local governance structures and rural developmentBoth sides agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement in areas such as rural economy agricultural cooperatives financial empowerment at grassroots etcâHigh Commissioner underlined that IndiaBangladesh relations are founded on peopletopeople ties and that India remains ready to engage with Bangladesh in a positive constructive and forwardlooking manner to promote peoplecentric cooperation in all domains based on mutual interest and mutual benefitâ the Indian High Commission posted on XVerma also met Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bangladeshâs Minister of Liberation War Affairs reaffirming the strong historical bonds between the two countries rooted in the shared sacrifices during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation WarâThey underlined the importance of working together on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust to further strengthen peopletopeople ties between the two countriesâ said the Indian High Commission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-bangladesh-envoy-hamidullah-discuss-advancing-bilateral-ties-665774.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/humanitarian-crisis-deepens-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-amid-crackdowns-systematic-neglect-665778.html London March 20 The deprivation of essential services in Pakistanoccupied Jammu and Kashmir PoJK and Pakistanoccupied GilgitBaltistan PoGB has forged a widening humanitarian divide where inflation unemployment food insecurity and power shortages intertwine with political exclusion and securitydriven administration a report has highlighted According to a recent report in the UKbased newspaper Asian Lite the increasing involvement of women and students in demonstrations highlights the societal discontent signalling a persistent crisis rooted in structural neglectAs unrest grows and crackdowns escalate the worsening humanitarian crisis in PoJK and PoGB exposes Pakistanâs administrative policies in the territories it controls without constitutional integrationâThese protests were not confined to food prices Electricity shortages and inflated power bills have become a yearround ordeal Despite hosting major hydropower projects residents endure prolonged loadshedding while being charged commercial tariffs The contradiction has become emblematic of the wider crisis â regions rich in natural resources but denied their benefitsâ the report detailedâIn PoJK similar protests escalated into regionwide shutdowns Demonstrators refused to pay electricity bills citing unaffordable rates unpaid salaries and the erosion of basic civil liberties The response from authorities has often involved arrests communication blackouts and the use of forceâ it addedThe report noted that in PoGB land ownership has become a critical flashpoint with large tracts of land labelled as state property denying communities legal rights to their ancestral landsâAllegations of land grabs linked to infrastructure and strategic projects have intensified resentment particularly where locals claim displacement without compensation Resource exploitation has followed a similar patternâ it addedAdditionally the electricity generated from the hydropower project in PoJK and PoGB feeds Pakistanâs national grid while local communities struggle with power shortages and soaring tariffsâThe perception that regional resources are extracted for external benefit has deepened mistrust toward federal authoritiesâ the report notedHighlighting the repression in these Pakistanoccupied territories it said critics argue that Pakistani security agencies especially the InterServices Intelligence prioritise controlling dissent rather than resolving grievancesâAllegations of surveillance intimidation and enforced disappearances have surfaced repeatedly in reports by rights groupsâ the report highlightedWhile the crisis has begun to attract international attention though sporadically in 2025 activists from PoJK and PoGB at a side event during the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva expressed grave concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assemblyâSpeakers described systematic suppression and the absence of legal protections for millions living in the disputed territories Despite such interventions Pakistanâs official response has largely focused on denial Authorities have frequently attributed protests to âexternal influenceâ a narrative that sidesteps the documented economic and humanitarian grievances raised by residents themselvesâ the report mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/humanitarian-crisis-deepens-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-amid-crackdowns-systematic-neglect-665778.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/spokesman-of-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-killed-in-israeli-strike-665796.html Jerusalem March 20 The Israel Defence Forces IDF on Friday announced that spokesperson and head of the Public Relations Array of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC Ali Mohammad Naini has been killed According to the statement released by IDF Naini served in several propaganda and public relations rolesELIMINATED Ali Mohammad Naini the Spokesperson and Head of the Public Relations Array of the IRGC Naini served in several propaganda and public relations roles In his role as the IRGCs main propagandist for the past 2 years he disseminated the regimes terrorist propaganda to its proxies across the Middle East in order to influence and advance terror attacks against Israel IDF posted on XThe IRGC also announced the martyrdom of Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini its official spokesman in USIsraeli terror attack during the final hours of the holy month of RamadanQuoting from an IRGC statement the Iranian media said that the assault was a cowardly act of statesponsored terror and vowed retaliationOn Wednesday IDF said that Irans Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in an Israeli airstrike in TehranEsmaeil Khatib the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence in a targeted strike in Tehran Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran including the arrest amp killing of protestors and led terrorist activities against Israelis amp Americans around the world Similarly he operated against Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests 2022â2023 IDF stated in a post on XThe Iranian Ministry of Intelligence possesses advanced intelligence capabilities overseeing surveillance espionage and the execution of covert operations worldwide particularly against Israeli and Iranian citizens it addedOn Tuesday Israel claimed that it has killed Iranâs Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali LarijaniIDF stated that Larjiani was considered one of the most senior figures in the Iranian regime leadership and a close associate of late Supreme Leader Ayotallah Ali KhameneiAli Larijani Secretary of Iranâs Supreme National Security Council and the regimeâs effective leader has been eliminated Throughout the years Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership and was a close associate of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei IDF posted on XLater Iranian media also reported that Ali Larijani along with his son was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on March 17During the most recent wave of protests against the Iranian terror regime Larijani personally oversaw the massacre that was carried out against Iranian protestors it addedAccording to a statement released by the IDF Larijani functioned as the leader of the Iranian regime after Khameneis death and led the combat against Israel and countries in the regionIDF also announced that Basij Unit commander Gholamreza Soleimani has been killedCOMMANDER OF THE BASIJ UNIT ELIMINATED Yesterday the IDF targeted ampamp eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani who operated as commander of the Basij unit for the past 6 years Under Soleimani the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran employing severe violence widespread arrests and the use of force against civilian demonstrators the IDF said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/spokesman-of-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-killed-in-israeli-strike-665796.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-fed-keeps-interest-rates-unchanged-flags-oil-shock-risks-665628.html Washington March 19 Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank was keeping interest rates unchanged as it monitored the fallout from higher oil prices and broader uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East Powell on Wednesday local time said the Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its policy rate unchanged because the current stance remained appropriate He said the US economy was expanding at âa solid paceâ even as inflation stayed above target and the labour market showed signs of softnessâThe implications of developments in the Middle East for the US economy are uncertainâ Powell said âWe will remain attentive to risks to both sides of our dual mandateâThe Fed kept the target range for the federal funds rate at 35 to 375 per cent Powell said inflation had eased sharply from its 2022 peak but was still running above the central bankâs 2 per cent goal He said estimates suggested total PCE prices rose 28 per cent in the 12 months ending in February while core PCE prices rose 30 per centHe said the latest price pressures were being driven in large part by goods inflation and tariffs with fresh energy costs now adding another layer of risk âIn the near term higher energy prices will push up overall inflation but it is too soon to know the scope and duration of the potential effects on the economyâ he saidPowell repeatedly stressed uncertainty when asked how the Fed would respond if oil prices stayed elevated or if the conflict disrupted supply chains more broadly âNobody knowsâ he said âThe economic effect could be bigger They could be smaller They could be much smaller or much bigger We just donât knowâHe said the Fed was not on a preset course and would decide meeting by meeting While the median projection still showed lower rates later this year Powell made clear that any easing would depend on whether inflation slowed as expected âIf we donât see that progress then you wonât see the rate cutâ he saidAsked whether the central bank could simply look through an energy shock Powell said that it depended on inflation expectations staying anchored He also said five years of inflation above target could not be ignored âWe are very strongly committed to doing what it takes to keep inflation expectations anchored at 2 per centâ he saidOn the labour market Powell said headline job growth had weakened but the unemployment rate had been broadly stable He said slower labour force growth driven largely by lower immigration and participation had changed how policymakers were reading employment data Even so he acknowledged concern over the very low pace of privatesector job creationPowell rejected comparisons with the stagflation of the 1970s He said the current mix of inflation and employment pressures was difficult but far less severe âThat is not the situation weâre inâ he saidHe also said the US economy had shown resilience through repeated shocks in recent years âThe US economy has really been just doing pretty well through a lot of significant challenges over the past few yearsâ he saidThe Fed has held rates steady after reducing them by threequarters of a percentage point between September and December a move Powell said helped bring policy closer to neutral The central bank has since been weighing whether inflation is slowing enough to justify further easingThe Fedâs dual mandate requires it to pursue both maximum employment and stable prices That balance has become more complicated after a series of shocks including the pandemic tariffs and now a fresh oil surge tied to geopolitical conflict IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-fed-keeps-interest-rates-unchanged-flags-oil-shock-risks-665628.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-faces-challenge-of-deterring-two-nuclear-peers-russia-china-at-same-time-pentagon-665629.html Washington March 19 The United States faces an âunprecedented challengeâ of deterring two nuclear peers at the same time senior defence officials told lawmakers as military leaders warned of growing threats from China and Russia across nuclear missile and space domains At a House Armed Services strategic forces hearing on Wednesday local time Robert Kadlec assistant secretary of defence for nuclear deterrence and chemical and biological defence said US strategy had reached âa critical inflexion pointââChinaâs strategic nuclear breakout means we now face the unprecedented challenge of deterring two nuclear peersâ Kadlec said âThis is not a distant problem Itâs a central organising challenge for our defence strategy todayâHe said China was engaged in âthe most rapid and opaque nuclear expansion in its historyâ while Russia retained âthe worldâs largest arsenalâ and continued to rely on nuclear forces for coercionKadlec said the US must prepare for âthe real possibility of coordinated and or opportunistic aggression across multiple theatresâ He argued that Washington did not need to match its rivals âwarhead for warheadâ but needed a force strong enough to impose âunacceptable costs on both adversaries under any contingencyâHe called for full funding and where possible acceleration of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile the Columbiaclass submarine the B21 bomber and the Long Range Stand Off cruise missileKadlec also pressed for theatrerange nuclear options âSLCMN is one exampleâ he said âIt is essential and a vital tool for managing escalation in a conflict with a peer competitorâThe hearing also highlighted growing concern over space General Stephen Whiting commander of US Space Command said American military operations now depended heavily on space systems and warned that rivals were moving quickly to challenge themâMake no mistake our opponents are moving at an alarming pace developing and deploying capabilities to deny us the use of spaceâ Whiting saidHe said China had integrated spaceenabled effects across its forces and was fielding weapons âpurposebuilt to outmanoeuvre and destroy our satellitesâ Russia he added continued to demonstrate capabilities designed to disrupt US assets including âthe potential placement of a nuclear weapon in orbitâMarc Berkowitz assistant secretary of defence for space policy used his testimony to back President Donald Trumpâs proposed âGolden Dome for Americaâ calling it âa comprehensive nextgeneration defence against the most catastrophic threats facing the United StatesââThe Golden Dome will protect our homeland citizens critical infrastructure and second strike capabilityâ Berkowitz said He described it as âa necessary and pragmatic responseâ to growing threats from ballistic missiles hypersonic weapons and advanced cruise missilesDemocrats sharply challenged both the programme and the broader strategic approach Ranking member Seth Moulton said the US needed âstrength not chaosâ and warned against âstoking an arms race for even moreâGeneral Gregory Guillot who leads US Northern Command and NORAD said homeland defence commanders were adapting to the changing threat environment In January 2026 he said USNORTHCOM activated Joint Task Force Gold âto serve as the operational arm for a future layered defence system provided by Golden Dome for AmericaâAdmiral Richard Correll commander of US Strategic Command said the US was modernising during âthis critical bigenerational period of modernisation and recapitalisationâ He said the strategic challenge was to deter âmultiple nuclear competitors while simultaneously adapting to dramatic technological changeâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-faces-challenge-of-deterring-two-nuclear-peers-russia-china-at-same-time-pentagon-665629.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/kash-patel-strikes-back-as-senators-press-fbi-on-threats-665630.html Washington March 19 FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back against lawmakers here defending the bureauâs aggressive counterterrorism and law enforcement posture as senators pressed him on surveillance resources and evolving threats The Indian American FBI chief adopted a combative and confident tone during exchanges at the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday local time repeatedly highlighting operational successes and rejecting criticism of the bureauâs approachPatel pointed to recent disruptions of terrorist plots as evidence that the FBIâs strategy is workingâWe at the FBI stopped four terrorist attacksâ three of which were ISISinspiredâ he said citing coordinated operations across multiple statesHe argued that the threat environment has shifted rapidly requiring a more proactive and technologically driven responseâThey have transferred their capabilitiesâ to online recruitments which makes any terrorist organisationâ all the more powerfulâ Patel said referring to the growing role of digital platforms in extremist networksWhen pressed by Senator Ron Wyden on surveillance practices Patel firmly defended the FBIâs use of commercially available dataâThe FBI uses all toolsâ consistent with the Constitution and the lawsâ he said pushing back against suggestions that the bureau was overstepping legal boundariesHe emphasised that intelligence gathering and enforcement actions are conducted within established legal frameworks even as threats become more complex and dispersedPatel also highlighted the bureauâs expanded coordination with other agencies describing a nationwide operational scaleupâWhat we have stood up around the country are 59 Homeland Security taskforcesâ he said underscoring joint efforts with federal and local partnersResponding to questions Patel cited a âdoubledigit increaseâ in intelligence production and a similar rise in biometric data collection enabling authorities to identify and track threats more effectivelyPatel also drew attention to the growing threat from transnational crime and cyberenabled fraud particularly largescale scam networks operating overseasâThere are literal compoundsâ that are fleecing Americansâ he said describing operations based in Southeast AsiaHe said the FBI is working with foreign governments to dismantle these networks including efforts to shut down infrastructure supporting such scamsThroughout the hearing Patel repeatedly framed the bureauâs actions as necessary to stay ahead of fastevolving threats particularly in the digital domainHe also defended deeper collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies arguing that expanded manpower and shared intelligence are essentialâWhat weâre doingâ is enable their massive workforce to supplement oursâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/kash-patel-strikes-back-as-senators-press-fbi-on-threats-665630.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jd-vance-links-michigan-jobs-push-to-trade-calls-fuel-price-rise-temporary-blip--665637.html Washington March 19 US Vice President JD Vance used a speech in the industrial state of Michigan to defend President Donald Trumpâs economic agenda arguing that tax cuts deregulation and a tougher trade posture were helping revive manufacturing while also acknowledging shortterm pressure from higher fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East Addressing workers at Engineering Design Services Incorporated in Auburn Hills Michigan Vance framed the administrationâs approach as an effort to rebuild domestic industry after years of factory closures and job lossesâWe were sick of shipping American jobs overseas We were sick of shipping American industry overseas We are going to build right here in Michigan right here at home right here in the United States of America and thatâs what weâve doneâ he saidIndian American Republican leader Sunny Reddy delivered a welcome address for VanceThe speech offered a clear snapshot of how the Trump administration is trying to present its economic record more domestic production lower taxes less regulation and a readiness to use tariffs against trading partners it says have benefited at the expense of American workersVance said Michigan had added âover 2000 manufacturing jobs in this state since Donald Trump became Presidentâ and pointed to the stateâs industrial ecosystem including engineering firms robotics and automobile manufacturing as evidence that a broader revival was underwayHe also argued that recent tax changes were putting more money in consumersâ pockets and creating room for businesses to hire and invest âThe average American has actually increased their takehome pay by about 1400â he said though he added that many families were still recovering from the inflation shock of the Biden yearsThe vice president made a particular effort to highlight the car industry which remains central to Michiganâs economy and is closely watched abroad because of its link to supply chains trade flows and technology shifts He accused the previous administration of burdening automakers with regulation and said Trump had reversed that directionâWe believe you ought to be able to drive whatever the hell car you want in the United States of Americaâ Vance said in a reference to the administrationâs broader pushback against policies seen by conservatives as forcing electric vehicle adoption too quicklyHis remarks also touched on a concern with wider global relevance energy prices Asked about rising petrol prices amid the Iran crisis and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz Vance said the administration believed the increase would be temporaryâGas prices are up and we know theyâre up and we know that people are hurting because of itâ he said But he added âThis is a temporary blipâVance said Washington had worked with allies to release petroleum reserves in an effort to place downward pressure on prices and suggested further measures could be announced soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jd-vance-links-michigan-jobs-push-to-trade-calls-fuel-price-rise-temporary-blip--665637.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-dhs-nominee-backs-legal-migration-signals-tougher-enforcement-climate-665638.html Washington March 19 US Homeland Security Secretary nominee Markwayne Mullin said he supports legal immigration but will push for stricter enforcement of immigration laws Testifying before the Senate on Wednesday local time Mullin drew a clear line between legal and illegal migration He said the system must continue to work for those who follow the rulesâWe do have naturalisation ceremonies Monday through Friday in this countryâ he said âWeâre going to continue working with those individualsâAt the same time he stressed that enforcement is central to national security He said the mission of the Department of Homeland Security is âto protect the homelandâLawmakers raised concerns about enforcement actions affecting people navigating legal pathways Some cited cases where individuals were detained during immigrationrelated appointmentsMullin said he was not familiar with specific cases But he said those trying to obtain status legally should continue to be processedâIf people are going through the process and trying to obtain it legallyâ weâre going to continue working with those individualsâ he saidHe also signalled a tougher enforcement posture âWe donât get to choose which laws we enforceâ he saidMullin suggested a shift in how enforcement is carried out He said he prefers greater coordination with local authoritiesHe said local law enforcement should play a larger role That could reduce direct operations in communitiesPressed on enforcement in places like hospitals Mullin avoided blanket rules He said actions depend on the circumstances and legal warrantsâI will always support my law enforcement doing their jobâ he saidThe hearing exposed deep divisions over immigration policy Democrats raised concerns about civil liberties and the use of force Republicans focused on border security and enforcementMullin said he wants to rebuild trust in DHS He acknowledged public concern about enforcement actionsâMy goal in six months is that weâre not in the lead story every single dayâ he saidHe said the agency should focus on its core mission and avoid controversyMullin did not propose changes to visa programmes However his comments pointed to stricter compliance and oversightFor migrants including skilled workers and green card applicants that could mean more scrutiny Legal pathways would remain in place but enforcement would be tighterDHS oversees immigration enforcement border security and parts of the legal immigration system Its policies affect visa holders asylum seekers and applicants for permanent residencyThe Senate is expected to move quickly on Mullinâs nomination Lawmakers said they may seek further clarification on other issues in a closeddoor briefing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-dhs-nominee-backs-legal-migration-signals-tougher-enforcement-climate-665638.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/macron-calls-for-ending-raids-on-civilian-infrastructure-in-west-asia-665640.html Paris March 19 French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called for an immediate end to military strikes on civilian infrastructure particularly energy and water supply facilities in the current Iran war In a message posted on social media Macron said he had spoken with US President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following strikes that had hit gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar noting that it was in the common interest to implement without delay a moratorium on such strikesHe stressed that civilian populations and their essential needs as well as the security of energy supplies must be protected from military escalation reports Xinhua news agencyI have just spoken with the Emir of Qatar and President Trump following the strikes that hit gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar today the French President said in a post on X It is in our common interest to implement without delay a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure particularly energy and water supply facilities Civilian populations and their essential needs as well as the security of energy supplies must be protected from military escalation he addedQatars interior ministry and stateowned QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit by missile attacks suffering extensive fires and damageEarlier in the day the Israeli air force struck Irans major natural gas facility located in Bushehr in the south of the country Israels stateowned Kan TV News reported that the strike was carried out in coordination with the US administrationFollowing the strike Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an evacuation warning for several oil facilities in Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates and Qatar Meanwhile earlier on Wednesday Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned the US and Israeli attacks on the countrys energy infrastructureHe made the remarks in a post on social media platform X after airstrikes were carried out on parts of the South Pars gas field in southern IranPezeshkian said such aggressive acts will complicate the situation and could have uncontrollable consequences the scope of which could engulf the entire worldIn a post on X on the same day Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf condemned attacks saying they mean suicide for them the enemiesThe equation of an eye for an eye is in effect and a new level of confrontation has begun Ghalibaf saidEarlier in the day Iranian state media reported that natural gas facilities associated with the offshore South Pars field had been attacked Israeli media citing unnamed sources said the countrys air force carried out the strikeOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/macron-calls-for-ending-raids-on-civilian-infrastructure-in-west-asia-665640.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-pm-announces-fuel-supply-task-force-665642.html Canberra March 19 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced that the federal government has established a fuel security task force amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East Speaking after meeting with state and territory leaders on Thursday morning Albanese told reporters that the government is doing all that it can to secure Australias fuel supplyI want to assure Australians at this time that Australia is well prepared Our fuel supply is currently secure however I want us to be over prepared he saidI reiterate today my message to Australians is please do not take more fuel than you need That is how you can helpHe announced that Anthea Harris former CEO of the Australian Energy Regulator and of the Energy Security Board has been appointed as the coordinator of a new national fuel supply task force and that each state and territory will appoint someone in a similar capacityAlbanese said that the task force will drive coordination between the federal state and territory governments on fuel security and supply chain resilienceThe announcement was made shortly after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC said it had launched an investigation into allegations of anticompetitive conduct by the nations major fuel suppliersThe ACCC said it commenced the investigation in response to reports concerning diesel availability to independent wholesalers and distributors servicing regional and rural Australia Xinhua news agency reported On Wednesday Australian Prime Minister had flagged new measures to protect the countrys people from the worst of the global economic uncertainty driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East In a speech to an automotive industry event on Wednesday morning Albanese had described the conflict in the Middle East as another major shock to hit the global economy in the 2020s following the COVID19 pandemic and the RussiaUkraine conflict IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-pm-announces-fuel-supply-task-force-665642.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-warned-to-prepare-for-severe-tropical-cyclone-665644.html Sydney March 19 Emergency warnings have been issued for thousands of people as Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches the northeast coast of Australias Queensland The Bureau of Meteorology BoM said in an update at 7 am Australian Eastern Standard Time on Thursday 2100 GMT on Wednesday that Tropical Cyclone Narelle had reached Category 4 strength and could intensify into a Category 5 storm before making landfall early on FridayThe BoM said that very destructive wind gusts in excess of 250 km per hour are possible near the center of the cyclone when it crosses the coast and that heavy rainfall which could cause flash flooding is expected to hit from Thursday eveningA severe impact is likely it saidIt said that the storm was about 440 km off the east coast of Queenslands Cape York Peninsula on Thursday morning and moving west at a speed of 25 km per hourAn emergency warning has been issued for a 600km stretch of the peninsulas east coast including Cooktown with a population of around 1800 people and the 500person Aboriginal community of Lockhart RiverDavid Crisafulli the premier of Queensland said that people in the emergency warning area should stock up on emergency suppliesWere just asking people to take it seriously because it is a big system he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation televisionThe BoM is forecasting that the cyclone will temporarily weaken as it crosses a 220km wide stretch of the Cape York Peninsula before reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria and again intensifying to a severe system and impacting the Northern Territory NT over the weekend Xinhua news agency reported Authorities in the NT said on Wednesday night that around 500 people in the remote community of Numbulwar would be evacuated over the coming days as a precaution IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-warned-to-prepare-for-severe-tropical-cyclone-665644.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-shifting-to-ai-led-warfare-model-pentagon-665651.html Washington March 19 A US congressional hearing on special operations forces offered a glimpse into the future of warfare one driven by artificial intelligence cyber operations and autonomous systems highlighting lessons closely watched in India as it reshapes its military to address emerging threats Lawmakers and military leaders stated that the battlefield is rapidly evolving with technology lowering the barrier for both state and nonstate actors to deploy advanced capabilities such as drones cyber tools and AIdriven systemsâThe bar to access advanced technology like AI drones and complex cyber tools has never been lowerâ Congressman Jason Crow said warning that such tools now allow smaller groups to âpunch above their weightâAssistant Secretary of Defence Derrick Anderson said the current security environment is marked by âsimultaneity convergence and speedâ with adversaries increasingly aligned and âtechnologically enabledâHe described US Special Operations Forces SOF as uniquely positioned for this shift providing âscalable tailorable and asymmetric options across the full spectrum of competition and conflictâAdmiral Frank Bradley commander of US Special Operations Command said the military must adapt quickly to remain effective in this environment âWe must adapt faster than our adversariesâ he said underlining the need to âaccelerate capability developmentâ and integrate emerging technologiesBradley identified cyber and the digital domain as central to future conflict âThe cyber and the virtual domain are critical manoeuvre spaces that we must take advantage ofâ he said adding that the growing âubiquitous information environmentâ presents both risks and opportunitiesHe also pointed to the rise of autonomous systems describing âthe emergence of abundant lethal autonomyâ as a defining feature of modern warfare However he stressed that human control remains central saying the law of war requires âa human thatâs making that decisionâ on the use of lethal forceDespite this technological push both lawmakers and military leaders warned that resources have not kept pace with demand Chairman Ronny Jackson said Socomâs âpurchasing power has been reduced by 14 per cent since 2019 despite increasing demand for support worldwideâBradley added that growing operational demands have forced the command to divert funds from future capabilities âThat pace of of growing usage but diminishing resources was causing us to have to eat into our modernisation budgetâ he saidLawmakers said this shift requires rethinking how forces are structured and equipped including greater emphasis on cyber capabilities information warfare and partnerships with alliesFor India the hearing underscores a broader shift in how major powers are preparing for future conflicts moving away from largescale troop deployments towards technologydriven agile and specialised forces capable of operating across multiple domainsUS special operations forces have been central to American military campaigns since the early 2000s particularly in counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan and Iraq Now their role has expanded to include competition with China and Russia cyberenabled operations and support for partner nationsThe discussion in Washington reflects a growing consensus that future conflicts will be shaped less by conventional force size and more by speed technology and information dominance an evolution that is increasingly influencing defence planning across the world including in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-shifting-to-ai-led-warfare-model-pentagon-665651.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-backs-digital-tariff-ban-as-india-resists-665472.html Washington March 18 US lawmakers pushed for a permanent ban on tariffs on digital products ahead of the WTO ministerial with Indiaâs opposition emerging as a key hurdle At a Congressional hearing officials said extending the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is a top priority The rule has been in place since 1998The moratorium bars countries from taxing digital trade such as software data and online servicesHouse Ways and Means Committee Chairman Adrian Smith said the United States seeks outcomes that âbenefit American businesses of all sizesâ He said the rule should not be used as leverage in negotiationsExperts warned that failure to extend the moratorium could hurt global tradeStephen Ezell vice president for global innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said âItâs vital that Americaâs foremost priority at MC 14 be securing continuation of the WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissionsââA lapse in the moratorium would significantly raise the cost of global digital trade and harm US digital exportersâ he saidHe added exports could fall âas much as 1 per cent almost immediatelyâIndia was repeatedly named as a key player in this decisionmaking processKelly Ann Shaw from the Akinâs lobbying amp public policy practice alleged âIndia in particular has held the ecommerce moratorium hostage for nearly 30 yearsâShe said the WTO system allows countries to block decisionsWitnesses said India has linked the issue to other demands These include public stockholding and farm subsidiesUS experts also warned of risks for IndiaEzell said Indiaâs digital economy accounts for â11 per cent of Indian GDPââIf India ever actually got its way and we lapsed the WTO ecommerce moratorium it would destroy their digital economyâ he saidHe said tariffs on digital flows could disrupt sectors such as semiconductors and data servicesThe hearing also focused on agriculturePeter Bachmann said global markets are distorted by subsidiesâAmerican rice farmer isnât competing against an Indian rice farmer Theyâre competing against the Indian governmentâ he saidHe said India has pushed for permanent exceptions on public stockholding at past meetingsHe warned there is âno reason to believe MC 14 will be any differentâLawmakers also stressed Indiaâs importance as a partnerThey pointed to cooperation in semiconductors artificial intelligence and clean energyEzell said stronger ties would require alignment on digital tradeâIf they want to be a critical ally with the United States in advanced technology industriesâ he said âitâs timeâ for a more mature approach to trade policy making in the global digital economyâThe hearing showed divisions in Washington over the WTOSome lawmakers defended it as a rulesbased system Others said it struggles to deliver resultsShaw said âan organization driven by consensusâ is unlikely to be part of that solutionâBruce Hirsh said the WTO still plays a role He said its rules and committees help manage trade issuesThe WTO has 166 members and works by consensusThe digital trade moratorium has been extended many times but never made permanent Its fate at MC14 will test whether the WTO can respond to the digital economy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-backs-digital-tariff-ban-as-india-resists-665472.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/republicans-democrats-clash-over-us-voting-bill-665473.html Washington March 18 A fierce political battle opened in the US Senate as Republicans pushed the SAVE Act as a safeguard for elections while Democrats denounced it as a voter suppression measure that could block millions of eligible Americans from voting Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the proposal focused on two basic requirements âyou have to prove citizenship to be able to register to vote in this countryâ and âyou actually have to show an ID to vote in this countryâHe said such measures reflected everyday practices in American life âWe certainly ought to be able to apply them to something as important as voting in this countryâ Thune said arguing that identification checks are routine for services ranging from banking to travelRepublicans framed the bill as a step to ensure election integrity Senator John Barrasso said âI believe only citizens of the United States should be allowed to vote in American electionsâ He added âI believe you should have to present a photo identification card in order to voteâBarrasso said Republicans would press for votes to force Democrats to take a clear position âRepublicans support voter ID and Democrats are the party of open borders and illegal votersâ he saidSenator Shelley Moore Capito described the measure as âcommon senseâ pointing to her home stateâs existing voter ID law She said proof of citizenship would protect âthat fundamental right to vote that we all shareâDemocrats rejected the bill outright and warned it could disrupt established voting systemsSenate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said âThe SAVE Act is not a voter ID bill It is in every sense a voter suppression billâ He warned the proposal âcould disenfranchise over 20 million Americansâ and would âkill online voter registrationâ and âkill vote by mailâSchumer also criticised provisions on identification requirements during registration âDriverâs licenses no longer enough Not even military IDs would be enough That is radicalâ he saidSenator Amy Klobuchar said the bill would impose barriers on voters while ignoring economic concerns âTheyâre trying to take people off the voter rolls and ram through their electionsâ she saidSenator Alex Padilla said the proposal would make it harder for eligible Americans âto register to vote to stay registered to vote and to cast their ballotâ He called it âa voter suppression billâ and âa voter purging billâThune acknowledged uncertainty over whether Republicans could secure enough votes but defended moving ahead âI think having the fight having the debate on the floor of the Senate is importantâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/republicans-democrats-clash-over-us-voting-bill-665473.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-confirms-death-of-top-security-official-ali-larijani-in-attack-665474.html Tehran March 18 Irans Supreme National Security Council confirmed that its secretary Ali Larijani has been killed in an attack Irans Tasnim news agency reported early Wednesday In a statement the council said Larijani died early Tuesday alongside his son Morteza Larijani deputy for security affairs at the councils secretariat Alireza Bayat and several others Tasnim reportedThe council praised Larijanis long service to Irans development and called for national unity in the face of external threats Xinhua news agency reportedOn Tuesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had killed Larijani in ongoing strikes on IranMeanwhile Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Tuesday confirmed the death of Gholamreza Soleimani head of the Basij volunteer force in a USIsraeli strikeThe deaths came amid heightened regional tensions following joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran starting February 28 to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and US interests across the Middle EastForeign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has roundly rejected having had any new contact with Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff Western media reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei rejected proposals to reduce tensions or negotiate a ceasefire with the United StatesThe IRGC launched a new Haj Qasem ballistic missile for the first time against Israel describing it as a precisionguided weapon named after slain commander Qassem Soleimani according to Tasnim news agency IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-confirms-death-of-top-security-official-ali-larijani-in-attack-665474.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-hits-iran-missile-sites-near-hormuz-665475.html Washington March 18 US forces have carried out fresh strikes on Iranian missile positions along the Strait of Hormuz targeting what military officials described as a direct threat to international shipping as Operation Epic Fury intensifies US Central Command CENTCOM said the strikes involved âmultiple 5000pound deep penetrator munitionsâ against âhardened Iranian missile sites along Iranâs coastline near the Strait of Hormuzâ It added that âthe Iranian antiship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the straitâThe latest action marks a significant escalation in the maritime dimension of the ongoing operation with the strategic waterway emerging as a focal point of US military activityCENTCOM said âUS Navy aviators have flown hundreds of combat flights during Operation Epic Fury demonstrating Americas unmatched ability to generate air dominance from the seaâAccording to an official fact sheet released a day earlier since the campaign began on February 28 âat the direction of the Presidentâ tasked to âdismantle the Iranian regimeâs security apparatus prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threatâ more than 7000 targets have been struck so farOver 100 Iranian vessels have been âdamaged or destroyedâ and US forces have conducted more than 6500 combat flightsThe targets include a wide spectrum of military infrastructure These range from âballistic missile sitesâ and âantiship missile sitesâ to âIRGC headquarters buildingsâ âintegrated air defence systemsâ and âmilitary communication capabilitiesâThe operation has drawn on extensive US military assets across air land and sea Prominent among them include B1 B2 and B52 bombers advanced fighter jets such as F22 and F35 surveillance aircraft and attack drones Naval deployments feature nuclearpowered aircraft carriers submarines and guidedmissile destroyersOn land systems such as Patriot and THAAD missile defences rocket artillery and counterdrone capabilities have been employed highlighting the multidomain nature of the campaignThe focus on antiship missile sites reflects growing concern over the security of the Strait of Hormuz a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies Any disruption in this corridor could have farreaching implications for international trade and oil markets IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-hits-iran-missile-sites-near-hormuz-665475.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-last-year-cleared-330-billion-in-arms-sales-pushing-for-faster-system-665476.html Washington March 18 The United States authorised more than 330 billion in arms exports last fiscal year a senior State Department official said as the Trump administration moved to overhaul a slow and complex defence sales system to speed up deliveries to allies Stanley L Brown Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of PoliticalMilitary Affairs told lawmakers the scale of approvals reflects strong global demand for US weapons systemsâThat demand reflects the trust our allies and partners place in American defense technology and in the United States as the security partner of choiceâ Brown said during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing hereHe acknowledged however that the current system is struggling to keep pace âOur system has not always operated at the speed or scale required to meet urgent operational demandsâ he saidIn his testimony the State Department official highlighted a series of executive orders including the âAmerica First Arms Transfer Strategyâ aimed at accelerating approvals strengthening the defence industrial base and aligning arms sales with national security prioritiesHowever he told the lawmakers that outdated Congressional notification thresholds and procedural delays risk pushing partners towards alternative suppliers with âlongterm interoperability and geopolitical consequencesâPentagon acquisition chief Mike Duffey echoed the push for reform linking arms transfers directly to US military readiness and industrial capacityâOur national security is inextricably linked to the strength of both our defense industrial base and our international partnersâ Duffey saidHe added that the administration is restructuring the system to remove regulatory bottlenecks and speed up delivery timelines âAmerica First does not mean America aloneâ he saidDuffey said new arrangements with defence contractors are aimed at expanding production enabling companies to invest more capital while increasing output of key munitions and systemsThe Defence Security Cooperation Agency processes more than 100 billion annually in arms transfers and supports security cooperation across 136 US embassies officials saidLawmakers sharply differed over the reforms and their broader implicationsChairman Brian Mast defended the administrationâs approach calling the current process âa Cold War relicâ that âactively undermines US national securityâ by delaying weapons deliveries and weakening alliesHe also backed the use of emergency authorities to expedite arms transfers saying such steps were necessary to ensure partners receive weapons âat speedâCongressman Ryan Zinke noted structural inefficiencies in his remarks There is a backlog of roughly 250 billion in pending foreign military sales he said adding that there is no unified tracking system He called for âspeed lethality and organising a databaseâ to improve accountability and delivery timelinesRanking Member Gregory Meeks said the administration has shown âsystematic contempt for Congressional oversightâ warning that bypassing review processes undermines accountability and weakens alliancesCongresswoman Madeleine Dean criticised what she described as the administrationâs âignorance and deep contempt for Congressâs constitutional roleâ particularly in relation to arms transfers linked to ongoing conflicts IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-last-year-cleared-330-billion-in-arms-sales-pushing-for-faster-system-665476.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hinduphobia-resolution-gains-traction-in-us-665479.html Washington March 18 A resolution condemning Hinduphobia and antiHindu bigotry is gaining traction in the US state of Minnesota with more than 400 community members backing the move and lawmakers hearing testimony on rising incidents targeting Hindu Americans Introduced in the Minnesota Senate on March 9 the resolution seeks to formally recognise discrimination faced by Hindu Americans and reaffirm the states commitment to religious freedom pluralism and mutual respectThe Coalition of Hindus of North America CoHNA which has led advocacy efforts stated the initiative reflects sustained engagement by the Hindu community to secure recognition and protectionCommunity leaders testified before the Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee citing incidents reported across the state and country These included hate speech targeting a temple in Edina thefts at priests homes in Maple Grove and past vandalism and intimidation directed at Hindu institutionsHate without a name often gets ignored Neha Markanda director of CoHNAs Minnesota chapter told the committee Institutional recognition from Minnesota lawmakers is critical to reassuring the broader community that their pain is seen and that together we uphold the promise of safety and dignity for every MinnesotanA letter submitted by members of the Hindu community urged lawmakers to support the resolution Signed by more than 400 Minnesotans within days it called for greater awareness of Hinduphobia improved reporting mechanisms for hate incidents and stronger inclusion of Hindu communities in antibias and diversity initiatives a media release saidThe effort has drawn support from other faith groups Ethan Roberts deputy executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council told lawmakers that confronting religious hatred requires clear acknowledgementThe Hindu community is clearly being targeted We as Jews know the danger when hatred is minimised dismissed or left unnamed and thats why this resolution matters he saidCoHNA members said such testimony highlights a broader coalition backing the measure and the need to recognise antiHindu bias with the same seriousness as other forms of hateAdvocates also pointed to wider trends They cited incidents across the country including temple shootings assaults and online hate campaigns A 2022 Rutgers University report documented antiHindu disinformation and harassment on social media and warned of the potential for reallife violenceThe CoHNA stated its Minnesota chapter has been working with lawmakers community members and local stakeholders to provide data and raise awareness of Hindu Americans concernsHindu Americans have long contributed to the social cultural and economic fabric of Minnesota and the United States CoHNA said Supporters said ensuring that they can practise their faith freely and without fear is essential to upholding the values of equality and mutual respect it addedThe organisation said it will continue working with lawmakers community leaders and interfaith partners to advance the resolution and broader efforts to counter religious discriminationIn recent years US states have increasingly moved to address hate crimes and religious bias as incidents targeting minority communities have drawn attention Several legislatures have considered measures recognising specific forms of discrimination within broader diversity frameworksMinnesota with a growing Indianorigin population has seen increased civic engagement from diaspora groups with advocacy organisations playing a more visible role in policy discussions on inclusion civil rights and religious freedom IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hinduphobia-resolution-gains-traction-in-us-665479.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/argentina-formally-withdraws-from-who-665480.html Buenos Aires March 18 Argentina formally withdrew from the World Health Organization WHO Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said He said in a social media post on Tuesday that Argentina communicated this decision through a note addressed to the United Nations SecretaryGeneral on March 17 2025In accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties the withdrawal takes place one year after that notificationOur country will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums fully safeguarding its sovereignty and its capacity to make decisions regarding health policies Quirno saidThe Argentine government announced the decision to withdraw from the global health body in February last yearPresidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni told a press conference at the time that President Javier Milei had instructed the Argentine foreign minister to withdraw the countrys participation in the UN specialised agency Xinhua news agency reportedThe spokesperson said that the decision gives the country greater flexibility to implement policies adapted to the context and interests that Argentina requires as well as greater availability of resources and reaffirms our path towards a country with sovereignty also in matters of healthEarlier on February 5 2025 the Argentine government had announced its withdrawal from the WHOThe presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni told a press conference that President Javier Milei had instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to withdraw Argentinas participation in the World Health Organization Adorni stated that Argentines were not going to allow an international organization to intervene in their sovereignty much less in their healthThe spokesperson further clarified that Argentina did not receive financing from the WHO for health management Therefore he argued that the measure did not represent a loss of funds for the country nor did it affect the quality of services contrary to what some had suggested on social networksThe official said that the decision gave the country greater flexibility to implement policies adapted to the context and interests that Argentina required as well as greater availability of resources He had added that it reaffirmed their path towards a country with sovereignty in health mattersWhen asked about the possibility of the South American country adopting similar measures regarding other international organizations the spokesperson had said he did not know but he stressed that the president was very categorical about making Argentina freer IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/argentina-formally-withdraws-from-who-665480.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-war-strains-us-readiness-against-china-ro-khanna-665481.html Washington March 18 US lawmakers have warned that the ongoing Iran conflict is weakening Americas strategic posture with senior Democrats cautioning that resources are being diverted from countering China and other major threats Representative Ro Khanna Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said President Donald Trumps actions risk undermining US deterrence in the IndoPacificPresident Trumps reckless war in Iran puts Americas security and economy at risk The United States should be focused on countering the growing challenge of maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific Khanna saidHe added that the administration was stretching our armed forces thin by pursuing an illadvised pivot to the Middle EastKhanna also flagged the financial and economic strain of the conflict This war is costing taxpayers nearly 1 billion per day and burning through critical munitions This kind of spending is unsustainable and Americans are already feeling the consequences as gas prices soar and economic uncertainty mounts he saidHe criticised the administrations outreach to Beijing warning that it could weaken alliances Now the president is asking China to send warships to the region to help end a war he cannot finish a dangerously misguided move that threatens to erode the partnerships that form the backbone of our deterrence Khanna saidAt a separate House Armed Services subcommittee hearing Representative Seth Moulton delivered a sharp assessment of the broader security risks arising from the conflictWe simply cannot ignore the fact that as we sit here today America is more at risk than we were before the Iran War began both in the Middle East and at home Moulton saidHe argued that sustained military operations were depleting resources and emboldening adversaries Since taking office 14 months ago the President of Peace has attacked seven countries and through these conflicts of choice has expended scarce munitions and emboldened both China and Russia he saidMoulton also pointed to escalating economic fallout With the Strait of Hormuz closed and oil prices skyrocketing Trump is actually losing the war he said adding that the conflict was imposing costs paid in the lives of brave young Americansâ as well as by children and innocent civiliansThe lawmaker warned that the US strategic focus was shifting away from critical longterm threats With everything going wrong in the Middle East its easy to lose focus on Americas strategic defence but it remains the bedrock of our national security and must remain a top priority he saidHe highlighted growing concerns over Chinas military capabilities The Chinese Communist Partys ICBM fleet continues to exceed US intelligence estimates and they have deployed several hypersonic weapons that can carry nuclear weapons Moulton saidHe also flagged risks from Russia warning that Moscow has developed a treatyviolating spacebased nuclear weapon that would destroy nearly all the satellites we rely on for GPS and communications every dayBoth lawmakers emphasised that sustained engagement in the Middle East could undermine the US readiness to respond to global threats particularly in Asia where competition with China is intensifyingThe latest remarks come as the Iran conflict continues to dominate US foreign policy raising concerns in Washington about overstretch and strategic drift IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-war-strains-us-readiness-against-china-ro-khanna-665481.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/krishnamoorthi-narrowly-loses-bid-for-democratic-senate-nomination-665483.html New York March 18 Raja Krishnamoorthi a moderate Democrat member of the House of Representatives but a strong critic of President Donald Trump narrowly lost the Illinois primaries for the partyâs Senate nomination While counting was continuing the media projected his main rival Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton as the winner Tuesday nightAt 10 pm local time in Illinois three hours after the polls closed Stratton was ahead of him by about 6 per cent with about 85 per cent of the votes countedThe winner of the Democratic Party primary is assured of victory in the November general election running against a Republican in the bright blue state where former Kamala Harris outperformed Trump by 11 per cent in the 2024 presidential electionWith the primary loss Krishnamoorthi failed in his ambition to become the second Indian American to serve in the Senate after Harris who went on to become the vice president and the Democratic Partyâs presidential candidateKrishnamoorthi a member of the House of Representatives since 2017 ran a heavily financed insurgent campaign against Stratton the preferred candidate of the state Democratic Party establishmentShe had the backing of the states powerful billionaire Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Tammy DuckworthRepresentative Robin Kelly another African American woman like Stratton came third in the race for the nomination to succeed Democrat Dick Durbin who decided not to run againThe primary was cast by some commentators as a contest of wills between Krishnamoorthi and Pritzker who is running for reelection to a third term and positioned his trusted lieutenant Stratton against KrishnamoorthiPritzker an heir to the Hyatt hotel empire spent 5 million of his personal fortune to back her in a primary that recorded high spending by both sidesA company that tracks ad spending reported that about 29 million was spent on ads backing Krishnamoorthi while it was about 16 million for StrattonWhile Pritzkerâs largesse for Stratton became an issue in the election Krishnamoorthiâs backing by Fairshakes a political action committee backed by digital and cryptocurrency interests also sparked controversiesIt was because Fairshake spent money on ads backing Kelly which was seen as an effort to split African American votes to favour Krishnamoorthi even though he was not the direct beneficiary of the spendingKrishnamoorthi also received about 250000 from the Indian American Impact Fund a political action committee of the communityKrishnamoorthi made opposition to Trumpâs policies a central plank of his campaign most recently ramping up opposition to what he called âunauthorised war with no end in sightâ in IranHe voted against Trumpâs Iran War in a resolution in the Senate that had the support of members of both parties but failed to passHe has also backed legislative moves to undo some of Trumpâs actions against welfare programmesWith the already high prices rising further fueled by the Iran conflict the economy and affordability were among his targetsBorn in New Delhi Krishnamoorthi came to the US as a threemonthold infant when his father brought his family over as he pursued higher education and the American DreamThe immigrant background fit in with a central issue in the election Trumpâs immigration crackdown that brought his Operation Midway Blitz to the streets of Chicago and led to the arrests of about 1600 people many under controversial circumstancesKrishnamoorthi proclaimed in a campaign ad âIâm an immigrant myselfâ adding Thatâs why stopping Trump and ICEâs attacks on our communities is deeply personal to meâHe called for ending the Trump version of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE agencyâs operations and reforming itStratton has called for abolishing it entirelyKrishnamoorthi will be giving up his House seat when his term ends bringing down the membership of the sixmember socalled âSamosa Caucusâ of Indian Americans in Congress unless new members win in November IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/krishnamoorthi-narrowly-loses-bid-for-democratic-senate-nomination-665483.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/operation-sindoor-impact-isi-moves-from-ideology-to-cash-eyes-pan-india-logistics-network-665506.html New Delhi March 18 Post Operation Sindoor the biggest headache for Pakistan has been recruitments Prior to the operation carried out by the Indian armed forces that took down terror infrastructure recruitments into groups such as the JaisheMohammad and LashkareTayiba were free flowing An Intelligence assessment says that recruitments have fallen by nearly 30 to 40 per cent This has led to the ISI changing its strategy wherein the recruitments are more driven by money rather than ideologyThis strategy remains the same when it comes to recruiting for Islamic groups such as the JaisheMohammad and LashkareTayiba the espionage network and also the Khalistan terror groups an official saidThe ISI realised that ideology is not exactly a driving force any longer The damage that Operation Sindoor has done to the morale of terror groups has automatically led to the recruitment drives falling sharplyThe ISI has however managed to find some success when it comes to drawing youth by luring them with money What is interesting the ISI is ready to recruit the youth irrespective of their religion faith or casteThe ISIâs handlers have been scouting for youth in large numbers and has been offering them huge sums of moneyThe ISI is ready to spend anything in the range of Rs 10000 to Rs 200000 depending on the role that has been assigned to the one who is being recruitedAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the lure of money has been working to some extent for the ISIThe target audience are students and those who are in need of money However an interesting aspect that has cropped up during the multiple investigations that are being carried out is that the ISI has managed to tap more into those who want to lead a highprofile lifestyleThe traction for this strategy has caught on more for those wanting to better their lifestyle rather than those who are in need of moneyAn Intelligence Bureau official says that the ISI has instructed its handlers and recruiters not to bother about the religion of the people they are recruiting This means that a module or a network would have people from various faithsThis ensures that these modules come lesser under the radar the official addedThe ISI implemented the money over ideology strategy first for the Khalistan terror networks It realised that the movement is not getting enough tractionThe ISI has been trying to exploit the drug problem that is rampant in Punjab It is reaching out to the youth and offering large sums of money so that they can pay to buy the drugs that flow into PunjabThe Intelligence agencies warn that this recruitment drive is only going to get bigger The target audience is huge and the ISI is recruiting people from all faiths to run the espionage network and also to provide logistic support to terror groupsThere is a particular concern at the border areas where Pakistani elements are trying to dig out as much information as possible on the movement of troops and military installationsIn the major cities the recruitment drive is more focussed on roping in youth to provide logistic support for the terror groups These youth are paid money to shoot videos of government offices the buildings that house the judiciary police stations railway stations among othersAnother official said that in a nutshell if one looks at the pattern the ISI is clearly not aiming for an immediate strikeIt is biding time trying to build a panIndia network and also gather as much data as possibleCurrently the Pakistanis are busy with their war against the Afghan Taliban TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army BLAThe Pakistan Army is getting assistance from terror groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP JaisheMohammad and LashkareTayibaThe strategy that the ISI has adopted for recruitments will not only revive the agency but also all the other terror groupsThe ISI is hoping that by the time these groups revive it would have a minefield of information and an army of recruits in IndiaThe Intelligence agencies have also advised the police to keep a close tab on influencersThe Indian agencies had busted a huge network of spies which comprised influencers with a large followingThe ISI would look to target them once again and then try and win a narrative battle against India Intelligence Bureau officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/operation-sindoor-impact-isi-moves-from-ideology-to-cash-eyes-pan-india-logistics-network-665506.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-struggles-under-major-fuel-crisis-report-665532.html New Delhi March 18 IANS Pakistan is facing a major fuel crisis due to the disruption in oil supplies triggered by the Middle East conflict as the Shahbaz Sharif government has failed to manage the fallout of the disruption in oil supplies through the Strait of HormuznbspIn Pakistan citizens wait for hours at petrol stations across various cities paying 55 rupees more per litre than they did two weeks ago The government is debating a vague plan to reduce the workweek to four days halve the fuel allocation for state vehicles and require schoolchildren to attend classes online according to an article in Pakistans The Nation newspapernbspThe US experienced its largest surge since 1983 with crude futures rising 36 per cent in just one week Meanwhile Brent crude rose by about 18 per cent pushing the price to 109 per barrel Nearly 20 million barrels of oil worth around 500 billion annually in global energy trade pass through the Strait of Hormuz When that vein is damaged or shut most economies suffer but some more quickly than others Pakistan is among the faster ones the article statesnbspThe article highlights that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates UAE together account for 99 per cent of Pakistans liquefied natural gas LNG imports Pakistan has limited storage capacity and procurement flexibility making it highly vulnerable to supply disruptions The country is facing a serious oil reserves shortagenbspThe Pakistan government has hurriedly asked Saudi Arabia to reroute crude shipments through the Red Sea ports of Yanbu which are longer and more expensive A struggling economy has yet to adapt to this economic shock Pakistans commerce body urged the government to declare an energy crisis to protect itself from this intensified conflict the article observesnbspPakistan a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation faces a difficult question where does it truly stand Islamabad has adopted a confrontational posture publicly yet behind the scenes it is appealing to Riyadh for help to avoid the fallout of war This reveals a stark diplomatic contradiction publicly taking a hard stance against the Iran war while secretly seeking oil supplies from Riyadh This isnt genuine diplomacy but a clear drift the article observesnbspOverall Pakistan should declare an energy emergency and implement fair and transparent energy rationing We need to establish strategic petroleum reserves quickly as this crisis has shown that Pakistan cannot even survive a twoweek supply interruption the article points outnbspAdditionally more investment should be redirected towards renewable energy and domestic gas development Clearly the question of whether Pakistan needs energy reforms is now irrelevant the real issue is that Pakistan cannot afford to delay any longer the article addednbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-struggles-under-major-fuel-crisis-report-665532.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/house-democrats-seek-iran-war-answers-665394.html Washington March 17 The House Democrats are demanding that top officials from the Trump administration testify before the Congress about the diplomacy and decisionmaking that preceded the United States military conflict with Iran Representative Gregory W Meeks the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday led all Democratic members of the panel in sending a letter urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Presidential adviser Jared Kushner to appear before the committeeThe lawmakers said Congress must understand the diplomatic negotiations and planning that led to the conflictThese individuals both drawn from the real estate industry rather than diplomatic or national security backgrounds were placed in charge of one of the most consequential negotiations facing the United States the members wroteThe decisions made during this process have now resulted in an unauthorised military conflict with Iran with profound consequences for the security of the American people the stability of the Middle East and global energy markets that directly affect American familiesThe Democrats said Congress has a constitutional duty to examine how negotiations unfolded and what strategy guided the administration before the use of forceCongress has both a constitutional responsibility and a clear national interest in understanding how these negotiations were conducted what diplomatic strategy guided them and what planning preceded the use of military force the letter saidAccording to the lawmakers the US administration has repeatedly declined requests to allow Witkoff or Kushner to testify before the CongressYet despite repeated requests the Administration has declined to make Witkoff or Kushner available for testimony or briefing before Congress the letter addedThe Democrats also raised concerns that no public hearing has been held on the issueAt the same time the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has declined to hold a public hearing on these matters with Administration witnesses the letter said adding that congressional oversight during a military conflict is a fundamental part of the constitutional system of checks and balancesThe lawmakers said that if the US administration believes its Iran strategy has been justified it should be willing to explain its decisions publiclyIf the Administration believes its approach toward Iran has been successful and justified then it should welcome the opportunity to explain its decisions to Congress and the American people the members wroteThe letter formally asked the US President to direct Witkoff and Kushner to appear before the committee for a public hearing as soon as possibleIt also requested that Rubio and Hegseth testify so lawmakers can examine the US administrations strategy toward IranThe stakes of the current conflict including risks to US service members regional stability and the global economy demand transparency and accountability the lawmakers wroteCongress and the American people deserve a clear explanation of the diplomatic and strategic decisions that brought us to this momentThe letter was signed by Meeks and more than twenty Democratic members of the committee including Joaquin Castro William Keating Greg Stanton Pramila Jayapal Brad Sherman Jim Costa and Ami Bera IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/house-democrats-seek-iran-war-answers-665394.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-delays-beijing-trip-as-war-continues-665401.html Washington March 17 US President Donald Trump said that the war involving Iran could end âsoonâ even as he delayed a planned visit to China saying he needed to remain in Washington during the conflict âI dont think so But itll be soon wont be longâ Trump said when asked if the war could be wrapped up this week âWere going to have a much safer world when its wrapped upâTrump said he had asked China to postpone the visit by about a month âWere speaking to China Id love to but because of the war I want to be here I have to be here I feelâ he said âAnd so weve requested that we delay it a month or soâThe president was scheduled to travel to China from March 28 to April 1 New dates have not been announcedHe added âIm looking forward to being with them We have a very good relationship but because of the war theres no tricks to it either Its just its very simple Weve got a war going on I think its important that I be hereâThe remarks came during an extended Oval Office interaction after Trump signed a memorandum on domestic fraud but much of the exchange focused on Iran and the ongoing military campaignTrump defended the operation saying it was necessary despite his preference to avoid conflict âI had an obligation to do this I didnt want to make this journeyâ he saidHe framed the military action in broader terms adding âBut we did a job for the world not a job for us for the whole worldâHe argued that failing to act would have had far greater consequences âIf I didnt do what I didâ Trump said âwe would have been hitâTrump also said the conflict had already reduced Iranâs military capability âThey have no navy They have no air force They have no antiaircraft weapons They have no leadershipâ he saidThe president said he had expected a sharper reaction from financial markets but argued that any shortterm impact was manageable âI thought it was going to go down much more if you want to know the truthâ he said referring to the stock marketâI think its a very small price to payâ he addedTrump declined to discuss possible next steps in the military When asked whether a ground force might be needed to secure remaining nuclear material he replied âWhy would I tell you a thing like thatâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-delays-beijing-trip-as-war-continues-665401.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-slams-allies-over-hormuz-support-665402.html Washington March 17 US President Donald Trump said countries dependent on energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz should be helping the United States expressing disappointment that several allies were reluctant to step in âThey should not only be thanking us but they should be helping usâ Trump said pointing to nations that rely heavily on oil and energy shipments through the strategic waterwayHe named major economies including China Japan and South Korea as beneficiaries of secure passage through the Hormuz Strait âChina as an example should be thanking usâ he said âJapan gets 95 percent China 91 percent Many of the countries South Korea gets a tremendous percentage of their oil and their therefore their energy from the straitsâTrump said it was âa lot easier to get people today than it was two weeks agoâ suggesting that some countries became more willing to engage only after the United States had already taken decisive military actionâThere are some countries that greatly disappointed meâ he said âOne or two have been great Ill tell you who the great ones are at the right timeâThe president singled out Britain in particular recounting a conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in which he had asked for naval support âIt would be really helpful if youd send over a couple of ships and if you have some minesweepers which they do that would be very helpfulâ Trump saidHe described the response as hesitant âThe Prime Minister hes a nice man I think hes a very nice guy he says well Id like to ask my teamâ Trump said âI said you dont have to worry about a team You dont have a team Youre the prime minister you can make a decisionâTrump said the latter offer of support came too late âI dont want them anymore I dont want them after we win I want them before we start I dont need your aircraft carriers after weve already wonâHe used the moment to revive a longstanding concern about burdensharing within alliances âI always said you know the problem with NATO is well always be there for them but theyll never be there for usâ he saidTrump argued that the United States had carried the main burden while others hesitated âWe defend all these countries and then do you have any minesweepers And they say well would it be possible for us not to get involvedâAt the same time he acknowledged that some countries had been willing to support the US position âThere have been some that were right up thereâ Trump said âThey wanted to do it so muchâTrump also raised concerns about shipping risks in the region even as he said there was no confirmed deployment of mines âWe dont know that any mines have even been droppedâ he said but added that âthe thought that they would scares people that have billion dollar shipsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-slams-allies-over-hormuz-support-665402.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-on-ai-chip-sales-to-china-665403.html Washington March 17 Senior Democratic lawmakers have raised fresh concerns over the Trump administrationâs decision to approve the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China warning it could undermine US national security Congressman Gregory W Meeks Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senator Elizabeth Warren Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee said they were âmore concerned than everâ after receiving details of the first approved licenceâIn December we called on the Department of Commerce to follow the law and provide us information about the Trump administrationâs approval of any sale of advanced AI chips to Chinaâ the lawmakers said in a joint statementâWeâve finally received information about the administrationâs first license approval and are now more concerned than ever that the Trump administration is undercutting US national security by approving this saleâ they addedThe lawmakers urged Congress to act saying âCongress must pass bipartisan legislation to prevent China from obtaining our advanced technology in order to protect US economic and national securityâThe controversy stems from the administrationâs approval of exports of advanced AI chips a move made public by Nvidia on February 25 Such chips are considered critical for cuttingedge computing applications including those with potential military useMeeks and Warren said they had invoked the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 ECRA in December to seek detailed information from the Department of Commerce about the decision The law mandates that the department provide relevant information including licence applications when requested by ranking members of congressional committeesThe two powerful Democratic lawmakers emphasised that the technology involved carries âsignificant military application potentialâ making export decisions particularly sensitive Their remarks signal growing unease among some members of Congress over whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent strategic technologies from reaching geopolitical competitorsAdvanced AI chips have become a focal point in USChina tensions as both countries compete for leadership in emerging technologies that are expected to shape future economic and military power IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-on-ai-chip-sales-to-china-665403.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-flagged-lpg-tanker-nanda-devi-to-arrive-at-kandla-port-today-665404.html New Delhi March 17 The Indianflagged LPG tanker the Nanda Devi which departed from Qatar carrying liquefied petroleum gas LPG is expected to arrive from the Strait of Hormuz at Kandla Port in Gujarat on Tuesday Another LPG tanker Shivalik already reached Mundra Port a day earlier with around 45â46 thousand tonnes of LPGThe vessels safe arrival is expected to provide relief amid concerns over fuel shipments passing through the sensitive maritime routeEarlier Rajesh Kumar Sinha special secretary in Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways said during an interministerial briefing that the tanker had successfully moved into the open sea after transiting the Strait of HormuzHe noted that two Indianflagged LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi were carrying around 92700 metric tonnes of LPG to India The two ships are owned by the staterun Shipping Corporation of IndiaSinha also said that all Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf region are safe and there have been no reports of any untoward incidents involving themAs per government data there were 22 Indianflagged vessels located to the west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf region carrying a total of 611 seafarersWhile Nanda Devi will arrive at Gujaratâs Kandla port Jag Laadki carrying nearly 81000 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE is en route to Mundra port The vessel and all Indian seafarers onboard are safeThe Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worldâs most crucial shipping routes with nearly 20 per cent of global oil and gas exports passing through itWith tensions continuing in the region authorities are closely monitoring the movement of ships and ensuring the safety of Indian vessels and crew operating in the areaMajor ports across the country are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations and providing support to shipping lines and cargo stakeholders including concessions in anchorage berth hire and storage charges the ministry said in earlier briefing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-flagged-lpg-tanker-nanda-devi-to-arrive-at-kandla-port-today-665404.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-flight-schools-training-chinese-pilots-senator-banks-665405.html Washington March 17 A senior Republican senator has warned US aviation security authorities that American flight schools are training Chinese nationals in ways that could indirectly support Beijingâs military ambitions Senator Jim Banks said in a letter to the Transportation Security Administration TSA that the issue raises national security concerns citing Chinaâs strategy of âMilitaryCivil Fusion MCF which deliberately erases lines between the military and the commercialâHe cautioned that this approach has âhelped Chinese enterprises both stateowned and nominally private to capture significant global market share in advanced industries while also concentrating the partyâs capacity to mobilize national resources in times of emergency and warâBanks pointed to Chinaâs growing demand for trained pilots as a key driver behind the trendChina will require 130000 commercial and general aviation pilots by 2043 The shortage extends to its military where training timelines have been shortened and recruitment expanded to meet demand the Senator said in the letterInvestigative reporting cited in the letter said China needs roughly 5000 pilot cadets annually while its domestic institutions can produce only about 1200 As a result many trainees are turning to flight schools in the United StatesThe senator highlighted specific examples including the AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona which has partnerships with Chineselinked aviation entities Chinese state media have reported that nearly twothirds of its students are Chinese nationals Another facility in California the Sierra Academy of Aeronautics is said to train hundreds of Chinese pilots each yearA Sierra Academy executive was quoted as saying âBecause Sierra Academy has been working with the Chinese government institutions airlines â we have all the right contacts to put this program in placeâBanks argued that even if many trainees pursue civilian careers Chinaâs statedriven model makes it difficult to separate civilian and military outcomes âThe more Chinese citizens there are with aviation training the more options the Chinese military has to recruit pilots and instructors for its malign purposesâ he saidHe urged the TSA to tighten its vetting process under the Flight Training Security Programme which currently screens foreign applicants using immigration records watchlists and criminal history Banks said the âscale of the threat posed by the CCP and other foreign adversaries clearly warrants consideration as an additional factorâHe called on the agency to update the programme to block individuals from âforeign adversary nations such as Chinaâ from accessing US flight trainingâWe must ensure that American flight training programmes serve American interestsânot Xi Jinpingâs dreamsâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-flight-schools-training-chinese-pilots-senator-banks-665405.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-house-moves-to-tighten-energy-sanctions-on-iran-amid-rising-tensions-665440.html Washington March 17 The US House of Representatives passed sweeping legislation to tighten sanctions on Iranâs energy sector as lawmakers from both parties pushed for stronger measures amid ongoing tensions with Tehran The bill titled the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act cleared the House by voice vote signalling broad bipartisan support for expanding pressure on Iranâs oil trade and its global network of facilitatorsâThis critical legislation aims to strengthen the US sanctions regime on foreign entities enabling Iranâs illicit oil tradeâ Congressman Mike Lawler said in a statement after the voteThe bill was cosponsored by 295 members â 171 Republicans and 124 DemocratsThe measure would give the president authority to impose sanctions on foreign entities involved in âany significant transaction related or incidental to the processing refining export transfer or sale of oil condensates or other petroleum or petrochemical product in whole or in part from IranâLawler framed the bill as part of a wider effort to curb Iranâs regional activities and financial networks âThe United States will not allow the Iranian regime to evade sanctions and bankroll terrorism through illicit oil salesâ he saidâFor too long Iran has relied on a network of foreign banks insurers and logistics providers to move sanctioned oil This legislation targets that entire network and ensures those financing the largest state sponsor of terrorism face real consequencesâSpeaking on the House floor Lawler said the bill would allow the administration to apply âmaximum pressureâ on Iran He added that it would enable sanctions on âenablers of Irans illicit oil trade that has financed their proxies that has financed their missiles program that has financed their nuclear ambitions and their uranium enrichmentâThe legislation specifically targets a wide range of actors involved in the oil supply chain âThis includes essentially any company that has engaged in a transaction involving the processing refining export or transfer of Iranian oil This includes foreign banks financial institutions insurance companies flagging registries and moreâ Lawler saidSanctions under the bill could include blocking property transactions in the United States and denying visas to individuals linked to such activitiesHowever the final version includes a key modification It allows the president discretion to impose sanctions changing earlier language that would have made such measures mandatory Congressman George Latimer described the change as âunfortunateâ and said it was made at the administrationâs requestThe bill now moves to the Senate where companion legislation has been introduced but not yet taken up by the Foreign Relations CommitteeAccording to the bill text the measure seeks âto impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in logistical transactions and sanctions evasion relating to oil gas liquefied natural gas and related petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic of Iranâ It also outlines provisions for blocking property restricting visas and establishing an interagency working group to coordinate enforcement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-house-moves-to-tighten-energy-sanctions-on-iran-amid-rising-tensions-665440.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-embassy-in-baghdad-attacked-fire-breaks-out-665441.html Baghdad March 17 Facilities inside the US Embassy compound in Baghdads Green Zone caught fire after the embassy was attacked early Tuesday Two boobytrapped drones landed within the embassy perimeter and the subsequent explosions sparked a fire visible from outside the complex a source from Iraqs Interior Ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymitySirens were activated immediately across the site during the assault while the embassys defence system failed to intercept the incoming drones Xinhua news agency reported quoting the sourceThere were no immediate reports about casualties and the resulting blaze indicates material damage to the facilitiesThe embassy was subjected to multiple rounds of attacks from Monday evening to the early hours of TuesdayFootage showed a drone detonating just feet from the compound indicating multiple penetrations of CRAM defence systems in a single evening The Green Zone in central Baghdad houses Iraqi government buildings the parliament and several foreign missions including the US embassy The heavily fortified zone has been a frequent target of rocket and mortar fire in recent yearsMeanwhile two drones targeted the Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq late Monday the oil ministry saidOil ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun said one drone struck a telecommunications tower but caused no damage A second drone targeted offices of a US company operating at the site a security official confirmedEarlier on Monday Iraqs paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces PMF said that six of its members were killed and four others wounded in an Israeli attack in the western province of AnbarAccording to a PMF statement the strike targeted a checkpoint in the town of alQaim near the Syrian borderThe group described the location as an official security site stating the casualties occurred while the members were performing their duty of protecting the land and sovereignty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-embassy-in-baghdad-attacked-fire-breaks-out-665441.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-admin-reviewing-voter-rolls-across-states-official-665443.html Washington March 17 The Trump administration has started reviewing voter rolls across several states a senior official said warning that some jurisdictions are âresistingâ compliance with federal election laws Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon on Monday local time stated that the US Department of Justice DOJ is utilising existing legal authority to examine voter registration systems and ensure that states meet federal requirementsâWe already have tools on the books that we are using here at the DOJ some for the first time regarding our attorney generalâs right under the 1960 Civil Rights Act to access and review these voter rollsâ she said in an interview with Real Americaâs NewsDhillon said the effort involves comparing state voter rolls with federal databases and sharing findings with state authorities âWeâre helping clean up the voter roll comparing them with some federal databases returning returns back to the states to help them do their jobsâ she saidShe noted uneven cooperation across states âSome of the states are doing that voluntarily Some of them are resisting doing their jobs and theyâre you know I think obvious reasons for why theyâre resistingâ she saidThe DOJ is also engaged in discussions with several states over practices that may conflict with federal law Dhillon described ongoing âprelitigation discussionsâ aimed at resolving compliance issues before formal legal actionShe pointed to specific concerns in voter verification systems âSome states have some funky recordkeeping loopholes if you will like Minnesotaâs vouching standard that allows one voter to vouch for up to eight other voters regarding their address which is inconsistent with the federal lawâ she saidFederal officials are also in talks with states including North Carolina and Arizona regarding âirregularities in their voter registration procedures that have led to people being put on the voter rolls without any form of verification or that theyâre citizensâ Dhillon saidâThatâs a violation of federal law for federal electionsâ she addedDhillon described the initiative as largely administrative but significant âItâs just a lot of record keeping and admintype work that simply prior administrations havenât wanted to doâ she saidShe also criticised earlier enforcement approaches saying that previous administrations had taken action against states that attempted to update voter rolls âPrior administrations particularly Democratic administrations have actually sued states that have tried to clean up their voter rolls voluntarilyâ she saidOn election integrity she underscored the principle of lawful participation âEvery citizen is entitled to know that the vote they cast is going to count only with other American citizens and only once and only in that one stateâ she saidâYet that is not the standard that weâve been applying in this countryâ she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-admin-reviewing-voter-rolls-across-states-official-665443.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-downs-20-drones-over-moscow-since-midnight-665444.html Moscow March 17 More than 20 drones have been shot down over Moscow since midnight Tuesday the Russian news agency TASS reported In the last three days over 180 drones have been downed marking the largest wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital this year said Moscow Mayor Sergei SobyaninMoscow authorities reported no casualties or infrastructure damage Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on March 16 the Russian Defense Ministry had said that Russian air defence systems shot down 145 Ukrainian fixedwing drones overnight including dozens targeting the Moscow regionBetween 11 pm Sunday and 8 am Monday 2000 GMT Sunday and 0500 GMT Monday a total of 53 drones were intercepted over the Moscow region including 46 heading toward the capital the ministry said Another 38 drones were downed over the border region of BryanskSergei Sobyanin mayor of Moscow said that over the past two days air defense forces had destroyed about 250 Ukrainian drones approaching the city and at a second defensive line in its directionFlight restrictions were repeatedly introduced and lifted at several Moscow airports during the period according to the Russian Federal Air Transport AgencyOn Sunday Russia had said that it shot down 605 drones 12 USmade HIMARS rockets two Neptune longrange missiles and four guided aerial bombs fired by the Ukrainian armed forcesMeanwhile Russian forces had raided energy and transport infrastructure used by Ukrainian troops sites involved in Ukraines training and launch of longrange drones and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries Russias Defence Ministry said in a statementEarlier on Sunday Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had said on social media that Russias air defence systems had intercepted 28 Ukrainian drones heading toward Moscow Xinhua news agency reportedUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Russia launched about 430 drones and several ballistic missiles towards Ukraine and underlined the importance of air defence system as a daily necessity for the countryHe urged for speeding up of agreements on missile supplies and called for the production of air defence missiles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-downs-20-drones-over-moscow-since-midnight-665444.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-officials-say-iran-war-may-end-within-weeks-tehran-vows-to-keep-fighting-665348.html Washington Mar 16 The war with Iran could end within weeks senior officials in the Trump administration said even as fighting continues across the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz push oil prices higher The comments came as the conflict entered its third week and global energy markets remained under pressure due to the nearhalt in shipping through the strategic waterwaySpeaking on ABCâs This Week US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration believed the military campaign was progressing quicklyâHey thereâs no guarantees in wars at allâ Wright said in the interview with ABC News anchor Martha RaddatzBut he added that officials expected the conflict to conclude soonâI think that this conflict will certainly come to an end in the next few weeks could â could be sooner than thatâ Wright saidWhite House economic adviser Kevin Hassett also suggested the campaign was moving faster than expectedâThe Department of War believed that it would take four to six weeks to complete this mission and that were ahead of scheduleâ Hassett said in an interview on CBSâs Face the NationThe war has already triggered major disruptions to global energy markets Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz â one of the worldâs most important oil shipping routes â has slowed sharply amid attacks and security concernsUS officials say the administration is urging allies to help secure the waterway and protect commercial shippingWright said the disruption was expected but temporaryâYes weâre going to have disruption and we do have disruptionâ he saidPresident Donald Trump has also argued that the conflict would ultimately stabilise energy markets and the regionâThe president will decide if they no longer have the capability of blackmailing us and harming our neighborsâ Hassett said on CBSMeanwhile Iran has rejected suggestions that it is seeking a ceasefire in the ongoing war saying it will continue fighting and defending itself as long as necessaryIn an interview on CBSâs Face the Nation Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Tehran had requested a ceasefire or negotiations with WashingtonâNo we never asked for a ceasefire and we have never asked even for negotiationâ Araghchi told CBS moderator Margaret BrennanHe said Iran would continue its military response to what it described as aggression by the United StatesâWe are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takesâ Araghchi saidThe foreign minister argued that the conflict had been initiated by Washington and accused President Donald Trump of choosing warâThis is a war of choice by President Trump and the United States and we are going to continue our selfdefenseâ he saidAraghchi also dismissed suggestions that Tehran needed to negotiate to survive the conflictâNo its not a war of survival We are stable and strong enoughâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-officials-say-iran-war-may-end-within-weeks-tehran-vows-to-keep-fighting-665348.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-warns-iran-war-may-divert-ukraine-aid-665349.html New York March 16 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the war with Iran could divert global attention and military resources away from Ukraineâs fight against Russia In an interview with CNNâs Fareed Zakaria GPS Zelensky said Kyiv faces growing risks if the conflict in West Asia continuesâYes of course we have big risksâ Zelensky saidHe said Ukraine could face shortages of air defence systems and missiles if military resources are redirected to the new conflictâI think that we can have a deficit with air defence especially PAC3 PAC2 for Patriot systems for defending our skyâ he saidUkraine has relied heavily on Western airdefence systems to counter largescale Russian missile and drone attacksZelensky said the war in Iran could complicate those effortsâIf the war continues of course we will have these challenges and the challenges will only increaseâ he saidUkraine has also begun sharing its experience in drone warfare with partners in the Middle EastZelensky said Kyiv had sent military experts to assist allies facing Iranian drone attacksâWe are ready to help Americans and we are ready to help also Middle East alliesâ he saidThe Ukrainian leader said the move reflected Kyivâs partnership with WashingtonâWe count on you and the Americans can count on usâ Zelensky saidBut he warned that Russia could benefit from the shifting geopolitical focusThe war in Iran Zelensky said could strengthen Moscowâs position and complicate efforts to end Russiaâs invasion of UkraineâOf course this situation in Iran gives him more moneyâ Zelensky said referring to Russian President Vladimir PutinHe urged stronger pressure on Moscow and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the warâIf we really want to stop the war we need to meetâ Zelensky said âWe need more pressure on Russiaâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-warns-iran-war-may-divert-ukraine-aid-665349.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-police-arrests-over-300-illegal-afghan-refugees-during-raids-in-swabi-665377.html Islamabad March 16 Over 300 illegal Afghan refugees have been detained by police during raids carried out in various parts of Swabi district in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local media reported on Monday A crackdown had been launched after the district administration and police officials decision to deport illegal Afghans daily Dawn reported citing sources The police had ordered Station House Officers SHOs to keep data of all illegal Afghans in the jurisdictions of their police stationsAccording to sources 341 Afghan refugees were arrested during raids conducted in Topi Razaar Chota Lahor tehsils and other parts of Swabi on Sunday They mentioned that the raids will continue and all Afghan refugees who are illegally residing in Swabi will be detained and deported to AfghanistanAround 30000 Afghan refugees still live in various parts of Swabi with most of them having proper documentation while others stay illegally The sources revealed that these Afghan refugees were residing in Gandaf Refugees Camp and Gohati Refugees Camp and a large number of them were staying in various farming fields and cities Dawn reportedIn the past few months the district administration has been making efforts to ensure the repatriation of Afghan refugees at the earliest according to sources They further mentioned that the district administration had shut all the shops in the Gohati refugee camp However the refugees said that it is very difficult for them to shut their businesses so quickly as they have established them through hard work for over 40 yearsEarlier in February Afghanistans Minister of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock Ataullah Omari slammed the neighbouring nations for their policy of deporting Afghan refugees saying that host nations have deported refugees breaching humanitarian principles human rights and refugee rightsHe stated that more than 45 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from various nations since the start of the expulsion process Afghanistanbased media outlet Tolo News reported Our brothers were forcibly expelled from their homes They were hosted for nearly 40 years but in the end they were deported by force and in violation of humanitarian principlesHis statement came as Pakistan and Iran continue to deport Afghan refugees sparking concerns about Afghanistans capacity to resettle the returnees Some Afghan refugees who have recently returned to Afghanistan stated that they were forcibly deported from host nations and were not given the opportunity to take their belongings leaving everything behind in those countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-police-arrests-over-300-illegal-afghan-refugees-during-raids-in-swabi-665377.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/norwegian-envoy-takes-ride-in-delhi-metro-calls-it-fast-clean-and-super-efficient-665383.html New Delhi March 16 Norwegian Ambassador to India MayElin Stener recently took a ride in the Delhi Metro for the first time terming it a fantastic way to get around in the National Capital She praised the Delhi Metro for being fast clean and superefficient She shared videos and pictures from her first metro ride which shows her sitting inside the metro and walking down the stairs in the metro stationWhile sharing her experience on X MayElin Stener stated Tried the Delhi Metro for the first time this weekend Fast clean and superefficient A fantastic way to get around in Delhi Should have done this sooner Will definitely use it againIt is not the first time that a foreign dignitary has taken a ride on the Delhi MetroIn January this year Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Japans Ambassador to India Ono Keiichi took a ride on the Delhi MetroAccording to a statement released by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC the officials briefed the delegation about the Delhi Metro project The officials then took a metro ride from Central Secretariat to Patel Chowk and backIn a statement shared on X DMRC stated His Excellency Mr MOTEGI Toshimitsu Foreign Minister of Japan along with HE Mr ONO Keiichi Japanese Ambassador to India took a ride on the Delhi Metro today The delegation was briefed about the Delhi Metro project by senior DMRC officials at Central Secretariat followed by a train ride from Central Secretariat to Patel Chowk and backDuring his visit the Honble Minister showed keen interest about various aspects of the construction and operation of the Delhi Metro which is a proud symbol of IndoJapanese friendship and collaboration The Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA has extended financial support to the Delhi Metro project right since Phase 1 it addedAccording to the DMRC the metro network today has over 300 train sets of four six and eight coaches It states that the Delhi Metro has also contributed tremendously on the environmental front by becoming the first ever railway project in the world to claim carbon credits for regenerative braking IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/norwegian-envoy-takes-ride-in-delhi-metro-calls-it-fast-clean-and-super-efficient-665383.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-supreme-leader-reiterates-demand-for-compensation-from-enemy-665331.html Tehran March 16 Irans Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reiterated his countrys demand for compensation from its enemy We will obtain compensation from the enemy and if he refuses we will take as much of his property as we determine and if that is not possible we will destroy the same amount of his property read a post on the supreme leaders Telegram account Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on Thursday new Supreme Leader in his first message to the country called for continued resistance and said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closedIn a written message Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for those killed in the conflict insisting that Tehran will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrsThe message local media reported was read by a female presenter on Iranian state television It also said the tool of closing the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved and warned that Iran could open other fronts if necessaryThe message added that Iran seeks friendly relations with neighbouring countries and would target only bases from which attacks are launched against itThe message attributed to Khamenei the Islamic Republicâs third supreme leader was released without any indication of his whereabouts health condition or physical status Iran International reportedMeanwhile US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iranâs newly installed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been wounded and forced into hiding as the countryâs military leadership struggled amid intense American strikesSpeaking at a Pentagon briefing Hegseth said Iranâs leadership was under growing pressure as the military campaign continuedOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities killing Irans then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets across the Middle EastMojtaba Khamenei son of Ali Khamenei was selected as Irans new supreme leader the Assembly of Experts announced on March 8 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-supreme-leader-reiterates-demand-for-compensation-from-enemy-665331.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/france-being-targeted-in-regional-escalation-unacceptable-macron-665336.html Paris March 16 French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that it is unacceptable for France to be targeted amid the regional escalation following joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran Macron made the remarks in a post on X after speaking by phone with Iranian President Masoud PezeshkianI have just spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks Iran is carrying out against countries in the region whether directly or through proxies including in Lebanon and Iraq he saidHe said France acts strictly within a defensive framework aimed at protecting its interests safeguarding its regional partners and supporting freedom of navigation adding that he had called on Iran to immediately end the attacks it has carried out against countries in the region whether directly or through proxiesI reminded him that France is acting within a strictly defensive framework aimed at protecting its interests its regional partners and freedom of navigation and that it is unacceptable for our country to be targeted he saidMacron also warned that the uncontrolled escalation currently unfolding risks plunging the entire region into chaos with consequences that could affect not only the present situation but also the years to comeThe unchecked escalation we are witnessing is plunging the entire region into chaos with major consequences today and for the years to come The people of Iran like those across the region are paying the price Only a new political and security framework can ensure peace and security for all Such a framework must guarantee that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons while also addressing the threats posed by its ballistic missile programme and its destabilising activities regionally and internationally he saidHe reiterated that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possibleFreedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possible I also urged the Iranian President to allow CÃcile Kohler and Jacques Paris to return safely to France as soon as possible Their ordeal has gone on for far too long and they belong with their loved ones he saidIrans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz a key global shipping route through which about onefifth of the worlds oil consumption passes Xinhua news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/france-being-targeted-in-regional-escalation-unacceptable-macron-665336.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fire-near-dubai-airport-contained-after-drone-crash-no-injuries-reported-665337.html Dubai March 16 A fire caused by a drone crash near Dubai International Airport has been brought under control with no injuries reported local authorities said Monday Flights however were temporarily suspended as a precaution to ensure the safety of passengers and staffAuthorities said the fire broke out after a drone fell near the airport affecting a fuel tank Dubai Civil Defence said it successfully contained the blazeGulf states have been hit by waves of missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of the USIsraeli war on Iran on February 28 with the United Arab Emirates reporting interception of over 1500 drones so far Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on March 14 a fire broke out in Fujairah an emirate of the United Arab Emirates UAE after debris fell following the interception of an unmanned aerial vehicle by air defence systemsNo injuries had been reportedOfficials did not provide details on the drones origin the exact location of the incident or the extent of any damageDubai has temporarily suspended all flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary safety measure the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said following the drone incidentDubai Civil Aviation Authority announces the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights Further updates will be announced through official channels as soon as they become available the Dubai Media Office wrote on XThe incident comes at a time when Iran has fired more than 1800 missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates since the start of the ongoing Middle East conflict making the UAE the most targeted country according to officials The barrage has disrupted travel in the Gulf financial hub although air defence systems have intercepted most of the projectilesIran has targeted both US assets and civilian sites including airports ports and oil facilities across the Gulf after USIsraeli strikes hit its leadershipMeanwhile the UAEs defence ministry has reported six deaths since the conflict began four civilians and two military personnel The soldiers died in a helicopter crash that was linked to a technical issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fire-near-dubai-airport-contained-after-drone-crash-no-injuries-reported-665337.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-seeks-global-help-on-strait-of-hormuz-665339.html Washington March 16 US President Donald Trump said that Washington is speaking with several countries about helping police the Strait of Hormuz while asserting that Iranâs military capabilities have been sharply degraded in the ongoing conflict Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Trump said the United States had achieved âvery strong results militarily resultsâ in operations linked to Iran and was now seeking broader international involvement in securing the key global oil shipping routeâWe are talking to other countries about working with us on the policing of the straitâ Trump said âAnd I think were getting a good responseâThe President indicated that roughly seven countries had been contacted about joining the effortâJust remember that its something that we dont need and these countries do needâ he said referring to energy shipments passing through the narrow waterwayThe Strait of Hormuz is one of the worldâs most critical maritime chokepoints carrying a significant share of global oil supplies Trump argued that many nations depend on the passage far more than the United StatesâWe dont get oil very little 1per cent 2 per cent And China as an example gets about 90 per cent of its oil from the Hormuz Straitâ he saidTrump suggested that countries benefiting from the route should play a larger role in safeguarding itâIâm really demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their territoryâ he saidThe President said some countries have naval assets that could help with security operationsâSome of the countries have mine sweepers Thats good Some of the countries have a certain type of boat that could help usâ he saidHe warned that even a small number of hostile actors could disrupt shipping in the narrow waterwayâIt only takes a couple of people to screw up the Strait a couple of terroristsâ Trump said âAll you need is a few people dropping mines here and thereâTrump also claimed US military strikes had severely weakened Iranâs military capabilitiesâMilitarily weve essentially defeated Iranâ he said âWeve taken out their Air Forceâ weve taken out their air defenceâHe added that Iranâs missile and drone capabilities had been significantly reducedâTheir missiles are down to a low numberâ Trump said âLikewise the drones are way downâ down to about 20 per cent of what they hadâTrump said US forces had targeted infrastructure linked to Iranâs energy exports but had held back from completely destroying certain facilitiesâWe attacked Kharg Island and we left just the one little area standingâ he said âWe can do that on five minutes noticeâDespite the military pressure Trump said communication channels with Iran remain open âWere talking to emâ he said âBut I dont think theyre readyâAt the same time the President repeated claims that Iran had spread disinformation during the conflict using artificial intelligenceâThey said they attacked the USS Abraham Lincolnâ and they showed pictures of it burning It was never attackedâ Trump saidHe also rejected reports that US aircraft had been destroyedâThe Wall Street Journal put out a false story that five of our big beautiful tankersâ were all essentially destroyedâ he said âThey werent destroyed at allâTrump accused Iran of generating fake images and narratives to shape public perception of the conflict âThe kamikaze boats dont existâ he said âIts AIgenerated Its fakeâThe President also addressed domestic media coverage arguing that some outlets were amplifying disinformationâI actually think its pretty criminal because our media companiesâ are putting out information that they know is falseâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-seeks-global-help-on-strait-of-hormuz-665339.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-will-not-send-navy-ship-to-strait-of-hormuz-official-says-665341.html Canberra March 16 Australia will not send navy ships to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz a senior government minister said on Monday Australia is wellprepared for the economic crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and would not be sending a warship to the region said Minister for Infrastructure Transport Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King also a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Cabinet according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC radioKing said that Australias fuel stockpile was sitting at 37 days of petrol 30 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel as of Monday after the government reduced minimum stockholding obligations and temporarily amended fuel quality standards to allow higher sulfur levelsWere wellprepared here in this country to weather the economic crisis that is occurring as a result of the Middle East she saidThe federal government on Saturday issued a warning to citizens not to transit through Bahrain Iran Iraq Israel Kuwait Lebanon Palestine Qatar Syria Yemen and the United Arab Emirates UAEThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had previously issued travel warnings for all of those countries through its Smartraveller service but said on Saturday that Australian citizens should also avoid transiting through them even if they do not plan to leave the airportIt said that the conflict is likely to escalate further and flights could change or stop suddenly Xinhua news agency reportedBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with US President Donald Trump to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the disruption to global shipping caused by the closure of the Strait of HormuzDuring the conversation on Sunday evening Starmer stressed the importance of reopening the strategic waterway to help restore normal shipping routes and ease rising global costs a statement from 10 Downing Street saidBoth leaders agreed to remain in close contact regarding developments in the regionBritish Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said earlier on Sunday that ending the ongoing conflict is the best and most conclusive way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a strategic chokepoint through which roughly onefifth of the worlds oil passes warning that the situation is harming the global economyThe spike in oil and gas prices that were seeing is caused by the closure of the Strait Miliband told British media adding that Britain wants to work with allies to seek to get the Strait reopenedTrump said Saturday on social media that many countries would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open without offering any detailsOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities killing Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei senior military commanders and more than 1300 civilians Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and US bases and assets across the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-will-not-send-navy-ship-to-strait-of-hormuz-official-says-665341.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-war-rattles-washington-as-oil-fears-surge-665342.html Washington March 16 The war with Iran is rattling Washington and pushing oil prices higher Fighting in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting global energy flows The conflict is also widening political divisions in the United States The conflict now in its third week has disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and triggered sharp debate across the US political spectrum over the strategy and consequences of the warSpeaking on CNNâs State of the Union US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the United States had inflicted severe damage on Iranâs military capabilitiesâMilitarily the US military has decimated Irans air force their air defenses their missile capability their missile production capabilityâ Waltz said in the interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper âThis has been a dominant victory the likes of which we havent seen in modern American military historyâWaltz also argued that Iran was becoming increasingly isolated diplomatically citing support at the United Nations for condemning Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructureâThe Iranian regime has never been more diplomatically isolatedâ he saidPresident Donald Trump meanwhile has suggested the conflict could continue until Washington decides its objectives have been metAsked about when the war might end Trump said in remarks aired by Fox News âI cant touch that I mean I have my own idea Itll be as long as its necessaryâIran has sought to leverage its position in the Strait of Hormuz a key global energy chokepoint raising fears of prolonged disruption to oil supplies and shipping routesWaltz said the disruption affects Asia most directlyâEighty percent of the oil coming out of the Gulf heads to Asiaâ he said on CNN arguing that countries dependent on the energy flow should help secure the waterwayThe war has also drawn strong criticism from Democrats who accuse the administration of launching the conflict without congressional approvalDemocratic Senator Cory Booker said in the CNN interview that the conflict represented a constitutional overreach by the White HouseâItâs outrageous that this is a unilateral war started by one person the presidentâ Booker said âThe Constitution clearly says a war especially something of this magnitude should come to CongressâBooker added that lawmakers should not treat the situation as routineâThis is a massive military undertakingâ costing American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars and tragically costing 13 livesâ he saidFormer transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg also criticised the administrationâs handling of the war in an interview on CNNâs programmeâWhat Im worried about is not the soldiers and the people who are serving What Im worried about is their political leadershipâ Buttigieg saidHe warned that Americans were already feeling the economic consequences of the conflictâMortgage rates are up because of this war Food is going to be more expensive because of this war And of course the price of gas that were paying at the pump is higher because of this warâ Buttigieg saidThe Pentagon has confirmed that 13 US service members have died since the conflict began including six killed when a refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq The cause of the crash remains under investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-war-rattles-washington-as-oil-fears-surge-665342.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/lebanon-rejects-israeli-claims-on-ambulances-used-for-military-purposes-665227.html Beirut March 15 Lebanons Ministry of Public Health rejected the Israeli armys claims that ambulances were used for military purposes calling the accusations an attempt to justify crimes against humanity In a statement the ministry said Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted ambulance teams during rescue missions since the start of the offensive on Lebanon including a strike on a primary healthcare center in the southern village of Burj Qalaouiyeh early Saturday which it described as a civilian medical facility operating under the ministrys supervision Xinhua news agency reportedThe attack killed 12 medical workers including doctors nurses and rescuers seriously wounded one health worker and left four others missing according to the statementThe ministry added that since March 2 Israeli attacks have killed 26 paramedics and wounded 51 others describing the toll as evidence of continued attacks on medical teams which have also extended to the Lebanese Red Cross for the first time since October 2023It said Israels claims that ambulances are used for military purposes aim to justify violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions protecting medical personnel and facilitiesEarlier on Saturday an Israeli military spokesperson said in a post on social media platform X that Hezbollah is extensively using ambulances for military purposes warning that the military use of medical facilities and ambulances must cease immediatelyHezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire took effect on November 27 2024 Israel subsequently launched an offensive military campaign against the group carrying out intensive airstrikes on multiple areas in southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beiruts southern suburbs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/lebanon-rejects-israeli-claims-on-ambulances-used-for-military-purposes-665227.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/strait-of-hormuz-not-closed-but-under-irans-control-irgc-commander-665228.html Cairo March 15 The Strait of Hormuz a key global oil shipping route remains open and under Iranian control a senior Iranian commander said amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies Alireza Tangsiri commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC Navy said in a statement that claims by the United States about destroying Irans navy or providing safe escort for oil tankers were false Xinhua news agency reported quoting Irans semiofficial Tasnim news agencyThe Strait of Hormuz has not been militarily blocked and is merely under control the statement saidIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the message telling US media that the strait remained open for international shipping except for vessels belonging to the United States Israel and their alliesThe Strait of Hormuz is open It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies to those who are attacking us and their allies Others are free to pass Araghchi saidThe Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which roughly onefifth of the worlds oil passes In his first message as Irans supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to maintain leverage over the Strait of HormuzUS President Donald Trump on Saturday urged countries dependent on oil shipments through the strait to take responsibility for keeping it open with American assistance Washington has been trying to ease high oil prices amid the joint USIsraeli attacks on Iran triggering Irans retaliations on US assets across the regionIn a statement posted on social media Trump said nations affected by potential disruptions in the waterway should help secure it alongside US forcesâMany countries especially those who are affected by Iranâs attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait will be sending war ships in conjunction with the United States of America to keep the Strait open and safeâ he wroteThe President also claimed that Iranâs military capabilities had been severely degraded by US actionsâWe have already destroyed 100 per cent of Iranâs Military capability but itâs easy for them to send a drone or two drop a mine or deliver a close range missile somewhere along or in this Waterway no matter how badly defeated they areâ Trump said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/strait-of-hormuz-not-closed-but-under-irans-control-irgc-commander-665228.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-vows-to-target-us-linked-oil-assets-if-its-energy-infrastructure-under-attack-665229.html Tehran March 15 Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that any attack on Irans oil and energy infrastructure would trigger retaliation against regional facilities linked to US companies In an interview with US broadcaster MS Now Araghchi responded to Fridays US strike on Kharg Island Irans southern strategic oil terminal and to President Donald Trumps threat to target the islands oil infrastructure if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted Xinhua news agency reportedOur armed forces have already stated that they will retaliate if our oil and energy infrastructure is attacked They will strike any energy facility in the region that belongs to or is partially owned by an American company Araghchi saidHe also claimed that Fridays US strikes originated from two locations in the United Arab Emirates Ras AlKhaimah and an area near Dubai cautioning that using densely populated regions to launch attacks on Iran is highly dangerousWe would certainly retaliate but we try to avoid hitting populated areas he addedEchoing the warning Irans Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters the countrys primary military command said any attack on Irans oil economic or energy infrastructure would prompt immediate strikes on regional facilities affiliated with American companies All oil economic and energy infrastructure linked to US interests will be destroyed and reduced to a pile of ashes spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari told the official IRNA news agencyAraghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to shipping except for vessels belonging to Irans enemies and their allies While some ships avoid the waterway due to security concerns many tankers continue to pass throughDespite the strike oil exports from Kharg Island continue uninterrupted Ehsan Jahanian deputy governor of Bushehr province told semiofficial Tasnim news agency that while military facilities and the airport on Kharg sustained damage there were no casualties and commercial operations remain ongoingOn February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities killing Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei senior military commanders and more than 1300 civilians Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and US bases and assets across the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-vows-to-target-us-linked-oil-assets-if-its-energy-infrastructure-under-attack-665229.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-raises-alarm-over-minority-safety-in-bangladesh-violence-as-figures-surge-665277.html Dhaka March 15 India has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of the minority communities with Bangladeshi authorities and expects thorough investigations and accountability However the responsibility to ensure the protection of all citizens lies with the government of Bangladesh a report highlighted Citing rights groups it stated that preventing recurring violence requires more than reactive policing it demands sustained legal protection swift prosecution of offenders and community reconciliation effortsWithout transparent independently verifiable data the full picture remains contested Yet the allegations alone underscore a broader concern when minorities in any country face persistent insecurity it challenges the regions commitment to pluralism rule of law and fundamental human dignity The Morning Voice newspaper detailedAccording to the report a recent disclosure in Indias Parliament revealed that nearly 3100 incidents of violence targeting Hindus and other minorities took place in Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2026 raising serious concerns about minority safety in the neighbouring countryAttacks allegedly targeted homes businesses and places of worship with reports of killings and arson If accurate such acts would represent not only communal violence but also a grave violation of internationally recognised human rights principles including freedom of religion equality before the law and the right to life and security the report stressedThe issue carries particular sensitivity for India which shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh and deep historical cultural and demographic ties Instability affecting minorities across the border can have humanitarian diplomatic and security implications including displacement pressures and crossborder tensions it addedThe report further said that if verified the violence against minorities would be more than just a domestic problem emerging as a human rights concern that calls for sustained global attentionBangladesh witnessed escalating attacks on minorities particularly Hindus sparking grave human rights concerns which intensified during the eighteenmonth tenure of Muhammad Yunusled interim government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-raises-alarm-over-minority-safety-in-bangladesh-violence-as-figures-surge-665277.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/another-awami-league-leader-dies-in-bangladesh-police-custody-665288.html Dhaka March 15 As custodial deaths of Awami League members continue to rise in Bangladesh another party leader died in custody at Keraniganj Central Jail in Dhaka local media reported on Sunday The 55yearold Shahnur Alam Shanto died on the night of March 13 while undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute and Hospital in Dhaka during his incarcerationCiting prison authorities and case details Bangladeshs Bengali newspaper Daily Manobkantha reported that a group of youths formed a mob outside Naruli Agricultural Farm in Bogra on January 4 detained and beat Shanto before handing him over to the police He was subsequently imprisoned in Bogra jail in connection with an explosives case As his physical condition deteriorated Shanto was reportedly transferred from Bogra to Keraniganj Central Jail in Dhaka on January 17 According to Deputy District Magistrate of Keraniganj Prison Tayyaba Shanto was previously taken to the hospital multiple times after he fell ill Family members and locals claimed that Shanto was a physically disabled person alleging that he was framed in a fabricated caseOn January 4 a group of youths attacked him forming a mob for upholding the ideals of Bangabandhu and demanded a large sum of money from his family When he could not pay the money he was beaten up and handed over to the police Although there was no specific case against him the police arrested him in a fabricated explosives case Daily Manobkantha quoted one of the locals Rajab Ali as sayingHe further alleged that the negligence and lack of proper medical treatment by the prison authorities led to Shantos untimely deathCalling for a judicial investigation into the incident Shahriar Opel organising secretary of Awami League in the Bogra district said The deaths of imprisoned Awami League leaders one after another cannot be a normal occurrence This is a gross violation of human rightsReports suggest that the latest incident brings the number of Awami League leaders who have died in Bogra jail in the past two months to six fuelling public concern and raising serious questionsEarlier this month the Awami League expressed grave concern over what it described as ongoing mass arrests and custodial killings of political leaders and activists across the country saying the actions violate fundamental rights and undermine justice and the rule of lawThe party alleged that the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP government has followed the path of the former Muhammad Yunusled interim government by using state machinery to carry out repression torture and suppression aimed at silencing dissent and pursuing political vengeanceMass arrests of political leaders and activists along with deaths in custody continue to occur Repeated arrests indiscriminate remand orders and reports of custodial deaths are causing pain and anger across the nation the Awami League stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/another-awami-league-leader-dies-in-bangladesh-police-custody-665288.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-social-legal-system-allows-honour-killings-to-continue-report-665291.html Colombo March 15 The continued cycle of honour killings across Pakistan reflects a legal framework that has long offered perpetrators an escape route under the guise of religious justice These cases from different provinces and social classes underscore a troubling truth despite legal reforms and public outrage the horrific killings remain deeply entrenched in Pakistans social fabric a report has saidTen years have passed since the brutal murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch who fell victim to an honour killing orchestrated by her brother Her killing shocked Pakistan and led to legal reforms that reclassified honour killings as crimes against humanity prompting police to register such cases under Sections 302 and 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code Despite the 2016 amendments to the law the violence has not abated In fact it has grown more visible more brazen a report in the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror detailedPatriarchy sexism rising misogyny and toxic masculinity in Pakistani society are key drivers for persistence of the notions around honourdishonour seen as residing in womens bodies it addedCiting a USbased advocacy group Human Rights Watch the report said that nearly a thousand women are killed each year in Pakistan under the pretext of honour a figure that has remained largely unchanged despite legislative reformIn July 2025 a horrifying video circulated on social media showing the execution of a young woman and a man who had married against their families wishes with the unnamed pair reportedly shot dead on the orders of a tribal jirga in BalochistanThe footage was chilling the woman wrapped in a shawl stood motionless as a man fired at her from close range She remained standing after two shots collapsing only after the third Moments later the camera revealed a bloodied man lying near her body Gunmen continued to fire at both victims as they lay on the ground The video sparked national outrage with hashtags like Justice For Couple and Honour Killing trending across Pakistan the report mentionedIn parliament senators condemned the murders and demanded action against those who convened the jirga warning that impunity for such parallel justice systems only emboldened further violence The killings underscored the states failure to protect its citizens in undergoverned regions like Balochistan where tribal power structures fill the vacuum left by absent courts and ineffective policing it notedHighlighting the menace of honour killings across Pakistan the report said The fact remains that the states complacency has allowed jirgas to flourish in areas beyond its writ Instead of enforcing the law the government has spent the past year weakening the judiciary and even considering reviving jirgas in former tribal districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-social-legal-system-allows-honour-killings-to-continue-report-665291.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-venezuela-move-may-ease-fertilizer-costs-665155.html Washington March 14 The United States expanded authorisations for Venezuelaâs energy and petrochemical sectors a move that could help stabilise global fertilizer and oil supplies â developments closely watched by major importers such as India The US Treasury Department said the changes were made through updated licences issued by its Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC as part of efforts to revive Venezuelaâs energy industry and support global commodity marketsâThe Trump administration has been rapidly delivering on POTUS promise to help restore Venezuelaâs economy to benefit both the American and Venezuelan peopleâ the Treasury Department saidThe department said the updated licences are intended to revive activity in Venezuelaâs oil and petrochemical sectors while helping maintain stable global supply chainsâToday the Treasury Departmentâs Office of Foreign Assets Control updated several Venezuelarelated licenses to further support the revitalization of the countryâs energy sector and help ensure a wellsupplied global commodity marketâ the statement saidUnder the updated framework the United States has expanded permitted investment and operational activities in Venezuelaâs energy industry The move also allows the export of fertilizer products from Venezuela directly to the United StatesâThese authorisations expand permitted investment and activities in Venezuelaâs energy industry and allow for the export of fertilizer directly to the US to support our great American farmersâ the Treasury Department saidTreasury documents show that the updated licences broaden the scope of transactions allowed under existing Venezuela sanctions regulationsThe measures authorise activities related to the lifting exportation sale storage marketing purchase and transportation of Venezuelanorigin oil by established US entities subject to specified conditionsThey also allow logistical and commercial arrangements necessary for such transactions including shipping insurance and port services linked to Venezuelan crude exportsUS officials clarified that Venezuelanorigin oil includes crude oil and petroleum products extracted refined or exported from VenezuelaThe updated framework also expands the scope of petrochemical products covered under the licences to include fertilizers and related precursor chemicalsAnother licence allows companies to negotiate contingent contracts for new investments in Venezuelaâs oil gas petrochemical and electricity sectors although execution of those agreements would still require additional US authorizationFor countries such as India one of the worldâs largest fertilizer importers any increase in global fertilizer supply could help moderate prices in international marketsIndia imports large volumes of urea phosphate and potashbased fertilizers to support its agricultural sector making global fertilizer availability a key factor for domestic food production and subsidy costsVenezuela holds some of the worldâs largest proven oil reserves but its energy sector has suffered a steep decline over the past decade because of economic mismanagement sanctions and infrastructure deterioration IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-venezuela-move-may-ease-fertilizer-costs-665155.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-slam-trump-russia-oil-sanctions-pause-665156.html Washington March 14 Senior US Senate Democrats have sharply criticised the Trump administrationâs decision to pause sanctions on Russian oil warning the move could enrich Moscow while doing little to ease rising energy costs for Americans US Senator Mark R Warner Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said the move followed what he described as the economic fallout of the administrationâs war with IranâTrumpâs war of choice with Iran has come with immeasurable cost to American lives â with 13 servicemembers killed and hundreds more injured â and passed enormous costs on to working familiesâ Warner saidHe said the administration had failed to anticipate major consequences of the conflict including disruptions to global oil supplyâCritically the Trump administration failed to anticipate or plan for many of the inevitable consequences of this attack â including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz which has cut off 20 per cent of the worlds oil and gas supplyâ Warner saidHe added that energy prices had surged in recent weeksâOver the past two weeks gas prices have skyrocketed more than 60 cents a gallon spiking prices at the pump and increasing costs for flights groceries and moreâWarner said the administrationâs decision to pause sanctions on Russian oil would have little impact on prices but could boost Moscowâs revenuesâTrumpâs decision to pause sanctions on Russian oil will barely make a dent in skyrocketing gas prices but will enrich Putin as he wages his bloody war against Ukraineâ he saidâParticularly given Russiaâs close relationship with Iran this shortsighted giveaway to Putin strengthens our adversaries undercuts Ukraineâs fight for freedom and leaves American families footing the bill with higher pricesâOther senior Senate Democrats also voiced concern about the decision Senators Jeanne Shaheen Elizabeth Warren and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the move could benefit Russia financiallyâPresident Trumpâs decision to provide sanctions relief to Russia is yet another example of how Putin has been one of the prime beneficiaries of President Trumpâs poorly conceived and executed war against Iranâ the lawmakers said in a joint statementThey said the decision could generate significant new revenue for MoscowâRussia is reportedly providing Iran intelligence to target and kill US servicemembers and the Trump Administrationâs response has been to loosen pressure and help facilitate a windfall of 150 million each day for its war machineâThe senators also questioned whether the administration followed congressional requirements regarding sanctions policyâThis action also raises real concerns about the Treasury Secretaryâs shifting explanations for his use of sanctions authorities and whether the Trump Administration is again flouting the requirement under the Countering Americaâs Adversaries Through Sanctions Act to notify Congress before relaxing sanctions on the Kremlinâ they saidâThe deliberate skirting of Congress raises serious questions about whether the Administration is seeking to avoid triggering privileged votes of disapproval on sanctions relief for Russia and avoid accountability for his gift to PutinâThey also referenced earlier testimony by Treasury Secretary Scott BessentâJust last month Secretary Bessent testified under oath that Treasuryâs sanctions on two Russian oil companies were so significant that they made up for the Trump Administrationâs abandonment of all regular sanctions targeting for a yearâ the statement saidâNow he wants us to believe that relaxing those very same sanctionsâas well as sanctions on a range of other Russian entities like additional oil majors traders intermediaries and shadow fleet operatorsâis a ânarrowly tailoredâ action even as it helps those entities score windfall profitsâThe lawmakers said the Treasury Secretary should testify before Congress to explain the decisionâSecretary Bessent needs to testify because Congress and the American people deserve immediate answersâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-slam-trump-russia-oil-sanctions-pause-665156.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senate-honors-indian-american-leader-sunil-puri-665157.html Washington March 14 The US Senate paid tribute to IndianAmerican businessman and philanthropist Sunil Puri with Senator Dick Durbin recalling his journey from a young immigrant arriving from India with little money to a civic leader who helped transform Rockford Illinois Durbin announced Puriâs passing on the Senate floor and described him as a powerful example of the American dreamâMr President when I think about the American dream I think about my friend Sunil Puriâ Durbin saidPuri immigrated to the United States from India in 1979 at the age of 18 Durbin said he arrived in Rockford âwith little more than hope tenacity and 150 in his pocketâOver the next four decades Puri became a leading businessman and philanthropist in the cityâYet over the span of four decades he became one of Rockfords leading businessmen and philanthropistsâ Durbin saidDurbin recounted how Puri left Mumbai for Rockford in hopes of studying at Rockford College now Rockford University During his college years Puri worked several jobs to support himselfâThrough hard work dedication and many odd jobs including cleaning bedpans and laying concrete Sunil put himself through schoolâ Durbin saidDurbin also highlighted the role of the local community in helping Puri succeed during those early yearsâThe citizens of Rockford opened their arms to Sunil and in return Sunil would spend the next four decades repaying the favorâ he saidAfter graduating with a degree in accounting Puri founded First Rockford Group later known as First Midwest Group a real estate development company involved in numerous redevelopment projects in the cityDurbin said the firm helped transform neglected properties into productive spacesâThey have turned abandoned and forgotten buildings into thriving restaurants offices and warehousesâ Durbin saidHe said the companyâs investments helped drive economic growth and job creation across the regionâFirst Midwests investments in Rockford have breathed new life into the city driving economic growth and creating jobs for thousands of Illinoisansâ he saidBeyond business Durbin noted Puriâs extensive charitable work in Rockford Inspired by a lesson from his parents Puri often spoke about the importance of giving backââWater the flowers where you smell the rosesââ Durbin saidPuri donated millions of dollars and contributed significant time to community initiatives His philanthropy helped fund several major projects including the KeelingPuri Peace Plaza the southeast Rockford YMCA branch and the Salvation Army Puri Family Disaster Services CenterDurbin also noted Puriâs advocacy for stronger ties between the United States and India He said Puri was âa passionate advocate for improved USIndian relationsâ and traveled to India with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to support expanded engagement between the two countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senate-honors-indian-american-leader-sunil-puri-665157.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-seeks-h-1b-relief-for-alaska-teachers-665158.html Washington March 14 A US senator has introduced legislation to ease visa costs for public schools in Alaska that rely heavily on international teachers warning that a new 100000 fee per H1B visa could worsen already severe staffing shortages Senator Lisa Murkowski said her bill would exempt K12 public schools from the high visa fee imposed last year allowing districts to continue hiring qualified educators from overseas to keep classrooms staffedâAs soon as this proclamation was released last year I sounded the alarm with the administration about the importance of the H1B visa program to Alaskas school districtsâ Murkowski saidâOur public school classrooms have been facing a staffing crisis for years but teachers in Alaska on HB visas have been instrumental in bridging that shortage and serving our students with talent and careâ she saidThe proposal comes as many districts across Alaska struggle to recruit teachers locally particularly in remote and rural communities where schools have long depended on international hiresEducation officials say hundreds of teachers in Alaska currently work on visas and more than half of the stateâs school districts rely on them to fill classroomsâInternational teachers are essential to keeping classrooms open across Alaskaâ said Dr Lisa Parady Executive Director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators She warned that the steep visa fee has made it âfinancially impossible for many districts to continue hiring the teachers their students depend onâSchool leaders say the problem is especially acute in rural districts where domestic applicants are often scarceâThe recent 100000 H1B visa fee has made it impossible for districts like ours to continue recruiting the educators we needâ said Dr Cyndy Mika Superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School DistrictâNearly 20 per cent of our teachers are on visas and almost 75 per cent of our village teachers are international hiresâ she said âThese educators are not replacing American teachers â we simply do not have applicants for these positionsâWithout international teachers she said districts would struggle to keep classrooms operatingâWithout access to international educators districts like Kodiak will struggle to fill classrooms and provide consistent learning environments for studentsâ Mika saidOther education leaders echoed those concerns noting that the new visa cost could make it impossible for districts to maintain current staffing levelsâAs many districts across the state of Alaska have experienced budget deficits having to pay a 100000 H1B visa fee for each incoming international teacher is unrealisticâ said Tammy Dodd Superintendent of the Bering Strait School DistrictShe noted that the district employs dozens of international teachers who make up a large share of the teaching workforceIn some rural districts international educators form a critical backbone of the school systemâIn the Kuspuk School District international teachers are not a supplement to our workforce They are essential to keeping schools openâ said Superintendent Madeline AguillardThe legislation follows a presidential proclamation issued in September 2025 requiring H1B visa applicants to pay a 100000 fee in addition to existing application costsWhile the H1B visa program is widely used by US technology companies to recruit skilled workers some school districts have also used it to hire qualified teachers when local recruitment efforts fail IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-seeks-h-1b-relief-for-alaska-teachers-665158.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-unveils-500-million-push-for-critical-minerals-665159.html Washington March 14 The United States announced up to 500 million in funding to expand domestic processing of critical minerals and strengthen the battery supply chain that supports industries ranging from defense to transportation and energy The US Department of Energy DOE said the funding opportunity aims to expand critical mineral processing battery manufacturing and recycling capacity in the country as Washington seeks to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains for key materialsThe funding will be issued through a Notice of Funding Opportunity NOFO from the DOEâs Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation CMEIâFor too long the United States has relied on hostile foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential in battery manufacturing and materials processingâ US Energy Secretary Chris Wright saidâThanks to President Trumpâs leadership the Department of Energy is playing a leading role in strengthening these domestic industries that will position the US to win the AI race meeting rising energy demand and achieve energy dominanceâ Wright addedThe initiative is designed to strengthen the domestic battery supply chain that underpins sectors such as defense grid resilience transportation and manufacturingAccording to the Energy Department funding awarded through the program will support demonstration or commercial facilities that process recycle or manufacture critical materials used in batteriesThese materials may include traditional battery minerals such as lithium graphite nickel copper and aluminum as well as other minerals found in commercially available batteriesThe funding round is the third issued through DOEâs Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programsProjects supported through the funding will focus on three main areasThe first is domestic processing of critical minerals from raw feedstocks to expand US capacity for materials used in advanced batteriesThe second area targets recycling efforts to increase recovery of battery minerals through the processing of manufacturing scrap offspecification materials and endoflife batteriesThe third area aims to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for strategic battery materials components and technologiesThe Energy Department said the initiative is intended to strengthen supply chain resilience as global demand for advanced batteries continues to growAssistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson said the effort also reflects broader cooperation with partners in the IndoPacificâI am delighted to be in Japan meeting with our allies underscoring the important connection between critical materials and energy securityâ Robertson saidâCritical minerals processing is a vital component of our nationâs critical minerals supply base Boosting domestic production including through recycling will bolster national security and ensure the United States and our partners are prepared to meet the energy challenges of the 21st centuryâ she addedRobertson is currently in Japan meeting regional allies during the IndoPacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum where officials are discussing supply chain resilience and energy security cooperationCritical minerals have become central to global competition over advanced technologies electric vehicles and energy systems The United States and its allies have increasingly focused on securing supply chains amid concerns over dependence on foreign processing and refiningBattery materials such as lithium nickel and graphite are widely used in electric vehicles grid storage systems and other emerging energy technologies making them a strategic priority for governments seeking to strengthen industrial and energy security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-unveils-500-million-push-for-critical-minerals-665159.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-iran-strikes-big-hits-war-ahead-of-schedule-665160.html Washington Mar 14 US President Donald Trump said military operations against Iran were âgoing very wellâ and claimed American forces had delivered âvery big hitsâ as the conflict intensified across the Middle East Speaking briefly to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Friday Trump described the military campaign as successful and suggested Iranâs capabilities had been severely degradedâThe situation in Iran is going very well A lot of big hits today A lot of big wins today as you probably have heard militarilyâ Trump said âI think its going very well and its very good controlâThe president said the operation was aimed at eliminating what he described as a nuclear threat emanating from IranâBut we had to end the nuclear threat in the Middle East and throughout the world and we will have done thatâ he saidTrump also indicated the Iranian military had been significantly weakened during the fightingâTo me it means very simply that we are in a position of dominance that nobodys ever seen beforeâ he said when asked about the possibility of unconditional surrenderâTheir Navy is gone their Air Force is gone most of their military is gone Their big threat is gone in every wayâ he addedHe further claimed that Iranian air defence and radar systems had been largely neutralisedâThey have no radar they have no antiaircraft weapons for the most partâ Trump said adding that âjust about everything is gone and youll see thatâAsked about the duration of the conflict Trump declined to give a timeline but insisted the campaign was progressing faster than expectedâI cant tell you that I mean I have my own idea but what good does it doâ he saidâItll be as long as its necessaryâ I would say this I wont give you time but were way ahead of scheduleâThe president also suggested that the conflict could affect global energy markets but predicted that prices would fall once the crisis stabilisesâWell I think your gas prices as soon as thats over are gonna come tumbling down along with everything elseâ Trump saidâI think its gonna be youre gonna see a very big decrease in the price of gasoline gas anything having to do with energy as soon as this has endedâTrump confirmed he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the situationâI have And we are discussing a couple of different things with him Not only that but other thingsâ he saidHe also acknowledged communication with Israeli leadership but suggested the United States and Israel may have slightly different strategic objectivesâI think they might be a little different I guess you know theyre a different country than we areâ Trump said when asked about coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuStill he emphasised American military strengthâHe will tell you theres never been a power like the power of the United Statesâ Trump saidThe remarks came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and growing concern about shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz a critical waterway through which roughly onefifth of the worldâs oil supply passes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-iran-strikes-big-hits-war-ahead-of-schedule-665160.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-to-require-truckers-hauling-war-cargo-to-prove-they-have-no-china-ties-665161.html Washington March 14 A US senator has introduced legislation aimed at blocking Chinese nationals and companies linked to Beijing from handling sensitive American military freight arguing that current laws leave a major national security loophole Senator Tom Cotton has unveiled the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act a bill that would require strict nationalsecurity screening for companies transporting Department of War cargo and prevent firms linked to Chinaâs military or the Chinese Communist Party from participating in such contractsThe legislation would require trucking companies moving US military freight to certify that they have no ties to the Chinese Communist Party CCP or Chinese entities considered a nationalsecurity threatâCommunist China continues spying on American military technology by exploiting truck drivers handling Department of War cargo My bill will require anyone handling military freight to be properly vetted to ensure our adversaries cannot gain access to valuable informationâ Cotton saidThe proposal also directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to establish a Secure Defence Freight Carrier Registry a list of approved carriers that pass nationalsecurity vetting and are cleared to transport military cargoUnder the measure trucking firms would have to demonstrate that they are not owned or controlled by Chinese militarylinked companies and have no significant business relationships with such entitiesThe legislation would apply not only to prime contractors but also to subcontractors and individual owneroperators involved in transporting defence shipmentsAccording to the bill companies transporting Department of Defence freight must submit a certification confirming they are not âowned or controlled by and does not have significant business relationships with any entity identified on the most recent list of Chinese military companiesâFirms that knowingly submit false certifications could face suspension or debarment from defence contracts as well as civil penaltiesThe proposal also requires that companies keep certification records for at least five years and pass periodic nationalsecurity checksA companion bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Elise StefanikStefanik said the measure is designed to close what lawmakers view as a dangerous gap in existing procurement rulesâMost Americans would be shocked to learn that US law does not already prohibit Communist Chinas military from receiving transportation contracts tied to American defence projects This bicameral legislation closes that loophole by establishing a clear firewall between the Chinese Communist Party and Department of War contractsâ she saidâAmerican tax dollars should never benefit our greatest adversary at the expense of US national securityâ Stefanik addedThe proposal comes amid intensifying scrutiny in Washington over Chinese involvement in supply chains connected to US defence programs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-bill-to-require-truckers-hauling-war-cargo-to-prove-they-have-no-china-ties-665161.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/white-house-begging-world-including-india-to-buy-russian-crude-iran-hits-out-at-us-665165.html Tehran March 14 Iran on Saturday accused the United States of double standards over Russian oil saying that Washington was now begging countries to purchase the same crude it had earlier tried to block through pressure and sanctions In an X post Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the US alleging that it had spent months pressuring India to halt imports of Russian oil but had now shifted its position as tensions with Iran disrupted global energy marketsThe US spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia Araghchi wrote on X After two weeks of war with Iran the White House is now begging the world including India to buy Russian crudeHe also took aim at European governments accusing them of supporting what he described as an illegal war against Iran in the expectation that such backing would help them secure stronger US support in their standoff with RussiaEurope thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia Pathetic Araghchi said in the same postThe Iranian foreign minister shared his remarks alongside a headline from the Financial Times which reported that the surge in global oil prices was providing Russia with a major boost in revenueAraghchis comments came after the Trump administration on Thursday announced a 30day waiver allowing countries to purchase certain Russian oil cargoes currently stranded at sea The measure was introduced as part of efforts to ease volatility in global energy markets after crude prices surged beyond 100 per barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle EastThe waiver was announced after benchmark oil prices crossed the 100 per barrel mark following supply disruptions linked to the war and Irans decision to close the Strait of Hormuz a key maritime route through which a significant portion of the worlds oil shipments passAccording to the US Treasury Department the temporary licence permits the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that had already been loaded onto vessels as of March 12 The authorisation will remain valid until midnight Washington time on April 11The latest move comes after a similar 30day waiver issued on March 5 that allowed India to purchase Russian oil cargoes that were stuck at sea giving importers limited flexibility to secure supplies during the ongoing crisisAmid the disruption Iran has now granted safe passage to Indianflagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz despite the wider restrictions imposed on global shipping and an LPG tanker sailing to India crossed the Strait of Hormuz on FridayThe development follows a series of highlevel diplomatic engagements between India and Iran including phone conversations between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas AraghchiPrime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday to review the rapidly evolving situation in the West Asia region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/white-house-begging-world-including-india-to-buy-russian-crude-iran-hits-out-at-us-665165.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/exiled-east-turkistan-leaders-condemn-chinas-ethnic-unity-law-call-for-action-against-colonial-domination-665187.html Washington March 14 The East Turkistan Government in Exile ETGE rejected Chinaâs âLaw on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progressâ and called for global action against what it described as the âbroader system of Chinese imperialism and colonial dominationâ According to the ETGE the law adopted on Thursday by the National Peopleâs Congress of China on March 12 though framed as promoting âethnic unityâ establishes a legal framework to forcefully impose Han Chinese identity language and culture over nonChinese peoples in direct violation of international prohibitions against racial discriminationThese âdraconian policiesâ it said are textbook examples of âimperialism fascism and racism codifying systematic genocide and colonial dominationâ under the guise of âethnic unityââThe law mandates the expansion of Mandarin Chinese across education media and public life while suppressing the use of Uyghur Tibetan and Mongolian languages It also enforces policies of forced assimilation Chinese settler colonialism and demographic engineering including organised population transfers statedirected settlement programs and governmentcoerced interethnic marriages intended to weaken and eliminate nonChinese peoples in their homelandsâ the ETGE statedAccording to the exiled authorities the policies adopted by the Chinese authorities âmeet the criteria for genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of GenocideâCondemning the legislation it further noted that any actions deemed to âdamage ethnic unityâ are criminalised under âvague and sweeping provisionsâ of law subjecting peaceful expression of ethnic and cultural identity beliefs religious practice and cultural preservation of nonHan peoples to severe punishmentâReligious institutions are forced to follow the Chinese Communist Partyâs policy of Sinicisation putting faith worship and religious life under direct state control and systematically eroding the freedom of belief for Muslim Buddhist and other communitiesâ the exiled group addedAccording to the ETGE the newly passed legislation also extends Beijingâs transnational repression by asserting jurisdiction over acts committed outside China that allegedly undermine âethnic unityâ creating an additional mechanism to intimidate diaspora communities activists scholars and journalists who expose Beijingâs âcolonial and genocidal policiesâ abroadâThis law is a weaponised blueprint for erasing nonChinese peoples The people of East Turkistan Tibet and Southern Mongolia face systematic destruction of their identity language faith and very existence The international community cannot stand idle while colonialism and genocide are codified into lawâ said Salih Hudayar Minister of Foreign Affairs and Security of the ETGEThe exiled Turkistan leaders called on the international community to impose targeted sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for these âsystematic policies of racism colonialism and genocide while countering Beijingâs transnational repressionâ They further urged global actors to ensure accountability for âgenocide and crimes against humanityâ uphold the right to national selfdetermination and support the âcomplete decolonisation and restoration of independence for colonised peoplesâ under United Nations principles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/exiled-east-turkistan-leaders-condemn-chinas-ethnic-unity-law-call-for-action-against-colonial-domination-665187.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/i-love-india-i-love-modi-trumps-message-signals-possible-india-visit-665192.html New Delhi March 14 IANS A message from US President Donald Trump expressing admiration for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was read out at the India Today Conclave 2026 by American farRight activist and Trump loyalist Laura Loomer on SaturdaynbspnbspIn the message the US President reportedly conveyed his affection for India and hinted that he plans to visit the country again in the near futureLoomer known for her controversial remarks and strong support for President Trump told the audience that she had spoken to the US President shortly before appearing on stage She then read out what she described as Trumps message to the people of IndiaI spoke to President Trump on the phone about an hour ago I will read you exactly what he said to me He said I love India please let them know that I love Modi I love Indian people Prime Minister Modi is a fantastic leader and a good friend of mine Please let the people of India know that I will come to India someday soon for another visit Loomer saidHer remarks drew attention at the conclave where global political issues and international relations were among the key topics discussed Loomer also reiterated that President Trump considers PM Modi a close friend and praised the strong relationship between the two leadersPresident Trump and PM Modi have shared a highprofile political partnership over the years highlighted by large public events and diplomatic engagementsOne of the most notable moments came during President Trumps visit to India in 2020 when he attended the massive Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad alongside PM Modi addressing tens of thousands of supporters at the Narendra Modi StadiumThe two leaders have frequently praised each other publicly emphasising cooperation in areas such as trade defence and strategic partnerships between the United States and IndiaLoomer a prominent voice within President Trumps political support base has often been associated with the MAGA movement and has gained attention for her outspoken views on immigration and international politicsHer reading of President Trumps message at the India Today Conclave has once again spotlighted the close personal rapport between the US President and PM Modi while also raising expectations about a possible future visit by Trump to IndiaIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/international/i-love-india-i-love-modi-trumps-message-signals-possible-india-visit-665192.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iskp-expands-propaganda-network-indian-agencies-flag-surge-in-volunteer-channels-665210.html New Delhi March 14 With the war raging on in Afghanistan the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP has stepped up its propaganda media narrative Indian Intelligence agencies say that in addition to the exisiting propaganda channels the ISKP has set up semimedia organisations This has been done with the intention of ensuring that the propaganda campaign remains sustained However what the Indian agencies worry most about is the lakhs of channels that have come up voluntarily in support of the ISKPOfficials say that this strategy works perfectly for the ISKP When official and semiofficial channels come under scrutiny the ISKP shuts them down temporarily This is when the voluntary channels come in handy officials sayThese channels create content based on the ideology of the Islamic State This helps the ISKP keep the narrative alive and at the same time there is zero investmentAnother official said that the propaganda is always out there considering the number of voluntary channels that have come up It is extremely difficult for the agencies to keep track of so many channels Every time a channel is blocked there are many others that come up an Intelligence Bureau official saidThe agencies are also keeping a close watch on the Khorasan Ghag Radio and alAzaim Foundation The radio channel has of late been conducting plenty of discussions on the global situation The war in Iran and the Afghanistan issue are the primary topics of debateThe foundation on the other hand publishes books relating to Islam and the Sharia Law These books primarily focus on the implementation of the Sharia Law The radio on the other hand has held over 150 discussionsThe content produced by these official channels of the Islamic State is picked up by the voluntary accounts created by individuals They are being circulated in large numbers across the world As has been reported in recent times this content which is mainly created in Arabic is being translated using Artificial Intelligence AI The translated content helps the outfit reach a larger audience officials sayIntelligence agencies say that there has been a surge in this kind of activity in recent months and this is worrying Another official explained that there has been a special focus on the Indian audience and such content is very high in circulation in the Southern statesThe ultimate goal is to ensure that a large number of people are radicalised and make sure that they subscribe to the thought process of the Islamic State This according to the outfit would in the long run not just change the way people think but also ensure that recruitments take place in large numbersThe outfit is in desperate need for people especially in its battle in Afghanistan There have been many instances especially in states like Kerala where people have left the country and joined the ISKPThe Intelligence agencies say what has made the situation even more worrisome is the new found love between the ISKP and PakistanThe Pakistanis have roped in the outfit to fight its battle in Balochistan and also against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP In return Pakistan would help the ISKP with its propaganda drive to ensure that such radical content has an even bigger reach officials explain IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iskp-expands-propaganda-network-indian-agencies-flag-surge-in-volunteer-channels-665210.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-fuel-export-halt-raises-concerns-over-australias-aviation-fuel-supply-report-665214.html New Delhi March 14 IANS Australias vulnerability to liquid fuel shortages and price spikes has intensified after reports that China has asked its oil refiners to halt fuel exports raising concerns over aviation fuel supplies and potential disruptions to flight operations according to a new reportnbspThe Conversation said in its report that development comes amid continuing uncertainty over the Iran conflict and its impact on global oil suppliesnbspThe Australian Financial Review reported that China had notified refiners to stop fuel exports casting doubt over at least two cargo shipments bound for Australia it saidAt the same time two transport ships were reportedly blown up in the Strait of Hormuz increasing the likelihood that vessels may avoid the passage while the conflict continuesThe Conversation report also stated that Asian refineries rely heavily on Middle Eastern crude with many countries in the region importing up to 90 per cent of their oil from the Middle EastAs a net importer of liquid fuels Australia depends significantly on fuel exports from Asian refineries particularly for jet fuel In 2025 Australia imported about 32 per cent of its jet fuel from ChinaIf Chinese exports remain halted Australia may need to source supplies from countries such as South Korea Taiwan Singapore Malaysia and India although these producers may also face constraints due to the Middle East conflictThe report highlighted that Australia currently holds about 2932 days of jet fuel reserves roughly 802 million litres according to the Department of Industry Science and ResourcesThese stocks are stored either at domestic facilities or on ships within Australias exclusive economic zoneHowever the reserves fall short of the 90day stockpiling requirement for members of the International Energy Agency IEAAustralias aviation fuel supply chain is designed around continuous tanker deliveries rather than longterm storage meaning airports could face shortages within weeks if new supplies do not arriveWhile flights have not yet been cancelled Australias largest airline Qantas has warned that fares may increaseAirlines could also impose fuel surcharges reduce flights or ration fuel if supply constraints persistAir New Zealand has already cut about 1100 flights due to rising fuel costs and supply pressures raising concerns about potential disruptions to regional aviation in the near future according to the reportIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-fuel-export-halt-raises-concerns-over-australias-aviation-fuel-supply-report-665214.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fuel-lpg-supplies-stable-india-in-touch-with-global-partners-amid-west-asia-crisis-665220.html New Delhi March 14 IANS The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday reiterated Indias call for deescalation in the ongoing regional conflict while assuring that adequate supplies of crude oil petrol diesel and LPG are available in the country The government also said efforts are underway to safeguard maritime operations and repatriate Indian seafarers from the affected regionnbspMEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently called for dialogue and restraint since the conflict began stressing the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted transit of goods and energynbspSince the outbreak of this conflict India has consistently called for deescalation and for all issues to be addressed through dialogue At the same time one of our key priorities is to ensure the unimpeded transit of goods and energy Jaiswal saidHe added that India has urged all sides not to target civilian infrastructure including energy facilities given the wider global impact of the conflictnbspJaiswal said India has been in constant communication with key stakeholders in the region We have remained in close contact with all important interlocutors including the Gulf Cooperation Council members Iran the US and Israel at various political and diplomatic levels to underline our priorities particularly regarding energy security he saidnbspHe added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with several counterparts in recent days while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Indian embassies have maintained close coordination with their interlocutorsMeanwhile the Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways said that efforts are being made to assist Indian seafarers and maintain smooth maritime operationsnbspSpecial Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that in the past 24 hours 30 Indian seafarers have been repatriated and transported safely to their respective destinations taking the total number of repatriated seafarers to 253nbspHe said major ports had accorded priority berthing to six LPG carriers that arrived from various parts of the worldnbspSinha also noted that the DG Shipping Communication Centre has been operating round the clock and handling a large volume of queries Over the past 15 days the centre has received more than 2500 phone calls and around 5000 emails all of which have been responded to he saidProviding an update on maritime movement in the Gulf region Sinha said that two Indianflagged LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday and are now heading towards IndianbspOfficials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas also assured that the country has adequate fuel suppliesnbspJoint Secretary Marketing and Oil Refinery Sujata Sharma said Indias crude oil supply remains sufficient and refineries are operating at full capacitynbspOur crude supply is sufficient and our refineries are operating at full capacity There are no dryout reports at retail outlets and sufficient petrol and diesel are available she said adding that India produces enough petrol and diesel domestically to meet its needsShe said state governments and district administrations are closely monitoring the fuel supply situation Sharma noted that several Chief Ministers including those of Haryana and Goa have already held review meetings with officialsnbspOn LPG supply Sharma said the situation remains stable despite the geopolitical challenges but warned against panic booking by consumersnbspYesterday we reported around 7576 lakh LPG bookings That number has now increased to nearly 88 lakh This is clearly due to panic booking she said urging citizens to book cylinders only when necessaryShe clarified that booking restrictions remain in place with a minimum gap of 25 days between bookings in urban areas and 45 days in rural areasnbspSharma also appealed to consumers to use digital platforms for LPG bookings and avoid visiting distributors or standing in queuesnbspThere is no need for panic neither for booking nor for cylinders Oil marketing companies are delivering cylinders to homes and will continue to do so she addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fuel-lpg-supplies-stable-india-in-touch-with-global-partners-amid-west-asia-crisis-665220.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-gains-when-oil-prices-rise-trump-664987.html Washington March 12 US President Donald Trump said Thursday that rising oil prices benefit the United States because the country is the worldâs largest producer of crude even as tensions in the Middle East push global energy markets higher âThe United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World by far so when oil prices go up we make a lot of moneyâ Trump wrote on social mediaBut the president said his primary concern remained preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons warning that Tehranâs ambitions could threaten regional and global securityâBut of far greater interest and importance to me as President is stopping an evil Empire Iran from having Nuclear Weapons and destroying the Middle East and indeed the Worldâ Trump wrote âI wonât ever let that happen Thank you for your attention to this matterâTrumpâs remarks came as tensions in the Middle East intensified driving oil prices sharply higher and rattling global financial marketsBenchmark crude prices briefly touched 100 a barrel during trading on Thursday reflecting growing concern that disruptions in the Persian Gulf could affect global energy suppliesTraders and analysts warned that escalating conflict around the Strait of Hormuz â one of the worldâs most critical oil shipping routes â could tighten supply and fuel further price spikesFinancial markets reacted nervously to the developments US stocks fell as investors weighed the economic impact of higher energy costs and rising geopolitical risksTrump also said that the Iranian soccer team should not be coming to the US to participate in the upcoming FIFA World CupâThe Iranian National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup but I really donât believe it is appropriate that they be there for their own life and safetyâ Trump wrote âThank you for your attention to this matterâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-gains-when-oil-prices-rise-trump-664987.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-is-nation-of-terror-and-hate-says-trump-664990.html Washington March 13 US President Donald Trump sharply criticised Iran calling it âa nation of terror and hateâ and saying it was âpaying a big price right nowâ as tensions with Tehran continue to dominate US national security discussions Speaking at a White House event marking Womenâs History Month Trump briefly turned to foreign policy and said the situation with Iran was âmoving along very rapidlyâ while praising the strength of the US militaryâThey really are a nation of terror and hate and theyâre paying a big price right nowâ Trump told a packed East Room mostly women âOur military is unsurpassed Thereâs never been anything like itâThe president suggested that the current actions against Iran were long overdueâWeâre doing what has to be done should have been doneâ he said adding that such steps âcould have been done by a lot of different peopleâ over âa 47year periodâTrump offered no operational details about US actions toward Iran during the remarks However he emphasised that events were unfolding quicklyâThe situation with Iran is moving along very rapidlyâ he said âItâs doing very wellâThe comments came during a speech largely focused on Womenâs History Month working mothers and domestic economic policy but Trumpâs remarks on Iran underscored the continuing prominence of the issue in US national security policyIran has long been at the centre of tensions with Washington particularly over its regional influence support for militant groups and nuclear ambitionsSince the 1979 Islamic Revolution relations between the United States and Iran have remained strained with successive US administrations imposing sanctions and seeking to curb Tehranâs military and nuclear capabilities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-is-nation-of-terror-and-hate-says-trump-664990.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/after-india-us-allows-other-nations-to-buy-russian-oil-at-sea-664991.html Washington March 13 The United States has temporarily allowed countries to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea a move that comes days after Washington granted a similar waiver to India as it seeks to stabilise global energy markets amid rising geopolitical tensions Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measure is designed to increase the reach of existing oil supplies while limiting financial gains for Russia since the crude involved is already in transitâPOTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regimeâ Bessent saidThe US Treasury issued a temporary authorisation permitting transactions necessary for the sale delivery or offloading of Russianorigin crude oil and petroleum products that were already loaded on vessels before March 12 The measure allows countries to purchase oil that is already in transit and currently stranded at sea because of sanctionsrelated restrictionsâTo increase the global reach of existing supply USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at seaâ Bessent saidUS officials stressed that the measure is limited and applies only to cargoes already loaded onto shipsâThis narrowly tailored shortterm measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extractionâ Bessent saidThe Treasury secretary said the administration believes the temporary rise in oil prices reflects a shortterm disruption and that broader energy policies will strengthen supply in the long runâPresident Trumps proenergy policies have driven US oil and gas production to record levels contributing to lower fuel prices for hardworking Americans The temporary increase in oil prices is a shortterm and temporary disruption that will result in a massive benefit to our nation and economy in the longtermâ he saidThe decision follows a similar waiver provided to India earlier this week reflecting Washingtonâs effort to balance sanctions pressure with concerns over global energy supply and price stabilityEnergy markets have faced renewed volatility amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns about disruptions to oil supply routes and infrastructure Governments have increasingly sought ways to maintain supply while continuing sanctions pressure on Russia and IranRussia remains one of the worldâs largest exporters of crude oil and petroleum products Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the United States and its allies have imposed sweeping sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions shipping networks and energy exports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/after-india-us-allows-other-nations-to-buy-russian-oil-at-sea-664991.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/at-white-house-womens-history-month-mixes-tribute-politics-664992.html Washington March 13 The White House marked Womenâs History Month with a ceremony celebrating the role of women in American society The event brought together female officials working mothers entrepreneurs athletes and lawenforcement officers First Lady Melania Trump opened the programme and spoke about the influence women have on families and communities She said that women play a key role in shaping the next generation and societys valuesâThe strength of America is closely tied to the role women play in shaping their childrens character education and moralsâ she said adding âThe values cultivated within our communities shape the voice and vision of our next generationâMelania Trump described women as central to the countryâs economic and social life noting that many were balancing careers with family responsibilities She urged young women to pursue ambition while continuing to learn and take risksâTo all of the young women entrepreneurs and future leaders make time for yourself educate yourself daily and spread your passionâ she said âBe courageous and take risksâThe first ladyâs remarks set the tone for an afternoon that mixed recognition of womenâs achievements with a strong emphasis on policy and politicsPresident Trump who followed her to the podium opened by praising womenâs contributions to the countryâs history and institutionsâWe love women Women are the whole dealâ he said drawing applause from the audienceHe listed prominent American women from history â including Martha Washington Betsy Ross Clara Barton Amelia Earhart Rosa Parks and Aretha Franklin â as examples of figures who had helped shape the nationâGoing all the way back to our nations founding in 1776 America has been strengthened beyond measure by the courage by the spirit love devotion and the incredible womenâ he saidBut the event quickly expanded beyond historical reflection Trump used the platform to highlight policies he said had benefited women in the workforceâSince I took office weve created more than 300000 jobs now filled by proud hardworking American womenâ he said âThe number of womenowned businesses increased by 12 million last year aloneâThroughout the ceremony the president invited several women to the stage to describe their own experiencesHeather Kell a waitress and single mother from North Carolina spoke about the financial pressure many service workers face during tax seasonâI have been a waitress for over 20 yearsâ she said âA lot of the people Ive seen come and go in the industry are single momsâShe told the audience that she had been surprised to receive a tax refund she had not expected âThis year I had to do a doubletakeâ she said âI had to do my taxes twice to make sure this was realâAnother speaker Nora Pruitt a mother of seven from Baltimore described moving from housekeeping into manufacturing workâA year ago I got a job a career job at Marlin Steel Wire Productions in Baltimore Marylandâ she said explaining that the position had allowed her family to buy a new homeLexie Chambers a secondgeneration farmer from Virginia spoke about the importance of preserving family farms and passing them to the next generationâOne of my biggest goalsâ is to ensure that my daughters have the opportunity to farm one dayâ she saidThe event also featured Clay County Florida Sheriff Michelle Cook a veteran law enforcement officer who spoke about balancing family life with public serviceâI know very very wellâ raising kids and serving my communityâ Cook said adding that the presidentâs policies on overtime pay had helped working familiesOne of the most unusual moments came when Olympic bobsled champion Kaillie Humphries a Canadianborn athlete who competes for the United States described her path to motherhood while continuing her career in sportâMy journey to motherhood was a twoandahalfyear process through IVFâ she said âThe title Im most proud of is momâHumphries presented Trump with an Order of Ikkos medal â a recognition Olympic medalists may bestow on someone who has contributed to their journeyThe ceremony reflected a broader tradition in Washington Womenâs History Month is observed each March across the United States with schools government institutions and civic organisations recognising the achievements of women in public life science business and culture IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/at-white-house-womens-history-month-mixes-tribute-politics-664992.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-iran-war-664993.html Washington March 13 A US Air Force aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during operations linked to the war with Iran the US military said as rescue teams searched the area and officials worked to determine whether there were casualties US Central Command confirmed that a KC135 refuelling tanker was lost during an incident involving two aircraft operating in friendly airspace during Operation Epic FuryâUS Central Command is aware of the loss of a US KC135 refueling aircraftâ CENTCOM said in a statementThe command said the incident occurred while two aircraft were involved in the operation One aircraft crashed in western Iraq while the other aircraft landed safelyâThe incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury and rescue efforts are ongoing Two aircraft were involved in the incident One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq and the second landed safelyâ the statement saidMilitary officials said the crash was not caused by combat action âThis was not due to hostile fire or friendly fireâ CENTCOM saidSearch and rescue operations continued as officials worked to determine the circumstances of the incident and the status of the crewâWe ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service membersâ the statement saidThe KC135 Stratotanker is a critical aircraft for the US Air Force refueling bombers and fighter jets on longrange missionsAccording to The Wall Street Journal officials familiar with the episode said initial reports suggested an inair collision though the military has not formally confirmed the causeThe KC135 normally carries a minimum crew of three â a pilot copilot and boom operator responsible for managing the refuelling system that transfers fuel to other aircraftReports of the emergency surfaced earlier when flighttracking data showed that a KC135 had declared an inflight emergency before the crash according to media reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-iran-war-664993.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-step-up-attack-on-trumps-iran-war-664994.html Washington March 13 Senate Democrats stepped up their attack on President Donald Trumpâs war in Iran calling the conflict illegal costly and constitutionally unsound while pressing for public testimony from top administration officials The sharpest criticism came from Senator Tim Kaine a member of the Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations Committees who said the United States had been drawn into a war without congressional authorisation and with growing costs at home and abroadâAmerica has been at war with Iran for 12 days The costs to our troops to everyday Americans and to innocent Iranian civilians â even school children â are dramaticâ Kaine said âThe war is deeply unpopularâSpeaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Kaine argued that âthe war is illegalâ and said the Constitution makes clear that only Congress can declare war He added that the President âhas escalated his use of our military to carry out hostilities all over the globe without Congress while threatening military action against many more nationsââWeâre at war because of the unilateral actions of one man who has grown very confident that Congress will not challenge his kingly behaviorâ Kaine saidKaine whose bipartisan War Powers Resolution was blocked by Senate Republicans last week said he had joined Senators Cory Booker Chris Murphy Adam Schiff Tammy Baldwin and Tammy Duckworth in filing additional War Powers Resolutions as the conflict continuedIn a separate statement on Thursday Baldwin and her colleagues demanded that Senate Republican leaders hold immediate public hearings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete HegsethâAlready oil and gas prices are spiking the prices of basic goods are increasing and the US is spending billions of dollars on this war rather than focusing on reducing costs here at homeâ the senators wrote âThe Trump administration must answer questions publicly under oath in front of the American people not just behind closed doorsâThey warned that without public hearings during the current work period they would âpursue other options for ensuring timely public debate on the Senate floorâThe political argument over the war also widened into a debate over its fiscal cost At a Senate Finance Subcommittee hearing Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Congressional Budget Office Director Phillip L Swagel about the administrationâs expected request for another 50 billion for the warAsked whether he could say definitively that the war would cost only 50 billion Swagel replied âNo I cant and we dont know the duration or the scopeâWarren said âThis war is costing American lives and a lot of money Money that could instead be spent lowering costs like health careâ Swagel also confirmed that extending enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for one year would cost âaround 30 billionâOutside Washington antiwar pressure was also visible Congressman Mike Thompson said more than 700 community members veterans and military families joined âNo Forever Warsâ events in Napa and Woodland California âThis unauthorized war in Iran has already cost seven American lives and more than a billion taxpayer dollars per day with no clear end in sightâ Thompson saidKaine framed the debate in both constitutional and personal terms âWe owe our troops better than thisâ he said âBut as our experiences in Vietnam and Iraq have shown the bravest patriotic service cannot overcome poor civilian decisionmakingâThe US Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war though modern presidents from both parties have often used military force without a formal declaration That tension has repeatedly triggered battles on Capitol Hill over the scope of presidential war powers IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-step-up-attack-on-trumps-iran-war-664994.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-declares-week-of-national-unity-after-new-supreme-leaders-1st-message-664995.html Tehran March 13 Iranian First Vice President MohammadReza Aref said the administration has declared the coming week as the Week of National Unity and Solidarity for Iran according to the official news agency IRNA Aref said he had made the decision on behalf of the administration and was inspired by the first message of Irans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei The message was released earlier in the day and highlighted the need to maintain unity among the Iranian people Xinhua news agency reportedAref said as stressed by Irans supreme leader the peoples effective presence on the scene and maintaining national unity are the most important props for the countrys power and securityMeanwhile Amir Saeid Iravani Irans permanent representative to the United Nations said Thursday that it is his countrys inherent right to preserve peace and security in the Strait of HormuzIravani told reporters that Iran fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the seaHowever the current situation in the region including in the Strait of Hormuz is not the result of Irans lawful exercise of its right of selfdefence Rather it is the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security he saidIrans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz saying that the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to be used On February 28 Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities killing Irans then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-declares-week-of-national-unity-after-new-supreme-leaders-1st-message-664995.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/peru-declares-state-of-emergency-in-283-districts-amid-heavy-rains-664996.html Lima March 13 Peru has declared a state of emergency in 283 districts to mitigate high risks and address the impact of intense rainfall on public safety the official gazette El Peruano reported According to several decrees published in the gazette on Thursday the emergency measure will be in effect for 60 calendar days across 20 of Perus regions including Lima Amazonas Ancash Cusco and ArequipaDuring the emergency period regional and local governments in coordination with the National Institute of Civil Defence and various ministries will implement immediate and necessary exceptional measures and actions for disaster response and the rehabilitation of affected areasMinisters of the country are also deployed in different affected areas to directly supervise response and relief efforts as well as to mobilise health brigades that provide first aid psychological support and humanitarian assistance to the affected populationThe Peruvian Armed Forces have also deployed specialised personnel to assist with rehabilitation and logistics working in coordination with the National Police Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on March 3 the countrys Ministry of Health reported at least 41 people have been killed and one remains missing as a result of the rainy season in Peru since the beginning of this yearAccording to an official statement 56 people had been injured of whom 48 were discharged and seven remain hospitalisedOn February 25 the Peruvian government had declared a 60day state of emergency in various regions in view of the imminent danger posed by intense rainfallTorrential downpours have caused widespread damage across southern Peru affecting about 5500 homes and forcing many residents to evacuatePeru experiences heavy rains primarily due to the El NinoSouthern Oscillation ENSO phenomenon which warms coastal waters increases atmospheric moisture and triggers intense seasonal rainfall This is often intensified by warm humid air from the Amazon Basin hitting the Andes mountains and the recent impacts of climate change IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/peru-declares-state-of-emergency-in-283-districts-amid-heavy-rains-664996.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/adobe-ceo-shantanu-narayen-to-step-down-664997.html Washington March 13 Adobe said that its longserving chief executive Shantanu Narayen will step down after nearly two decades in the role triggering a leadership search at one of the worldâs most influential software companies The San Josebased company said Narayen will transition from the CEO role after a successor is appointed but will remain as board chair to support the leadership changeThe board has formed a special committee to oversee the search process considering both internal and external candidatesâOn behalf of the Board I want to recognise Shantanuâs contributions as CEO and architect of Adobeâs transformation over the past 18 years and for positioning Adobe for success in the AIdriven eraâ said Frank Calderoni Lead Independent Director of AdobeâAs we take the next step in succession planning we are focused on selecting the right leader for this next exciting chapter of the companyâs growth and are grateful for Shantanuâs continued leadership as CEO to ensure a smooth transitionâ Calderoni saidNarayen informed employees of his decision in a message circulated inside the company on ThursdayâI want to share with all of you that I have informed the Board of my decision to transition from my role as CEO of Adobe after over 18 years in the jobâ he wroteâOver the coming months I will be working with Frank Calderoni our lead Director and the Board of Directors to identify my successor and to ensure a smooth transitionâNarayen emphasised that he will continue to support the company after stepping down from the chief executive roleâI will stay on as Chair of the Board to support the next CEO just as John and Chuck did when I took on this roleâ he saidReflecting on his long tenure Narayen said Adobe had expanded dramatically during the past two decadesâOver this time we grew from 3K employees to 30K employees delivered technology that touched billions of people as customers of our products or the digital experiences that our customers create leading to our revenue growing from lt1B to 25Bâ he said âI am so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished togetherâNarayen also highlighted the companyâs future strategy particularly the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative and digital toolsâOur mission Empower Everyone to Create represents an even larger opportunity in the AI eraâ he saidâThe next era of creativity is being written right now â shaped by AI by new workflows and by entirely new forms of expressionâTechnology leaders across the industry reacted to the announcementMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen writing on social media âCongrats Shantanu on a legendary run at Adobe Youâve built one of the most important software companies in the world and expanded whatâs possible for creators entrepreneurs and brands everywhereâAdobe said Narayen will continue to lead the company while the board conducts the search for a successorâI will ensure that I set up Adobe for its next decade of greatness with the right leader and executive team in partnership with the Boardâ Narayen saidNarayen joined Adobe nearly three decades ago and became chief executive in 2007 overseeing a major transformation of the companyâs business model and product portfolioUnder his leadership Adobe shifted from selling packaged software to a subscriptionbased cloud platform and expanded its products across digital media creative tools and customer experience services The companyâs flagship platforms â including Photoshop Acrobat and Creative Cloud â have become central tools for creators businesses and digital publishers worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/adobe-ceo-shantanu-narayen-to-step-down-664997.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-eyes-high-ranking-officials-in-planned-honeytrap-spy-network-665055.html New Delhi March 13 The ISI is engaging India in an unconventional battle whereby it is using social media to pull out sensitive information Setting up modules to honeytrap officials is not new the Indian agencies have learnt that the ISI is on overdrive mode this timePakistan has laid traps to dig out sensitive information several times However this time around the primary focus has been on procuring information about Indiaâs defence sectorAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the pattern that they have been noticing is that the ISI is not looking to trap army personnel of smaller ranks The official said that the ISI is aiming to set traps for higherranking officials since they have access to very sensitive informationRecent cases have shown that Pakistan has been trying to pull out information relating to the future defence procurements drone technology and also sensitive communications between topranking officials and defence ministry personnelAnother official said that the ISI does not want to continue running this module from Pakistan It plans to set up centres within India Moles in India have been instructed to recruit women in Delhi the Northeast and Uttar Pradesh to participate in these modulesIn addition to this the ISI wants to recruit scores of agents across the country The idea is to have agents positioned at sensitive areas with the main focus being on the defence sectors the official addedOfficials say that the plan has been in the making since 2018 Modules had been set up in Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan and Gujarat Members of these modules have been scouting for recruits for a long time However these modules had slowed down operations owing to multiple busts by the Indian agenciesWhile there was a lull for some time Indian agencies have noticed plenty of activity in recent months The agents that the ISI has been looking to recruit are being offered huge sums of money Officials say that the budgetary allotment that the ISI has made for this operation is huge This is because it wants to rope in highranking personnel so that the information that they will try and elicit will be highly classified and topnotchIndiaâs Intelligence agencies remain on very high alert and all attempts are being made to ensure that this mega plan by the ISI does not go through IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-eyes-high-ranking-officials-in-planned-honeytrap-spy-network-665055.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-industry-minister-says-fuel-price-cap-system-already-showing-price-stabilisation-effect-665058.html Seoul March 13 South Koreas Industry Minister Kim Jungkwan said Friday the governments fuel price cap system is already showing signs of stabilising prices less than a day after taking effect Kim held a meeting with officials from South Korean oil refineries gas stations and the Korea National Oil Corporation to review the domestic energy markets on the first day of the fuel price cap systems implementation Yonhap News Agency reported The temporary cap system took effect at midnight Thursday as part of the governments efforts to ease soaring fuel prices and reduce burdens on consumers setting maximum prices of products oil refineries supply to gas stations and distributorsThe initial price ceiling was set at 1724 won USD 116 per litre for regular gasoline 1713 won per litre for diesel and 1320 won per litre for lamp oilThe maximum price threshold will be readjusted every two weeks to reflect changes in international oil prices until the government decides to end the system when it determines that domestic fuel prices have been stabilizedAfter the meeting Kim told reporters the market is already experiencing price cuts on the first day of the system noting that gas stations and oil refineries are actively cooperating with the programKim asked gas stations during the meeting to cooperate with the program as price ceilings are applied on refiners supply prices according to his officeOn Friday Kim also convened an intergovernmental task force meeting on the inspection of unfair market practices involving fuel pricesThe fuel price cap system is a minimum safeguard to protect the national economy in a time of crisis not a measure to control the market Kim said during the meeting vowing a stern response against actions attempting to take advantage of the situation such as hoarding and price gougingThe task force has conducted more than 800 inspections on gas stations suspected of illegally distributing oil products and nabbed 20 cases of illicit activities according to the ministryMeanwhile regarding the petrochemical industrys difficulties in securing naphtha due to the Middle Eastern crisis Kim told reporters the government will restrict exports of domestically produced products and review the possible release of naphtha reserves when the country taps its strategic oil reserveRecently Yeochun NCC Co the countrys largest ethylene producer and other companies announced the possibility of force majeure indicating disruptions in naphtha suppliesSouth Korea ships over half of naphtha imports through the Strait of Hormuz which is de facto closed amid the Mideast tensionsThe minister also said the government is considering various tax measures it can use for energy price stabilization and is preparing to provide energy vouchers to vulnerable households IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-industry-minister-says-fuel-price-cap-system-already-showing-price-stabilisation-effect-665058.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pet-market-hits-record-levels-but-faces-rising-costs-regulatory-challenges-664832.html Washington March 12 The US pet industry has reached a record 157 billion in spending but small business owners told senators that rising healthcare costs regulatory hurdles labour challenges and financing constraints are making it harder for many companies to keep pace with the sectorâs rapid growth At a hearing of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on Wednesday local time lawmakers and business owners painted a picture of a booming consumer market that has become increasingly central to Main Street businesses across the United StatesSenator Joni Ernst the Republican chair of the committee said pets occupy an expanding role in American life and in the economy that serves themâPets have a very special place in our lives in our families and even here in the Senateâ she said noting that about 57 per cent of American households own at least one pet In rural America she said that figure rises to 71 per cent with nearly half of households owning more than one animalAs pet ownership has grown she said businesses built around animal care have expanded alongside it Local veterinarians community trainers pet stores and grooming services now form a vast ecosystem of small enterprises supporting what has become one of the countryâs fastestgrowing consumer industriesBut several witnesses told senators that running those businesses has become more complicated and more expensiveJosh Rogers a franchise owner of Camp Bow Wow dog daycare and boarding services said his company now operates seven locations across Missouri Colorado and Florida and employs more than 140 workersRogers said the franchise model allowed him to expand rapidly describing how it âallowed us to go into business for ourselves but not by ourselvesâ He said the business opened its first location in 2020 and reached breakeven in six weeksStill he told lawmakers that policy uncertainty and labour costs remain major concerns He pointed in particular to the federal âjoint employerâ standard which governs the legal relationship between franchise operators and parent companiesAnother witness Dr Gary Brown a veterinarian from West Virginia said veterinary practices remain essential pillars of local economies particularly in rural communitiesBrown told the committee that the United States has roughly 34000 veterinary practices A typical companion animal practice generates more than 15 million in annual revenue while each fulltime veterinarian produces a median gross revenue of about 600000âVeterinary practices are communitybased businesses that provide stable employmentâ Brown said adding that many clinics also anchor the broader network of commerce in smaller townsRobert Van Sickle cofounder of the Bostonbased pet treat company Polka Dog described the balancing act of operating a growing small business in an increasingly competitive industryPolka Dog began in 2002 as a single neighbourhood shop in Bostonâs South End Today the company operates 11 retail locations two warehouses and a 14000squarefoot manufacturing kitchen that distributes products to retailers around the worldBy most measures Van Sickle said the company has been a success Yet the daily pressures of running the business remain constantâDespite our longevity and growth and how our company might look to someone from the outside within the walls we still operate very much as a small businessâ he saidVan Sickle said rising costs have forced difficult decisions about wages investment and expansion The company expects its employee health insurance premiums to rise sharply again this year after increases in recent yearsLawmakers also heard about regulatory obstacles facing businesses that sell products nationwide Van Sickle said companies like his must register products with agriculture departments in all 50 states each with different forms and labelling rulesThe process he said is timeconsuming and often confusingâItâs more timeconsuming than it is onerous from a financial standpointâ Van Sickle said but he added that a unified national system would greatly simplify compliance for small manufacturersDemocrats on the committee used the hearing to highlight broader economic pressures facing small businesses and consumersSenator Edward Markey of Massachusetts said rising prices for fuel electricity food and health care were squeezing both pet owners and the businesses serving themâThis pet inflation may mean that a trip to the vet a visit to the pet store or even keeping a pet at all is out of reach for many Americansâ Markey saidThe hearing underscored how deeply pet ownership has become embedded in American culture According to industry figures cited during the hearing millions of households now treat pets as family members driving spending on food veterinary services grooming and boardingThe growth of the sector accelerated during the COVID19 pandemic when many Americans adopted pets while working from home The trend has continued turning animal care into a major segment of the US consumer economy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-pet-market-hits-record-levels-but-faces-rising-costs-regulatory-challenges-664832.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/how-16-economies-under-ustr-probe-compare-664833.html Washington March 12 The United States has launched a trade investigation into structural excess manufacturing capacity across 16 economies The list includes major exporters such as China and the European Union as well as manufacturing hubs in Asia and emerging economies such as India Bangladesh and Cambodia The USTR investigations will examine whether persistent trade surpluses and unused industrial capacity in these economies distort global markets and affect US manufacturingThe economies under investigation are China the European Union Singapore Switzerland Norway Indonesia Malaysia Cambodia Thailand Korea Vietnam Taiwan Bangladesh Mexico Japan and IndiaTogether they represent some of the worldâs largest exporters Their industries range from electronics and automobiles to textiles chemicals and energyChina stands out as the biggest case Its global goods trade surplus exceeded 12 trillion in 2025 That accounted for nearly 70 per cent of global goods trade surplusesChina also recorded a 361 billion bilateral trade surplus with the United States in 2024 That was the largest among US trading partnersChinese exports span many sectors These include machinery electronics automobiles steel chemicals and consumer goodsChinaâs industrial utilisation rate fell to 744 per cent in 2025 That suggests significant unused manufacturing capacityThe European Union is the second major economic bloc cited in the investigationIn 2024 the euro area recorded a 451 billion goods trade surplus The EU also had a 147 billion bilateral surplus with the United States Key export sectors include chemicals machinery and vehiclesWithin Europe countries such as Germany and Ireland are noted for persistent trade surpluses Some manufacturing sectors also show relatively low capacity utilisationSeveral Asian economies under investigation serve as major global manufacturing platformsVietnam has one of the fastestgrowing surpluses Its global goods trade surplus reached 196 billion in 2025 Its bilateral surplus with the United States rose to 178 billion Electronics and machinery exports drive much of this growthSouth Korea recorded a 52 billion global goods trade surplus in 2024 Taiwan posted a 733 billion surplus Both economies rely heavily on electronics and semiconductor industriesSmaller exportdriven economies also appear in the investigationSingapore and Malaysia run strong surpluses in sectors such as semiconductors electronics petrochemicals and machineryAnother group of economies is tied to specific industriesMexico recorded a 197 billion goods trade surplus with the United States in 2025 Automotive exports account for much of that figureJapan despite running a global goods deficit of about 36 billion in 2024 had a 57 billion bilateral surplus with the United States Vehicles dominate Japanâs exports to the USIn Southeast Asia Thailand exports automobiles and machinery Bangladesh and Cambodia rely heavily on garments footwear and related productsIndia also appears in the investigation It recorded a 58 billion bilateral trade surplus with the United States in 2025Indiaâs surplus sectors include textiles construction goods health products and automotive manufacturingThe report also highlights excess capacity in several Indian industries In the solar sector manufacturing capacity is nearly three times domestic demand Additional excess capacity exists in petrochemicals and steelA smaller group of economies is mainly due to commoditydriven exportsNorway and Indonesia run surpluses in fuels metals agricultural products and seafoodSwitzerland is cited for a strong surplus driven by exports of refined gold pharmaceuticals and machineryDespite their differences the 16 economies share a common feature US officials say their production capacity often exceeds domestic demandThat can lead to persistent trade surpluses and unused industrial capacityUS officials argue such imbalances can reshape global trade flows They say excess production often ends up in export markets including the United States IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/how-16-economies-under-ustr-probe-compare-664833.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unsc-adoptsresolution-cosponsored-by-india-condemning-irans-attacks-on-its-west-asia-neighbours-664834.html United Nations March 12 The Security Council has adopted a resolution cosponsored by India condemning in the strongest terms Irans attacks on its neighbours in the Middle East The resolution sailed through the Council on Wednesday local time after Russia and China in a surprise move refrained from vetoing it despite their misgivings With those two countries abstaining it received the votes of the other 13 members of the Council Moscows and Beijings abstentions on the resolution that had the cosponsorship of 135 countries showed Irans isolation after it attacked the Gulf neighbours and Jordan not directly involved created an energy crisis affecting economies around the world Russias Permanent Representative told reporters that although Moscow considered the resolution biased and onesided it did not veto it because we recognise that the Gulf countries suffer What suffers is not just the American bases that are located in these countries but civilians and civilian infrastructure which we do not appreciate he said A rival resolution brought by Russia calling for an immediate end to the escalation of the conflict and condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure but without naming any country failed because it did not get the minimum nine votes it needed Pakistan joined China Russia and Somalia in voting for the resolution while nine countries abstained The negative vote of the US did not amount to a veto since it died without the minimum votes Latvia also voted against it The resolution that was adopted demanded that Iran immediately stop the attacks on Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates and Jordan It was silent on the US and Israel who started the current conflict by striking IranTehran extended its counterstrike to the Gulf countries and Jordan even though they had not themselves joined the attacks while some of them host US military bases Bahrains Permanent Representative Jamal Fares Alrowaiei who proposed the resolution and corralled one of the highest numbers of cosponsors told the Council The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian unjust hostile acts that are targeting sovereign countries and that threaten the stability of their peoples He said his country did not participate in the USIsrael attacks on Iran but Iran had turned on itIrans Permanent Representative AmirSaeid Iravani questioned the Councils credibility after it passed the resolution This resolution is a manifest injustice against my country the main victim of a clear act of aggression he said Todays adoption is a serious setback to the Councils credibility and leaves a lasting stain on its record he added pointing to US Permanent Representative Mike Waltz presiding over the meeting despite being the country that is an aggressor The US got the presidency for the month solely because it was its alphabetical turn Israels Permanent Representative Danny Danon said The Islamic regime is firing on the countries of the region out of desperation because it understands that the world has already recognised its true face Tehran is trying to export terror and destruction but even the Security Council is running out of patience with Iranian aggression he added Waltz said The atrocities that were seeing the deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure on ports on airports on energy production facilities on hotels on resorts across the Gulf are unacceptable He added We urge Iran to hear the voice of the council of this resolution that saw no opposition today and of the entire international community Arul Louis can be contacted at arulliansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/unsc-adoptsresolution-cosponsored-by-india-condemning-irans-attacks-on-its-west-asia-neighbours-664834.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/measles-surge-in-australian-state-linked-to-southeast-asia-report-664836.html Sydney March 12 A recent surge in measles cases in the Australian state of New South Wales NSW has predominantly been driven by infections acquired in Southeast Asia health authorities said on Thursday The NSW Department of Health said in a report that authorities were notified of 60 confirmed measles cases in the state between January 1 2025 and March 7 2026Of those cases 34 contracted measles overseas including 32 people who traveled to countries in Southeast AsiaAnother 18 of the cases reported in NSW were linked to a person known to have acquired measles overseas with the remaining eight cases having no known source of infectionAccording to the latest data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System maintained by the Australian Center for Disease Control there had been 25 confirmed cases of measles in NSW in 2026 as of Thursday compared to 37 cases reported for all of 2025 and 18 in 2024The neighboring state of Victoria has reported 21 measles cases in 2026 compared to 36 in 2025 and 17 in 2024Vicky Sheppeard executive director of Health Protection NSW said on Thursday that the report should serve as a timely reminder for why vaccination is so importantAustralias measles vaccination rate for twoyearolds is at 912 per cent according to federal government data below the 9294 per cent national coverage target to achieve herd immunity Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles is one of the worldâs most contagious diseases spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions coughing or sneezing or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours For this reason it is very infectious One person infected by measles can generate up to 18 secondary infectionsBeing 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 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/measles-surge-in-australian-state-linked-to-southeast-asia-report-664836.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-outraged-over-drone-attack-killing-of-unicef-staffer-in-congo-664839.html United Nations March 12 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres was outraged over the droneattack killing of a UN Childrens Fund UNICEF staffer in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC a UN spokesman said Our colleague Karine Buisset was killed in a drone strike on a building that was housing aid workers said Stephane Dujarric chief spokesman for Guterres on WednesdayKarine was a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly to support children and families impacted by conflict and crisisPeacekeepers from the UN mission in the DRC responded for emergency support and conducted an initial assessment of the strike in Goma he saidThe spokesperson said Buisset is the second humanitarian worker killed in the DRC this year citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Since January at least 92 incidents impacting humanitarian workers have been reported across the countryParties to the DRC conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and those providing lifesaving assistance Dujarric saidHumanitarian personnel must never be a target This is international law It is not up for debate nor is up for negotiation It must be respectedHe said the mission also called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities in accordance with their commitment to respect the ceasefire to prioritise the path toward the political solution and to capitalise on the gains recently achieved within the framework of peace effortsIn a post on X French President Emmanuel Macron had confirmed the death of Karine Buisset who worked for the UN childrens charity Unicef and urged respect for humanitarian lawGoma is the capital of North Kivu province on the north shore of Lake Kivu and was last reported under the control of the March 23 Movement rebel forces Xinhua news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-outraged-over-drone-attack-killing-of-unicef-staffer-in-congo-664839.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-boom-needs-power-surge-says-us-energy-chief-664847.html Washington March 12 The United States must rapidly expand electricity generation and modernise its power grid to sustain the explosive growth of artificial intelligence Energy Secretary Chris Wright said warning that decades of underinvestment in energy infrastructure could constrain the countryâs technological ambitions Speaking at a panel on powering Americaâs AI future at a BlackRock summit Wright said the scale of energy required to support data centres and advanced computing is widely underestimatedâOne of my missions coming to Washington is to make it easier to build big things again in our countryâ Wright said noting that the US had âdone precious little of that in the last 20 years or 30 yearsâThe discussion brought together Wright NextEra Energy chief executive John Ketchum and Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat All three argued that artificial intelligence will require vast new electricity capacity but insisted the US has the resources and technology to meet that demand if regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks are addressedWright stressed that energy policy should focus on reliability and affordability rather than political prioritiesâThe focus needs to be on delivering secure reliable affordable electricityâ he said âSo we cannot outsource this next energyintensive industry thatâs arriving artificial intelligenceâKetchum said energy companies must scale up rapidly to meet demand from AI data centres which require large continuous power suppliesâWe have got to unleash energy in this country We gotta do it quicklyâ he said adding that the sector must âget every electron on the grid as fast as possible and to build at scaleâNextEra one of the worldâs largest energy companies is investing heavily in large âdata centre hubsâ capable of generating multiple gigawatts of electricity Ketchum said a mix of gas nuclear solar and storage will be required to supply the grid while keeping costs downPorat said the US power system is currently underinvested in generation and infrastructure even as technology companies accelerate construction of data centresâThe core issue is the US is underinvested in energy capacity and the infrastructure thatâs neededâ she saidShe added that Google is increasingly investing directly in energy projects alongside data centres to ensure sufficient power supplyâWe are adding weâre net investors in adding capacity when we build a data centreâ Porat said noting that such projects can help stabilise electricity prices if executed properlyWright argued that higher electricity demand from data centres could actually lower longterm power prices by improving utilisation of existing infrastructureâThe key to driving down electricity prices is to grow demandâ he said adding that increased consumption allows utilities to spread fixed costs across a larger baseHe said states that encourage energy investment and electricity generation are likely to benefit economicallyâThe states that attract that investment are gonna winâ Wright saidBeyond infrastructure panellists warned that workforce shortages could slow the buildout of power systems and data centresWright highlighted the need for more skilled trade workers including electricians plumbers and welders to support the construction of energy infrastructureâProbably the biggest constraint is gonna be our ability with craftsmen trade labourâ to be able to build these giant complicated infrastructuresâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ai-boom-needs-power-surge-says-us-energy-chief-664847.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-bring-bill-targeting-chinas-organ-harvesting-664850.html Washington March 12 Two US senators introduced legislation seeking sanctions against individuals involved in alleged forced organ harvesting in China Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unveiled the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act a bill that would impose sanctions on individuals responsible for forced organ harvesting and require the US administration to report to Congress on Chinaâs transplant systemAnnouncing the legislation Cruz accused the Chinese government of operating what he described as a systematic programme targeting religious believersâThe Chinese Communist Party operates a brutal statesponsored organ harvesting industry that targets people for their faithâ Cruz said âThe CCP has in particular targeted Falun Gong practitioners committing assaults on religious liberty and fundamental human rightsâHe added that the United States should ensure accountability for such actionsâThe United States should hold accountable those who have committed these atrocitiesâ Cruz saidMerkley said the bill reflects bipartisan concern about reports of abuses involving vulnerable groups in ChinaâChinaâs campaign of repression and human rights abuses continues to have horrific consequences including reports of forced organ harvesting from vulnerable groups across the PRCâ Merkley said âWe must stand up for the victims of these crimes and our bipartisan effort holds the Chinese government accountable for its abusesâAccording to the proposed legislation the President would be required to impose sanctions on foreign individuals determined to have knowingly engaged in or facilitated forced organ harvesting in China Those penalties could include blocking property and financial transactionsThe bill also requires the President to submit to Congress a list of individuals responsible for such actions within 180 days of the lawâs enactment with annual updates thereafterIn addition the legislation directs the US Secretary of State in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Institutes of Health to submit a detailed report on Chinaâs organ transplant policies and practices within one year IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senators-bring-bill-targeting-chinas-organ-harvesting-664850.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-allows-india-flagged-tankers-through-hormuz-after-talks-between-eam-jaishankar-araghchi-664856.html New DelhiTehran March 12 Iran has allowed Indiaflagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following talks between External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi with the aim of keeping the critical sea route open for the transportation of crude oil and natural gas According to sources familiar with the developments Indian tankers Pushpak and Parimal have been passing safely through the Strait of Hormuz even as ships from the US Europe and Israel continue to face restrictions in the strategically important waterwayEnsuring the safe navigation of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz figured prominently during a conversation between EAM Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi late on Tuesday March 10 The two leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia and the issue of maritime movement through the strait was a key point of discussion This was their third conversation since the outbreak of the Iran warIn a related development a Liberianflagged tanker carrying Saudi Arabian crude oil and captained by an Indian has also successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and berthed at the Mumbai portThe vessel has become the first Indiabound tanker to safely pass through the waterway after maritime traffic in the region slowed dramatically following attacks on Iran by the United States and IsraelThe tanker Shenlong Suezmax had loaded crude oil from the Saudi port of Ras Tanura on March 1 and departed two days laterAccording to maritime tracking data from Lloydâs List Intelligence and TankerTrackers the vesselâs last recorded location before reaching Indian waters showed it inside the Strait of Hormuz on March 8The successful passage of the tanker is expected to ease some of the growing concerns in India over possible disruptions in energy supplies India which is Asiaâs thirdlargest economy relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz as more than half of its crude oil and natural gas imports pass through the narrow maritime corridorDespite the safe transit of some vessels several Indian ships remain in or around the sensitive waterwayAccording to the Directorate General of Shipping at least 28 Indianflagged vessels have been operating in or near the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began in the regionOfficials said that eight Indianflagged ships which were located east of the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict broke out have since moved to safer watersA situation report released by the Directorate General of Shipping said that over the past few days seven of these vessels Desh Mahima Desh Abhiman Swarna Kamal Vishva Prerna Jag Viraat Jag Lokesh and LNGC Aseem have moved out and reached the Arabian Sea Another vessel Jag Lakshya has sailed onward towards AngolaMeanwhile tensions in the region remain highOn March 11 a Thaiflagged cargo vessel was reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after it departed from the United Arab Emirates according to the Royal Thai NavyThe vessel identified as Mayuree Naree had left Khalifa Port in the UAE and was headed for Kandla Port in Gujarat when it came under attack while transiting through the Strait of HormuzAuthorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely as security concerns persist in one of the worldâs most critical maritime energy routes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-allows-india-flagged-tankers-through-hormuz-after-talks-between-eam-jaishankar-araghchi-664856.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-3-conditions-to-end-conflict-rights-reparations-guarantee-against-future-aggression--664894.html New Delhi March 12 IANS As the United States and Israels military campaign against Iran and the latters retaliatory strikes move toward their third week Tehran has laid down three key conditions for ending the conflict including recognition of its rights and compensation for the damage caused during the warnbspnbspIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains committed to peace but asserted that the conflict can only end if its demands are accepted by Washington and Tel AvivIn a statement posted on social media after holding conversations with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan Pezeshkian said that Irans position on ending the war was clearThe only way to end this war ignited by the Zionist regime and the US is recognising Irans legitimate rights payment of reparations and firm international guarantees against future aggression Pezeshkian saidTehran has maintained that the conflict began after attacks by the United States and Israel and has insisted that it will not agree to a ceasefire without concrete assurances regarding its security and rightsDespite these conditions there appears to be little indication that the fighting will end soon US President Donald Trump said that the United States intends to continue its operations even as the war entered its second week following joint American and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targetsSpeaking at a campaignstyle rally in Kentucky ahead of the November midterm elections Trump claimed that the United States had effectively gained the upper hand in the conflict but signalled that military operations were still ongoingWe dont want to leave early do we We got to finish the job Trump saidShortly before making that remark the US President had also indicated that the conflict might end soon arguing that there were limited remaining targets for American forces to strikeAny time I want it to end it will end Trump said adding that there was practically nothing left for the US military to bombMeanwhile the US military has issued warnings to Iranian civilians advising them to avoid ports that host naval facilities citing the risk of further strikes Israel on its part has indicated that it still has a long list of potential targets inside Iran including locations linked to ballistic missile capabilities and nuclearrelated infrastructureThe conflict has already resulted in heavy casualties and widespread disruption across the regionnbspAccording to estimates nearly 2000 people have been killed so far most of them Iranians and Lebanese as the violence has spilt over into LebanonThe war has also had a devastating impact on children According to the United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF more than 1100 children have either been killed or injured since the conflict beganGlobal energy markets have reacted sharply to the escalation particularly because of concerns over supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most crucial energy transit routes Roughly onefifth of the global oil supply passes through this narrow waterwayOil prices surged to nearly 120 US dollars per barrel earlier in the week before easing to around 90 dollars but renewed tensions pushed prices higher again on WednesdayIran has warned that the situation could worsen further cautioning the global community to prepare for oil prices potentially climbing as high as 200 US dollars per barrel Tehran has also indicated that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has become nearly impossible claiming control over the strategic waterway and attacking vessels approaching the straitIANS https://dailyworld.in/international/irans-3-conditions-to-end-conflict-rights-reparations-guarantee-against-future-aggression--664894.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-militant-group-vandalises-gas-pipeline-transporting-fuel-to-karachi-664895.html Quetta March 12 The Baloch Republican Guards BRG took responsibility for damaging a major gas pipeline transporting fuel from Balochistans Sui gas field to Karachi local media reported In a statement BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said that the groups fighters attacked a 36inch diameter gas pipeline on Wednesday evening near the Kashmore region in Pakistans Sindh province using explosive materials According to the spokesperson 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 reportedIn a separate incident the Balochistan Liberation Front BLF carried out a series of attacks against Pakistani forces in the Tump area of Balochistan killing 15 military personnelIn a statement released to the media BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch said the groups fighters launched a coordinated attack on March 8 in the Apsi Kahn area near Tump According to the statement multiple BLF units encircled two sections of a Pakistani military checkpoint located at the Apsi Kahn and Shapchar junction and carried out the attack using mortars sniper rifles rockets light machine guns and grenade launchersThe group claimed that the initial assault lasted for approximately an hour leaving six Pakistani soldiers dead and several others injured while causing significant damage to the postThe BLF stated that the operation later expanded to include coordinated attacks on three additional military checkpoints located between Apsi Kahn and Shapchar killing five more soldiers and injuring several others The Balochistan Post reportedThe spokesperson further alleged that a quadcopter drone deployed by Pakistani forces to track the attackers positions was shot down by the BLF fighters during the operationThe group claimed that BLF fighters detonated an improvised explosive device IED destroying a vehicle and killing four additional soldiers when a Pakistani military unit moved between Abdoui and Shapchar to retrieve the bodies and evacuate wounded personnel Separately the group said that on March 9 its fighters set two gas tanker vehicles ablaze at the Josak Buleda Cross area near Turbat after reportedly puncturing their tyres It is alleged that the tankers were transporting gas supplies for industries in Pakistans Punjab provinceThese latest incidents come against the backdrop of escalating attacks by Baloch militant 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/baloch-militant-group-vandalises-gas-pipeline-transporting-fuel-to-karachi-664895.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ex-pm-oli-accepts-crushing-election-loss-as-rsp-sweeps-nepal-vote-664898.html Kathmandu March 12 Nepals former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said he accepted the peoples mandate with full respect after he and his party suffered crushing defeats in the elections to the House of Representatives held on March 5 Oli chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified MarxistâLeninist or CPN UML suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Balen Shah the prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party RSP in the Jhapa5 constituency in eastern Nepal a traditional stronghold of the UML and such a result was considered unthinkable for manyShah the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City secured victory against Oli with 68348 votes the largest vote tally by any candidate in Nepals parliamentary history while the former Prime Minister received just 18734 votes in a devastating defeat at the hands of the newcomerHis party also finished third winning just nine seats out of the 165 seats available under the First Past the Post FPTP system in the 275member House of Representatives As many as 110 seats are filled through the proportional representation electoral systemThe threeandahalfyearold party led by its President Rabi Lamichhane and prime ministerial candidate Shah secured victory in 125 seats under the FPTP system The party has also substantially led in vote share under the proportional electoral system as traditional political parties CPN UML Nepali Congress and the Nepali Communist Party bit the dustI could not achieve the result I had expected in this election Our party also could not secure the outcome we had anticipated former Prime Minister Oli said in a Facebook postIn a democracy the final decision rests with the people and it is the duty of my party and me to respect that decision I accept the peoples mandate with full respectHe said the election result did not come in his partys favour However our commitment and spirit of service toward the people have not weakened in the slightest he addedOli said that although it was a difficult time for his party it would remain among the people continue working for them and move forward to strengthen the relationship of trustIn the wake of the catastrophic electoral defeat many videos of the former Prime Minister Oli undermining the RSP and its leader Shah are circulating on social media drawing mockery from usersTop leaders from traditional political parties including Oli suffered humiliating losses in the elections as public frustration toward them had been growing over time The leaders had been engaged in repeated power struggles forming and toppling governments over the past several years while corruption allegations against some senior figures further aggravated the electoral environmentIn September last year an anticorruption Gen Z movement brought down the Oliled coalition government when 77 people lost their lives and public and private property worth over NPR 84 billion was damaged according to government estimatesAn interim government led by Sushila Karki was then formed which held elections on March 5 this year bringing the new party RSP to power IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ex-pm-oli-accepts-crushing-election-loss-as-rsp-sweeps-nepal-vote-664898.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/consumers-hit-as-prices-of-daily-goods-surge-in-pakistan-shopkeepers-blame-petrol-costs-664902.html Islamabad March 12 Retailers in big cities of Pakistan have raised prices of confectionery and other dailyuse commodities including fresh fruits citing the recent rise in petroleum prices although the majority of the shops were still selling existing stock purchased at older prices local media reported on Thursday This has raised serious concerns for the consumers People said that shopkeepers started asking for higher prices for commonly consumed products like noodles toothpaste biscuits clothes and locallyproduced chocolates immediately after the government raised petrol and diesel prices by Pakistani Rupees PKR 55 per litre on March 7 Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedWafa Abbas a resident of Islamabad said When we went to buy basic items from a shop we came to know that prices of every item had been increased by PKR 10According to the residents shopkeepers have raised the price of products even though the items that were sold at shops were from previously purchased stock Meanwhile retailers have said that increased distribution and transportation costs have forced them to adjust pricesGhulam Ullah a shopkeeper in Aabpara Market said We have to face inventory loss when prices are decreased therefore the balance has to be maintainedHe blamed the government for not warning traders before implementing the higher prices so that they could adjust their stocks accordinglyRawalpindi Association Chairman Saleem Pervaiz Butt stated the price of pulses had been raised by PKR 15 to PKR 20 per kilogram after wholesale dealers and goods transporters raised their pricesTraders stated that further adjustments in the prices of packaged food and confectionery products could not be ruled out if petroleum prices remain higherSeveral confectionery manufacturers and distributors were still analysing the price structure and were expected to formally revise the rates after the increase in fuel prices Dawn reported citing market sourcesDespite having adequate supplies prices of green groceries particularly tomatoes and chillies have increased with different markets of Islamabad charging varied rates The shopkeepers have blamed the wholesale market for the high prices and the commission agents for the situationPetrol and diesel prices in Pakistan have shot up by nearly Rs 55 per litre after the outbreak of the Iran war which reflects the energy import trap that the country has been stuck in during recent years according to the report in the Karachibased Business RecorderAs global oil prices surge and shipping costs rise due to war premiums and security risks Pakistan has little choice but to pass the increase on to consumers But the uncomfortable reality is that the Rs 55 per litre hike may only be the beginning according to the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/consumers-hit-as-prices-of-daily-goods-surge-in-pakistan-shopkeepers-blame-petrol-costs-664902.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-forces-extrajudicially-kill-student-in-balochistan-664908.html Quetta March 12 Another Baloch student was extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan a leading human rights organisation said on Thursday This latest incident comes against the backdrop of a growing wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances across the provinceHuman rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC revealed that the mutilated body of 18yearold Zameer Dargarzai Baloch from the Sardo area of Panjgur district was dumped on Wednesday in the Washap area of Panjgur district after he had been subjected to enforced disappearance for eight daysAccording to the rights body Zameer was forcibly disappeared on March 3 from the Chitkan region in Panjgur by Pakistanbacked death squadsCondemning the brutal killing the BYC said Such acts have become a systematic pattern in Balochistan where Baloch youth and students are forcibly disappeared killed and their bodies dumped What kind of state allows such crimes against its own people In Panjgur the dumping of Baloch bodies has become a daily reality raising serious questions about a system that treats its own citizens in this mannerThe rights body called on the international community and human rights organisations to urgently take notice of the ongoing violence in Balochistan stating that the lives of Baloch youth are increasingly treated as if they have no valueHighlighting the atrocities against civilians in Balochistan Paank the Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department on Wednesday brought to light the extrajudicial killing of another two civiliansPaank strongly condemned the targeted killing of 27yearold Abdullah Baloch a resident of the Mawach region in Panjgur district His killing it said has created fear and concern among residents highlighting the ongoing risks faced by civilians in BalochistanCiting local sources the rights body stated that Abdullah Baloch was fatally shot on March 10 by Pakistanbacked death squads operating in PanjgurIn a separate incident Paank revealed that 18yearold driver Nazeer was shot dead in the Turbat region in Kech district by armed operatives linked to death squads on March 8This incident reflects the grim reality faced by people in Balochistan where young civilians increasingly become victims of extrajudicial killings the rights body notedBalochistan 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/pakistani-forces-extrajudicially-kill-student-in-balochistan-664908.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/extending-power-of-digital-tools-across-humanity-helps-promote-human-rights-india-664829.html United Nations March 12 Extending the power of digital tools across humanity helps promote human rights because improving the lives of all people is essential for realising its potential according to India In India we have harnessed digital tools to expand access to rights for all at scale Sibi George who is the Secretary West in Indias External Affairs Ministry told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday local time It has also facilitated access to justice civil and political rights democratic participation of 14 billion Indians and empowerment of our women he said The AI Impact Summit in Delhi last month where more than 100 countries participated endorsed this idea of sharing the power of AI universally he said 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers attended the summit convened by India along with France The summit acknowledged that the power of AI is best realised only when its benefits are shared equitably by humanity including participation of the Global South George said George recalled External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankars call to the Council to move beyond statements and resolutions to tangible improvements in the daily lives of the most vulnerable We firmly believe that a holistic and balanced approach to all human rights anchored in an integrated development paradigm is the most effective pathway to achieving this George said citing the example of Indias digital programme as one of its pillars He reminded the Council about terrorisms serious threat to human rights and called for united action against it Terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to human rights he said We must remain steadfast in our resolve to counter it in all its forms and manifestations he said This Council should continue to speak with one voice on this issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/extending-power-of-digital-tools-across-humanity-helps-promote-human-rights-india-664829.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-joins-29-countries-to-demand-protection-for-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-664830.html United Nations March 12 India has called for the protection of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon who are in the midst of a heightened confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah in the fallout of the Iran war âWe urge all parties under all circumstances to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises in accordance with international lawâ a joint statement by India and 29 other countries said on Wednesday local time referring to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon âPeacekeepers must never be the target of attacks or intimidation of any kindâ the statement said âWe commend the courage professionalism and dedication of UNIFIL peacekeepers in the fulfilment of their mandateâ The 642 Indian peacekeepers constitute the second largest contingent in the 7438member UNIFIL Created in 1978 the peacekeeping operation is charged with monitoring the cessation of hostilities there and helping the Lebanese government regain control of the southern Lebanon areas With Indiaâs Permanent Representative P Harish at his side Franceâs Permanent Representative Jerome Bonnafont read out the statement outside the Security Council before it met to discuss the situation in Lebanon Three Ghanian peacekeepers were injured in their base last week âamid heavy firingâ in an area of Southern Lebanon where they were located according to UNIFIL Condemning the attack the statement said âThose responsible for the attack must be held accountableâ The UN has said the incident was under investigation and has not assigned blame The statement condemned âin the strongest terms Hezbollahâs reckless decision to join the Iranian attacks against Israelâ which dragged âLebanon in a war neither its authorities nor its population wantedâ As for Israel it said they urge the country âto abstain from attacks against civilian infrastructure and heavily populated areas and to respect the Lebanese sovereignty and its territorial integrityâ âAll parties must respect international law including international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructureâ it added UnderSecretaryGeneral JeanPierre Lacroix told the Council that UNIFIL is implementing its mandates in a âdangerous and precarious environmentâ He said that since March 1 UNIFIL has recorded 4120 âtrajectoriesâ coming from both sides of the Blue Line that effectively separates Israel and Lebanon Hezbollah has carried out daily strikes across the Blue Line with rockets missiles and drones at targets in Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan he said Meanwhile âUNIFIL has observed incursions by Israel Defense Forces units into Lebanon at several locationsâ and there have been direct clashes between the Israeli forces and Hezbollah he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-joins-29-countries-to-demand-protection-for-peacekeepers-in-lebanon-664830.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:54:00 +0530