DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:35:13 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-plans-to-fire-federal-workers-as-shutdown-begins-641069.html Washington Oct 2 The White House has stated that federal job layoffs are imminent as a consequence of the government shutdown that began on October 1 In a press conference on Wednesday local time the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the impending firings of federal workers saying the opposition party has put us into this positionUnfortunately because the Democrats shut down the government the President has directed his cabinet and the Office of Management and Budget is working with agencies across the board to identify where cuts can be made And we believe that layoffs are imminent she addedVice President JD Vance also took the podium and blamed Democrats for the situationIf this thing drags on for another few days or God forbid another few weeks we are going to have to lay people off Were going to have to save money in some places so the essential services dont get turned off in other places he assertedHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered the firing threat calling the government a jobkilling administrationThese are all things that the Trump administration has been doing since January 20 the mass firings of federal workers The Trump administration has been killing jobs This is a jobkilling administration he addedThe Republicans have accused Democrats of demanding healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants which the Democrats reject as a lie peddled by the Trump administrationDemocrats say they are asking to reverse the healthcare cuts for American citizens in the Big Beautiful Bill which was passed earlier this yearRepublicans assert they would not agree to Democrats demands and had proposed to extend funding until November 21While the Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives they are eight votes short in the Senate as the funding bill requires 60 votes to passIt is the first US government shutdown in seven years as the last one happened under Trump 10 and lasted for 35 days the longest in historyEssential services such as border protection law enforcement and airtraffic control continue to function while food assistance programmes governmentfunded preschool food inspectors and operations at national parks could be adversely affectedIf the shutdown is extended over a long period air travel could face challenges as many of those workers would be forced to work without pay and may not report for duty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-plans-to-fire-federal-workers-as-shutdown-begins-641069.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/gaza-fires-rockets-toward-israel-amid-yom-kippur-observance-641070.html Tel Aviv Oct 2 Five rockets were launched from the northern Gaza Strip toward Ashdod a coastal city in southern Israel the Israel Defense Forces IDF said According to the Israeli army four of the rockets were successfully intercepted by its air defence system and one fell in open terrain causing no casualtiesThe barrage came on Wednesday evening local time as Israel was observing Yom Kippur the holiest day on the Jewish calendar Israel came to a standstill on Wednesday at sunset as the Day of Atonement began Stores restaurants cinemas and other public venues remain closed until Thursday nightfall Radio and television stations have stopped broadcasting public transport is out of service and private cars are largely unused except for medical emergencies reports Xinhua news agencyMeanwhile Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military is completing the capture of the Netzarim Corridor a buffer zone in central Gaza aimed at isolating Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave Katz added that this will tighten the siege around Gaza City and all those leaving from the south will be required to pass through IDF checkpointsThe military is in these hours completing the capture of the Netzarim Corridor a military buffer zone in central Gaza aimed at isolating Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave Katz said in a statementThis is the last chance for Gaza residents who are interested in moving south and leaving Hamas terrorists isolated in Gaza City itself in the face of IDF activity that continues at full strength he warned Those who remain in Gaza will be terrorists and supporters of terrorEarlier in the day the IDF said it had launched an extensive ground operation in Gaza City and had killed several militants posing an immediate threat in northern Gaza apart from targeting multiple military structures and infrastructure facilities in the areaMeanwhile Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee announced on social media platform X earlier in the day that the AlRasheed coastal road the main route linking southern and northern Gaza would be closed from noon allowing only southward movement for those still in Gaza CityPalestines official news agency WAFA reported that 23 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and shelling across Gaza on Wednesday morning whereas Gazabased health authorities said Israels military campaign has killed 66148 Palestinians and injured 168716 others since October 7 2023In a separate development Israels national emergency service Magen David Adom and the IDF said two rockets were launched on Wednesday from northern Gaza towards southern Israel and then intercepted by the Israeli air defence with no casualties reportedFollowing the launch air defence sirens were activated in three Israeli villages near the Gaza border sending local residents to shelters IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/gaza-fires-rockets-toward-israel-amid-yom-kippur-observance-641070.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/african-executives-push-for-tourism-digitisation-to-spur-growth-641089.html Nairobi Oct 2 Tourism players across Africa should leverage digital tools to transform the sector boosting its growth and competitiveness senior officials said at the 15th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo underway in Nairobi the Kenyan capital According to the executives emerging technologies such as big data Internet of Things and artificial intelligence AI have revolutionised the tourism and travel sector delivering benefits for investors and clientsClara Chinwe Okoro founder and chief operating officer of My Beautiful Africa a travel technology company based in Nigeria said Africa is gradually becoming a destination for techsavvy tourists necessitating the urgency to automate the sector reports Xinhua news agencyConnectivity is not only easing bookings but also improving travellers experience at various destinations across the continent We can also leverage digital tools to showcase our scenic attractions Okoro saidKalkidan Mulugeta cofounder of ClearSkies Technology a technology firm based in Ethiopia stressed that digital tools have the potential to make Africas tourism more resilient sustainable and globally competitiveMulugeta urged investors to utilise cyberspace to market new products automate booking and payment systems while prioritising data security for travellersHe added that the adoption of new technologies such as drones and AI will enable tourism stakeholders to reduce their carbon footprint curb waste and build resilient brandsFrancis Muriithi group head of technology governance and assurance at Kenya Commercial Bank Group said investors in Africas tourism sector can leverage advanced digital tools to gain insight into travellers preferencesMuriithi called for scaling up digital payments across the continent alongside the rollout of microinsurance products to shield the sector from weatherrelated shocksThe Magical Kenya Travel Expo which runs until Friday brings together over 6500 delegates from 40 countries across the globe including senior policymakers and investors in the tourism sectorThe threeday event under the theme Magical Kenya Unlocking Africas Potential through Sustainable Tourism features panel discussions business matchmaking and exhibitions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/african-executives-push-for-tourism-digitisation-to-spur-growth-641089.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-cultivates-hamas-as-proxy-against-india-while-deceiving-us-on-gaza-peace-641096.html New Delhi Oct 2 The White House released a 20point plan following discussions between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a Gaza peace plan The plan released on Monday said that Hamas should release hostages and leave power in Gaza and also disarmIn the midst of these developments there were reports that Pakistan would be sending in troops to Gaza as part of a Muslim nations peacekeeping force This puts the spotlight on the double standards by Pakistan which has been actively training Hamas on its soilRecently many Hamas leaders were seen sharing the stage in Pakistan along with of the LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammad when the socalled Kashmir Solidarity Day was observedFor several months now Hamas have been in Pakistan They have been attending training camps that are run by the LeT and JeMIntelligence Bureau officials said that the decision to train Hamas by members of the Pakistan Army and ISI is not getting them ready for a battle against IsraelAt this moment Pakistan would not try to meddle in Palestine because they are aware of what the stand of the US is on the issueThe ISI has taken in Hamas and trained them so that they can be used in Balochistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa India and BangladeshThe Pakistan Army is having a hard time dealing with the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban TTPThe army has faced huge and embarrassing losses at the hands of these outfits and hence is looking for backing from the HamasRoping in the LeT or JeM to fight against the TTP and BLA is not an optionMany cadres of these outfits share a good rapport with the Taliban and hence would not want to indulge in a battle especially against the TTPFurther the ISI wants the LeT and JeM to be engaged in Jammu and Kashmir and not elsewhere While all these outfits are training together the jurisdiction has been drawn by the ISIHamas would not be allowed to battle in Jammu and Kashmir and would instead focus on taking on the BLA and TTPThe ISI also has plans to deploy Hamas members in Bangladesh so that they can carry out strikes in the northeastern statesTerror groups in Bangladesh such as the HarkatulJihadi Islami HuJI and JamaatulMujahideen Bangladesh JuMB are capable of carrying out strikes but their cadres are not battlehardened like HamasThe presence of Hamas in Pakistan is not a new development Its leaders have been visiting Pakistan since 2024Since then its leaders have been addressing conferences relating to both Israel and KashmirIntelligence reports also state that Hamas leaders at the behest of the ISI have also visited Bangladesh on numerous occasions The primary intention is to destabilise India and the ISI is trying to take advantage of the capabilities that Hamas has It would want Hamas to launch rocket attacks on India like it did with IsraelHamas has displayed such capabilities and hence the ISI is cultivating it as a major asset against IndiaAn official said that this is typical of Pakistan to backstab allies On one hand Pakistan has been tomtomming about a newfound ally in the US and on the other hand it harbours a terror group that works against Washingtons interests In the aftermath of the 911 attacks Pakistan joined the war against terror along with the United StatesHowever Osama Bin Laden the mastermind of the deadly attacks whom the US was looking for was given refuge in Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-cultivates-hamas-as-proxy-against-india-while-deceiving-us-on-gaza-peace-641096.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-prez-yoon-absent-from-insurrection-trial-for-13th-consecutive-session-641101.html Seoul Oct 2 Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from his insurrection trial for the 13th consecutive session on Thursday the first time the hearing was to be broadcast online The bench at the Seoul Central District Court acknowledged Yoons continued absence from the trial and proceeded with the hearing under a law that allows it in the event a jailed defendant cannot be brought in by forceIt also explained the reasons for accepting a request by special counsel Cho Eunsuks team to broadcast the hearing saying it considered the gravity of the case and the peoples right to knowOn the reasons for limiting the broadcast to up to the beginning of witness questioning the bench said it considered the witnesses personal and portrait rights as well as concerns that their testimony could influence the testimony of other witnessesYoon who has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his shortlived imposition of martial law in December has not attended the proceedings since being placed under arrest in JulyThe special counsel team requested the court take firm measures such as by issuing a warrant to bring him in by force noting the ousted former president did appear at the first hearing of a new trial on martial lawrelated charges last week Yonhap news agency reportedYoons lawyers protested however that his absence has been caused in part by health issues as well as by unconstitutional elements in the trialEarlier in the day a Seoul court rejected former President Yoon Suk Yeols request to be released on bail citing concerns of destruction of evidenceThe Seoul Central District Court made the decision after Yoon filed for bail last month citing his right to defend himself and issues with his healthThe court said there were concerns the defendant could destroy evidence and that it did not find a considerable reason to grant his bail requestYoon has been in custody since July when special counsel Cho Eunsuks team placed him under arrest a second time on charges related to his failed imposition of martial law in DecemberDuring his bail hearing last week Yoon spoke for 18 minutes arguing that being in detention makes it difficult to attend his trials and comply with questioning by investigatorsThe special counsel team argued for maintaining his arrest citing concerns of destruction of evidence and the political impact his potential release could have on its investigation and his trialsYoon who is standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his failed martial law attempt is being tried additionally on charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members revising the martial law proclamation and obstructing his detention by investigators in January IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-prez-yoon-absent-from-insurrection-trial-for-13th-consecutive-session-641101.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modis-warning-on-illegal-immigration-rings-true-as-isi-plots-rohingya-infiltration-into-india-641104.html New Delhi Oct 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at an event to commemorate the RSS centenary celebrations once again spoke about the dangers of illegal immigration He had made the same point during his Independence Day address The Prime Minister repeatedly flagging the issue only shows how dangerous illegal immigration into the country is The agencies have long flagged the issue stating that illegal immigration is a planned attempt to cause demographic changes and ensure the commission of crimes in IndiaThe ISI Pakistan along with the DGFI Bangladesh have long been planning to increase the scale of illegal immigrants into India While a number of illegal immigrants who come into India are from Bangladesh the two agencies have now decided to increase the number of Rohingyas from Myanmar who would enter India illegallyThe ISI and DGFI have roped in the HarkatulJihadi Islami LashkareTaiba and the Aqa Mul Mujahideen AMM to execute this plan The three terror groups are looking to take advantage of the ongoing situation in Myanmar to rope in the RohingyasMany of those who have been displaced due to the violence are the potential targets Security officials say that attempts are being made to gather as many as possible in Bangladesh before infiltration attempts are madeWhile India is already battling the influx of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants adding the Rohingyas to the mix would only stress the system further Another plan that has been set in motion is to use the Rohingyas who have taken refuge in Bangladesh to carry out crossborder attacks against IndiaOfficials say that Dhaka cannot afford to be complicit in such a situation The situation could backfire and the radicalised Rohingyas could unleash terror in Bangladesh also There is also the risk of crimes rising in a country that is seeing neverending violence and massscale radicalisation However Indian agencies doubt that Bangladesh would do much considering that the ISI is involvedSince Muhammad Yunus was made caretaker of the interim government with the blessings of the JamaateIslami he has cosied up to PakistanWith the Jamaat calling the shots it is unlikely that the Bangladesh administration would act on this problem that threatens Indias national security The number of camps for Rohingya has risen since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Camps to train the Rohingyas have come up at Bagerha Coxs Bazar and Mymensingh These camps were set up following a meeting of the ISI officials along with Hafiz Saeed and AMM commander Abu Aman Jununi The AMM commander is originally from Myanmar but trained in Pakistan His training is solely for the purpose of roping in Rohingyas and then infiltrating them into India as well as carrying out terror strikesIn addition to stepping up security India has also put into effect the new Immigration and Foreigners Act The act has strict rules on passports visas and immigration The Union Home Ministry notified the rules of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 on September 1During the debate on the bill Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government was ready to welcome those who wished to come to India for purposes of tourism education business and healthcareHe however stressed that India is not a dharmashala Back in 2023 investigations had revealed that some brokers in Tripura had been facilitating the infiltration of Rohingya refugeesThey would come into India by using Assam as a corridor The agencies have been told by the Centre to crack down on such brokers and touts so that the problem can be minimised as much as possible IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modis-warning-on-illegal-immigration-rings-true-as-isi-plots-rohingya-infiltration-into-india-641104.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-relief-chief-sees-us-gaza-peace-proposal-opening-possibilities-for-aid-delivery-641035.html United Nations Oct 1 UN relief chief Tom Fletcher recently welcomed US President Donald Trumps Gaza peace proposal for opening new possibilities to deliver largescale desperately needed lifesaving aid We are ready and eager to work in a practical and principled way to seize this moment for peace said Fletcher undersecretarygeneral for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinatorHe said the world bodys teams networks supplies and expertise are in place and ready to be mobilised quickly and efficiently as was done during the previous ceasefire that broke down in midMarch As consistently emphasised it is essential to end all attacks restore public order and facilitate humanitarian access to and throughout Gaza Xinhua news agency reportedFletcher said that eliminating restrictions on the entry of critical items and the work of international nongovernmental organizations remains a key request These steps would allow humanitarians to resume communitybased services at a level that ensures no one is left behindIt is also critical that the private sector is able to operate at a meaningful scale he added noting that humanitarian aid alone cannot meet the full scope of needs in GazaIt will be crucial to ensure that these conditions are sustained along with generous and reliable funding as well as the restoration of decimated facilities and infrastructure said FletcherThe UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA which Fletcher heads warned that areas across the Gaza Strip especially Gaza City continue to come under heavy Israeli bombardmentThe UN Human Rights Office said that between Wednesday and Sunday Israeli strikes intensified in the northwestern part of Deir alBalah with at least 89 Palestinians reportedly killed in at least a dozen separate incidentsOCHA said the Gaza health authorities reported that 175 people including 35 children have died from starvation and malnutrition since the confirmation of famine in the Gaza governorate in AugustThe UN relief agency for Palestine refugees reported that in Gaza City its teams operate 18 shelters for more than 4000 people although 28 others remain inaccessible or had to be evacuated Only one of the agencys five medical points in Gaza City remains operational said OCHA IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-relief-chief-sees-us-gaza-peace-proposal-opening-possibilities-for-aid-delivery-641035.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-weighing-actions-against-drug-cartels-coming-by-land-from-venezuela-641037.html Washington Oct 1 US President Donald Trump said that the White House is weighing actions to crack down on drug cartels coming by land from Venezuela Now well look at cartels he told reporters as he left the White House Were going to look very seriously at cartels coming by landHis remarks followed recent US military strikes in international waters in the southern Caribbean targeting boats that the White House alleged were transporting illicit drugs from Venezuela Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to US accounts as many as 17 people aboard three vessels were killed in US strikes this monthThe Trump administration has also deployed warships to the Caribbean The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Pentagon has built up a force of more than 6500 troops in the regionWhile some cocaine leaves South America through Venezuela the country is not a main source of USbound drugs said the report citing a 2020 report from the US Drug Enforcement AdministrationIn recent weeks the US military struck at least three boats from Venezuela allegedly carrying narcotraffickers and drugs that could threaten Americans President Trump said on Truth SocialThe administration has not provided evidence that drugs were on all of those boats But an official in the Dominican Republic alongside one from the US Embassy there did say at a press conference earlier on Sunday that drugs were found in the water after one strike IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-weighing-actions-against-drug-cartels-coming-by-land-from-venezuela-641037.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/at-least-19-dead-as-67-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-philippines-641038.html Manila Oct 1 At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured as a 69magnitude earthquake hit Cebu province in the central Philippines on Tuesday night local media reported Wednesday Authorities updated the death toll to 19 amid ongoing rescue efforts and fears that the number could rise furtherCiting the provincial information office local newspaper SunStar Cebu reported that 13 people were killed in Bogo City the quakes epicenter while four others died in San Remigio town in northern Cebu Xinhua news agency reportedThe municipality of Medellin in Cebu reported at least one death and multiple injuries along with damage to two bridgesSunStar Cebu added that victims of the quake continued to pour into Cebu Provincial Hospital Bogo City straining medical staffThe Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported that a 67magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province at 959 pm local time on Tuesday The institute later revised the magnitude to 69 adding that the quake struck at a depth of 5 kilometers approximately 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo CityThe tremor was also felt in many neighboring provinces in the central Philippines as well as some regions in the southern PhilippinesA number of village roads also sustained damageThe quake caused power lines to trip leading to outages across Cebu and nearby central islands though power was restored shortly after midnight in Cebu and four other major central islands the National Grid Corp of the Philippines said in an updated advisoryThe Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire a zone prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/at-least-19-dead-as-67-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-philippines-641038.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-envoy-meets-visiting-armed-forces-medical-team-in-washington-641039.html Washington Oct 1 Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra met the visiting officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services of India in Washington during their visit to the United States In a post on X Kwatra wrote Interacted with Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and officers of Armed Forces Medical Services of India who are visiting US for interacting with their counterparts at US INDOPACOM DHA Departments of Army Navy and Air Force The visit is aimed at enhancing cooperation in military medicine which is an important pillar of strong bilateral defense relationship between India and the USDespite tensions over trade security ties between India and the United States have remained strongIn midSeptember Ambassador Kwatra met the US Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby at the US Department of War headquarters the PentagonA productive conversation with the brilliant Elbridge Colby Reviewed the current agenda and charted actionable path on several initiatives in the pipeline of IndiaUS defence cooperation Value his deep knowledge perspective and consistent support for our strategic partnership Kwatra had posted on XColby also wrote about the meeting calling it a valuable discussionI was very pleased to host AmbVMKwatra at the Pentagon earlier this week for a valuable discussion We at the Department of War look forward to continuing to elevate our critical defense cooperation with India he posted on XThe interactions come days after armies of two countries concluded the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 the annual bilateral ArmytoArmy exercise between India and the United States in AlaskaThe 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 the annual bilateral ArmytoArmy exercise between India and the United States concluded on September 14 after two weeks of rigorous training in AlaskaIn a statement on September 15 the Indian embassy in Washington termed the exercises a hallmark of the growing militarytomilitary interaction between India and the US aligned with the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between both countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-envoy-meets-visiting-armed-forces-medical-team-in-washington-641039.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-lebanon-explore-avenues-to-strengthen-tourism-business-ties-641040.html Beirut Oct 1 A Seminar on Promotion of Tourism and Business in India was held in Beirut focusing on boosting tourism and business ties between India and Lebanon The seminar was hosted by the Embassy of India in Beirut where Indian Ambassador Noor Rahman Sheikh moderated a panel discussion highlighting Indias rich heritage breathtaking destinations and business opportunitiesLaura El Khazen Lahoud Lebanons Tourism Minister attended the event as the Chief Guest and MP Ali Oseirran President of the LebaneseIndia Parliamentary Friendship Committee joined as the Guest of HonourSeveral other Lebanese senior officials including Director Generals of Ministries of Finance Public Works and Transport various tourism sector representatives and prominent businessmen also attended the eventOn this occasion the Chief Guest amp Guest of Honour along with Miss Lebanon Nada Koussa who participated in Miss World in May 2025 at Hyderabad Nabil Merwani VP ATTAL Mounir Teeny Chairman CCIA Zahle amp Beqaa and Haya Yehya Director of Dar Al Handsa spoke on the importance and ways of promoting tourism and business relationships between India amp Lebanon Lebanese Artist Daniel Balamane presented a mesmerising performance of Shahnayi an Indian doublereed wind instrument Embassy of Indian in Beirut posted on X on WednesdayEarlier in March the Embassy organised a Multisectoral Business Seminar in Beirut to foster stronger IndiaLebanon trade ties the seminar consisted of a panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Sheikh and attended by MP Ali Osseiran President of the LebaneseIndian Parliamentary Friendship Committee senior officials of various Ministries prominent businessmen and the Indian diasporaIn 2024 despite the disruptions due to the IsraelHezbollah conflict the Indian diplomatic mission continued to interact closely with the business community including organising business seminars to promote bilateral commercial tiesFurthermore several Lebanese companies participated in trade fairs in India in 202425 and were able to engage in productive meetings that led to various trade opportunities Lebanons imports from India stood at US337 million in 2025 as compared to US323 million in 2024 India is the 11th largest import source for LebanonThe year 2025 marks the 71st year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Lebanon India and Lebanon have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations India established diplomatic relations with Lebanon in 1954 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-lebanon-explore-avenues-to-strengthen-tourism-business-ties-641040.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-government-shuts-down-as-republicans-democrats-fail-to-break-impasse-641048.html Washington Oct 1 The United States government has shut down as lawmakers failed to achieve a breakthrough on a funding bill As a consequence the funding for US government departments will be cut and will bring a few federal services to a halt On Tuesday Democrats blocked Republicans plans to pass the spending bill in the SenateDemocratic leaders met US President Donald Trump on Monday but failed to come to an agreementHours after the meeting Trump shared an AIgenerated video on Truth Social mocking House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerTrump on Tuesday continued to blame Democrats saying that he didnt see them bend even a little bitHe also threatened to fire more federal workers during the shutdownWhen you shut it down you have to do layoffs wed be laying off a lot of people Trump saidDemocrats are demanding to reverse the healthcare cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill which was passed earlier this yearRepublicans assert they would not agree to Democrats demands and had proposed to extend funding until November 21While the Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives they are seven votes short in the Senate as the funding bill requires 60 votes to passIt is the first US government shutdown in seven years as the last one happened under Trump 10 and lasted for 35 days the longest in historyEssential services such as border protection law enforcement and airtraffic control would continue to function while food assistance programmes governmentfunded preschool food inspectors and operations at national parks could be adversely affectedIf the shutdown is extended over a long period air travel could face challenges as many of those workers would be forced to work without pay and may not report for duty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-government-shuts-down-as-republicans-democrats-fail-to-break-impasse-641048.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-embassy-updates-applicants-about-passports-visa-services-amid-govt-shut-down--641060.html New Delhi Oct 1 IANS The US Embassy in India on Wednesday assured applicants that passports and visa services will continue despite the government shut down underway in WashingtonnbspnbspIn a statement shared on social media platform X the US Embassy in India stated At this time scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at US Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits We will not update this account until full operations resume with the exception of urgent safety and security information For information on our services and operating status visit httptravelstategovThe Embassys statement comes as the US government has shut down since lawmakers failed to achieve a breakthrough on a funding bill As a consequence the funding for US government departments will be cut and will bring a several federal services to a haltnbspOn Tuesday Democrats blocked Republicans plans to pass the spending bill in the Senate Democratic leaders met US President Donald Trump on Monday but failed to come to an agreement Hours after the meeting Trump shared an AIgenerated video on Truth Social mocking House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerTrump on Tuesday continued to blame Democrats saying that he didnt see them bend even a little bit He also threatened to fire more federal workers during the shutdown When you shut it down you have to do layoffs wed be laying off a lot of people Trump saidnbspDemocrats have demanded to reverse the healthcare cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill which was passed earlier this year Republicans have stressed they would not agree to Democrats demands and had proposed to extend funding until November 21While the Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives they are seven votes short in the Senate as the funding bill requires 60 votes to pass It is the first US government shutdown in seven years as the last one happened under Trump 10 and lasted for 35 days the longest in historynbspEssential services such as border protection law enforcement and airtraffic control would continue to function while food assistance programmes governmentfunded preschool food inspectors and operations at national parks could be adversely affected https://dailyworld.in/international/us-embassy-updates-applicants-about-passports-visa-services-amid-govt-shut-down--641060.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-announces-20-point-peace-plan-to-end-war-in-gaza-640810.html Washington Sep 30 US President Donald Trump formally announced his 20point peace plan to end the IsraelHamas war in Gaza The White House released the plan on Monday as Trump met the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White HouseWhile addressing the media along with the Israeli PM Trump said if Hamas accepts the proposal the hostages would be released and the war would endNow its time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan that weve put forward today Im hearing Hamas wants to get this done Trump saidHowever he warned that if Hamas rejects the plan Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of HamasNetanyahu also announced his support for the peace plan saying that it achieves Israels war aims but also threatened to finish the job if Hamas does not agreeIt can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way he saidTrumps peace plan for Gaza outlines the establishment of a temporary technocratic government with Israel pledging not to annex the Strip and ensuring that no residents are forced to leave The agreement calls for an immediate end to the war if accepted with all captives both alive and deceased returned within 72 hoursThe government in Gaza will be overseen by a new international transitional body the Board of Peace which will be chaired by Trump and other members including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority complete a reform program to take back controlHamas members who commit to peace would receive amnesty while others would be offered safe passage abroad Security in Gaza will be overseen by regional and international forces who would also help train Palestinian police while aid would flow in at agreed levels The US would facilitate further dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians to support longterm coexistenceRiyad Mansour head of the Palestine Mission to the United Nations at a Security Council meeting before Trump announced his plan reiterated the Palestine Authoritys readiness to work with President Trump and the US administrationWe reiterate Palestines readiness to work with President Trump and the US administration with Saudi Arabia and regional actors with your European partners and the members of this distinguished Security Council with the entire international community he addedThe war in Gaza began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023 killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages Around 48 people are believed to remain in captivity and about 20 are thought to be alivePressure has been growing on Israel to end the war as more than 66000 Palestinians have been killed and much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-announces-20-point-peace-plan-to-end-war-in-gaza-640810.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-government-shutdown-likely-as-political-impasse-continues-640814.html Washington Sep 30 The United States is barrelling towards a government shutdown as the meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic leadership failed to achieve any breakthrough If no deal is achieved between Republicans and Democrats by Tuesday midnight the funding for the US government will be cut and it will bring a few federal services to a haltAfter meeting Trump in the White House Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he and Representative Hakeem Jeffries the House minority leader laid out to the president some of the consequences of whats happening in health care and by his face he looked like he heard about them for the first timeHe added that they have very large differences on health careDemocrats are demanding to reverse the Medicaid cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill which was passed earlier this yearVicePresident JD Vance addressing the media at the White House indicated that a shutdown could be imminentI think were headed into a shutdown because Democrats wont do the right thing I hope they change their mind but were going to see Vance saidRepublicans assert they would not agree to Democrats demands and have proposed to extend funding until November 21While the Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives they are seven votes short in the Senate as the funding bill requires 60 votes to passIt would be the first US government shutdown in seven years as the last one happened under Trump 10 in 2018 and lasted for 35 days the longest in historyThe Trump administration has threatened to fire more federal workers during the government shutdown periodEssential services such as border protection law enforcement and airtraffic control would continue to function while food assistance programmes governmentfunded preschool food inspectors and operations at national parks could be adversely affectedIf the shutdown is extended over a long period air travel could face challenges as many of those workers would be forced to work without pay and may not report for duty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-government-shutdown-likely-as-political-impasse-continues-640814.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-urges-us-consideration-over-new-vehicle-tariffs-640823.html Mexico City Sep 30 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she hoped the United States would show consideration toward Mexico following the US decision to impose new tariffs on heavy vehicle imports We are already in talks hoping there will be consideration toward Mexico Sheinbaum said on Monday during her daily press conference adding the tariffs could be problematic for both countries Xinhua news agency reportedUS President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a slew of new tariffs including a 25 per cent tariff on imported heavy vehicles starting October 1 as part of his policy to strengthen the domestic industrySheinbaum noted that under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement on free trade Mexicos exports have grown in sectors not subject to tariffs particularly those excluding finished vehicles steel or copper benefiting from the accords zerotariff schemeTrade ties with the United States continue to be very important and a very significant competitive advantage for Mexico said SheinbaumMexico has managed to avoid major repercussions from US tariff policies thus far largely due to the USMexicoCanada USMCA trade pact Sheinbaum hopes this trade relationship will continue to protect Mexico from harsh economic impactsAbout 85 per cent of Mexican exports meet the USMexicoCanada Agreement USMCA rules protecting them from a 25 per cent fentanylrelated tariff However Trump said last month that tariffs will remain 50 per cent on Mexican steel aluminium and copper and 25 per cent on autos or goods that do not meet USMCA rules He also announced that Mexico agreed to remove many of its nontariff trade barriers IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-urges-us-consideration-over-new-vehicle-tariffs-640823.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-resumes-extradition-to-us-after-17-years-sends-indian-citizen-wanted-in-fatal-car-crash-case-640827.html New York Sep 30 India has resumed extraditions to the US after a 17year hiatus sending over an Indian citizen wanted in the US on criminal charges according to officials Ganesh Shenoy 54 who fled to India after a crash that killed a 44yearold man 20 years ago was taken into custody by the US Marshals Service in Mumbai and brought here on Thursday the Nassau County prosecutors office said on MondayAfter decades of evading law enforcement and dodging prosecution my office finally returned this defendant to the United States to answer for the tragic death of a husband and father of two more than 20 years ago the prosecutor Anne Donnelly saidHe was produced on Friday before a judge who ordered him held without bail she saidThe crash happened early morning in April 2005 in the New York City suburb of Hicksville when the victim Philip Mastropolo was driving to work she saidDonnelly said that Shenoy who was allegedly driving at twice the speed limit ran a red light and hit Mastropolos car with such force that it skidded about 20 metres and crashed into a truckMastropolo died on the spotShenoy was taken to a hospital but refused medical treatmentAlthough his Indian passport was confiscated he managed to escape to India flying from New York to Mumbai 14 days later her office saidHe was charged in Nassau County with seconddegree manslaughter in August 2005 and an Interpol Red Notice was issued according to her officeThe seconddegree manslaughter charge Shenoy faces under New York law is the equivalent of the offence in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of committing a rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicideIndia and the US signed an extradition treaty in 1997The treaty provides for the extradition of anyone committing a criminal offence that is covered by the laws of both countries and carries an imprisonment of more than a yearA seconddegree manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 15 years under New York law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-resumes-extradition-to-us-after-17-years-sends-indian-citizen-wanted-in-fatal-car-crash-case-640827.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hamas-to-review-us-ceasefire-proposal-as-arab-muslim-nations-express-support-640832.html Gaza Sep 30 Hamas has received a USbacked proposal aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip presented by Qatari and Egyptian mediators a Hamas source said The plan which US President Donald Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus backing earlier in the day was delivered during a meeting in Doha The Qatari prime minister and the head of Egypts General Intelligence Service presented the plan to Hamas negotiators the source saidThe Hamas delegation told mediators it would study the proposal with sincere intent before issuing an official response according to the sourceEgypts Al Qahera News TV citing Egyptian security sources confirmed the delivery of the US peace proposal to Hamas The report said Egypt and other Arab countries made several amendments to the plan before presenting it to Hamas in DohaEarlier on Monday US President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to his broad Gaza peace plan Trump added that if Hamas accepted the proposal it would require the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours and called on the group to accept the termsNetanyahu however warned that Israel would finish the job against Hamas if the militants rejected the proposalThe plan faced immediate opposition from Islamic Jihad a Palestinian militant group allied with Hamas which dismissed it as a recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian peopleThrough this Israel is attempting via the United States to impose what it could not achieve through war the group said in a statement We consider the AmericanIsraeli declaration a formula for igniting the regionMeanwhile the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank welcomed the US proposal and expressed its readiness to work with the United States regional countries and partners to end the Gaza war through a comprehensive agreement Xinhua news agency reported quoting the official WAFA newsThe plan the authority said should ensure adequate humanitarian aid to Gaza secure the release of hostages and prisoners and establish mechanisms to protect the Palestinian peopleThe foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia Jordan the UAE Indonesia Pakistan Türkiye Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement late on Monday welcoming the US proposalThe ministers praised the proposals to end the fighting rebuild Gaza prevent Palestinian displacement and block the annexation of the West BankThey reaffirmed their commitment to work with the United States to secure a deal that guarantees unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza the release of hostages security for all sides full Israeli withdrawal reconstruction of Gaza and a path toward a just twostate solution integrating Gaza and the West Bank in line with international law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hamas-to-review-us-ceasefire-proposal-as-arab-muslim-nations-express-support-640832.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-pm-han-attends-1st-hearing-of-insurrection-trial-640856.html Seoul Sep 30 Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Ducksoo on Tuesday attended the first hearing of his trial on charges of abetting former President Yoon Suk Yeols failed imposition of martial law Han has been indicted on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection in connection with the martial law imposition in December perjury and falsifying official documents among other offencesUpon arriving at the Seoul Central District Court he entered the building without answering reporters questionsThe hearing will be broadcast online after personal information is anonymised as special counsel Cho Eunsuks team requested it and the bench approvedBoth the special counsel team and Hans side will give opening remarksAn examination of evidence will follow using surveillance camera footage of the presidential office on Dec 3 when Han allegedly left the Cabinet meeting room with papers printed with the martial law declaration and Yoons address to the nationHan was one of the attendees at a Cabinet meeting held shortly before Yoon declared martial law that dayThe special counsel team has requested however that the footage examination be excluded from the broadcast out of national security considerations as the video is classified as a Grade 3 military secret Yonhap news agency reportedIn addition to abetting the martial law imposition Hans indictment accuses him of drafting a revised proclamation after December 3 to enhance the legitimacy of the decree and later destroying itHe also stands accused of lying under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was not aware that Yoon had given him a copy of the martial law declaration until after the decree was liftedHan Ducksoo is a South Korean diplomat economist and politician who served as the acting president of South Korea in December 2024 and from March to May 2025 and as the prime minister of South Korea from 2007 to 2008 and from 2022 to 2025Han is the fifth person to hold the prime ministers office twice having served under Presidents Roh Moohyun and Yoon Suk Yeol He also held office as the minister of economy and finance from 2005 to 2006 the ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012 and the chairman of the Korea International Trade Association from 2012 to 2015After the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol on 14 December 2024 Han became the acting president of South Korea Thirteen days later Han himself was also impeached by the National Assembly of South Korea due to his refusal to promulgate two special counsel bills that sought to investigate the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keonhee along with failing to appoint three National Assemblydesignated candidates for the Constitutional Court of KoreaThis ended his role as acting president and suspended his powers as prime minister with both duties being transferred to Choi Sangmok IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-pm-han-attends-1st-hearing-of-insurrection-trial-640856.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/spacex-targets-11th-test-flight-of-starship-for-october-13-640864.html New Delhi Sep 30 After a resounding success of its 10th test flight of Starship SpaceX is targeting the 11th test flight for October 13 the Elon Muskled company announced on Tuesday The Starship and Super Heavy booster is scheduled to launch from the companys Starbase site in South Texas on October 13 with a launch window opening at 615 pm CT October 14 445 am ISTStarships tenth flight test took a significant step forward in developing the worlds first fully reusable launch vehicle Next up Flight 11 of Starship is targeted to launch as early as Monday October 13 SpaceX said in a post on social media platform XDuring the 11th flight the booster will launch with 24 flightproven Raptor engines Its primary test objective will be demonstrating a unique landing burn engine configuration planned to be used on the nextgeneration Super HeavyIt will attempt this while on a trajectory to an offshore landing point in the Gulf of America and will not return to the launch site for catch SpaceX said in a blog postThe primary goal of the flight test is to measure the realworld vehicle dynamics as engines shut down while transitioning between the different phasesThe Starship upper stage will target multiple inspace objectives including the deployment of eight Starlink simulators similar in size to nextgeneration Starlink satellitesThe flight test also includes several experiments and operational changes focused on enabling Starships upper stage to return to the launch site on future flightsMeanwhile Starships 10th test flight carried out in August began with Super Heavy successfully lifting off by igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf of AmericaUsing its four flaps for control the spacecraft arrived at its splashdown point in the Indian Ocean successfully executed a landing flip and completed the flight test with a landing burn and soft splashdownThis came after a series of anomalies during Flight 7 Flight 8 and Flight 9 which lifted off this year in January March and MayOn Flight 7 and Flight 8 the Ship exploded less than 10 minutes after launch while on Flight 9 it broke apart upon reentry to Earths atmosphereStanding more than 400 feet tall when fully stacked Starship is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever builtIt consists of two elements both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable a booster known as Super Heavy and an upperstage spacecraft called StarshipSpaceX is developing Starship to help humanity return to the Moon and settle on MarsIt will launch the moon lander for NASAs Artemis 3 mission that aims to land astronauts on the Moon IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/spacex-targets-11th-test-flight-of-starship-for-october-13-640864.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-pok-to-balochistan-rising-uprisings-signal-collapse-of-pakistan-armys-grip-640869.html New Delhi Sep 30 The protests that have broken out in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoK are a clear signal of how badly the Pakistan Army is collapsing due to rising corruption The army has managed to keep the issue under wraps for long in a bid to protect its corrupt officials but now the people have taken to the streets and are fighting backThe issue of corruption in the Pakistan Army over which the people are fighting is not limited to PoK but it extends up to Balochistan tooDespite the internet being cut and phone services suspended news regarding the protests in PoK has reached the entire world At least 2 people were killed and 22 others were injured after the police opened fire in PoKWhile there are longstanding issues such as the development of the region Indian officials say that the people of Pakistan are fed up with the brazen corruption in the Pakistan Army One of the biggest issues in the army that the people are now flagging is the culture of commission whether arms deals or developmental worksThe Pakistan Army for long had roped in retired officials to deal with the middlemen and take commission All this was not visible to the public and the rest of the world since the retired officials were working behind the scenesThere is no doubt that the Pakistan Army is the most powerful institution in Pakistan Today it has a puppet in the form of Shehbaz Sharif and hence this racket that it undertakes has become even easierIn 2015 Pakistan signed one of the biggest deals for a naval project called the Hangarclass submarine programme This deal was estimated at around 5 billion However the details of this deal remain sketchy and no information has even been given to the Parliament or the publicHowever the Pakistan Army has not just been complicit in giving information about defence deals The corruption even extends to housing and land Schemes such as the Defence Housing Authority DHA have made the Pakistan Army the biggest property developer in the country The DHA which runs into millions of dollars has managed to escape scrutiny as a result of which corruption is at an alltime highThe DHA has a special legal status that protects it from government oversight This has enabled the Pakistan Army officials to indulge in largescale corruption These issues have not only irked the public but a section within the army as wellIndian officials say that corruption has peaked the most under Field Marshal Asim Munir Recently a letter that was issued in the name of The Guardians of Honour exposed the uneasy calm within the army The letter accuses Munir of incompetence corruption and political oppressionThe crisis was reportedly sparked off due to the standoff with former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the courtmartial of Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed former head of the ISIWhile Asim Munir has largely managed to put down dissent the mask is currently wearing off An Intelligence assessment on the situation in Pakistan suggests that the protests in Balochistan and PoK could be turning points for Munir and his men There is no sign of the protests in both regions dying down and the situation could get only worse in the days to comeFurther the army also fears that these issues particularly corruption political interference and development could spill into the major cities of the country The army would no doubt try and put down the dissent with the use of massive forceHowever it is also mindful of the events that have taken place in Bangladesh Nepal and Sri Lanka Further it has also realised that it is having the worst time in Balochistan It has faced embarrassment on several occasions apart from incurring huge lossesThese are clear indications that the clout is gradually wearing out and the army would need to gear up for tough days ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-pok-to-balochistan-rising-uprisings-signal-collapse-of-pakistan-armys-grip-640869.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/world-leaders-laud-trumps-20-point-peace-plan-to-end-conflict-in-gaza-640882.html London Sep 30 Several world leaders on Tuesday welcomed the US President Donald Trumps plan to end the Gaza conflict facilitate the release of hostages and provide urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza The remarks came after Trump formally announced his 20point peace plan to end the IsraelHamas war in Gaza during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday Washington timeWelcoming the new US initiative British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostagesTogether with our partners we will continue work to build consensus to put into place a permanent ceasefire We are all committed to a collective effort to end the war in Gaza and deliver a sustainable peace where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in safety and security he addedFrench President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope that Israel would engage resolutely with the plan stating that Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow the planTaking to X Macron said These elements must pave the way for indepth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region based on the twostate solution and on the principles endorsed by 142 UN member states at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia France stands ready to contribute It will remain vigilant regarding the commitments of each partyMeanwhile Australia affirms the plans commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza and calls on Hamas to agree to the plan lay down its arms and release all remaining hostagesWe commend the plans focus on Palestinian selfdetermination and statehood and the Palestinian Authority taking back effective control of Gaza President Trumps plan reflects a clear rejection of annexation and forced displacement of Palestinians said Australian Prime Minister Anthony AlbaneseFurthermore in a Joint Statement the Foreign Ministers of Qatar Jordan the United Arab Emirates Indonesia Pakistan Turkey Saudi Arabia and Egypt appreciated Trumps efforts to end the war in GazaThe ministers affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalising the agreement and ensuring its implementation in a manner that ensures peace security and stability for the peoples of the region read the joint statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/world-leaders-laud-trumps-20-point-peace-plan-to-end-conflict-in-gaza-640882.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-cabinet-approves-govt-reorganisation-bill-abolishing-prosecution-office-640883.html Seoul Sep 30 The South Korean Cabinet on Tuesday approved a government reorganisation bill centred on abolishing the prosecution office and stripping the finance ministry of its budget planning role The bill the first of its kind under the Lee Jae Myung administration was passed by the National Assembly last week during a plenary session boycotted by the main opposition People Power Party Yonhap news agency reportedIt was approved during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung along with other bills calling for the renaming of standing parliamentary committees and the abolition of the Korea Communications Commission KCCUnder the revision to the Government Organisation Act the prosecution office will be shut down in October next year 78 years after its establishment and will be replaced by two new agencies that will take on its investigative and indictment powersThe socalled serious crimes investigation agency will be installed under the interior ministry while the indictment office will be established under the justice ministryThe move comes after longstanding criticism that the prosecution has abused its exclusive powers by carrying out politically motivated investigationsThe Ministry of Economy and Finance meanwhile will be separated into the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the office for planning and budget which will be installed under the prime ministers office The change will take effect in January next yearOther government ministries will be subject to name changes and restructuring starting Wednesday when the revised bill will be promulgatedThe environment ministry will become the ministry of climate energy and environment while most of the energy departments under the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy MOTIE will be transferred to the new environment ministry MOTIE will also be renamed the Ministry of Industry and TradeThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family whose Korean name is the Ministry of Women and Family will additionally be renamed the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family while Statistics Korea and the Korean Intellectual Property Office will be upgraded to the national data office and the intellectual property office under the prime minister respectivelyThe office of the deputy prime minister for social affairs which was doublehatted by the education minister will be abolished but the finance minister and the science minister will each double as deputy prime ministerThe bill abolishing the KCC the state telecommunications regulator mandates the establishment of a new body overseeing the broadcasting and telecoms sectorsOnce it takes effect on Wednesday the current KCC chief Lee Jinsook will automatically be removed from office following months of tensions with the Lee administration over her alleged failure to maintain political neutralityLee was appointed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in July 2024 to a threeyear term IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-cabinet-approves-govt-reorganisation-bill-abolishing-prosecution-office-640883.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/leaders-of-europe-middle-east-welcome-trumps-plan-to-end-conflict-in-gaza-640900.html Brussels Sep 30 Leaders of Europe and the Middle East on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trumps announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza The statement of leaders comes after Trump formally announced his 20point peace plan to end the IsraelHamas war in Gaza as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday Washington timeEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed Trumps commitment to end the conflict in Gaza and expressed the European Unions readiness to contribute to the effortsWelcome President Donald Trumps commitment to end the war in Gaza Encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity The EU stands ready to contribute Hostilities should end with the provision of immediate humanitarian relief to the population in Gaza and with all hostages released immediatelyShe called a twostate solution the only viable path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East with people of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and securityEuropean Council President Antonio Costa welcomed Trumps plan to end the war in Gaza Calling the situation in Gaza intolerable he called for an end to hostilities and the release of all hostages held by HamasIn a post on X Costa wrote I welcome President Donald Trumps plan to end the war in Gaza and I am encouraged by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus positive response All parties must seize this moment to give peace a genuine chanceStressing that the situation in Gaza is intolerable Costa said Hostilities must end and all hostages must be released immediately The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve to live side by side in peace and security free from violence and terrorism A twostate solution remains the only viable path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle EastTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appreciated Trumps efforts aimed at halting the conflict in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire He expressed Turkeys readiness to contribute to the process of establishing a just and lasting peace acceptable to all partiesI commend US President Donald Trumps efforts and leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire Turkiye will continue to contribute to the process with a view to establishing a just and lasting peace acceptable to all parties Erdogan posted on XCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Trumps plan and urged all parties to help in fully implementing it He called for the release of hostages and expressed Canadas readiness to support efforts to deliver aid to GazaIn a post on X Carney wrote Canada welcomes President Trumps historic new Middle East peace plan and we urge all parties to help it realise its full potential As the critical next step Hamas must immediately release all hostages Canada stands ready to support the sustained unimpeded and largescale delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout GazaWe will continue our close coordination with international partners to build a just and lasting peace that builds on todays progress with a sovereign democratic and viable State of Palestine building its future in peace and security with the State of Israel he addedWelcoming the US plan to end the conflict in Gaza German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in a post on X wrote The US plan for Gaza offers the unique opportunity to end the horrific war in Gaza This opportunity must not be missedNew Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters welcomed the US comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza He urged all parties to use the opportunity to end the conflict and fully implement the terms of the proposalIn a post on X Peters stated In our speech to the UN General Assembly over the weekend we said We desperately want diplomacy to succeed and we believe it is those countries with leverage who are most likely to achieve a breakthrough That would show global leadershipNew Zealand therefore welcomes the United States Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza as an example of such global leadership We urge the parties to seize this important opportunity to end the conflict and implement the terms of the proposal fully New Zealand wants to see an immediate end to this disastrous conflict he addedThe leaders statement comes as Trump announced a peace plan for Gaza which outlines the establishment of a temporary technocratic government with Israel pledging not to annex the Strip and ensuring that no residents are forced to leave The agreement calls for an immediate end to the war if accepted with all captives both alive and deceased returned within 72 hoursThe government in Gaza will be overseen by a new international transitional body the Board of Peace which will be chaired by Trump and other members including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority complete a reform programme to take back controlHamas members who commit to peace would receive amnesty while others would be offered safe passage abroad Security in Gaza will be overseen by regional and international forces who will also help train the Palestinian Police while aid will flow in at agreed levelsThe US would facilitate further dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians to support longterm coexistence IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/leaders-of-europe-middle-east-welcome-trumps-plan-to-end-conflict-in-gaza-640900.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/no-place-like-it-on-planet-earth-us-students-in-awe-of-incredible-india-after-returning-home-640910.html Seattle Sep 30 Promoting peopletopeople ties especially among the youth of the two countries a 10member student delegation from Montana in the United States visited India recently After returning home the students shared their experience about Incredible India during a special welcome reception hosted by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte at the State Capitol in Helena the Consulate General of India shared on Tuesday India time During the welcome reception the Montana students narrated their experiences to an audience of leading scholars media representatives and industry leaders who had gathered at the State Capitol The delegations twoweek visit underscored the importance of developing deeper ties between the next generation of young leaders from India and the United StatesAddressing the welcome reception at Helena Governor Gianforte welcomed the initiative of the newlyopened Indian Consulate in Seattle in promoting peopletopeople ties especially among the youth of the two countriesThe 10member student delegation from Montana to India was led by Jason Smith Member of the Board of Directors of the Montana World Affairs Council Their itinerary included prominent heritage landmarks and experiences such as the Rath Yatra in Odisha the Ram Temple in Ayodhya the ISKCON Temple in Vrindavan the Taj Mahal in Agra the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha and Lucknows Bara Imambara and Rumi DarwazaThese students were selected through a competitive and extensive series of Indiafocused outreach programmes across multiple school districts of Montana culminating in the Indian Film Festival at the University of Montana in Missoula earlier this yearRecalling his India visit Jason Smith the delegation head said I have always found my time in India to be magical The people are warm and wonderful the sights the sounds are so unique Theres no place like it on Planet EarthIt is really important for our young delegation to spend time with their peers and to learn firsthand that there is more that unites us than makes us differentThe Consulate General of India in Seattle worked in close partnership with the Montana World Affairs Council to arrange this exclusively curated visitThe programme featured interactions with senior government officials of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi visits to leading educational institutions such as KIITKISS in Odisha and CMS in Lucknow and vibrant exchanges with their youth counterparts in Lucknow and BhubaneswarDuring this immersive experience the Montana students also participated in interactive workshops aimed at deepening their understanding and appreciation of Indian arts and culture IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/no-place-like-it-on-planet-earth-us-students-in-awe-of-incredible-india-after-returning-home-640910.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-10-people-killed-over-20-injured-in-balochistan-explosion-640918.html Quetta Sep 30 At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others injured after an explosion occurred near Frontier Corps FC headquarters on Zarghun Road in Pakistans Quetta on Tuesday the local media reported Security forces said that six terrorists including a suicide bomber were killed in the retaliatory action A suicide bomber detonated explosives near FC headquarters on Zarghun Road followed by intense firing Pakistans leading news channel Samaa TV reportedAccording to the police and rescue officials blast triggered widespread panic shattered nearby windows and caused damage to motorcycles rickshaws and other parked vehicles Footage from the site of the incident showed thick smoke billowing upwards into the skyThe Civil Hospital Quetta said that they received bodies of 10 people who were deceased and were providing medical assistance to over 20 people who were injured some of whom remain in critical conditionRescue teams took the injured people to medical facilities while security personnel cordoned off the area Bomb disposal squads were called to find the nature of the explosives used for the blastPakistani security officials said all six attacks including the suicide bomber were killed in the operation Two Frontier Corps personnel were reportedly injured during the confrontationBalochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the attack and expressed commitment to making the region peaceful and secureHe stated The sacrifices of our people and security institutions will not go in vain We are committed to making Balochistan peaceful and secure He expressed sympathy with the families of victims and prayers for the recovery of those injured in the attackOn September 24 a total of 12 people including women and children were injured after the Jaffar Express passenger train heading to Quetta was targetted in a bomb blast in the Spizend area of Mastung in Pakistans Balochistan local media reportedSix bogies of the train heading from Peshawar to Quetta derailed after the blast and one overturned causing injuries to the passengers according to railway officials Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedOn September 23 an explosion took place near the main track connecting Balochistan to other parts of Pakistan just like the Peshawarbound Jaffar Express was preparing to leave Quetta Railway Station According to police officials an explosive device planted on the track was detonated when the train heading to Quetta was passing through the Spizend area IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-10-people-killed-over-20-injured-in-balochistan-explosion-640918.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/typhoon-bualoi-leaves-19-dead-88-injured-in-vietnam-640922.html Hanoi Sep 30 The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi and subsequent floods in Vietnam has risen to 19 with 88 others injured local media reported on Tuesday Thirteen people remain missing while eight others are still out of contact reports Xinhua quoting Vietnam News AgencyMore than 105000 houses were unroofed or damaged with central Ha Tinh province hardest hit accounting for over 78800 of themVietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed local authorities and sectors to take urgent measures to support affected residents and mitigate the aftermath of the typhoonPM Chinh also extended his deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and the Party organisations administrations and residents enduring the losses and difficulties caused by the disastersHe ordered the chairpersons of the Peoples Committees of Quang Ninh Hai Phong Hung Yen Ninh Binh Thanh Hoa Nghe An Ha Tinh Quang Tri Hue Phu Tho Son La Lao Cai Da Nang Lang Son Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen to mobilise forces and vehicles to access isolated areas as soon as possible repair damaged houses arrange shelters for affected residents and provide them with essential suppliesHe ordered the repair of damaged educational and medical facilities before October 5According to the National Centre for HydroMeteorological Forecasting flash floods and landslides are expected to persist for the next two to three daysRainfall in several parts of Vietnam had exceeded 300 millimetres over the past 24 hours the national weather agency said Heavy rains would continue including in the capital Hanoi and strong winds and lightning were also possible it saidAs of Tuesday several villages in northern central Vietnam remained flooded with no traffic or power state media reportedBualoi was the second major storm to threaten Asia in a week Typhoon Ragasa one of the strongest to hit in years left at least 28 deaths in the northern Philippines and Taiwan before making landfall in China and dissipating Thursday over VietnamGlobal warming is making storms like Wipha stronger and wetter according to experts since warmer oceans provide tropical storms with more fuel driving more intense winds heavier rainfall and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/typhoon-bualoi-leaves-19-dead-88-injured-in-vietnam-640922.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-says-hamas-funded-and-organised-gaza-bound-sumud-flotilla-640929.html Tel Aviv Sep 30 IANS Israels Foreign Ministry on Monday claimed that the official Hamas documents recovered in the Gaza Strip revealed the terror groups direct involvement in the funding and execution of the Sumud flotilla bound for GazanbspThe Global Sumud Flotilla comprising about 50 civilian vessels and participants from over 40 countries aims to challenge Israels naval blockade imposed since 2007 and deliver food and medical aid to PalestiniansThe Israeli Foreign Ministry on Monday released part of the Hamas documents along with translations and images showing some of the flotillas organisers alongside senior Hamas leadersnbspHamas documents that were discovered in the Gaza Strip and are being revealed for the first time show a direct link between the flotilla leaders and the Hamas terrorist organisation While Hamas in the Gaza Strip is responsible for what happens inside the Strip Hamas Abroad is responsible for activity outside the Gaza Strip with emphasis on the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad PCPA organisation which is subordinate to Hamas and serves as a wing of the movement read a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign MinistryAccording to the statement the PCPA was established in 2018 and functions as Hamas representative body abroad operating de facto as Hamas embassies The organisation it said operates under the pretense of civilian cover and is responsible on behalf of Hamas for mobilising actions against Israel including violent demonstrations marches against Israel and demonstration and provocation flotillasnbspThe first official Hamas document was found in the Gaza Strip a letter from 2021 signed by Head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh directly and explicitly calling on the PCPA chairman for unity In the letter Haniyeh publicly endorses the PCPA organization It should be noted that Israel designated the PCPA as a terrorist organisation in 2021 due to it being a wing of Hamas the Ministry statedIt stressed that the second official Hamas document is a list of PCPA operatives some of whom are highranking wellknown Hamas operativesnbspAmong the names on the list are Zaher Birawi who serves as Head of the PCPAs Hamas sector in the UK and who is known as a leader of the demonstration flotillas to the Gaza Strip over the past 15 years number 19 in the document and Saif Abu Kashk number 25 in the document an operative from the organization in Spain This document was found in a Hamas outpost in the Gaza Strip and proves again their direct connection between the flotilla leaders and Hamas the statement detailednbspIn addition to being a Hamasaligned PCPA operative Abu Kashk is the CEO of Cyber Neptune a front company in Spain that owns dozens of the ships participating in the Sumud flotilla Thus these ships are secretly owned by Hamas it added https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-says-hamas-funded-and-organised-gaza-bound-sumud-flotilla-640929.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fiji-introduces-new-policy-to-address-staff-misconduct-in-schools-640981.html Suva Sep 30 Fijis Education Ministry is developing a comprehensive disciplinary policy to target staff misconduct shortages and weak accountability Education Minister Aseri Radrodro said in parliament on Tuesday that the new policy focuses on gaps in science technology engineering and mathematics STEM subjects remote schools and areas affected by retirements or resignations while improving teacher retention and motivation Xinhua News Agency reportedThe new framework also aims to eliminate previous gaps that led to delays favoritism and weak accountability according to Fiji Broadcasting CorporationRadrodro also outlined changes to the teacher transfer policy to tackle staff shortages and redistribute teachers across schools divisions and districtsHe said teachers can request transfers after serving a set period with annual windows and formal procedures to ensure fair movementsEarlier in August Fijis Cabinet approved the countrys first Child Safeguarding Policy establishing a single national framework to guide ministries statutory bodies civil society organisations and institutions that work with childrenThe policy sets out responsibilities procedures and minimum standards for organisations to follow ensuring greater accountability and consistency in child protection reported the Fiji Broadcasting CorporationThe Fijis Ministry of Women Children and Social Protection led the development of the framework through nationwide consultations which included children families community representatives and professionals working in child welfareMinister Sashi Kiran said the policys approval is a major milestone describing it as a significant step that reinforces Fijis commitment to protecting the rights and wellbeing of all childrenChild safeguarding has been an urgent concern in Fiji where incidents of child abuse neglect exploitation and online harm continue to riseData from child welfare agencies and police highlight persistent challenges in ensuring children are safe in homes schools religious institutions and community spacesThe lack of a coordinated safeguarding framework has often led to fragmented responses with gaps in reporting intervention and prevention The new policy aims to close these gaps the minister said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fiji-introduces-new-policy-to-address-staff-misconduct-in-schools-640981.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-three-people-die-due-to-dengue-fatalities-in-2025-rise-to-198-640983.html Dhaka Sep 30 Three more people have died in Bangladesh due to dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning increasing the number of fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease in 2025 to 198 in the country During the same period 556 more patients were admitted to hospital with viral fever increasing the total infected patients in 2025 to 47342 according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS United News of Bangladesh UNB reportedAccording to the DGHS new cases were reported in Barishal Division Out of CC 137 Dhaka South City Corporation DSCC 113 Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC 101 Dhaka Division Out of CC 79 Chattogram Division Out of CC 70 Mymensingh Division Out of CC 28 Rajshahi Division Out of CC 25 and Sylhet Division Out of CC 3As many as 575 people died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 2024 A total of 1705 people died in Bangladesh due to dengue in 2023 making it the deadliest year on record According to the DGHS 321179 dengue cases and 318749 recoveries were recorded in Bangladesh in the same yearLast week Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC unveiled its Dengue dashboard a datadriven monitoring tool made to transform how city authorities monitor and respond to outbreaks The dashboard developed through the DNCC Innovation Lab and support from the United Nations Development Programme UNDP will provide concrete steps for timely interventions while raising awareness among people regarding prevention of dengue UNB reportedDNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz said The Dengue Watch dashboard is more than a tool It is a step toward transforming DNCC into a digitally driven transparent and accountable institution By harnessing innovation we can integrate health environment and governance to build a smarter healthier DhakaUNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller reiterated UNDPs support to innovation in urban health management He stated For UNDP it has been a privilege to support the innovation efforts of DNCC The Innovation Lab established in 2025 by DNCC and UNDP is striving to become a hub for smart scalable and citizencentered urban solutions The Dengue Watch Dashboard is one of its latest outcomes and it shows what is possible when local leadership data and innovation come togetherThe tool was showcased during the keynote session followed by a panel discussion with stakeholders from DGHS and other partners Representatives from the health ministry city corporations development partners and startups attended the event According to the press release participants agreed that fighting vectorborne diseases like dengue needs stronger partnerships real time data and a forwardlooking vision for resilient urban health IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-three-people-die-due-to-dengue-fatalities-in-2025-rise-to-198-640983.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahus-approval-exhibits-bonds-with-us-president-641005.html New Delhi Sep 30 US President Donald Trump was confident on Monday of possessing the formula that could bring peace in Gaza even before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel at the White House Netanyahu who met the President in person for the fourth time since Trump assumed office for a second term beginning this year did not hesitate to stamp his approval on the 20point programme The two leaders share a common thread in many aspects as has been evident in earlier instances In a significant move this time Netanyahu called the Prime Minister of Qatar from the White House considered to be at the behest of the President and apologised for the strike on Doha earlier this month There were reports of the death of lowranking Hamas members and a Qatari national who was a member of security forces Incidentally Qatar is a US ally and among the mediators trying to find a solution to the Gaza situation In a joint address to the media after the talks Trump said that the two premiers really had a hearttoheart conversation and that it was productive Netanyahu added Israel was targeting terrorists and not targeting Qatar Earlier this month the United States voted to condemn the strike in a United Nations Security Council resolution Critics however point out that Washington has not been as forthcoming when Israel similarly targeted Lebanon Syria Yemen Iran and Tunisia They accuse Trump of being pleased with Doha giving him a USD 400million aircraft as a personal gift during his recent visit Though Trump expressed exasperation at Israel for not complying with his call for a ceasefire he has not been as critical as he has been towards Russian Premier Vladimir Putin over his ceaseless pounding of Ukraine they add Meanwhile the United Kingdom Australia Canada and France among others joined the growing list of countries in recognising the state of Palestine Trump and Netanyahu both had condemned the nations saying that the recognition of Palestine as a state without going down strongly on the Hamas organisation serves as a reward for it Now world leaders have mostly welcomed the programme as an attempt at finding a lasting solution to the Gaza crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the plan provides a viable pathway to longterm and sustainable peace security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people as well as for the larger West Asian region He expressed hope that all concerned parties will come together in support of President Trumps initiative to end the conflict and secure lasting peace The new US initiative to deliver an end to the war in Gaza is profoundly welcome and I am grateful for President Trumps leadership said Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain in a statement on Monday We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages it added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on the social media X Welcome President realDonaldTrumps commitment to end the war in Gaza Encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity The EU stands ready to contribute Many other leaders have similarly joined them in extending their wishes for a quick and longlasting solution Hamas has said it will respond perhaps on Wednesday after President Trump said the group had three or four days to respond IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahus-approval-exhibits-bonds-with-us-president-641005.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-gaza-deal-settled-threatens-tough-response-if-hamas-refuses-641015.html Washington Sep 30 US President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Tuesday that he would be able to end the war in Gaza saying that he got it settled and going to get that done We got it I think settled Well see Hamas has to agree If they dont its going to be very tough on them but it is what it is But all of the Arab nations Muslim nations have agreed Israel has agreed Amazing thing it just came together Trump said while addressing more than 800 senior military officers in VirginiaHis statement comes a day after the administration formally announced a 20point peace plan to end the IsraelHamas war in GazaThe peace plan for Gaza outlines the establishment of a temporary technocratic government with Israel pledging not to annex the Strip and ensuring that no residents are forced to leave The agreement calls for an immediate end to the war if accepted with all captives both alive and deceased returned within 72 hoursSpeaking to reporters before his address on Tuesday Trump said he will wait for three or four days for Hamas to accept the proposalWere just waiting for Hamas and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not and if its not its going to be a very sad end With Hamas we want it very simple We want the hostages back immediately and we want some good behaviour And you know pretty pretty simple You dont get simpler Think of it Weve signed every country in the Middle East This is like an impossible thing Its never been done before This is more than Gaza Gaza is mixed up but this Gaza is a piece of it he addedHe reiterated his threat warning that if Hamas refuses to sign he will allow Israel to do what they have to doI would let them go and do what they have to do You know we have killed about 25000 Hamas So certainly they paid a big price for October 7 And this is a whole new group Their leadership has been killed three different times so they paid a big price We hope that theyre going to have a nice calm life Maybe it wont happen but if it does itll be one of the greatest things ever to happen Well have actual peace in the Middle East he notedThe war in Gaza began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023 killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages Around 48 people are believed to remain in captivity and about 20 are thought to be alive IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-gaza-deal-settled-threatens-tough-response-if-hamas-refuses-641015.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/tibetan-activists-face-threats-from-china-for-protesting-environmental-destruction-report-641020.html Beijing Sep 30 As China continues to ramp up its claim over Tibetan resources the environmental activists in the region face persistent threats from the Chinese authorities a report said on Tuesday It added that between 2010 and 2019 many activists were detained and sentenced to years in prison in China for peacefully protesting against illegal mining activities the hunting of endangered species and environmental damage across TibetAccording to a report in the Greek City Times the imprisoned environmental human rights defenders include Anya Sengdra Dorjee Daktal Kelsang Choklang Dhongye Rinchen Namdol Tsultrim Gonpo Jangchup Ngodup Sogru Abhu and NamesyThe environmentalists it said committed to protecting the environment and addressing ecological challenges continue to face harassment humiliation and death threats from ChinaTibetan environmentalist ANya Sengdra who has spent seven years in jail was recently denied release Hence he will stay in jail until February 2026 Ironically no explanation was given for the extension of his jail term which is reminiscent of Chinas practice of acting without providing any satisfactory reason the report detailedIt stressed that this is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern showing how China has been harassing torturing and jailing Tibetan activists for raising their voice against the environmental exploitation in the regionAnother environmental activist Tsongon Tsering the report said was arrested in October 2024 after exposing illegal sand mining in Ngawa Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province through a videoHe accused Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company of engaging in unauthorised mining under the guise of road construction The video highlighted severe environmental damage caused by the companys operations Instead of taking action against the company Chinese authorities picked up Tsering along with members of his family the report stressedIt further stated that the two cases highlight the risks faced by Tibetan environmental defenders from rigid Chinese authorities that suppress their right to speak out against harmful state and corporate practicesThe Dalai Lama has raised concerns about Tibets ecological issues as a global problem The revered Tibetan leader has highlighted climate change particularly the effects of ecological degradation due to wanton human activities the report notedStudies show that the Tibetan Plateau is warming three times faster than other parts of the world leading to the retreat of glaciers Thus the international community needs to act quickly not just to counter Chinas policies but also to protect the climate it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/tibetan-activists-face-threats-from-china-for-protesting-environmental-destruction-report-641020.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-typhoon-bualoi-rises-to-11-in-vietnam-640768.html Hanoi Sep 29 The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11 with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured a local daily newspaper reported Six people were killed and seven others injured in northern Vietnams Ninh Binh provinceAcross the province 10 houses collapsed and another 10 had their roofs blown off reports Xinhua news agency quoting Nhan Dan PeopleAbout 30 electricity poles were knocked down while many trees and large areas of rice fields were flattened local media outlet VnExpress cited the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment as sayingAccording to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment 17 people remained missing in Quang Tri and Gia Lai provinces as of Monday morningMeanwhile two people in Hue city and Thanh Hoa province were reported dead due to floods and falling treesAt around 10 pm on Sunday downpours and strong winds caused the coal storage roof of a thermal power plant in central Ha Tinh province to collapse with repairs expected to take several months according to a plant representative Typhoon Bualoi is forecast to become the 10th typhoon to affect Vietnam this year following Typhoon RagasaLocal authorities have been instructed to closely monitor forecasts alert fishing vessels to seek shelter mobilise rescue forces and equipment and ensure the safety of people and property while providing regular reports to the ministry the report saidEarlier this month Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in Vietnam Several coastal localities in the northern and central regions of the nation banned vessels from going to seaThe authorities warned that torrential rains could trigger flooding in lowlying areas flash floods on small rivers and streams and landslides on steep slopes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-typhoon-bualoi-rises-to-11-in-vietnam-640768.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-killed-nine-injured-in-us-michigan-church-shooting-640726.html New York Sep 29 At least two people have been killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at a church in Grand Blanc US state of Michigan according to local police The incident occurred on Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints a small community northwest of Detroit A large fire broke out following the shooting Xinhua news agency reportedThe wounded including two in critical condition have been transported to local hospitals Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a press conferenceRenye said that the shooter identified as a 40yearold male drove his car into the church and opened fire on the crowd during a large serviceThe gunman was killed by police after exchanging gunfire at the church according to the police chiefThe fire had been just extinguished within the past hour he said adding that they believed the suspect deliberately set fire to the churchEarlier local police said in a statement that there were multiple victims in the shooting and the entire church was on fire urging people to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continuedUS President Donald Trump posted on social media that he has been briefed on the horrendous church shooting in MichiganMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she was receiving updates on the shooting in Grand BlancMy heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community Whitmer wrote in a post on social media platform X Violence anywhere especially in a place of worship is unacceptable IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-killed-nine-injured-in-us-michigan-church-shooting-640726.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-confirms-reactivation-of-sanctions-on-iran-640727.html United Nations Sep 29 The United Nations confirmed that sanctions against Iran have been reactivated Pursuant to the process set forth in paragraphs 11 and 12 of Security Council resolution 2231 2015 effective on 27 September at 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time all provisions of resolutions 1696 2006 1737 2006 1747 2007 1803 2008 1835 2008 and 1929 2010 have been reapplied in the same manner as they applied before the adoption of resolution 2231 2015 on 20 July 2015 said a note to correspondents from the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN SecretaryGeneralThe note said that accordingly the sanctions list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 has been reestablished and includes 43 individuals and 78 entities that were listed before the adoption of resolution 2231 Xinhua news agency reportedThe note listed the individuals and entities that have been added back to the United Nations Security Council Consolidated Sanctions ListLast month France Britain and Germany formally invoked the snapback mechanism which allowed for the reimposition of UN sanctions within 30 days if Iran was deemed in breach of a 2015 nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOAOn September 19 the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA A subsequent resolution which sought to grant a sixmonth extension to both the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 also failed to pass in the Security Council on FridayIran suspended inspections of its nuclear facilities a legal obligation under the terms of the 2015 deal after Israel and the US bombed several of its nuclear sites and military bases in JuneIts President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted last week that the country had no intention of developing nuclear weapons IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-confirms-reactivation-of-sanctions-on-iran-640727.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-warplanes-strike-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon-640728.html Beirut Sep 29 Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Sunday the Israeli military and Lebanese sources said marking the latest flareup along the IsraelLebanon border despite a ceasefire reached last year Lebanons staterun National News Agency reported that Israeli aircraft carried out multiple raids on areas around Kfar Remen and AlJarmaq firing airtoground missiles that triggered powerful explosions A drone also targeted a house in Houmine alFawqa near Nabatieh while other drones flew at low altitude over nearby villages Xinhua news agency reportedSecurity sources told Xinhua the strikes hit Hezbollah positions that had previously been targeted adding that at least six raids were conducted within 15 minutes around Nabatieh There were no immediate reports of casualtiesThe Israeli military said its forces struck weapons depots used by Hezbollah to advance and carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X that the presence of such infrastructure violated understandings between Israel and LebanonA US and Frenchbrokered ceasefire in November 2024 ended 14 months of crossborder fighting sparked by the Gaza conflict Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon saying they are needed to counter Hezbollah threatsA ceasefire was reached following a yearlong cycle of crossborder attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that began in October 2023 The conflict escalated into a fullscale Israeli offensive by September 2024 resulting in more than 4000 deaths and around 17000 injuries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-warplanes-strike-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon-640728.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-ex-president-yoon-absent-from-insurrection-trial-for-12th-consecutive-session-640735.html Seoul Sep 29 Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from his insurrection trial for the 12th consecutive session Monday despite having appeared for a separate trial last week In a notice to the press Yoons lawyers said the former president has been feeling dizzy and vomiting since attending last weeks hearing making it difficult for him to appearThe bench overseeing his case at the Seoul Central District Court said it will proceed with the trial in his absence in line with the Criminal Procedure Code Yonhap news agency reportedUnder the code a trial can proceed without the jailed defendant in the event they are absent without legitimate grounds and it is deemed impossible or significantly difficult for a prison officer to bring them in by forceYoon has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his shortlived imposition of martial law in December though he has refused to attend the proceedings since being placed under arrest in JulyYoon did appear at the first hearing of a separate trial on martial lawrelated charges last Friday as it was a legal prerequisite for the start of a new trialHe also attended a court hearing the same day on his request for bail during which he appealed for his release IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-ex-president-yoon-absent-from-insurrection-trial-for-12th-consecutive-session-640735.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-rises-to-4-in-us-michigan-church-shooting-640736.html Michigan Sep 29 At least four people were killed and eight others injured on Sunday after a shooter targeted a church and set the building aflame in Grand Blanc Michigan authorities said The incident occurred early Sunday local time at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints a small community northwest of DetroitTwo additional bodies were recovered through debris at the burneddown church police said Sunday evening after the death toll rose to two from one in the afternoonGrand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told a press conference that the shooter drove his car into the church during a large service and opened fire on the crowd with an assault rifle reports Xinhua news agencyThe police chief said that the gunman identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford 40 a former US Marine deliberately set fire to the churchThe suspect a veteran who served in Iraq was killed by police after exchanging gunfire at the church according to policeRenye said that investigators will search the shooters home and phone records to determine his motiveEarlier local police said in a statement that there were multiple victims in the shooting and the entire church was on fire urging people to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continued The wounded including children have been transported to local hospitalsUS President Donald Trump said in a post on social media that he has been briefed on the horrendous church shootingHe said that the shooting appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America and that the FBI was on the scene This epidemic of violence in our country must end immediatelyMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she was receiving updates on the shooting in Grand BlancMy heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community Whitmer wrote in a post on social media platform X Violence anywhere especially in a place of worship is unacceptable IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-rises-to-4-in-us-michigan-church-shooting-640736.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-budget-outcome-shows-deficit-over-11-billion-lower-than-forecast-640763.html Sydney Sep 29 The Australian government released the final budget outcome for the 202425 financial year on Monday with a final deficit of about 18 billion Australian dollars about 118 billion US dollars lower than previously forecast Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher handed down the annual budget outcome on Monday revealing a final underlying cash deficit of just under 10 billion Australian dollars or 04 per cent of gross domestic product GDP at the end of the 202425 financial year on June 30 reports Xinhua news agencyThe governments Preelection Economic and Fiscal Outlook PEFO 2025 released earlier this year forecast a deficit of 279 billion Australian dollars for 202425 The 2022 PEFO forecast a deficit of 471 billion Australian dollars in 202425Chalmers and Gallagher said in a joint statement that final budget outcomes have been a combined 209 billion Australian dollars better than projected since the governing Labor Party won power at the 2022 electionIn dollar terms weve made more progress on the budget in three years than any government in history they saidIts a reminder that we have one of the strongest budgets in the G20They attributed the improved position to a stronger labour market saying that more Australians were working more and earning moreAustralias gross debt was 9286 billion Australian dollars 335 per cent of GDP at the end of the 202425 financial year The 2022 PEFO forecast that gross debt would hit about 112 trillion Australian dollars in 202425Meanwhile a new report showed that an Australian national biobank platform for streamlining access to human biospecimens and data for biomedical research could deliver 39 million Australian dollars about 2562 million US dollars worth of annual benefitsThese benefits would stem from improved coordination across Australian biobanks and cohort studies enhancing research efficiency and outcomes according to the report released Monday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO Australias national science agency IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-budget-outcome-shows-deficit-over-11-billion-lower-than-forecast-640763.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-dhaka-to-ankara-isi-pushes-bangladesh-into-new-strategic-axis-against-india-640766.html New Delhi Sep 29 Bangladesh which is facing turmoil following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government is now cozying up to Turkey Turkey roped in Bangladesh at the behest of the ISI Pakistan with the broader intention of attracting the South Asian Muslim community The JamaateIslami at the behest of the ISI coaxed the Muhammad Yunus government to stitch a closer alliance with Turkey The intention is to ensure that there is a flow of funds and arms and ammunition from Turkey into BangladeshThe Indian agencies say that Bangladesh has become the fourthlargest buyer of Turkish weapons This is a worrying sign because the weapons would be used against India and this is what the Jamaat and ISI have been planning While India has all the capabilities to beat down such aggression the problem is that the armed forces would have to deal with an unwanted issueTies between India and Bangladesh were solid as long as Sheikh Hasina was in power The border was largely secure and the forces of both sides would work seamlesslyAfter Yunus was made caretaker of the interim government of Bangladesh the trust issues with India have become immense Yunus has only pointed out that the ties have worsened because India provided Hasina asylum The ISI has been ruling the roost in Bangladesh as it can control Yunus through the JamaatWhile the rising ISI presence in Bangladesh has kept the Indian agencies on its toes this new dimension with Turkey jumping into the picture is a major cause for concernTurkey has always been a backer of both Pakistan and on several occasions supported Bangladesh where the Rohingya refugee issues are concerned Signs of the bond between the two countries strengthening were visible when a Turkish delegation led by Haluk Gorgun president of the Defence Industry Agency met with Yunus and other heads of the Bangladesh armed forces The two sides discussed defence cooperation and procurement of equipment that included the Bayraktar TB2 drones TRG300 rocket systems artillery shells infantry rifles and machine gunsFurther Turkey also assured that it would build two defence complexes in Narayanganj and Chittagong These developments have given terror organisations in Bangladesh a major boost Despite Pakistan carrying out the Pahalgam attack Turkey has always backed Islamabad When the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack Turkey had openly backed PakistanRadical elements in Bangladesh feel that they would always have the backing of Turkey even if they provoke India with a terror strike These developments also come in the backdrop of terror outfits such as the Ansarullah Bangla Team JamaatulMujahideen and HarkatulJihadIslami Bangladesh raising their ugly head in recent months Many leaders of these outfits were released from jail despite committing heinous crimes in the aftermath of the Hasina ousterIndian agencies say that it was evident that these decisions to release leaders of proscribed terror groups were taken by Yunus only at the behest of the Jamaat The Jamaat has always propagated violence against India and has worked closely with the ISI to create problems for IndiaFollowing the Liberation War both the Jamaat and ISI had planned on largescale illegal immigration with the intention of creating demographic changes that would lead to communal tensions in IndiaIntelligence Bureau officials say that this new alignment comprising Bangladesh Turkey and Pakistan is a worrying signal These defence agreements should be seen in a broader light as there is every chance that they may go into the wrong handsAlthough the Bangladesh army realises its limitations when it comes to fighting the Indian armed forces the issue is that today the ISI calls the shots The Pakistani spy agency with the help of the Jamaat would encourage radical terror groups to carry out attacks in India They feel that they would have Ankaras back in the event of India retaliating against any attack on its soil IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-dhaka-to-ankara-isi-pushes-bangladesh-into-new-strategic-axis-against-india-640766.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-russia-ties-not-defined-by-oil-but-is-privileged-strategic-partnership-fm-lavrov-640623.html United Nations Sep 28 Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his countrys relation with India is not defined by oil purchases but is a particularly privileged strategic partnership Asked at his news conference here on Saturday about US pressures on India against buying Russian oil he said I cant consider them a criteria for relations between India and the Russian FederationWe have strategic partnership as we call it for a long time strategic partnership relations he said Now we call it a particularly privileged strategic partnershipIndias leaders he said are perfectly capable of making these decisions for themselves and publiclyWe have full respect for the national interests of India full respect for the foreign policy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests he saidUS President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil and is pressuring it to stop the purchasesRussias relations with India cover a broad range he saidWe have a very extensive bilateral agenda trade military technical cooperation finance humanitarian matters healthcare hightech Artificial Intelligence he saidAnd of course there is close coordination at the international level within the SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organisation BRICS and bilaterally he saidHe spoke about the recent meeting between Russias President Vladimir Putin and PM Modi in Tianjin China at the SCO summit and Putins planned visit to India in DecemberThe issue of oil or trade doesnt figure in the diplomatic discussions with India he assertedIm not even asking what is going to happen to our trade relations or oil he saidI dont ask our Indian colleagues about this he said mentioning his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday and their forthcoming visits to each others countriesAfter Fridays meeting Jaishankar said on X that they had useful discussion on bilateral ties the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Middle EastAlthough India has been singled out for the punitive tariff Turkiye is also a target in Trumps pressure campaign against Russian oilLavrov said that Turkiye told the US that if it wants to sell its oil it was ready to discuss the terms but what it buys from Russia or other countries thats our own businessI believe that that is a very worthy response shows that India like Turkey has selfrespect he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-russia-ties-not-defined-by-oil-but-is-privileged-strategic-partnership-fm-lavrov-640623.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 15:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jaishankars-appearance-at-unga-replete-with-symbolism-640625.html United Nations Sep 28 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars appearance on the General Assemblys podium was replete with subtle political symbolism He started his speech on Saturday with Namaskar from the people of Bharat And he referred to the country as Bharat seven times in his speech even though he also interspersed it with IndiaIn the two references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi he made it a point to use Bharat Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi realising its duties and The last decade in Bharat has also seen transformative changes due to the vision of Prime Minister ModiA saffron kerchief was prominent on the pocket of the gray bandhgalla with a black lining around the neck that Jaishankar woreHe said Bharat is guided by three key concepts in its approach to the world Atmanirbharta or selfreliance Atmaraksha or securing oneself and Atmavishwas or selfconfidenceWhat he left unsaid was also significant The names of three countriesHe laid a trap for Pakistan by not mentioning its name when he spoke about a neighbour that is an epicentre of global terrorismPakistan walked into the trapBy looking to pour venom on India with a right of reply Pakistan admitted that it was the country that Jaishankar said is the epicentre of terrorism India had the last laughIt is telling that a neighbor who was not named chose to nevertheless respond and admit their longstanding practice of crossborder terrorism Second Secretary Rentala Srinivas saidNo arguments or untruths can ever whitewash the crimes of Terroristan he saidPakistan got entangled a second time when it admitted that it was TerroristanPakistan Missions Second Secretary Muhammad Rashid took the floor again to object to what he said was India distorting the name of a country India staged a walkoutJaishankar also avoided naming the US or President Donald Trump when he spoke about tariffs and restrictions on H1B professional visasWe now see tariff volatility and uncertain market access he said He referred to the H1B issue saying Restricting the evolution of a global workplace is an issueAnd there was a mention of double standards the imposition of a punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil but not othersNot naming Trump or the US helps cool the rhetoric and keep a diplomatic tone at a time when trade talks are at a delicate stageThere was also a swipe at China which is weaponising critical minerals without mentioning BeijingThe grip on supply chains and critical minerals is another The shaping of connectivity is no less sensitive Jaishankar said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jaishankars-appearance-at-unga-replete-with-symbolism-640625.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-walks-out-of-unga-as-pakistan-delivers-venomous-speech-admitting-to-being-terroristan-640630.html United Nations Sep 28 India staged a walkout from the General Assembly as Pakistan sprayed venom against India while making the admission it is Terroristan It also acknowledged on Saturday that it was the epicentre of global terrorismIn a call to the General Assembly for action against terrorism External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has confronted this challenge since independence having a neighbour that is an epicentre of global terrorismHe did not name Pakistan laying a trap for it and it walked right inA second secretary in its UN Mission Muhammad Rashid exercised the right of reply to Jaishankars address and said it was an attempt to malign PakistanIndia came right back on to enmesh him in his own rhetoricIt is telling that a neighbour who was not named chose to nevertheless respond and admit their longstanding practice of cross border terrorism Rentala Srinivas a second secretary in Indias UN Mission saidPakistans reputation speaks for itself he said taking the opening Its fingerprints are so visible in terrorism across so many geographies its a menace not only to its neighbours but to the entire worldNo arguments or untruths can ever whitewash the crimes of Terroristan he added without naming PakistanBut Rashid came back furiously admitting that Pakistan was TerroristanStan is a generic Perisanderived word for place of or home of and is found in the names of several countries and placesProtesting the use of the word Terroristan Rashid said India was distorting the very name of a country a member of the United NationIndia walked out of the Assembly Hall as he spokeIt is a common practice at the UN for countries to not exercise their right of reply if they were not directly named even if they can be identified from innuendos or from subtle hintsReacting angrily in public and on the record amounts to an acknowledgement that they were the ones against whom an accusation or an unpleasant reference was being madeIn his carefully crafted speech Jaishankar said For decades now major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country UNs designated lists of terrorists are replete with its nationalsDropping a hint he added The most recent example of crossborder barbarism was the murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April this yearAnd in defence of Operation Sindoor without using the name he said India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organizers and perpetrators to justiceBecause terrorism is a shared threat it is essential that there is much deeper international cooperation he saidWhen nations openly declare terrorism as state policy when terror hubs operate on an industrial scale when terrorists are publicly glorified then such actions must be unequivocally condemned he saidThose who condone nations that sponsor terror will find that it comes back to bite them he warned IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-walks-out-of-unga-as-pakistan-delivers-venomous-speech-admitting-to-being-terroristan-640630.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/three-killed-several-injured-in-mass-shooting-in-us-state-north-carolina-640633.html North Carolina Sep 28 An active shooter opened fire from a boat at a restaurant in North Carolina killing at least three people and leaving several others injured before fleeing the scene authorities confirmed The shooting occurred around 930 pm on Saturday local time at the American Fish Company a popular pub and restaurant located at 150 Yacht Basin Drive in the Southport Yacht Basin area about 20 miles south of WilmingtonAccording to police at least seven people were shot during the attack including three who were pronounced dead at the sceneThe other victims were transported to local hospitals though officials have not yet released details about their conditionsCity Manager Noah Saldo confirmed that a boat pulled up to the restaurant and began firing into the crowd before speeding awaySeveral people were taken to the hospital he said adding that the figures may change as emergency crews continue their responseThe city administration urged residents to stay away from the area remain indoors and immediately report any suspicious activity to 911A public statement reiterated that while injuries had been confirmed the exact number remained uncertainAvoid the area and remain in your homes Please report any suspicious activity immediately to 911 the statement readThe Brunswick County Sheriffs Office confirmed they were assisting the Southport Police Department in handling the unfolding situationThe Brunswick County Sheriffs Office is assisting the City of Southport Police Department along with multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county Please keep all those affected as well as our first responders in your thoughts and prayers the sheriffs office statedChatter over emergency scanners suggested multiple fatalities beyond the confirmed toll though officials have not verified those claimsThe situation which unfolded near the American Fish Company remains under investigation with authorities continuing to search for the suspect IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/three-killed-several-injured-in-mass-shooting-in-us-state-north-carolina-640633.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-moves-threaten-peace-security-in-caribbean-cuban-fm-640648.html United Nations Sep 28 The threat of war looms large over the Caribbean Sea with an extraordinary and absolutely unjustified US naval and air buildup said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla Addressing the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly UNGA on Saturday Rodriguez said the United States uses the pretext of combating crime and drug trafficking for its military presence in the Caribbean A story that no one believes Xinhua news agency reportedThe attack and destruction of unregistered or unchartered course speedboats the extrajudicial murder or execution of civilians the interdiction of fishing vessels or boats and the aggressive actions of the United States create a dangerous situation that violates International Law and threatens regional peace and security he saidRodriguez also condemned the US blockade against Cuba which he described as tightened to the extremes and constituted a prolonged economic warMeanwhile Rodriguez said that despite its limitations the United Nations remains the most representative body of the international communityIn September the United States began moving troops to the southern Caribbean claiming the mission was aimed at combating drug trafficking But President Donald Trumps statements came with explicit threats against Maduros governmentTensions have escalated in recent weeks after US officials ratcheted up their rhetoric White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Washington would use all its force against Venezuela IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-military-moves-threaten-peace-security-in-caribbean-cuban-fm-640648.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/new-york-may-no-longer-be-fit-to-host-un-headquarters-colombian-president-640650.html Bogota Sep 28 Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Saturday that the US decision to revoke his visa underscores that New York may no longer be a suitable host for the United Nations headquarters The US decision violated the principle of immunity that underpins the United Nations said Petro while calling for respect for international law Xinhua news agency reportedOn Friday Petro joined a proPalestinian demonstration outside the UN headquarters in New York where he urged US soldiers not to turn their weapons against humanityDisobey Trumps orders Obey the orders of humanity he saidIn response the US State Department said on the same day on social media that we will revoke Petros visa due to his reckless and incendiary actionsOn Saturday Petro said on social media that he no longer holds a US visa adding I dont careThere is total immunity for presidents who attend the UN General Assembly he wrote on XThe Colombian president also criticized Washington for preventing Palestinian representatives from attending the UN General Assembly and renewed his call for the international community to stop the humanitarian disaster in GazaDenying entry to the Palestinian Authority and revoking my visa for asking the US and Israeli armies not to support genocide which is a crime against humanity as a whole shows the US government no longer complies with international law he saidPetro further urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider his support for Israels military actions in Gaza saying the United States can not achieve greatness by killing defenseless babies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/new-york-may-no-longer-be-fit-to-host-un-headquarters-colombian-president-640650.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-slams-us-europe-as-nuclear-deal-sanctions-set-to-resume-640658.html Tehran Sep 28 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the United States is the main obstacle to reviving the 2015 nuclear deal as UN sanctions lifted under the pact were set to be reimposed later in the day Speaking at Tehran airport after returning from the UN General Assembly in New York Pezeshkian said France Britain and Germany who triggered the snapback mechanism had been told of Irans readiness to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency during his visit to the UN Xinhua news agency reportedThe United States always attempts to prevent the achievement of an agreement by raising fresh pretexts he said The reality is that the United States cannot tolerate a strong Iran and wants to weaken our countryLast month the three European powers invoked the snapback clause of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA restoring UN sanctions that had been lifted in exchange for limits on Tehrans nuclear programAhead of the measures taking effect Iran recalled its ambassadors to the three capitals Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday the snapback was illegal void and has no standing blaming the crisis on US betrayal and Europes inactionThe US betrayed diplomacy The Europeans buried it he saidThe JCPOA signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers has been under strain since Washington withdrew in 2018 prompting Tehran to gradually scale back compliance IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-slams-us-europe-as-nuclear-deal-sanctions-set-to-resume-640658.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-trainers-to-commanders-pakistan-army-takes-direct-control-of-jem-let-hizbul-training-640672.html New Delhi Sep 28 Pakistan is making all attempts to revive three terror groups which were badly hit during Operation Sindoor The focus is completely on the JaisheMohammad LashkareTaiba and Hizbul Mujahideen In order to ensure that the three terror groups have better operational capabilities the Pakistan Army has decided to deploy its own officials to train the new recruits This is a major shift from how terror groups used to function earlier where the commander who was trained by the Pakistan Army would oversee the operations of the campAll the training camps of these terror groups will now be headed by a Major rank officer Further all these camps have been provided protection by the Pakistan ArmyIn addition to having the Pakistan Army directly oversee every operation of these camps the ISI is also ensuring a technology boost All these terror camps would have stateoftheart technologyThe ISI is ensuring that the new camps will shift from conventional arms to hightech modern weaponry The ISI is also arming these terror groups with hightech drone technology which has the capability of striking in Jammu and KashmirFurther these terror groups would also extensively use digital warfare tools With the Pakistan Army officials directly overseeing every operation from recruitment to training attempts are being made to provide these terror groups with weapons that could be directly launched into IndiaThis signals a major shift in the manner in which these terror groups would operate in future Officials say that there are many reasons for such a shift being madeFirstly the ISI does not want these camps to be hit once again during an Indian operation Secondly Pakistan wants its terror groups to have the capabilities to strike India from within their own country Third it wants to keep the Indian Army distracted by these terror groups so that the Pakistan Army can deal with problems that it is facing from the Balochistan Nationalist Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban TTPGiven the current commitments that Pakistan has made to both the US and China in terms of security in Balochistan it would want to focus more on the TTP and BLA rather than engage with the Indian ArmyPakistan which has signed a minerals deal with the US is under pressure to secure Balochistan Pakistan has also committed to China that it will ensure the security of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project 20 CPEC and to honour this commitment it has to rein in both the TTP and BLAGiven the scenario that the Pakistan Army is in and with its leadership tomtomming about its ties with China and the US it has no option but to go back on its security guaranteesThe minerals deal with the US is crucial for Pakistan due to its failing economyFurther Pakistan has also been told by China to raise funds for CPEC 20 if it wants to be part of the project This has put Pakistan in a spot of bother as it will now have to raise funds and also ensure the security of the projectPakistan was put on notice by China as it had failed miserably to protect Chinese interests during the CPEC 1Given all these factors the Pakistan Army is investing heavily in its three terror groups It has been seeking donations in large numbers from people living in the Gulf nationsIn order to fulfil its task of modernising these terror groups with stateoftheart weapons capable of hitting India directly the ISI has decided to invest at least Rs 100 crore per terror group annuallyGiven the investments that are being made the Pakistan Army decided to take over and oversee every aspect of these terror groups This means that the heads of these groups would have only a limited role and that would be to brainwash and radicalise the youth so that they join their terror outfits IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-trainers-to-commanders-pakistan-army-takes-direct-control-of-jem-let-hizbul-training-640672.html Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/in-trade-talks-with-us-india-pushes-for-less-than-20-per-cent-tariff-rate-sources-640521.html Washington Sep 27 As India and the United States agreed to continue trade negotiations sources told IANS that New Delhi is pressing for a tariff rate below 20 per cent The push for tariffs below 20 per cent is viewed as vital to safeguarding Indias competitiveness given that other South and Southeast Asian nations face US tariff rates between 1520 per centSources added that New Delhi is also pressing for the removal of the additional 25 per cent tariff on Russian oil purchases aligning with the Trump administrations view that European nations should curb their imports as well and reiterating that India should not be singled outExternal Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar in his speech at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday highlighted double standards over access to energy and food suppliesThe costs to the Global South in terms of energy food and fertiliser security were starkly demonstrated by ongoing conflicts particularly in Ukraine and Gaza Apart from jeopardising supplies and logistics access and costing themselves these became pressure points on nations Double standards are clearly in evidence he addedJaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in New York After the talks Rubio said that India is of critical value to his country and welcomed the ongoing interaction in tradeJaishankar also posted on X Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areasOn Friday the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were also part of the discussionsIn the meeting the External Affairs Minister and Secretary of State were joined by the Commerce and Industry Minister from our side and the United States Trade Representative USTR from the American side We also had several officials participating in that meeting The focus of the discussion was on trade and tariffs Other aspects of the bilateral relationship were also discussed said Jaiswal while addressing a weekly media briefing in New DelhiA statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry also said that the Indian delegation had constructive meetings with the US government on various aspects of the dealBoth sides exchanged views on possible contours of the deal and it was decided to continue the engagements with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement it addedA day after the meeting with Jaishankar Rubio indicated that the Trump administration may be willing to fix the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on India over its purchases of Russian oilIn an interview with NBC News Rubio spoke about the US measures to end the conflict in Ukraine and hoped its additional tariffs against India could be fixedWe have already seen the measures we have taken with regards to India although thats something we hope we can fix he saidRubio blamed the European countries for not doing enough to end the conflict in UkraineThe MEA spokesperson also reiterated Indias stand on the purchase of Russian energy saying that there cannot be any double standard in the matter and highlighted the Trump administrations statements that called on the EU NATO and G7 countries to stop buying Russian oil and gas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/in-trade-talks-with-us-india-pushes-for-less-than-20-per-cent-tariff-rate-sources-640521.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-security-council-fails-to-adopt-resolution-on-extension-of-iran-nuclear-deal-640522.html United Nations Sep 27 The UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended the 2015 Iran nuclear deal for six months to allow time for diplomacy The draft resolution tabled by China and Russia won four votes in favor and nine votes against with two abstentions failing to get the nine positive votes required for adoption Xinhua news agency reportedIf adopted the draft resolution would have extended the nuclear deal between Iran and the six countries of Britain China France Germany Russia and the United States as well as Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal for six months and would have prevented a snapback of UN sanctions against IranFridays voting result was exactly the same as that on September 19 on a draft resolution put forward by the Republic of Korea in its capacity as Security Council president for the month of September which if adopted would have continued to provide sanctions relief for IranAlgeria China Pakistan and Russia voted in favor of Fridays draft resolution Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained The remaining nine members of the Security Council voted against itBritain France and Germany the three European countries in the Iran nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA claimed they triggered the snapback mechanism on August 28 by notifying the Security Council of Tehrans nonperformanceUnder Resolution 2231 the UN sanctions in place before the resolutions adoption would resume 30 days after the notification unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise The September 19 draft resolution to that effect failedHowever the legality of the three countries move has been questioned as it has skipped the Dispute Resolution Mechanism DRM provided for in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231Under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 the DRM has 35 days to resolve the disagreement A snapback can be triggered only after the DRM fails to resolve the issueResolution 2231 expires on October 18 2025 after which time the Security Council would stop considering the Iran nuclear deal IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-security-council-fails-to-adopt-resolution-on-extension-of-iran-nuclear-deal-640522.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hungary-rejects-zelenskys-claim-of-drone-airspace-violation-640523.html Budapest Sep 27 Hungary firmly rejected a claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Hungarian reconnaissance drones may have violated Ukraines airspace Zelensky wrote earlier on the social media platform X that Ukrainian forces had recorded violations of the countrys airspace by reconnaissance drones which are likely Hungarian and that preliminary assessments suggested the flights may have targeted Ukraines border industrial areasHungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has strongly denied the allegation Writing on his Facebook page Szijjarto said Zelensky is losing himself in antiHungarian sentiments and is chasing phantomsRelations between Budapest and Kyiv have been marked by recurring tensions in recent years Hungary has repeatedly criticised Ukrainian attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline a key route for its energy supplies from Russia and has raised concerns over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraines Transcarpathian region Xinhua news agency reportedAt the same time Hungary is strongly opposed to Ukraines EU accession process citing the need for guarantees on the protection of its minorities but also the negative impact Ukraines accession would have on the EUs agriculture subsidy systemHighlevel exchanges have remained strained with both sides often trading accusations in public statementsDespite these disputes Hungary has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the outbreak of the armed conflict in February 2022 opening its borders to refugees and even setting up a Ukrainianlanguage school for the refugee children IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hungary-rejects-zelenskys-claim-of-drone-airspace-violation-640523.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/56-magnitude-quake-hits-chinas-gansu-640534.html Lanzhou Sep 27 A 56magnitude earthquake struck Longxi County in Dingxi City in northwest Chinas Gansu Province at 549 am on Saturday according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre CENC The epicentre was monitored at 3491 degrees north latitude and 10458 degrees east longitude The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km the CENC saidThe quake was strongly felt in Longxi County Zhangxian County Weiyuan County and Lintao County in Dingxi City and Wushan County in Tianshui CityNo casualties have been reported according to the local government Local people said that some houses in the rural area of Longxi were damagedLocal firefighting and rescue authorities have dispatched rescue teams and vehicles to the affected areas with information on the impact still being gatheredFollowing the quake the China Earthquake Administration launched a levelIII emergency service response urging strengthened monitoring and assessment of the situation as well as timely updatesThe office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management also initiated a levelIV emergency response for earthquakes and sent a work team to the quakehit areas to support local quakerelief efforts Xinhua news agency reportedRescuers from Chinas national comprehensive fire and rescue teams have arrived at the epicentre according to the emergency management ministry Meanwhile 200 rescuers and 28 vehicles from the local fire and rescue forces and 26 personnel of specialised rescue teams with 7 vehicles are on their wayEarlier in June a 50magnitude earthquake struck Eryuan County in Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali southwest Chinas Yunnan ProvinceThe epicentre was monitored at 2626 degrees north latitude and 10003 degrees east longitude The quake struck at a depth of 10 km said a report issued by the CENCThe quake was strongly felt in Eryuan County Dali City and Heqing County waking some residents China experiences earthquakes because the Indian tectonic plate is constantly colliding with and pushing into the Eurasian tectonic plate This ongoing collision which began about 50 to 60 million years ago and formed the Himalayas builds up immense stress in the Earths crust IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/56-magnitude-quake-hits-chinas-gansu-640534.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-voices-serious-concerns-with-russia-over-military-alignment-with-north-korea-640549.html Seoul Sep 27 South Koreas Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and discussed security issues related to the Korean Peninsula the foreign ministry said on Saturday During the meeting held in New York the previous day local time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Cho briefed Lavrov on Seouls North Korea policy aimed at easing tensions and building trust with North Korea to ultimately promote peace and stability on the peninsula the ministry said in a statementCho also voiced serious concerns over Russias continued military cooperation with North Korea calling for an end to it the ministry saidThe ministry statement did not provide further details but Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported that Lavrov during the meeting denounced the US and its Asian allies military activities targeting North KoreaLavrov highlighted the provocative nature of the activities as well as sanctions and pressure on the North calling the return to a mutually respectful dialogue the only path to building a trustful mechanism to ensure peace in Northeast Asia the report said citing the Russian foreign ministryCho also called for Russias attention to protecting South Korean residents and stressed the importance of fostering a favourable environment for South Korean firms operating in the country his ministry saidBoth ministers agreed to continue necessary communications in the future Yonhap news agency reportedThe meeting marks the first formal bilateral talks between the two countries top diplomats since the outbreak of the RussiaUkraine war in 2022 although Lavrov held a brief meeting with then Foreign Minister Cho Taeyul on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN gathering in Laos in JulyLast year Former South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Taeyul had expressed concerns over growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia saying it could potentially help Pyongyangs ability to threaten security on the Korean Peninsula and beyondCho had made the remarks during a UN Security Council UNSC briefing on the Ukraine issue at UN headquarters in New York on the eve of the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-voices-serious-concerns-with-russia-over-military-alignment-with-north-korea-640549.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/g4-reaffirms-strong-support-for-common-african-positions-permanent-membership-in-unsc-640567.html New York Sep 27 The Group of Four G4 countries have reaffirmed their strong support for the Common African Position CAP as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration A Common African Position CAP is the African Unions AU unified strategic framework and collective voice for addressing global issues advocating for Africas priorities and influencing international negotiationsThis position known as the Ezulwini Consensus highlights Africas exclusion from the UNs permanent membership advocating for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the Security CouncilThe G4 members including India Brazil Japan and Germany reaffirmed their strong support for the CAP on September 25 on the sidelines of the UNGA sessionExternal Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar and his counterparts from the G4 countries Mauro Vieira of Brazil Johann Wadephul of Germany and Iwaya Takeshi of Japan held discussions to review the progress and discuss prospects for reform of the UN Security CouncilA comprehensive reform of the Security Council is in the best interest of all The G4 Ministers reaffirmed the willingness and capability of the G4 countries as democracies sharing common political values including respect for the rule of law full adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and commitment to multilateralism to shoulder the Security Councils primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security the G4 joint statement addedThey also reiterated their mutual support for each others bid to permanent membership in a reformed United Nations UN Security Council during a meeting on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New YorkAccording to the G4 Ministerial joint statement the Foreign Ministers emphasised that amid increasing instability in the international order and with the UN the centre of multilateralism increasingly incapable of fulfilling its role it is crucial to reform the Security Council at the earliestSuch reform it said should truly reflect the contemporary geopolitical realities thereby enhancing its representativeness legitimacy effectiveness and efficiencyThe G4 Ministers underscored that the expansion of the UN Security Council in both permanent and nonpermanent categories of membership is essential to Security Council reform and that this position is supported by a majority of Member States it saidThe G4 Ministers concurred on the need to enhance the role and participation of developing countries and those significantly contributing to international peace and security in the Security Council in both membership categories read the statementThe G4 ministers reiterated the importance of improving the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups such as Africa AsiaPacific and Latin America and the Caribbean in both membership categoriesThe G4 ministers urged the international community to engage wholeheartedly in efforts during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly while committing themselves to further outreach and working in good faith with the wider UN membership to advance UN Security Council reform as part of a comprehensive UN reform IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/g4-reaffirms-strong-support-for-common-african-positions-permanent-membership-in-unsc-640567.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/floods-affect-42-million-in-pakistans-punjab-province-leaders-busy-politicising-relief-efforts-640582.html Islamabad Sep 27 More than 42 million people have been affected by monsoon floods in Pakistans Punjab province with southern districts bearing the brunt according to a rapid needs assessment released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs UNOCHA on Friday The survey conducted jointly with the provincial government from September 8 to 18 covered nearly 2000 villages in 18 floodaffected districtsThe assessment found that around 28 million people were displaced about 161700 houses were damaged and health and education infrastructure also suffered extensive damageAccording to Pakistans National Disaster Management Authority around three million people were rescued or evacuated between June 26 and September 19 nationwide Floods also damaged 12559 houses and killed 6509 livestockPakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier announced a doubling of exgratia compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the floods raising the amount from one million rupees to two million rupees about 7000 US dollars Xinhua news agency reportedMeanwhile Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari and Punjab provinces Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz have been severely criticised for politicising flood relief in the face of one of the countrys most devastating seasons instead of presenting a united front to aid millions of affected citizensAccording to Pakistans leading Express Tribune the core of this political conflict is not about the most effective mechanism for aid but rather about claiming credit and asserting dominanceBilawal has dogmatically insisted that the Benazir Income Support Programme BISP is the sole method for providing immediate relief framing any rejection of it as an irresponsible attitude towards flood victims But Maryam fairly questioned how a significantly large amount would be distributed through BISP when standard payments through the system are only about Rs 10000 the Punjab CM wants to distribute 100 times that amount to flood victims the newspaper highlighted in an editorial on SaturdayOn the other side the CMs response has been equally partisan Even if we take her at her word that BISP is a very simplistic solution several statements in her recent presser appeared to be sharp unconstructive rebukes designed as sound bites for the evening news In times like these a good leader must put aside personal pride and do what is best for the country Starving and sickly people at relief camps dont care if Maryam is holding her head high or begging for foreign aid They just want some food shelter and medicine the Express Tribune editorial added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/floods-affect-42-million-in-pakistans-punjab-province-leaders-busy-politicising-relief-efforts-640582.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-shuts-afghan-refugee-camps-established-40-years-ago-640586.html Islamabad Sep 27 Pakistan has decided to close Afghan refugee camps that have been in operation for 40 years the local media reported on Saturday As many as five such facilities in the KhyberPakhtunkhwa KP province have been ordered to shut down as the Pakistani government continues its crackdown on Afghan refugeesThe five camps being closed in KP included three camps in Haripur district one in Chitral and one in Upper Dir The Panian camp in Haripur alone had housed more than 100000 refugees according to officials Pakistans leading daily Express Tribune reportedThe government started sending back undocumented Afghan refugees in October 2023 citing reasons of increasing crime and terrorism Earlier this week Defence Minister Khawaja Asif repeated that Afghan refugees were linked to terrorism in Balochistan and KP it addedEarlier this month UNHCR the UN Refugee Agency warned of a crisis within a crisis emerging in Afghanistan as lakhs of Afghans were forced out of Pakistan under adverse circumstances Afghanistan is currently struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake in many of the same areas where returnees are arrivingSince the start of the year some 26 million Afghans have returned from neighbouring countries many not by choice They are arriving in a country wracked by poverty and drought where humanitarian needs are already high Some have not set foot in Afghanistan for decades others were born in exile and are arriving for the first time read a statement issued by the UNHCRAs Pakistan resumes implementation of its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan more than 554000 Afghans have returned since April including 143000 in August alone In recent weeks the pace has surged further in the first week of September alone nearly 100000 people crossed back from Pakistan stretching capacities to the limit it addedThe United Nations urged Pakistan to uphold its longstanding humanitarian approach to Afghan refugees including by extending legal stay for those still in need of international protection such as groups who face heightened risks upon their returnUNHCR stands ready to support the Government of Pakistan in developing practical mechanisms to identify individuals with ongoing protection needs and to expand regulated migration pathways for Afghans UNHCR Representative to Afghanistan Arafat Jamal said at a press briefing in Geneva on September 12 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-shuts-afghan-refugee-camps-established-40-years-ago-640586.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/byc-condemns-arbitrary-detention-of-its-leaders-activists-640593.html Quetta Sep 27 Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of its chief Mahrang Baloch and other leaders and activists following the end of their 15day physical remand The remarks came after an antiterrorism court in Quetta rejected the request of Pakistans Counter Terrorism Department CTD to extend the physical remand of BYC chief Mahrang Baloch and other organisers local media reported citing the rights groups lawyerThe order passed by Judge Muhammad Ali Mubeen turned down the request to extend the physical remand and directed that the accused be sent to judicial custody Pakistani leading newspaper Dawn reportedThe BYC mentioned that after being subjected to arbitrary and unlawful deprivation of liberty for the past six months and repeated police remand the head of the BYC Mahrang Baloch along with central leaders Bebagar Baloch and Sibgatullah Shah Ji and activists Beebow Baloch and Gulzadi Baloch were transferred to Huda Jail in Quetta on judicial remandFor over three months they were held in Huda Jail Quetta under Maintenance of Public Order 3MPO without due process or effective judicial review Based on fabricated and politically motivated charges they were subsequently rearrested and repeatedly remanded to police custody for more than two months without any legitimate legal justification Although their police remand has now ended they continue to be held on judicial remand in Huda Prison Quetta the statement addedAccording to the BYC these human rights defenders have been targeted solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression association and peaceful assembly They have spoken out against enforced disappearances extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations occurring in BalochistanThe rights body stressed that the use of arbitrary arrest and prolonged pretrial detention to silence dissent directly contravenes Pakistans obligations under international law including the UN Declaration on Human Rights DefendersThe BYC urged United Nations Special Procedures international human rights mechanisms and civil society actors to take urgent notice of this situation and press for Pakistans compliance with its international obligations including the protection of fundamental freedoms and the right to an effective remedy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/byc-condemns-arbitrary-detention-of-its-leaders-activists-640593.html Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/factually-incorrect-entirely-baseless-india-slams-nato-chiefs-comments--640485.html New Delhi Sep 26 IANS India on Friday reacted strongly to NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Ruttes comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue of tariffs imposed by the United States terming the statement as factually incorrect and entirely baselessnbspWe have seen the statement by NATO SecretaryGeneral Mr Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia This statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested No such conversation has taken place said Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on FridayWe expect the leadership of an important and esteemed institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Ministers engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable he addednbspRutte while speaking to CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York had claimed that the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on India over Russian oil imports are having a major impact on MoscowThe former Prime Minister of the Netherlands mentioned that amid the US move of imposing 50 per cent tariffs on India Prime Minister Modi had reached out to Putin to seek clarity on his Ukraine strategynbspThis tariff immediately impacts Russia because that means Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Narendra Modi is asking him I support you but could you explain to me your strategy because I have now been hit by these 50 per cent tariffs by the United States Rutte told AmanpournbspSlamming the NATO chiefs comments the MEA on Friday reiterated that India would continue to take decisions independently on energyAs previously stated Indias energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security said JaiswalnbspIndia has previously cautioned the NATO chief against any double standards on sanctioning countries trading with RussiaIn July Rutte during his visit to Washington had stated that China India and Brazil could face severe economic sanctions if they continue doing business with RussianbspWe have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us In this endeavour we are guided by what is available in the markets and also by prevailing global circumstances We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter Jaiswal had said during a regular media briefing on July 17 https://dailyworld.in/international/factually-incorrect-entirely-baseless-india-slams-nato-chiefs-comments--640485.html Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahu-rules-out-2-state-solution-denounces-emerging-western-support-for-palestine--640488.html United Nations Sep 26 IANS Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly ruled out on Friday a twostate solution that would create an independent Palestinian state calling it suicidal for his countrynbspnbspHe called the Western nations including France Canada and Britain naive for recognising the Palestine state and denounced the General Assembly summit this week that overwhelmingly reaffirmed the twostate solution which calls for a sovereign Palestine alongside Israel both coexisting in peacenbspWe will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats because of the media and other pressures they faced he told the Western countries that had earlier been unconditionally aligned with IsraelnbspTheir message was murdering Jews pays off he asserted citing the attacks on Jews around the worldNetanyahu warned that Israel would finish the job against Hamas in Gaza unless it laid down arms and released the remaining hostages taken in the attack on Israel in 2023 in which more than 1200 people were killednbspHamas has said it wouldnt and a massive Israeli incursion into Gaza to root out Hamas is underwaynbspFree the hostages now Netanyahu told Hamas from the podiumnbspIf you do you will live If you dont Israel will hunt you down he threatenednbspAs he was escorted to the podium several countries walked out of the Assembly hall while others who stayed on cheered himnbspNetanyahu who uses props to underline his points brought in a digital element this year sporting a QR code on his lapel that he said would lead to a site showing the Hamas atrocities against IsraelisnbspHe also held a pop quiz with a placard asking the audience to answer a question about who hates Israel Answer All the groups and countries on his list that included terrorist groups and IrannbspThere were demonstrations for and against Netanyahu outside the UNnbspAt the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across from the UN groups held a vigil for the victims of the Hamas attack with floral tributes for them and displayed pictures of the hostages still held by Hamas demanding their releaseElsewhere raucous proPalestine and proHamas protesters accused him of genocidenbspIn his speech Netanyahu dismissed the genocide allegations outside and in the Assembly as paving the way for antiSemitismnbspHe said that before Israel took any action it notified the civilians to leave the areas and if it was intent on genocide it would not have tried to avoid civilian casualtiesnbspHe asked if those who carried out the genocide of Jews had asked them to leave before the attacksnbspHe denied that Israel was denying food to the people of Gaza and said that it had sent tonnes of food and essential supplies and it was Hamas that was responsible for the hunger because it looted the food and prevented them from reaching the peopleNetanyahu likened the calls for a Palestinian nation to creating an alQaeda nation a mile from New York after it carried out the 911 attacks in 2001nbspPalestinians would not keep their word when they said their nation would be peaceful he saidnbspPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his speech on Thursday denounced Hamas and demanded the release of hostagesnbspHe said that Palestinians are not for an armed state and recognise IsraelnbspWhile Netanyahu reserved his harshest words for Iran whose proxies in the region were being contained he said that Israel was holding talks with Syria to normalise relations which would have been unthinkable in the past https://dailyworld.in/international/netanyahu-rules-out-2-state-solution-denounces-emerging-western-support-for-palestine--640488.html Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-holds-high-level-special-event-on-climate-action-640322.html United Nations Sep 25 A highlevel special event on climate action was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York In his opening remarks on Wednesday local time UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said thanks to the Paris Agreement the projected global temperature rise in the past 10 years has dropped from four degrees Celsius to less than three if current nationally determined contributions NDCs are fully implementedNow we need new plans for 2035 that go much further and much faster delivering dramatic emissions cuts aligned with 15 degrees Celsius covering all emissions and sectors and accelerating a just energy transition globally Guterres saidThe UN chief said that China met its 2030 wind and solar target six years ahead of schedule and India reached 50 per cent electricity capacity from nonfossil fuels five years earlyCOP30 in Brazil must conclude with a credible global response plan to get us on track he said listing five areas as crucial energy while fossil fuels still dominate the clean energy transition must be supercharged methane a potent global heating gas drastic cuts of which in this decade are essential forests the destruction of natures greatest carbon sinks must be ended heavy industry important advances in technologies have helped cut emissions from steel and cement and heavy transport and climate justiceGuterres called for urgent action to unlock funds for developing countries to seize clean energy benefits and protect lives and economies reports Xinhua news agencyGiven the pace and scale of the climate crisis growing across the globe the UN secretarygeneral is convening the climate summit held on the sidelines of the general debate of the UN General Assembly to serve as a platform for world leaders to present their new national climate action plans and seize the benefits of the new clean energy eraBy COP30 scheduled for November in Belem Brazil all parties to the Paris Agreement must submit new NDCs that reflect bold action for the next decade IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-holds-high-level-special-event-on-climate-action-640322.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-stresses-need-to-ensure-human-control-of-ai-over-use-of-force-640347.html United Nations Sep 25 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of ensuring human control of artificial intelligence AI over the use of force Let us be clear humanitys fate cannot be left to an algorithm Humans must always retain authority over lifeanddeath decisions he told on Wednesday local time in an open debate of the Security Council on AI and international peace and securityThe Security Council and UN member states must ensure that military use of AI remains in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter Human control and judgment must be preserved in every use of force he saidAI is no longer a distant horizon It is here transforming daily life the information space and the global economy at breathtaking speed The question is not whether AI will influence international peace and security but how the world will shape that influence said GuterresWithout guardrails AI can be weaponised AIenabled cyberattacks can disrupt or destroy critical infrastructure in minutes The ability to fabricate and manipulate audio and video threatens information integrity fuels polarisation and can trigger diplomatic crises And the massive energy and water demands of largescale models coupled with competition over critical minerals are creating new drivers of tension he warnedGuterres said coherent global regulatory frameworks for AI must be in place Xinhua news agency reportedGovernments platforms media and civil society must cooperate to detect and deter AIgenerated deception from disinformation campaigns to deepfakes targeting peace processes humanitarian access and elections he saidWe need transparency in the entire AI life cycle rapid and verified attribution of information sources and their dissemination and systemic safeguards to prevent AI systems from spreading disinformation and igniting violence he saidThere is also a need to close the AI capacity gap said Guterres Technology can accelerate sustainable development foster stability and peace We must create space for all nations to shape our AI futureFrom nuclear arms control to aviation safety the international community has risen to the challenge of technologies that could destabilise societies by agreeing to rules by building institutions and by insisting on human dignity he said The window is closing to shape AI for peace for justice for humanity We must act without delay IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-stresses-need-to-ensure-human-control-of-ai-over-use-of-force-640347.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-cancer-heart-disease-pneumonia-among-major-causes-of-death-in-2024-640349.html Seoul Sep 25 Cancer heart disease and pneumonia were among the key causes of death for South Koreans in 2024 data showed on Thursday with suicide remaining the top factor among those in their 40s and younger Last year the total number of deaths reported in the country came to 358569 up 17 per cent from a year earlier according to Statistics KoreaThe agency said 7026 deaths were reported per 100000 South Koreans last year also up 19 per cent from a year earlierThe report showed that cancer accounted for 248 per cent of total deaths in 2024 followed by heart disease at 94 per cent and pneumonia at 84 per cent The three factors were responsible for more than 42 per cent of total deathsSuicide meanwhile stood as the fifthbiggest cause of death for South Koreans at 41 per centA total of 14872 people took their own lives last year up 63 per cent from a year earlierIt remained the main cause of death for people aged between 10 and 49 in South Korea in 2024 and the secondbiggest cause of death for those in their 50s Yonhap news agency reportedSouth Korea currently holds the highest suicide rate among the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD which stood at 262 for every 100000 people in 2024 far higher than the OECD average of 108According to the World Health Organisation Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body andor spread to other organs The latter process is called metastasising and is a major cause of death from cancer A neoplasm and malignant tumour are other common names for cancerPneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria It can cause mild to lifethreatening illness in people of all ages however it is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-cancer-heart-disease-pneumonia-among-major-causes-of-death-in-2024-640349.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/highway-road-mishap-kills-1-injures-3-in-afghanistans-laghman-640351.html Kabul Sep 25 One traveller was killed and three others injured when their car overturned in eastern Afghanistans Laghman province on Thursday morning the provincial police office said in a statement Blaming reckless driving for the deadly mishap the statement noted that the accident occurred in the Kakakh region along the highway linking the capital Kabul to eastern Nangarhar province resulting in the immediate death of one passenger and injuries to three others Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on September 17 seven travellers lost their lives and two others were injured in a collision between a car and a passenger bus in eastern Wardak provinceThe main highway traversing Laghman province frequently witnesses fatal accidents due to driver negligence with highway traffic officials urging motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to prevent such tragediesThe deadly accident took place on a road linking the countrys capital city Kabul to southern Kandahar province the statement saidThe road which crosses Wardak province often sees deadly road accidents due to the carelessness of the drivers it addedOn the same day at least three people were killed and two others injured when their vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine in northern Afghanistans Badakhshan province a provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar saidThe accident occurred in the Argo district after the vehicle lost control on a steep path resulting in the immediate deaths of three commuters including the driver and injuries to two children said Ehsanullah KamgarDeadly road accidents remain a persistent issue in wartorn Afghanistan often attributed to deteriorating road conditions reckless driving and inadequate safety measures amid challenging terrain and limited infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/highway-road-mishap-kills-1-injures-3-in-afghanistans-laghman-640351.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-presumed-to-possess-up-to-2-000-kg-of-highly-enriched-uranium-south-korea-640354.html Seoul Sep 25 North Korea is presumed to possess up to 2000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium as the country has sought to dramatically expand its nuclear weapons capabilities in recent years South Koreas Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung said on Thursday The minister disclosed the assessment during a press conference citing publicly released estimates by experts highlighting the urgency of stopping North Koreas nuclear programs Yonhap news agency reportedIt is urgent to stop it Even at this very hour uranium centrifuges at four locations in North Korea are running probably accumulating nuclear materials Chung saidEstimates by experts suggest North Korea possesses up to 2000 kg of highly enriched uranium at 90 per cent and higher he said adding that uranium between 10 to 12 kg is enough to produce one bombChung assessed that it is now impossible to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program through international sanctions saying that the resumption of North KoreaUS talks could instead serve as a breakthrough in stalled denuclearisation effortsIt will be desirable for North KoreaUS talks to take place as soon as possible the minister notedTheir resumption once realised could also help reopen stalled interKorean ties and the government will do its utmost to foster an environment for talks between Pyongyang and Washington he saidHis remarks came days after North Korean leader Kim Jongun in a recent speech to a key parliamentary meeting reiterated the regimes interest in resuming talks with Washington on condition that the longstanding call for denuclearisation be droppedLast month US President Donald Trump expressed hope to meet Kim this year sparking speculation that the two leaders could hold a meeting during Trumps planned attendance at the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation APEC summit scheduled for October 31November 1 in Gyeongju South KoreaKim however ruled out talks with Seoul and rejected the possibility of unifying the two KoreasDespite Pyongyangs resistance the Lee Jae Myung administration remains committed to pursuing peace with North Korea through dialogue and exchangesIn his address to the UN General Assembly earlier this week Lee stressed that the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula should end declaring that Seoul has no intention of engaging in hostile actsIn a recent interview with the BBC Lee also said Seoul would accept a possible deal between US President Donald Trump and Kim to freeze the Norths nuclear programs as a realistic alternative on the path toward the ultimate denuclearisationMeanwhile Chung disclosed that his ministry is in discussion with the defence ministry about suspending livefire drills and military field training near the interKorean borderIt is the unification ministrys position that it is fair to suspend shooting drills and field trainings in regions near the Demilitarised Zone even before the restoration of the Sept 19 agreement he said referring to the nowsuspended interKorean pact aimed at reducing border hostilityChung cast a negative outlook on bringing two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in the war with Russia to South Korea saying he had been told that Kyiv is opposed to the ideaCurrently South and North Korea are internationally recognised as two separate nations but this does not imply a permanent division of the two Koreas the minister added reaffirming the official policy of ultimately seeking unification with the North IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-presumed-to-possess-up-to-2-000-kg-of-highly-enriched-uranium-south-korea-640354.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/brazil-us-ties-see-feeble-thaw-despite-lulas-upbeat-tone-640361.html New York Sep 25 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has voiced optimism after a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump even as ties between the two countries remain tense At a press conference on Wednesday local time Lula said that he believed Trump was illinformed about Brazil and that a meeting between the two heads of state would clear up any misunderstanding Xinhua News Agency reportedLets bring everything to the table everything that we think we should talk about he said adding that what is not discussable is Brazils sovereignty and democracy obviously referring to the sentencing of his immediate predecessor Jair BolsonaroTrump in his speech to the general debate of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday said that he had a brief exchange with Lula and they agreed to meet next week Trump said there was chemistry between him and LulaAmid growing tensions with the United States over new tariffs and digital regulations Lula has recently rejected US pressure over the conviction of Bolsonaro saying Brazil is not a banana republic that bows to foreign interferenceEarlier on September 10 Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazil is a sovereign country and Brazilians are masters of our own destiny in a message addressed to his US counterpart TrumpThe statement came a day after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the United States will not hesitate to use economic and military might to defend freedom of expression when she was asked about the ongoing trial of former Brazilian President Jair BolsonaroIn response Lula said If Trump comes we will have to show him this panel so he can see it and compare it with the American panel So he knows that we believe in ourselves We are a sovereign country and we are masters of our own destiny This is a demonstration of Brazilian competence in all areasOn July 30 the Trump administration announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Brazilian exports and sanction Alexandre de Moraes a Brazilian Supreme Court justice Moraes oversaw the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro who is accused of attempting to seize power following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/brazil-us-ties-see-feeble-thaw-despite-lulas-upbeat-tone-640361.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-protests-held-in-karachi-over-killing-of-three-transgender-persons-640397.html Karachi Sep 25 Members of the transgender community and civil society are holding protest rallies in Pakistans Karachi against the brutal murders of three transgender persons Demanding justice they have made it clear that the protests will continue until the killers are arrested local media reported on Thursday One such protest was held outside the Karachi Press Club and was organised under the banner of Justice for the Khwaja Sira Community Transgender leaders including Chandni Shah Sarah Gul Advocate Nisha Rao Kami Choudhry and Bandia Rana and supporters from the Awami Workers Party participated in the protest Protesters requested the federal and provincial governments to ensure the safety of the people and hold the perpetrators behind the murder to account Pakistans The Express Tribune reportedGIA chairperson Bandia Rana said that the transgender community is holding protest to highlight their grievances She stated that targetted murders of trans people are continuing and mentioned that similar protests were being held in Hyderabad and Sukkur over the recent killings Rana said many transgender persons have been facing unemployment and exclusion from government jobs compelling some into begging for survival She said that transgender community does not have basic services and they face further harm due to false propaganda circulated by certain elementsLast month Pakistans transgender community held a major protest against the rising number of violent attacks in the country especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Trans Action Alliance President Farzana Riaz and Manzil Foundation Executive Director Madam Arzoo Khan led the protest demonstration outside the Mardan Press Club and mentioned that the police has not been able to protect the communitySpeaking to reporters after the protest Farzana said that 158 transgender people have been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2015 and added that not a single case has been awarded justice so far Firing on transgender community Pakistans leading daily Dawn quoted Farzana as saying was becoming a daily occurrence as the government has failed to provide protection to themThe community leaders accused the police of considering interaction with transgender people as beneath their dignity They urged human rights groups to become their voice so that their voice against injustice could become stronger IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-protests-held-in-karachi-over-killing-of-three-transgender-persons-640397.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jindal-global-university-awarded-5-stars-in-global-qs-ratings-2025-at-house-of-lords-london-640403.html London Sep 25 At the exclusive IndiaUK Roundtable on The Innovation Corridor UKIndia Higher Education held at the House of Lords Palace of Westminster on September 24 OP Jindal Global University JGU was conferred the prestigious Global QS 5 Stars Rating Certificate The certificate was presented to Professor Dr C Raj Kumar Vice Chancellor JGU by Jessica Turner CEO of QS in the distinguished presence of The Lord Patel of Bradford OBE and Dr Ashwin Fernandes Regional Director QS Dr Pankaj Mittal Secretary General Association of Indian Universities and Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam Dean Academic Governance JGU among other distinguished dignitaries including more than 25 Vice Chancellors and Presidents of leading UK and Indian universitiesThe QS Stars system evaluates universities on over 50 indicators and JGUs outstanding performance was recognised for teaching online learning employability arts amp culture sustainability governance research and law and legal studiesThis recognition reaffirms JGUs global standing as a comprehensive worldclass institution of higher education committed to innovation quality and international collaborationReceiving this accolade at such a historic venue symbolises not just JGUs achievements but also its pivotal role in strengthening IndiaUK academic ties and shaping the future of higher education worldwideOP Jindal Global University JGU has been awarded 5Star Excellent Ratings overall in the Global QS Stars Ratings 2025 a prestigious global system that evaluates universities across multiple dimensions of teaching research employability governance sustainability and moreJGU has been recognised with an overall 5Star Excellent Rating affirming its position as one of the worlds leading universitiesQS Stars uses a comprehensive framework to rate and showcase university performance across a range of criteria offering a multidimensional perspective of excellence in higher educationIn addition to this overall distinction the QS evaluation recognised JGU with5 Stars Teaching Online Learning Employability Environmental Impact Arts amp Culture Good Governance Global Engagement4 Stars Law amp Legal Studies ResearchWelcoming this global honour Naveen Jindal Chancellor amp Benefactor of JGU said This proud recognition reflects our vision of building a worldclass institution in India It reaffirms JGUs commitment to excellence innovation and global engagement values that are deeply aligned with the aspirations of our nationProfessor Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU added This achievement underscores the breadth of our strengths and the holistic nature of our academic ecosystem This recognition is not the product of one effort but the lived ethos of our community Over 16 years we have grown from an aspiration into an Institution of Eminence defined by academic excellence vibrant culture sustainability innovation and global engagement It is a testament to the visionary leadership and generosity of our Chancellor and Benefactor Naveen Jindal whose commitment and philanthropy laid the foundation for JGUs journey It belongs equally to our faculty members who inspire and mentor our administrative staff who ensure operational excellence our students who embrace challenges with resilience and creativity and our alumni who carry forward JGUs values into the worldCommenting on this distinction achieved by JGU Dr Ashwin Fernandes Executive Director QS observed JGUs 5Star Excellent Rating is a clear recognition of its holistic strengths across teaching research employability sustainability governance and global engagement Very few institutions in the world achieve this distinction and JGUs accomplishment reflects both its academic vision and its commitment to global benchmarks It is also a signal of Indias growing presence on the global higher education map with universities like JGU leading the wayProfessor Padmanabha Ramanujam Dean of Academic Governance JGU remarked The QS Stars recognition is a validation of our commitment to institutional integrity accountability and global benchmarks It reflects JGUs resolve to consistently strengthen its governance systems and uphold the highest standards in higher educationKey Highlights of the QS Stars EvaluationTeaching 5 Stars From a small founding faculty to over 1100 professors scholars and practitioners JGUs growth in human capital reflects its unwavering commitment to academic quality This year alone 129 new worldclass faculty members joined JGU representing what experts call a historic leap in Indian higher education High student satisfaction personalised mentoring and impressive retention rates reflect the universitys culture of nurturing talent and fostering intellectual growthOnline Learning 5 Stars Through JGU Online learners access worldclass degree programmes and certifications with the same academic rigour as oncampus offerings Features such as live and recorded lectures COILbased global collaborations inclusive design career support and 247 student services have set new benchmarks in digital learning excellenceEmployability 5 Stars JGU graduates are recognised worldwide for their impact leadership and practical skills This rating validates JGUs focus on preparing students not just for their first job but for sustained success and leadership across their careersEnvironmental Impact 5 Stars Sustainability is embedded in JGUs operations through responsible funding procurement and climateconscious practices The Office of Sustainability tracks and reduces emissions minimises waste and advances community engagement while the Jindal School of Environment amp Sustainability JSES drives research and innovation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development GoalsArts amp Culture 5 Stars JGU fosters a thriving ecosystem where creativity and learning coexist Initiatives like Indias first Constitution Museum and the Rights and Freedoms Academy deepen cultural awareness civic learning and global citizenshipGood Governance 5 Stars The rating acknowledges JGUs transparent accountable and inclusive governance practices that ensure excellence across both academic and administrative spheresGlobal Engagement 5 Stars With 575 collaborations across 80 countries JGU has created one of the worlds most globalised academic ecosystems Dual degrees exchanges and research partnerships make international education accessible structured and impactfulLaw and Legal Studies 4 Stars Jindal Global Law School JGLS has been ranked Indias No 1 law school for six consecutive years in the QS World University Subject Rankings With global collaborations innovative curricula and experiential learning JGLS continues to strengthen Indias legal education landscapeResearch 4 Stars JGU has established dynamic research centres and think tanks addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches By balancing teaching and research faculty remain at the forefront of knowledge creation while enriching student learning IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jindal-global-university-awarded-5-stars-in-global-qs-ratings-2025-at-house-of-lords-london-640403.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/traders-in-pak-occupied-gilgit-baltistan-continue-to-face-wrath-of-state-machinery-640416.html Islamabad Sep 25 Rejecting the governments decision of conditional tax exemptions on imports coming through the Sost Dry Port the traders in Pakistanoccupied GilgitBaltistan PoGB have decided to continue holding their sitin local media reported on Thursday Local traders in PoGB have been holding the sitin and blocking the port since July The protest began against the governments taxation policies and suspension of customs clearance at the port Pakistans leading daily Dawn reported On Wednesday the government expressed willingness for tax exemptions on imports coming through the port in case the goods were being used for local consumption and would meet strict eligibility conditions The total value of tax exemptions for an year was capped at Pakistani Rupees PKR 4 billionThe government announced the decision following the talks between federal government local government and business leaders in Islamabad However the trade delegations leader Javed Hussain who has been leading the protest said that they were not satisfied with governments decision After the agreement and its announcement in Islamabad it was suggested to us to end the protest But we dont agree with this suggestion and have decided to continue the sitin and keep the trade suspended he saidHussain announced that traders would now hold a meeting with its representative body that engaged in talks with the government He further said that traders would decision on whether they would continue the protest if the members were able to give satisfactory justification about the governments decisionGilgitBaltistan a land of majestic mountains and proud people has been suffering the brutality of Pakistani establishment for decades Traders of GilgitBaltistan have blocked the local routes in desperation demanding their voices be heard But they continue to face the wrath of the state machineryPakistans rule in GilgitBaltistan rests not on legitimacy but on force The tragedy is not confined to one valley or one protest It is written into the very fabric of Islamabads approach to GilgitBaltistan From the moment Pakistan illegally occupied the region in 1947 it has ensured that the local residents remain voiceless and excluded from the constitutional framework of the countryThe regions population remains burdened with high taxes coercive laws and authoritarian institutions The original residents of GilgitBaltistan do not have any say in terms of how they should be governed Their resources are being siphoned off their lands exploited and their young men subjected to military harassment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/traders-in-pak-occupied-gilgit-baltistan-continue-to-face-wrath-of-state-machinery-640416.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/denmark-alerts-nato-and-eu-after-drone-incursions-shuts-one-airport-640421.html Copenhagen Sep 25 Denmark has contacted the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO and the European Union EU after shutting Aalborg airport and placing three others airports on alert on Thursday following the unauthorised drones carrying out what the authorities termed as coordinated attacks While addressing a press conference on Thursday Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the country was deliberating on whether to trigger the alliances Article 4 in what it termed a hybrid attack that involved a systematic approach in flying the drones near critical infrastructure Euro News reportedAuthorities stated that they have given authorisation to shoot down the drones in case it happens in future We are going to find the people who are behind this We have various military capabilities that can help defend Denmark F35 and our frigates said PoulsenThe Deputy PM said that Denmark does not have tools required to address the threat that is here to stay and does not possess groundbased air defence system which the government decided to buy this month He mentioned that it would still not be fully effective in combating the type of drone detected above Denmark on ThursdayPoulsen said There is no single capacity that will make this go away He noted that Denmark needs to have various tools to fight what comes its way whether its drones or missiles Aalborg Esbjerg Sonderborg and Skrydstrup airports were impacted overnight on ThursdayDenmark police said the Aalborg airport was shut As per the reports the drones disrupting operations of the airport left the area after about three hours In a statement the North Jutland Police said that they were closely monitoring the situation at Aalborg however it did not reveal the details about the number of drones involved in the incidentEarlier also drone incursion were reported in Denmark that officials suspect may involve Russian interference On Monday the Copenhagen airport was affected by a similar incident Authorities said the drones at Aalborg followed a similar pattern to the ones that paused operations at Copenhagen Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had described the drone attack as the most serious yet on Denmarks infrastructureNorwegian authorities also closed the airspace at Oslo airport for three hours on Monday due to possible danger from unauthorised drone activity Euro News reported On Wednesday Norways Foreign Minister said that authorities of Denmark and Norway are working together on the incidents that occurred in Copenhagen and Oslo however their probe has not yet established a connection IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/denmark-alerts-nato-and-eu-after-drone-incursions-shuts-one-airport-640421.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/outgoing-japanese-pm-expected-to-visit-south-korea-next-week-640422.html Seoul Sep 25 South Korea and Japan are coordinating a visit by outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to a southern South Korean city next week for talks with President Lee Jae Myung a Seoul official said Thursday We are discussing with the Japanese side plans for Prime Minister Ishibas visit at the end of September the official said adding that more details will be made public once finalised Yonhap News Agency reportedIshiba is expected to make a twoday trip to the southern port city of Busan starting TuesdayIf confirmed it will be a reciprocal visit after Lees stop in Japan last month before heading to the United States for summit talks with US President Donald TrumpSince taking office in June Lee has pledged to maintain the thaw in ties and work closely with Tokyo to advance not only bilateral relations but also trilateral cooperation with Washington while firmly addressing longstanding historical issues stemming from Japans 191035 colonial rule of KoreaLee broke the precedents by choosing to visit Japan before the US in his first overseas trip as president in an apparent move to demonstrate his commitment to aligning with the two countriesThe envisioned visit is expected to be the last trip for Ishiba as prime minister Ishiba announced his resignation earlier this month following the ruling partys crushing election defeats both in the lower house last October and the upper house in July this yearThe ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to elect a new leader October 4Earlier on September 23 the top diplomats of South Korea the United States and Japan reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the denuclearisation of North Korea and highlighted the need to maintain sanctions against Pyongyang a joint statement statedThe statement came after South Koreas Foreign Minister Cho Hyun US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly for talks on their partnership and other shared issues including North Koreas nuclear threatsNorth Korean leader Kim Jongun has suggested he is open to engaging in dialogue with President Donald Trumps administration if Washington drops its denuclearization demand saying he has no intention of relinquishing his nuclear stockpilesThe Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the denuclearization of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea DPRK in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council UNSC resolutions while continuing to make efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy the statement read referring to North Korea by its official nameThey emphasised the need to address together the DPRKs nuclear and missile programs and to maintain and strengthen the sanctions regime against the DPRK by responding firmly and in cooperation with other countries to violations and evasions of the relevant UNSC resolutions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/outgoing-japanese-pm-expected-to-visit-south-korea-next-week-640422.html Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indonesias-president-includes-sanskrit-greetings-in-his-speech--640233.html United Nations Sep 23 Indonesias President Prabowo Subianto started and ended his speech by including Sanskrit greetings while calling for harmony of all religions Starting his speech at the General Assembly on Tuesday he included in greeting the world leaders Om Swastiastu which is used in his countrys Hindumajority island of Bali and is translated as May you be blessed and protectedAnd ended his speech by including Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om along with invocations from other religionsJews Muslims Christians Hindus Buddhists all religions we must live as one human family he saidIndonesia is committed to being part of making this vision a reality Is this a dream Maybe but this is the beautiful dream that we must work together towards he addedPrabowa Subianto who followed US President Donald Trump on the podium countered his attacks on the UN accusing it of being ineffectiveThe Indonesian leader said In our struggle for independence and our fight to overcome disease hunger and poverty the UN stood with Indonesia and gave us vital assistanceDecisions made here based on human solidarity by the Security Council and this Assembly gave Indonesia international legitimacy opened doors and supported our early development he said naming various UN developmental agenciesAnd because of that Indonesia stands today on the cusp of shared prosperity and greater equality he addedWithout naming the US or Trump he directed criticism of the threats he issued to various nations and entitiesNo one country can bully the whole community of the human family he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indonesias-president-includes-sanskrit-greetings-in-his-speech--640233.html Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mea-jaishankar-us-envoy-designate-gor-look-forward-to-promoting-ties-640060.html New York Sept 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Ambassadordesignate to India Sergio Gor who held a meeting here look forward to promoting their countries relationship the State Department said Following their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday the State Department stated on X They look forward to further promoting the success of the USIndia relationshipTheir meeting followed a bilateral between Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at which they agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areasGor who is awaiting Senate confirmation for the ambassadorship will simultaneously be President Donald Trumps Special Envoy for South and Central AsiaA close associate of Trump who played an important role in his election campaign he was the director of the presidential personnel office which helps select political appointees for the administration and vets themAt the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing earlier this month on his nomination for the ambassadorship Gor said The USIndia partnership will define the 21st CenturyIndia is a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond he added noting Our President has a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi and that is something uniqueWhen Gor moves into the embassy in Chanakyapuri he will face the task of mending relations tried by the trade conflict which led to Trump imposing a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and topping it off with a 25 per cent punitive tariff for buying Russian oilGor said at the hearing Improving USIndia trade ties will not only bolster US competitiveness but also reduce Chinas economic leverage over other nations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mea-jaishankar-us-envoy-designate-gor-look-forward-to-promoting-ties-640060.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/european-union-assures-india-it-is-reliable-partner-640061.html New York Sept 23 European Unions top diplomat Kaja Kallas has assured India that it is a reliable partner working together on upholding multilateralism during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Along with Brazils Minister Mauro Vieira Juan and Mexicos Foreign Secretary Ramon de la Fuente he attended a meeting with EU foreign ministers on MondayAfter the meeting Kallas whose formal title is High Representative for Foreign Affairs posted on X The message to our partners was simple the EU is a reliable actor We support multilateralism free trade and a world grounded in the UN CharterJaishankar in his X post on the meeting said Pleased to meet EU Foreign Ministers at their informal meeting todayIt was an opportunity to have open exchange of views on multilateralism IndiaEU partnership Ukraine conflict Gaza energy and trade he wroteAt a news conference Kallas said The EUs relations with Brazil India and Mexico are important economically but also for Europe protecting the rulesbased international orderMultilateral order is really something that we all need to defend and the UN Charter is at its core she saidShe mentioned the EUs new blueprint to deepen ties with India that was unveiled last weekLaying the foundation for longterm ties between India and the EU the strategy has five pillars trade investment technology and sustainability defence and security connectivity and global issues and coordination on labour mobilityEarlier on Wednesday the EU unveiled a new strategic agenda to significantly ramp up its engagement with India in a range of key areas such as defence trade and energy and to jointly tackle major global challengesThe EU said its closer partnership with India is increasingly becoming vital in the wake of the shifting geopolitical realities and that it is prudent for the two sides to strengthen economic growth and security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/european-union-assures-india-it-is-reliable-partner-640061.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/commerce-minister-goyal-meets-us-trade-representative-greer-in-new-york-640062.html Washington Sep 23 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement between the two sides sources say Sources also told IANS that the meeting focused on addressing key sticking points and both sides remain hopeful of reaching an interim understanding soonBoth India and the US are yet to issue official statements about the latest meetingThe talks come days after US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch held trade talks with Indias chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in DelhiThe Indian readout of the meeting said that positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regardHowever the talks have been overshadowed by the Trump administrations decision to significantly curtail the H1B visa programUS President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation imposing a 100000 fee for each new applicationThe proclamation caused immense confusion over the weekend as it seemed to suggest that it would impact the current H1B visa holders who may face hurdles in returning to the United StatesThe White House issued a clarification to IANS on Saturday saying that this is a onetime fee that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holdersThis is a onetime fee that applies only to the petition It ONLY applies to new visas not renewals or current visa holders It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle a White House official told IANSThe Ministry of External Affairs had also issued a statement saying the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequencesTrade talks between the two countries have resumed after US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him on his 75th birthday on September 16Prime Minister Modi in a post on X termed Trump as his friend and thanked him for the wishesThank you my friend President Trump for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday Like you I am also fully committed to taking the IndiaUS Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict PM Modi wrotePresident Trump also posted on Truth Social calling the phone call wonderful and thanked him for his support on attempting to end the conflict in UkraineJust had a wonderful phone call with my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi I wished him a very Happy Birthday He is doing a tremendous job Narendra Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine President DJT he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/commerce-minister-goyal-meets-us-trade-representative-greer-in-new-york-640062.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-calls-for-intensified-efforts-to-achieve-sdgs-640063.html United Nations Sep 23 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres called for intensified efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs at the SDG Moment event held at UN headquarters At the event hosted during the HighLevel Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly UNGA Guterres outlined the path to reach the SDGs reform the global financial architecture climate action must take center stage and prepare for technological transformationIn all we do we must make peace a priority he said stressing that in 2024 global military spending was 13 times official development assistance Xinhua news agency reportedWith five years to go until 2030 only 35 per cent of the SDGs are on track 47 per cent are seeing insufficient progress and 18 per cent have gone into reverse UNGA President Annalena Baerbock said at the eventThe financial picture is equally stark At a moment of rising need net official development assistance fell by 71 per cent last year she saidWe are not moving as fast as we should on the foundational promise of the Sustainable Development Goals Baerbock saidShe added that development will only be fair and sustainable if it makes space for voices too often ignored and if we combine our efforts and show solidarity with each otherWith 17 SDGs at its core the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015 which is committed to eradicating poverty promoting equality addressing climate change and more by 2030 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-calls-for-intensified-efforts-to-achieve-sdgs-640063.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-security-council-meets-urgently-on-alleged-russian-intrusion-of-estonian-airspace-640064.html United Nations Sep 23 The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the alleged intrusion of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets UN Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Europe Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenca in his briefing said the world body is not in a position to confirm any of the claims regarding the incident and does not have any further details of the events He therefore based his briefing solely on information available from public sourcesIn a letter dated Saturday and addressed to the president of the Security Council Estonia claimed that three Russian MiG31 fighters entered up to 10 km inside Estonias airspace and stayed for 12 minutes on Friday said JencaThe Russian Defense Ministry claimed Saturday that its fighter jets made a scheduled flight from Karelia on the border with Finland to an airfield in Kaliningrad in strict accordance with international airspace rules without deviating from the agreed flight path and without violating Estonian airspace said JencaWe again urge all concerned to act responsibly to use all available channels and to take immediate steps to deescalate tensions and prevent further risks to regional security he said The world simply cannot afford such danger to spiral out of control and for the devastating war in Ukraine to further escalate and expandEstonia other European countries that participated in Mondays meeting and the United States accused Russia of violating Estonias airspace and of escalating tension Xinhua news agency reportedRussias first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy denied that Russian jets had violated Estonian airspace and accused European states of RussophobiaThrough their European politicians efforts a medievallike hatred for our country coupled with the aspiration to portray Russia as the principal threat to panEurope security is before our very eyes becoming the overarching ideology of European states he saidOur neighbors have now conceived that Russia is at fault for an incursion into Estonias airspace As always there is no evidence except for the Russophobic hysteria coming from Tallinn said PolyanskiyUS Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz in his maiden speech to the Security Council said his country and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territoryEstonia is a NATO memberNonEuropean members of the Security Council called for restraint and deescalationGeng Shuang Chinas deputy permanent representative to the United Nations said China urges the parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint clarify facts and dispel doubts through dialogue and communication avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment and prevent the situation from expanding or escalatingThe meeting was requested by Estonia The councils five European members Britain Denmark France Greece and Slovenia supported the request IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-security-council-meets-urgently-on-alleged-russian-intrusion-of-estonian-airspace-640064.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/after-meeting-eam-jaishankar-marco-rubio-declares-india-critical-to-us-640065.html New York Sep 23 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that India is of critical value to his country and welcomed its ongoing interaction in trade according to the State Department After he met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday reiterating that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States Rubio expressed his appreciation for the Indian governments continued engagement on a number of issues including trade defense energy pharmaceuticals critical minerals and other items related to the bilateral relationship the Department said in a readout of their meetingThey agreed the United States and India will continue working together to promote a free and open IndoPacific region including through the Quad it saidThe reaffirmation of Indias importance for the US comes after US President Donald Trump reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him on his 75th birthday after imposing a total of 50 per cent tariffs on India and weeks of harsh statements about IndiaSignificantly the meeting with Jaishankar was the first official meeting of the day for Rubio who is making a round of bilaterals with world leaders here for the highlevel General Assembly sessionJaishankar posted on X Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areasHe added that they would stay in touchBefore going into the conference room with a table decked with flowers and flags they made a cordial appearance before the media waiting outside and shook hands but refused to answer questionsLater Jaishankar met with the US ambassadordesignate to India Sergio GorThe State Department said on X They look forward to further promoting the success of the USIndia relationshipGor will also be Trumps Special Envoy for South and Central AsiaThe appointment of Gor needs approval by the Senate like all ambassadorial positionsIn another sign of movement in the two countries attempts to reset their relations Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement between the two sides sources told IANSBoth sides remain hopeful of reaching an interim understanding soon the sources addedDespite differences on trade and Russian oil purchases the two nations have strong common interests at the strategic level exemplified by the Quad the fournation group that also includes Australia and Japan and is focused on the IndoPacificRubio made a reference to the QuadAfter flinging invectives at India such as calling its economy dead Trump posted on Truth Social after his birthday call to PM Modi He is doing a tremendous job Narendra Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and UkrainePM Modi thanked him and said on X Like you I am also fully committed to taking the IndiaUS Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heightsThe two countries resumed their negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement with a meeting in New Delhi between Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and Commerce Ministry Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal paving the way for the GoyalGreer meeting IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/after-meeting-eam-jaishankar-marco-rubio-declares-india-critical-to-us-640065.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 08:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/doval-drouin-talks-spark-breakthrough-as-canada-moves-against-khalistan-terrorists-640076.html New Delhi Sep 23 Ties between India and Canada had strained due to the baseless allegations made by Justin Trudeau regarding the Khalistan issue After Trudeau stepped down and a new government was in place under Mark Carney relations have witnessed a reset but at a slower pace The Indian agencies saw some hope after the Canadian Intelligence reported that the Khalistan elements were using their soil to raise funds for terrorrelated activities India was sceptical about whether action could be taken against the Khalistan terrorists operating on Canadian soil However the arrest of Inderjeet Singh Gosal a key coordinator for the Khalistan referendum is a positive signIndia now feels that the Canadians are finally acknowledging the problem and are ready to work closely on the issueNational Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been leading a team that is closely coordinating with agencies in Canada India is providing Canada with dossiers and Intelligence about the Khalistan elements and this has resulted in coordination which ultimately led to the arrest of GosalOfficials said that this is not the first time that India has provided Canada with dossiers and information The only difference is that now Canada is ready to act unlike in the past when such dossiers were pushed under the tableThe NSA and his team have been pushing the point hard that these elements are not part of an advocacy group They are part of a terrorist organisation which is being funded by the ISI the Indian agencies have told CanadaThe breakthrough in the relations followed a meeting of NSA Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin which was held earlier this month This meeting led to a reset in relations and the two agreed that it was about time that the problem was combatedBoth Doval and Drouin agreed to work closely and share Intelligence on this issueIn addition to this meeting both countries have also decided on a diplomatic front to work on the Khalistan issue It is important that Canada acknowledge that the Khalistanis had become a grave threatCanada has also realised that these persons are not just using their soil to launch attacks against India but the Khalistani elements have also become extremely aggressive in the countryAn incident during which the Khalistan elements told a group of Canadians to leave the country as it belonged to them was just one instance of how desperate and dangerous these groups have becomeAn Intelligence assessment says that the Khalistanis have utterly failed in India Multiple attempts to regroup in Punjab and seek a separate nation have failed owing to enhanced security measures and also the fact that the youth are showing no interest in the movementThis is causing frustration and in a bid to enhance their propaganda they become aggressive in Canada thereby hurting the countrys interestsOfficials explain that a complete reset would take time and there is a lot to do especially on the issue relating to the Khalistan movement The arrest of Gosal is the first step in this battle against the issueIndia has sent 26 extradition requests to Canada and Ottawa has resolved just five while the remaining are hanging India has in the past accused Canada of doing absolutely nothing on the issue The Ministry of External Affairs had said that the 26 extradition requests are for people charged in India with terror and related crimes India had also sought the provisional arrest of these persons IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/doval-drouin-talks-spark-breakthrough-as-canada-moves-against-khalistan-terrorists-640076.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-signs-executive-order-designating-antifa-as-domestic-terrorist-organisation-640079.html Washington Sep 23 US President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organisation a move some experts believe lacks legal authority President Donald J Trump is right the violence problem is on the Left Thats why he just designated Antifa a network of Radical Left terrorists that aim to overthrow the government through violence and agitation as a domestic terrorist organisation the White House said in a document on Monday local timeIt also lists examples of the movements long history of terrorising our communities including attacks on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers police officers attendees of conservative political events and Trump supportersThe order directs the federal government to investigate disrupt and dismantle all illegal operations conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa It also calls for necessary investigatory and prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operationsAntifas terror is part of the trend of Radical Left violence that has permeated the nation in recent years incited by constant lies and vicious attacks against Republicans from unhinged Democrat politicians wellfunded leftist organisations and their allies in the media said the document adding that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a Radical Left terroristThere is no legal authority to actually designate a domestic group as a terrorist organisation even assuming that antifa is an organisation and not just an ideology Mary McCord a former acting head of the Justice Departments national security division was quoted by The New York Times as sayingA report by The Washington Post also noted that the United States has no legal means of designating domestic terrorist groups adding that experts expressed concern that the move could be used to justify a crackdown on the political left more generally Xinhua news agency reportedDuring his first term in 2020 Trump also announced that he would designate the Antifa movement as a terrorist organisation largely a response to the nationwide protests and unrest that erupted after the killing of African American George Floyd by police But no concrete action was takenTrump signed the latest executive order amid a heated domestic debate over political violence following the death of Charlie Kirk In response to Democrats argument that both the left and right engage in political violence Trump recently claimed that most of the violence is on the left IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-signs-executive-order-designating-antifa-as-domestic-terrorist-organisation-640079.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-president-yoons-bail-hearing-set-for-friday-640086.html Seoul Sep 23 A Seoul court will hold a hearing on former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols request for bail later this week legal sources said on Tuesday The hearing will be held at the Seoul Central District Court at 1030 am Friday after Yoon filed for bail last week citing his right to defend himself and issues with his healthYoon has been in custody since July when special counsel Cho Eunsuks team placed him under arrest a second time on charges related to his failed imposition of martial law in DecemberThe former president has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his martial law attempt and a second trial on separate charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members and creating a revised proclamation after the martial law declaration is set to begin FridayThe bail hearing is expected to take place immediately after the first hearing of the second trial Yonhap news agency reportedEarlier on September 21 Yoon Suk Yeol had requested to be released on bail citing the need to prepare his defence and health concerns according to legal sourcesOn September 20 a special counsel team had notified Yoon to appear for questioning next week over allegations linked to his failed martial law bidSpecial counsel Cho Eunsuks team said it had issued the summons to Yoon to appear for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office on WednesdayIt would be the first time investigators attempt to question him over the allegation of inciting foreign aggressionThe team suspects Yoon of giving direct orders to the Drone Operations Command to dispatch drones to Pyongyang in an attempt to provoke North Korean military responses and allegedly create a pretext for the imposition of martial lawFormer drone command chief Major General Kim Yongdae Joint Chiefs of Staff JCS former Chairman Adm Kim Myungsoo and JCS operations chief Lt Gen Lee Seungoh had already been questioned over the allegationsThe commanders had denied any link between the drone dispatch and Yoons martial law arguing the operations were part of response measures to the Norths balloon campaigns against the South IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-ex-president-yoons-bail-hearing-set-for-friday-640086.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/dengue-fever-cases-surge-in-vietnams-capital-hanoi-640091.html Hanoi Sep 23 Vietnams capital Hanoi has reported a sharp rise in dengue fever cases with 258 new infections recorded from September 12 to 19 up from 190 cases in the previous week local media reported According to the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control the city has identified 19 new outbreak clusters bringing the total number of active hotspots to 33Since the beginning of 2025 Hanoi has recorded 1884 cases of dengue fever down 42 per cent compared to the same period in 2024 reports Xinhua quoting Vietnam News AgencyHealth authorities warned that insect indices at outbreak sites remain at highrisk thresholds and forecast that the infections are likely to keep rising in line with the annual epidemic cycleLocal health stations have also been instructed to strengthen early detection and ensure timely response to emerging cases especially in highrisk communities the report notedAccording to the World Health Organization Dengue is a viral infection that is spread from mosquitoes to people It is more common in tropical and subtropical than in temperate climatesMost people who get dengue do not have symptoms For those who do the most common symptoms are high fever headache body aches nausea and rash Most get better in 12 weeks Some develop severe dengue and need care in a hospitalIn severe cases dengue can be fatalYou can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites especially during the dayDengue is treated through pain management as there is no specific treatment currentlyThe incidence of dengue has grown dramatically worldwide in recent decades with the number of cases reported to the WHO increasing from 505430 cases in 2000 to 146 million in 2024 The vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and selfmanaged and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are underreported The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/dengue-fever-cases-surge-in-vietnams-capital-hanoi-640091.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-south-korean-army-chiefs-discuss-expanding-exchanges-between-troops-military-drills-640112.html Seoul Sep 23 South Koreas Army Chief of Staff General Kim Gyuha has met with his US counterpart General Randy A George to discuss ways to increase exchanges of highlevel army officers and expand joint military drills officials said on Tuesday Kim held talks with US Army Chief of Staff General George on Monday at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek some 60 kilometres south of Seoul according to the armed services Yonhap News Agency reportedThe two sides concurred on the fact that the SeoulWashington alliance has evolved as the linchpin of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyondWe will maintain and expand close cooperation with the US Army by revitalising joint training and sharing visions for military innovation to overcome impending challenges and to prepare for the future Kim saidMeanwhile the top diplomats of South Korea the United States and Japan have reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the denuclearisation of North Korea a joint statement showed on Tuesday after the Norths leader urged Washington to drop that goal as a condition for resuming talks with PyongyangThe statement was released after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday for talks on their partnership and other shared issues including North Koreas nuclear threatsThe statement came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jongun suggested he is open to engaging in dialogue with US President Donald Trumps administration if Washington drops its denuclearisation demand saying he has no intention of relinquishing his nuclear stockpilesThe Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the denuclearisation of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea DPRK in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council UNSC resolutions while continuing to make efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy the statement read referring to North Korea by its official nameThey emphasised the need to address together the DPRKs nuclear and missile programs and to maintain and strengthen the sanctions regime against the DPRK by responding firmly and in cooperation with other countries to violations and evasions of the relevant UNSC resolutionsIn the speech during the parliamentary meeting Kim warned it would be a mistake to think North Korea could be pressured or subdued through sanctions or shows of forceIn Mondays talks in New York Cho called for active cooperation from Washington and Tokyo to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and make tangible progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and resolution of the nuclear issues the foreign ministry said in a separate press releaseIn the joint statement the US reaffirmed its extended deterrence commitments to its two Asian allies which are critically important to the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula and broader IndoPacific regionThey reaffirmed their resolve to bolster defence and deterrence by advancing robust security cooperation including through the regular conduct of the trilateral multidomain exercise Freedom Edge and to strengthen their respective defence capabilities the statement saidThe statement included phrasing suggesting a united front against Chinas assertiveness as they voiced opposition to unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea under constant disputes between Beijing and neighbouring countries like the PhilippinesAlso drawing attention in the statement was the Taiwan Strait where the three voiced concern over increasingly frequent destabilising actions around TaiwanThey encouraged the peaceful resolution of crossStrait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quoThey also reiterated serious concerns over North Koreas deepening military cooperation with Russia including Moscows support for Pyongyangs military capabilities particularly its longrange missilesThey shared concerns over the Norths malicious cyber activities using its information technology workers and the need to deepen threeway collaboration on blocking such activities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-south-korean-army-chiefs-discuss-expanding-exchanges-between-troops-military-drills-640112.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-guangdong-raises-emergency-response-to-highest-for-typhoon-ragasa-640113.html Beijing Sep 23 South Chinas Guangdong Province raised its wind emergency response to the highest level at 10 am on Tuesday as Typhoon Ragasa is forecast to make landfall along the central or western coastal areas of the province as a strong or super strong typhoon within 24 hours Typhoon Ragasa entered the South China Sea late Monday and is forecast to move northwest at a speed of about 20 km per hour It is expected to land in the coastal areas from Zhuhai City to Xuwen County on Wednesday packing winds of 40 to 55 meters per second according to the provincial meteorological observatoryThe typhoon is expected to bring rainstorms and strong winds with some areas facing extreme precipitation while regions directly in the path of its centre could experience gusts of up to 60 meters per second reports Xinhua news agencyThe provincial flood drought and wind control headquarters have urged all localities and departments to act with the highest standards strictest requirements and most concrete measures and have ordered major affected areas to suspend classes work production public transportation and business operations Cities including Zhuhai Shenzhen and Jiangmen have implemented these suspensionsSome highway sections and bridges in Zhuhai have been closed and the Zhuhai Port of the Hong KongZhuhaiMacao Bridge has suspended outbound passenger clearance with the main bridge closed simultaneouslyIn the neighbouring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region all passenger and ferry ships in the coastal waters of Guangxi have been suspendedMaritime authorities in Guangxis Beihai City have restricted the BeihaiWeizhou Island passenger ship route to disembarkation only with no boarding allowed and the evacuation of the remaining 6000 tourists from Weizhou Island to Beihai is scheduled for completion on TuesdayThe typhoon is also expected to impact the island province of Hainan with the provincial capital Haikou to suspend classes ferry services park operations work and business activities starting later on Tuesday or Wednesday All train services to and from the island will be cancelled on WednesdayChina has a fourtier emergency response system with Level I being the most severe response IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-guangdong-raises-emergency-response-to-highest-for-typhoon-ragasa-640113.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-prez-yoon-rejects-special-counsel-summons-for-questioning-this-week-640122.html Seoul Sep 23 IANS South Koreas former President Yoon Suk Yeol has notified correctional officials he will not appear before a special counsel team for questioning later this week officials said on TuesdaynbspOn Saturday special counsel Cho Eunsuks team summoned the jailed former president to appear for questioning on Wednesday over allegations related to his shortlived martial law declaration in December Yonhap News Agency reportednbspI understand that former President Yoon verbally informed a detention centre officer of his nonappearance assistant special counsel Park Jiyoung said in a briefing We will see if he actually does not appear tomorrow and then consider whether to summon him againChos team had been expected to use this weeks session to question Yoon about allegations that he ordered a drone dispatch to Pyongyang last October to allegedly provoke North Korea and justify his martial law declarationnbspThe team has so far only questioned military officials about the operation with Saturdays summons marking the first time investigators have asked Yoon to appear for questioning over the allegationsnbspYoon who has remained in custody at Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang just south of the capital since July has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through the martial law bidMeanwhile a Seoul court will hold a hearing on Yoons request for bail later this week legal sources said on TuesdaynbspThe hearing will be held at the Seoul Central District Court at 1030 am on Friday after Yoon filed for bail last week citing his right to defend himself and issues with his healthnbspThe former president has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his martial law attempt and a second trial on separate charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members and creating a revised proclamation after the martial law declaration is set to begin on FridayThe bail hearing is expected to take place immediately after the first hearing of the second trialnbspLast week legal sources said that Yoon Suk Yeol has requested to be released on bail citing the need to prepare his defence and health concernsnbspThe application was filed on September 19 with the Seoul Central District Court which is handling charges against him for obstruction of duties and abuse of authority A date for the bail hearing has not yet been set Yonhap News Agency reported https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-prez-yoon-rejects-special-counsel-summons-for-questioning-this-week-640122.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-human-rights-group-says-98-cases-of-enforced-disappearances-reported-in-august-640124.html Quetta Sep 23 A human rights organisation on Tuesday revealed that 98 cases of enforced disappearances were documented across Pakistan in the month of August In its August 2025 report Paank Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department mentioned that the cases were reported across 13 districts including Karachi and Multan with most of them being reported in Quetta 21 Kech 19 and Dera Bugti 14In a post shared on X Paank mentioned that 32 victims were released many bearing signs of tortureBalochistan has been reeling under the endless atrocities at the hands of Pakistani authorities who facilitate death squads in the region to carry out enforced disappearances extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions of Baloch peopleOn Monday Paank reported that Pakistani security forces forcibly took Hilal Murad a resident of the Baloch ward area in Gwadar city from his homeOn September 20 2025 Hilal Murad son of Murad a resident of the Baloch ward area in Gwadar city was forcibly taken from his home by Pakistani security forces Paank posted on XSeparately the human rights body also stated that Akhtaj Shoukat a resident of Kech districts Hoshap area was forcibly taken from his home by Pakistani security forcesMeanwhile Pakistani politician Maulana FazlUrRehman alleged recently that the countrys authorities are involved in kidnapping and enforced disappearances across BalochistanHis remarks came amid an escalating wave of enforced disappearances in the province with families continuously staging protests demanding the return of their missing kinIn a video that went viral over the weekend Rehman said If you go to Balochistan where there is a state of insecurity people are kidnapped and disappearedRecently noted American human rights lawyer and researcher Reed Brody called for international scrutiny over enforced disappearances unlawful killings and the targeting of women activists by Pakistani authorities in BalochistanHe made these remarks addressing the 7th Global Balochistan Conference in Geneva held on the sidelines of the 60th regular session of the UN Human Rights CouncilThe event organised by the Baloch National Movement BNM witnessed participation from several political figures human rights activists and intellectualsThe people of Balochistan are not alone The struggle for truth and accountability can be long but it is never hopeless We must insist on international scrutiny said BrodyWe must call for independent investigations into enforced disappearances unlawful killings and the targeting of women activists The international community must not look away while basic rights like the right to speak to protest and to mourn are denied he addedThe American human rights lawyer called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately release those detained for peaceful protest restore internet access in affected regions and end the unlawful use of force in BalochistanHe urged the international community stating to support the voices of victims demand accountability and not let geopolitics blind them to serious abusesAnd to the survivors in Balochistan your courage matters History shows that truth can be delayed but it cannot be buried Brody asserted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-human-rights-group-says-98-cases-of-enforced-disappearances-reported-in-august-640124.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-team-extends-probe-into-ex-first-lady-by-30-days-640126.html Seoul Sep 23 A special counsel team in South Korea on Tuesday said it will extend its investigation into corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee by 30 days The team led by special counsel Min Joongki said the extension will be effective on Wednesday and comply with the relevant law that allows a 30day extension at his discretion Yonhap news agency reportedMins team has been widening its probe of Kim the wife of South Koreas former President Yoon Suk Yeol since indicting her last month on charges of corruption and bribery She has been held in custody since August 13A formal investigation will begin this week into allegations she helped cover up a bullying case involving the daughter of the presidential secretary for protocol in July 2023 assistant special counsel Kim Hyongkun said during a press briefingKim Seunghee the then secretary resigned later that year amid allegations that his daughter who was then in third grade in elementary school had assaulted a student one year younger than her and damaged her corneaThe former first lady was found to have held an eightminute phone call with the vice education minister immediately after the alleged assaultThe special counsel team said it has summoned an official on a school violence committee involved in imposing a 10day suspension on the daughterThe official has been asked to appear as a reference on ThursdayEarlier in the day Unification Church leader Han Hakja was placed under arrest over bribery allegations linked to the former first ladyThe Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for her arrest citing concern that she could destroy evidenceSpecial counsel Min Joongkis team had requested the warrant last week on charges of violations of the Political Funds Act and the antigraft law subornation of evidence destruction and embezzlementWe humbly accept the courts decision the church said in a statement shortly after the warrant was issued We will faithfully engage in the forthcoming investigation and trial to determine the truth and do our best to use this as an occasion to restore trust in our churchWe sincerely apologise for causing concern to the people it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-team-extends-probe-into-ex-first-lady-by-30-days-640126.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sikhs-for-justice-in-the-crosshairs-agencies-target-khalistans-most-dangerous-arm-640133.html New Delhi Sep 23 IANS The arrest of Inderjeet Singh Gosal in Canada is a clear indicator that the agencies have begun their crackdown against the Sikhs for Justice SFJ Gosal is the main coordinator for the proscribed SFJ in Canada and was responsible for holding several referendums that sought support for a separate Khalistan nation carved out of PunjabnbspThe Indian agencies have been sharing Intelligence on a regular basis with their counterparts in Canada While information about outfits such as Babbar Khalsa International is being shared this time the focus is largely on the SFJIndian officials have warned that the SFJ unlike the Babbar Khalsa International may not be carrying out an armed struggle but the fact is that the outfit that is led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is far more dangerousnbspThe SFJ runs the propaganda wing of the Khalistan movement and it is dangerous since it manages to create a perception that their struggle is genuine Moreover the SFJ has a wide reach on social media and it has used it to its best ability to spread false propaganda against IndianbspIn fact most of the campaigns have been around the creation of a Khalistan nation It has repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called for his assassination as well The SFJ was also trying to infiltrate the farmers protests in India with the intention of radicalising the Sikh people and urging them to raise arms against the Indian governmentIn several conversations that the agencies of India and Canada have had both nations have acknowledged the danger posed by the SFJ In Canada it has now ramped up efforts to radicalise the Sikh population although only a small minority have been swayed However officials of both nations agree that even if the number of those radicalised may be smaller these people are enough to disrupt peace and spread their propagandanbspIndia has raised concerns with Ottawa that the Khalistanis are using Canada as a launch pad to strike in India There are multiple dossiers shared which clearly prove the role of the SFJ in coordinating with other terror groups and gangsters to carry out targeted killings and terror attacks in India However what has worried the Canadian agencies is that there is a good chance that the violence may spill out on the streets of their countryThe SFJ has been making false claims that it has the backing of the Canadian establishment Following the arrest of Gosal the SFJ confirmed the development It however falsely claimed that the arrest of Gosal in connection with a firearms case is in fact a case about the Canadian governments duty to protect the life of a Canadian citizen The SFJ said that action was taken to protect him from the imminent and grave threat to his life from the Indian governmentnbspThe SFJ once brought out the issue relating to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Babbar Khalsa International operative It said that the threat continues against campaigners for the socalled Khalistan referendum that Nijjar ledAll these claims made by the SFJ are entirely false Gosal was charged by the Canadian authorities after the violent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3 2024nbspIndia has on several occasions pointed out that if Canada did not act it would soon become detrimental to them Following a meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counterpart Nathalie G Drouin in New Delhi on September 18 the latter said We discussed our respective security concerns and committed to noninterference including refraining from transnational repression We also agreed on the importance of reciprocal exchange of information and mutual responsiveness https://dailyworld.in/international/sikhs-for-justice-in-the-crosshairs-agencies-target-khalistans-most-dangerous-arm-640133.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japanese-city-passes-ordinance-capping-daily-screen-time-to-two-hours-640139.html Tokyo Sep 23 Toyoake in Aichi Prefecture has become the first municipality in Japan to introduce an ordinance asking all residents to limit their use of smartphones Toyoakes municipal assembly passed an ordinance limiting daily leisurerelated screen time for all residents to two hours the local media reported on TuesdayThe ordinance reports cited aims at preventing an excessive use of smartphones personal computers and tablet devices It was approved via a majority vote at a plenary session of the assemblyTaking effect October 1 the local law serves as guidance and does not apply to the use of such devices for study work or household chores and there are no penalties for the violatorsToyoake Mayor Masafumi Kouki was quoted by Japan Times as saying that the ordinance is only part of the citys measures on resident health and the aim was for residents to see whether they are losing sleep by using smartphones too muchWere not rejecting smartphones he told reporters the daily reported highlighting that the ordinance is also designed to increase conversations within families and calls for refraining from using smartphones and other gadgets after 9 pm for elementary school students and younger children and after 10 pm for junior high school students and others under18 yearsSome residents have argued that the municipality should not meddle in family matters while others have taken the move by the assembly as an opportunity for discussions with family members The municipal assembly also adopted a supplementary resolution calling on the city to review the ordinance when necessary after examining its effects and residents opinions on a regular basis the Japanese media reportedAccording to the Nippon Television Network NTV during previous deliberations even council members who supported the ordinance repeatedly pointed out that the explanation to residents was insufficientThe city council also passed a supplementary resolution that includes measures to respect the diversity of residents lifestyles and home environments and to provide clear and concise information to avoid misunderstandings NTV reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japanese-city-passes-ordinance-capping-daily-screen-time-to-two-hours-640139.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sikhs-for-justice-in-the-crosshairs-agencies-target-khalistans-most-dangerous-arm-640147.html New Delhi Sep 23 The arrest of Inderjeet Singh Gosal in Canada is a clear indicator that the agencies have begun their crackdown against the Sikhs for Justice SFJ Gosal is the main coordinator for the proscribed SFJ in Canada and was responsible for holding several referendums that sought support for a separate Khalistan nation carved out of Punjab The Indian agencies have been sharing Intelligence on a regular basis with their counterparts in Canada While information about outfits such as Babbar Khalsa International is being shared this time the focus is largely on the SFJIndian officials have warned that the SFJ unlike the Babbar Khalsa International may not be carrying out an armed struggle but the fact is that the outfit that is led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is far more dangerousThe SFJ runs the propaganda wing of the Khalistan movement and it is dangerous since it manages to create a perception that their struggle is genuine Moreover the SFJ has a wide reach on social media and it has used it to its best ability to spread false propaganda against IndiaIn fact most of the campaigns have been around the creation of a Khalistan nation It has repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called for his assassination as well The SFJ was also trying to infiltrate the farmers protests in India with the intention of radicalising the Sikh people and urging them to raise arms against the Indian governmentIn several conversations that the agencies of India and Canada have had both nations have acknowledged the danger posed by the SFJ In Canada it has now ramped up efforts to radicalise the Sikh population although only a small minority have been swayed However officials of both nations agree that even if the number of those radicalised may be smaller these people are enough to disrupt peace and spread their propagandaIndia has raised concerns with Ottawa that the Khalistanis are using Canada as a launch pad to strike in India There are multiple dossiers shared which clearly prove the role of the SFJ in coordinating with other terror groups and gangsters to carry out targeted killings and terror attacks in India However what has worried the Canadian agencies is that there is a good chance that the violence may spill out on the streets of their countryThe SFJ has been making false claims that it has the backing of the Canadian establishment Following the arrest of Gosal the SFJ confirmed the development It however falsely claimed that the arrest of Gosal in connection with a firearms case is in fact a case about the Canadian governments duty to protect the life of a Canadian citizen The SFJ said that action was taken to protect him from the imminent and grave threat to his life from the Indian governmentThe SFJ once brought out the issue relating to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Babbar Khalsa International operative It said that the threat continues against campaigners for the socalled Khalistan referendum that Nijjar ledAll these claims made by the SFJ are entirely false Gosal was charged by the Canadian authorities after the violent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3 2024India has on several occasions pointed out that if Canada did not act it would soon become detrimental to them Following a meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counterpart Nathalie G Drouin in New Delhi on September 18 the latter said We discussed our respective security concerns and committed to noninterference including refraining from transnational repression We also agreed on the importance of reciprocal exchange of information and mutual responsiveness IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sikhs-for-justice-in-the-crosshairs-agencies-target-khalistans-most-dangerous-arm-640147.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/global-education-for-peace-award-honours-jgu-for-championing-world-peace-through-higher-education-640150.html Washington DC Sep 23 OP Jindal Global University JGU has been conferred with the 2025 Global Education for Peace Award by the STAR Scholars Network This prestigious international recognition celebrates higher education institutions that exemplify an unwavering commitment to advancing peace through education The announcement was made on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Peace 21 September underscoring the significance of education as a cornerstone for building a more just inclusive and sustainable worldThe Global Education for Peace Award honours and recognises higher education institutions HEIs around the world that contribute significantly to the promotion of global peace through education It celebrates institutions that integrate global perspectives into their curriculum foster a sense of global citizenship among their students and cultivate a culture of dialogue and empathy that transcends borders The award highlights the role of universities as sanctuaries of intellectual freedom intercultural understanding and ethical leadership at a time when humanity faces growing polarisation and conflictSubmissions were evaluated by a distinguished global committee based on the depth breadth and impact of each institutions efforts in promoting global education and peace The rigorous selection process considered the innovative nature of courses the effectiveness of pedagogical approaches and the extent of international collaboration and community engagementAccording to Professor John C Weidman Emeritus Professor University of Pittsburgh and Chair of the Award Selection Committee JGUs work represents a model for how universities worldwide can integrate peace justice and sustainability into the heart of their educational missionThis year OP Jindal Global University shares this global honour with the American University in the Emirates UAE Together the two institutions stand as beacons of hope and inspiration showcasing the transformative role of universities in fostering global citizenship intercultural understanding ethical leadership and a culture of peaceThe award recognises JGUs Curriculum grounded in ethical leadership critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning Over 550 international collaborations enabling global dialogue and cooperation Commitment to community engagement and social responsibility Initiatives that prepare students to become informed responsible and compassionate global citizensThese achievements reflect JGUs vision of making education a force for peace justice and sustainability in society They also highlight the universitys role as one of the most globally connected institutions in India advancing crosscultural dialogue and preparing future leaders to address humanitys shared challengesProfessor Dr Uttam Gaulee President of the STAR Scholars Network said In honouring these exemplary institutions we celebrate the transformative power of education as the most peaceful revolution the world has ever known Their dedication shows us that the surest path to peace begins in classrooms that dare to imagine a more just and compassionate worldNaveen Jindal Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University remarked This award is a testament to JGUs unwavering belief that education is the greatest catalyst for peace Our vision has always been to build a university that transcends borders fosters harmony and equips future generations to solve humanitys most pressing challenges I am deeply proud of our community for making JGU a symbol of hope and global solidarityProfessor Dr C Raj Kumar Vice Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University observed This recognition is not only a profound honour but also a powerful reaffirmation of the ideals upon which JGU was built At a time when humanity faces polarisation and conflict universities must stand as sanctuaries of dialogue empathy and collective wisdom This award belongs to our faculty students staff alumni and partners who embody the spirit of education as a force for peace On this International Day of Peace we rededicate ourselves to advancing knowledge nurturing compassion and shaping leaders who will contribute to a more just inclusive and sustainable world IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/global-education-for-peace-award-honours-jgu-for-championing-world-peace-through-higher-education-640150.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-scientists-supercharge-vinegars-antibacterial-effect-with-nanoparticles-640151.html Sydney Sep 23 Adding microscopic particles to vinegar enhances their effectiveness against dangerous bacterial infections and may help combat antibiotic resistance new research led by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Flinders University in Australia and the University of Bergen in Norway shows The research shows that antimicrobial nanoparticles made from carbon and cobalt can enhance the natural bacterial killing qualities of acetic acid commonly known as vinegar according to a statement released on Tuesday by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteThe statement says that vinegar has been used as a disinfectant for centuries but it is effective only against certain bacteria and it does not kill the most dangerous types reports Xinhua news agencyThe researchers found that the antimicrobial nanoparticles made from carbon and cobalt could kill several dangerous bacterial species and their activity was enhanced when added to a weak vinegar solution The findings have been published in the international journal ACS NanoAs part of the research the researchers added cobaltcontaining carbon quantum dot nanoparticles to weak acetic acid to create a potent antimicrobial treatment They used this mixture against several pathogenic species including the drugresistant Staphylococcus aureus Escherichia coli E coli and Enterococcus faecalisThe acidic environment from the vinegar made bacterial cells swell and take up the nanoparticle treatment said molecular biologist Adam Truskewycz who is the studys coauthorOnce exposed the nanoparticles appear to attack dangerous bacteria from both inside the bacterial cell and also on its surface causing them to burst Truskewycz said adding the approach was nontoxic to human cells and was shown to remove bacterial infections from mice wounds without affecting healingThe antibacterial boost in vinegar found in the research could potentially be an important contribution towards the ongoing battle against the rising antimicrobial resistance levels worldwide with an estimated 45 million deaths associated with a direct infectious disease according to the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-scientists-supercharge-vinegars-antibacterial-effect-with-nanoparticles-640151.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ready-to-implement-start-restrictions-if-washington-acts-in-similar-manner-russia-640152.html Moscow Sep 23 Russia on Monday said that it is ready to implement quantitative limitations on the Strategic Offensive Arms START within a year but this requires a mirror position from the United States We are prepared to continue enforcing quantitative restrictions for a year Thats what we will do But this of course requires a mirror position from the United States the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in MoscowHe mentioned that the treaty on measures for the further reduction and limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was discussed during meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump during their recent meetingThe topic of the New START Treaty was generally raised during the contacts between Putin and Trump in the sense that time is running out and we are truly on the threshold of a situation where we could be left without any bilateral documents regulating the area of stability and security Peskov said while replying to a question from Tass news agency about whether the topic of extending the New START Treaty was discussed during the meeting between Putin and TrumpPutin he revealed did not communicate the idea of extending the START treaty to the US President in advanceOn September 22 Putin stated at a meeting with the Security Council that Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central quantitative restrictions outlined in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for a year after it expires in February 2026 but emphasised that Moscows retention of the START restrictions is only possible if Washington acts in a similar manner Tass reportedThe Russian Presidential spokesperson stated that no specific date for the next meeting between both leaders has yet been determinedThere is no clear understanding yet about the date of the next contact between the two presidents Peskov told Russias stateowned news agencyAccording to the US Department of State the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms also known as the New START Treaty enhances US national security by placing verifiable limits on all Russian deployed intercontinentalrange nuclear weapons and both countries have agreed to extend the treaty through February 4 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ready-to-implement-start-restrictions-if-washington-acts-in-similar-manner-russia-640152.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-president-yoon-to-attend-court-hearing-on-friday-over-martial-law-640175.html Seoul Sep 23 South Koreas former ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend a court hearing later this week for a new case over his involvement in his failed martial law bid Yoons legal team said Tuesday In addition to an ongoing insurrection trial a special counsel team investigating the case has additionally indicted Yoon for allegedly abusing his authority and obstructing the exercise of rights Yonhap News Agency reportedYoon will attend the court hearing for the new case on Friday his legal team said in a statement citing legal procedures that mandate his attendance for the first court hearingYoon who has remained in custody since July has not shown up for court hearings for the 10th consecutive time in a trial on his charges of leading an insurrection citing health reasonsAlongside the first court hearing for the new case on Friday the Seoul Central District Court is also set to hold a hearing for his bail on the same dayYoon filed for bail last week citing his right to defend himself and issues with his healthThe former president has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his martial law attempt and a second trial on separate charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members and creating a revised proclamation after the martial law declaration is set to begin FridayOn September 20 a special counsel team had notified Yoon to appear for questioning next week over allegations linked to his failed martial law bidSpecial counsel Cho Eunsuks team said it had issued the summons to Yoon to appear for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office on WednesdayIt would be the first time investigators attempt to question him over the allegation of inciting foreign aggressionThe team suspects Yoon of giving direct orders to the Drone Operations Command to dispatch drones to Pyongyang in an attempt to provoke North Korean military responses and allegedly create a pretext for the imposition of martial lawFormer drone command chief Major General Kim Yongdae Joint Chiefs of Staff JCS former Chairman Adm Kim Myungsoo and JCS operations chief Lt Gen Lee Seungoh had already been questioned over the allegationsThe commanders had denied any link between the drone dispatch and Yoons martial law arguing the operations were part of response measures to the Norths balloon campaigns against the South IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-president-yoon-to-attend-court-hearing-on-friday-over-martial-law-640175.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/drone-incident-is-serious-attack-says-danish-pm-640200.html Oslo Sep 23 Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday said a drone incident that shut down Copenhagen Airport for several hours late Monday was a serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure The incident should be viewed within the broader context of hybrid threats across Europe she added We have seen drones over Poland activity in Romania violations of Estonian airspace cyberattacks on European airports over the weekend and now drones in Denmark and Norway Frederiksen told reporters Xinhua News Agency reportedRussian involvement cannot be ruled out she underlined noting that Europe faces a series of hybrid attacks and sabotage attemptsCopenhagens Kastrup Airport suspended operations for around four hours on Monday evening affecting approximately 20000 passengers Delays and cancellations continued into Tuesday with travellers missing study trips honeymoons business journeys and sports eventsThe Danish National Police confirmed that the National Operational Staff a special crisis response unit has been activated at its lowest level meaning heightened surveillance and interagency coordination Danish police are treating the case as a drone attackIn neighbouring Norway Oslos Gardermoen Airport was also forced to close around midnight Monday after drone sightings The airport reopened at around 330 am on Tuesday morning Norways Police Security Service said it is in dialogue with Danish authorities to assess whether the two incidents are connectedSeveral flights to Oslo were diverted to other Norwegian airports leaving passengers stranded overnight Airlines reported delays cancellations and rerouted services throughout Tuesday Avinor the stateowned operator of Norwegian airports said travelers could expect continued disruptionOn September 12 the Danish government announced the largest arms purchase in the countrys history approving a 58billion Danish kroner 91 billion US dollars acquisition of groundbased air defence systemsAccording to Denmarks Ministry of Defense the deal includes eight medium and longrange air defense systems to be supplied by several European manufacturers including firms from France Italy Germany and NorwayDenmark has not possessed groundbased air defence systems since 2005 The new package will introduce SAMPT longrange systems from a FrancoItalian consortium complemented by mediumrange systems from manufacturers in Norway Germany and FranceThe ministry said the systems will provide nationwide coverage strengthening protection for cities military installations and critical infrastructure The first unit is expected to be operational in 2025 with deployment gradually expanding thereafterThis announcement follows an initial package unveiled in June worth over 6 billion Danish kroner aimed at quickly fielding airdefense capability Together these procurements are designed to create a layered defense of Danish airspace IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/drone-incident-is-serious-attack-says-danish-pm-640200.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-it-firms-to-tackle-h-1b-visa-fee-hike-with-local-hiring-offshoring-and-nearshoring-report-640202.html New Delhi Sep 23 Indian IT companies are expected to adjust their strategies to deal with the recent sharp hike in H1B visa fees announced by the US administration a new report said on Tuesday On September 19 US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a fee of 100000 for new H1B visa applications a steep jump from the existing cost of around 1500The move is likely to hit Indian IT firms which have traditionally relied on the visa program to send skilled workers to the USThe data compiled by Nuvama however said that the overall impact on Indian IT companies may remain limited as the sector has already reduced its dependence on H1B visas over the past eight yearsThis shift has given companies a head start in cushioning the effects of the latest policy change the report saidAccording to Nuvama firms are expected to tackle the higher costs through measures such as nearshoring offshoring and hiring more local talent in the US While some shortterm financial and operational challenges are unavoidable in the longer run increased offshoring is expected to ease the pressureThe report also noted that most Indian IT services firms may avoid paying the new fee altogether as it makes H1B visas uneconomicalThe median salary for Indian IT workers on H1B visas ranges from 80000 to 120000 and adding another 100000 fee would make the arrangement financially unviableInstead companies are likely to look at other options such as renegotiating contracts with clients to share costs hiring locally in the US or expanding nearshore operations in countries like Canada and Latin America which share the same time zone as the USA stronger focus on offshoring to India or other costefficient regions is also expected as per the reportThe report added that while the industry will face volatility in the near term the situation is likely to stabilise as IT companies adapt to the new environment and discover more efficient ways of doing business IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-it-firms-to-tackle-h-1b-visa-fee-hike-with-local-hiring-offshoring-and-nearshoring-report-640202.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-proposes-to-scrap-h-1b-lottery-system-floats-new-rules-640217.html Washington Sep 23 Days after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H1B visa programme the US Department of Homeland Security DHS has proposed to amend its regulations governing the process The DHS proposal seeks to scrap the existing lottery system and implement a weighted selection process that would generally favour the allocation of H1B visas to higherskilled and higherpaid aliens while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H1B workers at all wage levelsThe initiative will be opened for a 30day public comment periodThe H1B programme capped at 85000 new visas annually allowed US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering through a random lottery systemLast week Trump signed a proclamation to crack down on H1B visas announcing a 100000 fee for each new applicationThe proclamation caused immense confusion over the weekend as it seemed to suggest that it would impact the current H1B visa holders who may face hurdles in returning to the United StatesThe White House issued a clarification to IANS on Saturday saying that this is a onetime fee that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holdersThis is a onetime fee that applies only to the petition It ONLY applies to new visas not renewals or current visa holders It will first apply in the upcoming lottery cycle a White House official told IANSA White House spokesperson also clarified to IANS that the policy would discourage companies from spamming the systemPresident Trump promised to put American workers first and this commonsense action does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down wages It also gives certainty to American businesses who actually want to bring highskilled workers to our great country but have been trampled on by abuses of the system White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers saidSigning the proclamation at the White House on Friday Trump said the incentive is to hire American workersThe new proposal was announced as two senior Ministers External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Trump administration officials in New York on MondayAfter his meeting with Jaishankar US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India is of critical value to his country and welcomed its ongoing interaction in tradeJaishankar posted on X Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areasCommerce and Industry Minister Goyal also met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday in New York to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement between the two sidesSources told IANS that the meeting focused on addressing key sticking points and both sides remain hopeful of reaching an interim understanding soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-administration-proposes-to-scrap-h-1b-lottery-system-floats-new-rules-640217.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 22:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/french-president-macrons-convoy-stopped-in-new-york-video-goes-viral-640221.html New York Sep 23 French President Emmanuel Macrons convoy was stopped by police in New York City late Monday night as roads were blocked for US President Donald Trumps motorcade a viral video has revealed The incident happened during Macrons New York visit to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA The video which has gone viral on social media shows a NYPD cop telling the French President that he can proceed further due to the traffic restrictions imposed on the routeIm really sorry Mr President everything is currently blocked a police officer is heard telling Macron as the European leader tries to convince him to let him throughStanding near a barricade Macron then makes a call seemingly to Trump Macron said How are you Guess what Im waiting in the street because everything is closed for you He then laughs off and is seen walking on the New York streets obliging people for photos One person was also seen kissing Macron on the foreheadIn his speech at the UNGA in New York on Monday Macron announced Frances formal recognition of the State of Palestine He called for an end to Israels war in Gaza release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and the revival of the idea of a twoState solutionThe time has come Because the worst might yet happen whether it is the loss of countless more civilian lives the expulsion of the population of Gaza towards Egypt the annexation of the West Bank the death of the hostages held by Hamas or irreversible events that change the situation on the ground forever That is why That is why we must here and now pave this path towards peace because since July events have accelerated at a terrifying pace he saidFrom where we stand now it is to be feared that the Abraham Accords or the Camp David Accords could be called into question by Israels action and that peace in the Middle East might become impossible for a long time to come And so we bear now a historic responsibility We must do all we can to preserve even the possibility of a twostate solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security The time has come That is why true to my countrys historic commitment in the Middle East for peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people I declare that France today recognises the State of Palestine Macron added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/french-president-macrons-convoy-stopped-in-new-york-video-goes-viral-640221.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepals-ev-imports-slump-as-trade-routes-with-china-remain-shut-640227.html Kathmandu Sep 23 Nepals import of electric fourwheelers has slumped in the past two months largely due to the disruption of two key trade routes with China caused by massive landslides and floods According to the Department of Customs Nepal imported just 486 electric fourwheelers in the first two months of the current fiscal year 202526 which began midJuly This marks a sharp decline from the 1602 units imported during the same period in the last fiscalChina Nepals largest supplier of EVs recorded a drastic fall in exports with only 240 vehicles shipped in the twomonth period down from 1125 units last year India the secondlargest supplier also saw a decline exporting 207 vehicles compared to 475 units a year agoThe drop follows the closure of two major border crossings The RasuwagadhiKerung checkpoint has been shut since early July after floods destroyed the NepalChina Friendship Bridge a dry port and other infrastructure on the Nepal side Meanwhile the TatopaniNyalam crossing has been blocked for the past month by landslides though partial clearance was reported on MondayThe main reason behind the reduced import of electric vehicles from China is the blockade on these two trade routes Samir Shrestha Chief Marketing Officer at Cimex Inc Pvt Ltd the authorised distributor of BYD cars in Nepal told IANS We have started using the newlyopened Mustang route since midSeptember to bring in vehiclesThe Department of Customs recently announced that this border point has remained fully operational starting September 15 Nepals Central Bank has also stated in a recent notice that importers from Nepal could use this route to get goods from China through a letter of credit This arrangement means that the third trade route between Nepal and China has now been formally opened for international trade said Kishor Bartuala Information Officer at the customs department Earlier this route was being used for cross border trade of goods among the people of the bordering region only he revealedThe customs department said over 200 electric four wheelers were brought to Nepal from China after the opening of the border point for international trade last weekShrestha stressed that demand for Chinese EVs remains strong but acknowledged that some customers have cancelled bookings following concerns over vehicle damage during recent GenZ protests which left over 70 people dead and caused widespread destructionFor years Indiamade Internal Combustion Engine ICE vehicles dominated Nepals auto market But consumer preference has shifted sharply toward EVs giving Chinese brands a commanding presence Last fiscal Nepal imported 13578 electric fourwheelers with 752 per cent coming from China and the rest from India Germany the US and other countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepals-ev-imports-slump-as-trade-routes-with-china-remain-shut-640227.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/super-typhoon-ragasa-batters-northern-philippines-640008.html Manila Sep 22 Super Typhoon Ragasa slammed into the northern Philippines on Monday unleashing torrential rains and strong winds that triggered flooding toppled trees and tore roofs off homes The intense weather prompted the evacuation of more than 10000 residents as authorities scrambled to ensure public safety Roads in many areas became impassable due to rising floodwaters further complicating relief effortsRagasa combined with an enhanced southwest monsoon led to the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 29 provinces on Monday Xinhua news agency reportedThe Philippines state weather bureau PAGASA said in its latest advisory that Ragasa was moving westward at 25 km per hour packing winds of 215 km per hour and gusts up to 295 km per hourRagasa is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday morning said PAGASAOn average around 20 typhoons strike the Philippines annually The archipelago is particularly vulnerable to tropical cyclones which often bring heavy rains flooding and strong winds resulting in casualties and destruction of crops and propertiesMeanwhile Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday ordered ministries sectors and localities to take early and highestlevel measures in response to Typhoon Ragasa Vietnam News Agency reportedHe said the priority is to ensure peoples safety and minimize property damage for both residents and the stateAuthorities in coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Quang Ngai have been asked to cancel unnecessary meetings and mobilize all resources to cope with the typhoonThe Ministry of Education and Training has directed schools in affected areas to prepare online learning plans and suspend classes if necessaryAccording to the National Center for HydroMeteorological Forecasting the typhoon is expected to make landfall between Quang Ninh and Ha Tinh provinces on Thursday with strong intensity and complex developments IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/super-typhoon-ragasa-batters-northern-philippines-640008.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/strategic-deals-brutal-consequences-pakistans-genocide-under-the-garb-of-counterterrorism-640012.html New Delhi Sep 22 The Indian agencies are reporting that Pakistans aggression under pressure from both the US and China is only going to increase in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP Pakistan may have tomtommed to all that it has made some strategic moves where the US and China are concerned However in reality it is set to indulge in genocide in Balochistan Intelligence Bureau officials say that under the garb of fighting the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP the real intention is to target the people of the region and indulge in genocide The Pakistan Army is facing stiff resistance in these regions and hence wants to target even the innocents under the garb of fighting terror outfitsTodays incident during which thirty people were killed in air strikes in KP is an example of this Pakistan used China made J17 fighter jets to drop eight Chinese L6 bombs laserguided precision munitions on a village in the Tirah Valley The local community is already on the edge owing to the aggression by the Pakistan Army Whether it is in Balochistan or KP the people have complained that under the garb of fighting terror the Pakistan Army is trying to wipe out the local populationIntelligence reports say while Pakistan has always been an aggressor in these regions against the local people such action is likely to get worse in the days to comeThe deals that Pakistan signed with the US and China may look good on paper But both countries have shifted the onus largely on Pakistan to deliver and ensure security of their projects While China has said that it wants the TTP out of the picture as the terror group is hitting their projects the US has made it clear that it wants terror groups in Balochistan out of the way so that the minerals deal can be executed peacefullyPakistan is currently in a dilemma due to these demands First and foremost it is not able to fight terror groups in both regions The Pakistan Army has faced embarrassing losses in recent times Further Pakistan has no support of Afghanistan on these issues However the thing that is hurting Pakistan the most is that it does not have the support of the localsThe locals have for decades complained that the resources available in their regions are being looted by the Pakistan Army None of the benefits get passed on to them The locals have accrued the Pakistan government of robbing their resources and investing them in mainland Pakistan while they continue to face hardshipsIn such a situation the Pakistan Army has decided to go on the offensive and is targeting the innocent localsPakistans actions have been called by the international community in the past as well Amnesty Internationals South Asia office had slammed the utter disregard that the army has shown for civilian life This statement had come in the aftermath of a drone strike in which a child had been killedThere was a huge criticism following a March 10 strike in which 10 civilians were killed in the Katlang area of the KP province However after every such hit Pakistan has said that the intention was to flush out terrorists but in reality the intention was of killing the localsFollowing Mondays military strike even the opposition in Pakistan criticised the action Pakistan TehreekeInsaf said that no words can encompass this sorrow and grief Drone attacks and bombings have sown so may seeds of hatred Nothing will be left the party said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/strategic-deals-brutal-consequences-pakistans-genocide-under-the-garb-of-counterterrorism-640012.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/17-rescued-as-floods-ravage-turkeys-black-sea-region-640022.html Istanbul Sep 22 Seventeen people stranded by severe flooding in Turkeys northern Black Sea region were rescued by military helicopters on Monday authorities said as heavy rains caused widespread damage in the area Since Saturday the floods have triggered landslides and inundations that have collapsed roads and bridges across Rize Giresun Artvin and Trabzon provinces leaving many residents stranded and prompting largescale rescue operationsTwo helicopters from the Land Forces Command and one from the Air Forces Command were dispatched to Rize successfully evacuating all 17 residents the Ministry of National Defence announced Xinhua news agency reportedAuthorities said access to Rizes highland plateaus is now being maintained by helicopter following the floods Local media reported that riverside bungalows a popular attraction for tourists seeking scenic views were swept away by the floodwatersTransport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said 14 million liras about 338000 US dollars in emergency funds have been allocated to Rize adding that 1428 personnel supported by 567 pieces of machinery and equipment remain engaged in response and recovery effortsMeanwhile other parts of Turkey are experiencing the opposite extreme severe drought with national rainfall plunging far below longterm averages and threatening water supplies and agricultureAccording to data released Monday by the State Meteorological Service Turkey received 4011 kilogrammes of rainfall per square metre between October 2024 and August 2025 27 per cent below the longterm average and 29 per cent lower than the same period last year marking the lowest national rainfall in 52 yearsThe decline has been most pronounced in Southeastern Anatolia where precipitation dropped more than 53 per cent below seasonal norms The Mediterranean region recorded its driest year in 51 years while the Marmara and Aegean regions saw their lowest rainfall in 18 years In the capital Ankara this water year was the driest in 47 years Only parts of the Black Sea region reported aboveaverage rainfall IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/17-rescued-as-floods-ravage-turkeys-black-sea-region-640022.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/top-commander-of-hamass-naval-police-killed-in-gaza-announces-israel-640031.html Jerusalem Sep 22 The Israel Defence Forces IDF announced on Monday that its air force killed the deputy commander of Hamass naval police in Gaza The IDF said that Yousef took part in the raid and murderous massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7 During the fighting in the Gaza Strip he planned ambushes against IDF forces and was involved in securing the organisations assets in the Gaza StripHis elimination constitutes a significant damage to the capabilities of Hamass maritime police which are used to collect intelligence on our forces and enforce maritime control for the organisations military wing read a statement issued by the IDFSince the beginning of Operation Gideon Chariots II the Israeli Navy has been working to thwart infrastructure and key personnel in the Maritime Police in close cooperation with the maneuvering forces and closing operational circles in real time in cooperation with the ground forces and the Air ForceThe Navys 916th Squadron fighters constitute an important operational component in the ground maneuver in the Strip The forces assist with fire from the sea and rapid circle closures from the sea air and land In a joint cooperation the Israeli Navy provided the intelligence guidance for the Israeli Air Force in a precision strike in the Central Camps the statement addedMeanwhile Chief of the Israeli General Staff Eyal Zamir on the eve of Rosh Hashanah sent a message to IDF personnel across all arenasI wish to convey to you the thanks of an entire nation that thanks to you truly thanks to you we will sit tonight at the holiday table with a sense of security and with deep appreciation for your sacrifice and dedication he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/top-commander-of-hamass-naval-police-killed-in-gaza-announces-israel-640031.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-politician-spotlights-ongoing-killings-enforced-disappearances-in-balochistan-640032.html Islamabad Sep 22 Pakistani politician Maulana FazlUrRehman alleged recently that the countrys authorities are involved in kidnapping and enforced disappearances across Balochistan His remarks came amid an escalating wave of enforced disappearances in the province with families continuously staging protests demanding the return of their missing kinIn a video that went viral over the weekend Rehman said If you go to Balochistan where there is a state of insecuritypeople are kidnapped and disappearedRecently noted American human rights lawyer and researcher Reed Brody called for international scrutiny over enforced disappearances unlawful killings and the targeting of women activists by Pakistani authorities in BalochistanHe made these remarks addressing the 7th Global Balochistan Conference in Geneva held on the sidelines of the 60th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council The event organised by the Baloch National Movement BNM witnessed participation from several political figures human rights activists and intellectualsThe people of Balochistan are not alone The struggle for truth and accountability can be long but it is never hopeless We must insist on international scrutiny said BrodyWe must call for independent investigations into enforced disappearances unlawful killings and the targeting of women activists The international community must not look away while basic rightslike the right to speak to protest and to mournare denied he addedThe American human rights lawyer called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately release those detained for peaceful protest restore internet access in affected regions and end the unlawful use of force in BalochistanHe urged the international community stating to support the voices of victims demand accountability and not let geopolitics blind them to serious abusesAnd to the survivors in Balochistan your courage matters History shows that truth can be delayed but it cannot be buried Brody assertedHighlighting his work over the years with survivors of some of the worlds most brutal regimes which includes Augusto Pinochet of Chile JeanClaude Duvalier of Haiti and Hissene Habre of Chad Brody said These were powerful men who believed they could rule through terror silence dissent through fear and escape accountabilityBut history caught up with themnot because of governments but because survivors refused to be silent Their courage brought justice not only for themselves but for future generations That same courage is alive today in Balochistan he stressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistani-politician-spotlights-ongoing-killings-enforced-disappearances-in-balochistan-640032.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hindus-hardest-hit-amid-misuse-of-blasphemy-laws-in-pakistan-report-640034.html Islamabad Sep 22 Pakistans misplaced priorities are starkly visible in the ruthless use of blasphemy laws and religious vigilantism against Hindus and Sindhis a report said on Monday Hindus it said bear the brunt of these skewed priorities as blasphemy allegations often fabricated over personal disputes or prejudices have become tools of terror against nonMuslimsAccording to a report in the leading Sri Lankan newspaper The Daily Mirror the number of such cases have surged over the past three years in Pakistan In 2024 alone at least 475 cases were registered an alarming rise in numbers reflecting how easily the law is abused in the countryA mere accusation of blasphemy can unleash murderous mobs Vigilantes have repeatedly lynched accused individuals and entire minority communities have been attacked after such claims Expectedly the perpetrators of this violence are almost never punished emboldening further atrocities Instead the Pakistani state panders to Islamist extremists police frequently refuse to protect those targeted and sometimes even join the frenzy the report detailedIn effect blasphemy laws provide an open license to settle scores with minorities For Pakistans Hindus this means any random rumor or false allegation can lead to their home being burned or a loved one being killed with little hope of justice it addedBeyond blasphemy the report said Hindus in Pakistan are subjected to forced conversion and cultural erasure In 2025 there has been a disturbing trend of Hindu girls and even children being abducted and coerced into converting to IslamIn an outrageous act the report said in June four Hindu youths including three teenage girls were abducted in Pakistans Sindh province and forcibly convertedThe report noted that a local courts acceptance of the claim that the minors had willingly changed their religion underscored how such incidents have become frighteningly commonCiting human rights groups the report revealed abductions and forced marriages of underage Hindu girls especially in Sindh and Punjab continue unabated with Pakistani authorities turning a blind eyeThese crimes tear families apart and terrorise the community Meanwhile the physical heritage of Hindus is crumbling Decades of neglect and vandalism have left most Hindu temples in terrible condition A judicial inquiry revealed that out of 365 Hindu temples in Pakistan only 13 are actively maintained by the government while an astonishing 287 have been effectively abandoned to decay or illegal occupation Extremists know they can desecrate or even demolish Hindu shrines with impunity the report emphasisedIt further stressed that Sindhi people a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in southeastern Pakistan endure a parallel nightmare of oppressionUnder the hardline watch of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Pakistans army chief since late 2022 these trends have only worsened Munir a selfprofessed Islamist openly subscribes to an extreme ideology that vilifies Hindus and other nonMuslims His tenure has coincided with a rising tide of hypernationalism and intolerance emboldening extremists and further imperiling minorities the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hindus-hardest-hit-amid-misuse-of-blasphemy-laws-in-pakistan-report-640034.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-e3-to-hold-talks-in-new-york-next-week-639847.html Tehran Sep 22 Iran and the three European countries of France Britain and Germany collectively known as the E3 will hold talks on Tehrans nuclear issue in New York early next week the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported The negotiations will be held on Monday or Tuesday at the level of the foreign ministers and will be attended by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas Tasnim quoted an informed source as sayingIrans Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday left Tehran for New York as the head of a diplomatic delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly UNGAHe is also scheduled to hold consultations with his counterparts from different countries on bilateral regional and international issues on the sidelines of the UNGA session according to a statement from the foreign ministryThe new round of talks between Iran and the E3 came as the UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would extend sanctions relief for Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA between Tehran and world powers Xinhua news agency reportedLast month the E3 triggered the JCPOAs snapback mechanism which allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is judged in breach of the accord The sanctions are expected to take effect later this monthIrans Supreme National Security Council announced on Saturday that the countrys cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency would be effectively suspended following the Security Councils voteThe JCPOA has been under strain since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 prompting Iran to gradually reduce complianceSince September last year Iran has held several rounds of talks with the three European states mainly focused on Tehrans nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iran-e3-to-hold-talks-in-new-york-next-week-639847.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/palestine-overshadows-unga-session-of-world-leaders-639849.html United Nations Sept 22 Palestine is overshadowing the General Assemblys annual highlevel week when presidents prime ministers and potentates parade across the halls green marble podium setting forth their worldview While the Ukraine War and conflicts rage around the world and the UN which is at the 80th year milestone itself faces challenges of near crisis proportions the issue of Palestine takes centre stage with a summit on its statehood on Monday ahead of the highlevel meeting that starts on TuesdayBritain a permanent member of the Security Council and other Western countries announced they were recognising Palestines statehood on Sunday ahead of the summitAnother permanent Council member France which is convening the meeting with Saudi Arabia has said it will announce its recognition on Monday joining the 152 of the 193 UN members who have done so including IndiaBut Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wont be thereThe US refused to give him a visa to visit New York for the summit and the Assembly on Friday voted to allow him to speak through a remote video linkThe US and Israel joined by three other countries voted against it while 145 countries voted for it and six abstainedThat tally shows the tide of support for Palestine which is facing an existential threat from Israels onslaught on Gaza where about 75000 people most of them civilians have been killed and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus announcement that the country will expand Jewish settlement on the West BankThe overwhelming backing for Palestines recognition may create the image of the UN acting on a longfestering issue but it will remain only symbolic because the US will veto its membership and Netanyahu remains unmovedBelow the headlinegrabbing event are other pressing issues including the future of the UN which is facing a financial crisis with US President Donald Trump threatening to cut financial contributions and a growing disillusionment with the deeply polarised UN a recent poll showed only 58 per cent of those surveyed globally trusted itSecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres had made grand plans for the world leaders to take up his UN80 initiative with a presentation Shifting Paradigms United to Deliver which proposes streamlining the work of the UN making it more efficient and also financially viable by consolidating its functions around three core areas peace and security sustainable development and human rightsReflecting it the highlevel sessions theme this year is Better together 80 years and more for peace development and human rights but key global leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China wont be thereBy tradition Brazil is the first speaker when the regular highlevel session starts and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva barely made it because of US visa restrictions that snared some in his delegation in a web of global polarisationAll eyes will be on Trump who will follow him also by traditionThe US President has upended the global scenario with his trade wars and his power play and the world will be looking closely at his speech for clues to where he may be headedBeyond the Assembly hall where squabbles and enmity but also hopes of nations and humanity and offers of cooperation will be heard real diplomacy will happen at bilateral and multilateral meetingsThese will have added urgency as nations try to figure out how to navigate the Trump eraExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who will represent India at the highlevel session started off his round of diplomacy on Sunday meeting the Philippines Foreign Secretary Theresa LazaroAfter the meeting she posted on X that their meeting reaffirms our 2 countries commitment as Strategic Partners to actively develop cooperation in political defence and security the maritime domain etcArul Louis can be contacted at arulliansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/palestine-overshadows-unga-session-of-world-leaders-639849.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-marco-rubio-to-meet-today-amid-h-1b-visa-fee-hike-concerns-639852.html New York Sep 22 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA session officials confirmed They said the discussion will serve as a continuation of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and bridge the differences that have emerged between the two countries in recent monthsThis marks the third inperson meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio this year Their last interaction took place on July 1 during the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in WashingtonPrior to that Jaishankar had met Rubio in January just days after the latter assumed office also on the sidelines of a Quad meeting in WashingtonMondays dialogue is the first facetoface engagement between the two leaders since relations between New Delhi and Washington came under strain over trade tariffs and Indias purchase of Russian oilThe tensions escalated after the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods which came into effect on August 27The meeting also coincides with a visit by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal who is leading a delegation to hold trade negotiations with WashingtonJaishankars meeting with his American counterpart is expected to be crucial particularly in the backdrop of the Trump administrations recent decision to hike the H1B visa feeThe proclamation signed by Trump has raised the application fee for H1B visas to 100000 triggering chaos across the tech industry and creating uncertainty among employees who rely on the visa programHowever in an exclusive response to IANS the White House on Saturday said that it is a onetime fee that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holdersThis is a onetime fee that applies only to the petition It only applies to new visas not renewals or current visa holders It will first apply in the upcoming lottery cycle a White House official told IANSThe White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted on X saying that those who already hold H1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will not be charged 100000 to reenter H1B visa holders can leave and reenter the country she wrote IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-marco-rubio-to-meet-today-amid-h-1b-visa-fee-hike-concerns-639852.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-urges-peace-end-of-conflict-in-international-peace-day-message-639859.html United Nations Sep 22 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres on Sunday called on the international community to silence the guns end the suffering build bridges and create stability and prosperity in a message on the International Day of Peace observed annually on September 21 Peace cannot wait as the warring world is crying out for peace said the UN chief This years International Day of Peace urges each of us to give voice to that call he saidAround the world lives are being ripped apart childhoods extinguished and basic human dignity discarded amidst the cruelty and degradations of war Guterres saidWe are seeing an explosion of conflict International law flouted And record numbers of people fleeing their homes he saidAll they want is peace Peace is everyones business said the top UN official adding that the impacts of war ripple around the world Xinhua news agency reportedGuterres pointed out that while sustainable development supports peace nine of the 10 countries struggling most with development are suffering conflictHe urged the international community to quell the racism dehumanisation and misinformation that throw fuel on the fires of conflictInstead we must speak the language of respect open our hearts to others he emphasised Where we have peace we have hope families unite communities rebuild children learn and play said the UN chiefThe International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly Two decades later in 2001 the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of nonviolence and ceasefireThe theme for this year is Act Now for a Peaceful World IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-urges-peace-end-of-conflict-in-international-peace-day-message-639859.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-south-china-cities-to-suspend-school-production-in-response-to-approaching-typhoon-639894.html Guangzhou Sep 22 Guangdong Province in south China on Monday raised its wind emergency response to Level II with two cities announcing a series of suspension measures as Typhoon Ragasa approaches The Level II response the secondhighest in Chinas fourtier warning system was activated at 10 am on MondaySchools will suspend classes starting Tuesday in the cities of Zhuhai and Jiangmen while work production public transport and business operations will also be suspended later on Tuesday according to the local flood drought and wind control headquartersAll passenger ferry services to the Chuanshan Islands in Jiangmen will be suspended starting Tuesday as the wind speed may reach about 20 metres per second in the nearby sea area Xinhua news agency reportedAs of 10 am Monday the maritime safety administration of the province had relocated over 10000 coastal vessels across the province to safe waters for shelterTyphoon Ragasa the 18th typhoon of 2025 is forecast to likely make landfall along the central or western coastal areas of Guangdong on Wednesday as a strong or super strong typhoon and severely affect the province from Tuesday to Thursday the provincial meteorological observatory saidEarlier on September 21 Typhoon Ragasa had intensified into a super typhoon packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour the Philippine weather bureau had saidIn its bulletin the bureau had said Ragasa was located 535 km east of Tuguegarao City in northern Luzon moving westnorthwest at 15 km per hour It may pass close or make landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan IslandsThe bureau had warned that Ragasa could bring heavy rains and strong winds potentially triggering the highest tropical cyclone wind signalIt further warned There is a high risk of lifethreatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 metres within the next 48 hours over lowlying or exposed coastal villages of the provinces of Batanes Cagayan Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-south-china-cities-to-suspend-school-production-in-response-to-approaching-typhoon-639894.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-ldp-leadership-race-kicks-off-with-5-candidates-639900.html Tokyo Sep 22 Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party LDP officially launched its leadership election campaign on Monday with five candidates filing their candidacies The contenders are Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi former Economic Security Ministers Takayuki Kobayashi and Sanae Takaichi Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and former LDP SecretaryGeneral Toshimitsu MotegiAll five also ran in last years election which saw a record nine candidates reports Xinhua news agencyThe contest will focus on issues such as cooperation with opposition parties economic measures to tackle rising prices and rebuilding the party after successive election defeats and political funding scandalsCandidacy registration began at 10 am local time at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo where each candidates representative submitted the required list of 20 recommending lawmakersThe candidates will deliver their speeches on Monday afternoon at party headquarters marking the official start of fullscale debateThis year over 910000 party members will take part in voting the national broadcaster NHK reportedA total of 590 ballots will be cast split evenly between Diet member votes 295 and party member votes 295 Ballots from party members will be finalised the day before lawmakers vote on October 4 after which both sets will be counted together to decide the new party leaderJapanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced earlier this month that he will step down as the LDP head triggering an early leadership contest within the partyOnce a new LDP president is chosen the parliament will hold a prime ministerial designation voteEven though the ruling bloc has failed to secure a majority in both chambers of the parliament the new LDP leader is highly likely to become the countrys next prime minister since the LDP remains the largest party analysts said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-ldp-leadership-race-kicks-off-with-5-candidates-639900.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-h-1b-visa-fee-unlikely-to-dent-it-companies-margins-significantly-report-639903.html New Delhi Sep 22 The US governments order which restricts entry for H1B visa petitioners unless they pay a onetime fee of 100000 is unlikely to significantly impact large and midcap IT services firms in India a report said on Monday The restrictions can be addressed through increased local hiring subcontracting or offshoring a report from fund management firm Equirus saidThe restriction unless extended will remain effective for 12 months from September 21 2025 unless renewed and applies solely to new visa applicantsEquirus estimated that the fee would lower the operating profit margins of largecap IT companies by only 7 to 14 basis points if it only applies to new H1Bs and by 26 to 49 basis points if it includes new and existing visa holders outside the USMidcap firms would experience impacts ranging from 21 to 39 basis points for new applicants and 60 to 109 basis points if applied to new and existing visa holders outside the USAnalysts said that the Indian IT vendors have reduced their onsite H1B workforce over the past six to eight years Such visas form around 2535 per cent for most of the large caps and 3060 per cent for most of the others in our view the report saidRestrictionrelated payment of 01 million is in many cases higher than the salary of the H1B visa holders paid by many Indian IT vendorsHence we believe common sense will prevail in replacing those affected applicants by doing incremental hiring of locals or green card holders or subcontractors and doing offshoring the report saidHowever the fund management firm maintained that sales growth may decelerate slightly in the latter half of fiscal 2026 as the required pivoting needs proper planning or client approvalsApproximately 71 per cent of H1B visa holders are from India primarily working for technology companies including Infosys Wipro Cognisant and Tata Consultancy Services IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-h-1b-visa-fee-unlikely-to-dent-it-companies-margins-significantly-report-639903.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cpec-landed-pakistan-in-95-billion-debt-trap-639909.html New Delhi Sep 22 The ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC which Islamabad had envisaged as an economic gamechanger is actually turning out to be a costly venture as it has failed to achieve its targets and instead landed Pakistan in a 95 billion debt trap The initiative promised to give muchneeded economic impetus to Pakistan but quickly entered uncharted waters and became mired in countless controversiesThus CPEC has very few outcomes to showcase This delay has cost Pakistan dearly The overdue energy and infrastructure projects cost overruns and accusations of opaque contracts have cost the initiative its viability according to an article in The Diplomat news magazineAccording to economist Ali Hasanain an Associate Professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences CPECs original sin was that a large number of its projects relied on foreign currencies which ultimately clashed with Pakistans domesticoriented exchange rate and industrial policies narrowing the fiscal space for IslamabadCurrently Pakistan owes more than 75 billion for setting up power plants and additional nearly 2 billion to Chinese energy producers in circular debt or unpaid bills the article statesDue to the delay in CPEC 20 Pakistan has been unable to establish the industrial base needed to transform into an exportdriven economy and pay off its debts Consequently Pakistan had to seek more loans to pay past loans resulting in a prolonged debt crisisThe article points out that one of the main challenges to CPEC has been the political infighting in Pakistan In 2015 when Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PMLN was in power it considered itself the chief architect of the initiative However the Opposition Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI accused the PMLN of corruption and inflating the cost of projectsIn 2018 the tables turned and the PTI came into the government It attempted to reduce Pakistans financial risk by asking the Chinese side to review all the contracts as the new government feared they were badly negotiated either overly expensive or on terms excessively favouring China However Beijing was prepared to review only those projects that had not been startedIn 2019 the PTI government engaged the International Monetary Fund IMF for a financial bailout to solve the Balance of Payment BOP crisis For this bailout Pakistan had to share details of CPEC with the IMF Pakistan also had to agree with IMF conditions like fiscal consolidation that in practice required slowing down the CPEC which ultimately angered the Chinese the article statesEthnic and provincial tension also had a fair share in slowing down CPEC These ethnic tensions also translated into security challenges with the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA in Balochistan and the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mounting armed attacks against these projectsFrom 2021 until late 2024 for instance there were 14 attacks on the CPEC killing 20 Chinese citizens and injuring 34Most of these attacks were claimed by the BLA Similarly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the TTP is also targeting Chinese interests Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan the TTP has rapidly increased the number of attacks in Pakistan the article points out IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cpec-landed-pakistan-in-95-billion-debt-trap-639909.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/piyush-goyal-in-washington-for-india-us-trade-talks-639941.html Washington Sep 22 Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal was in Washington on Monday to move ahead with the trade talks with a view to achieving an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial IndiaUS Bilateral Trade Agreement Goyals trip to the US capital follows the visit of the US team of officials to Delhi on September 16 The Commerce Ministry said that during the visit of the team of officials from the office of the United States Trade Representative to India positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regardOn September 16 a US delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch met Indian trade officials headed by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in New Delhi amid the thaw in relations following President Donald Trumps conciliatory postureLynchs visit came against the backdrop of heightened expectations of a trade deal following positive messages by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after days of a bitter stalemateTrump said on a Truth Social post on September 9 that talks were continuing and I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great CountriesCalling PM Modi a great friend he said he would be talking to himPM Modi responded to Trumps post saying I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the IndiaUS partnership He added that he was looking forward to talking with TrumpHowever it is not clear as yet to what extent the US announcement of a 100000 fee on H1B visas which will adversely impact Indian IT engineers working in the US will influence the trade talks The 25 per cent penal tariff imposed on India over Russian oil imports is another issue that has been posing problemsUS Ambassador to Indianominee Sergio Gor told a Senate panel considering his nomination last week that Indias Commerce Minister was expected in Washington and would meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/piyush-goyal-in-washington-for-india-us-trade-talks-639941.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/internet-restored-in-afghanistans-kandahar-639943.html Kabul Sep 22 After nearly one week of internet deactivation authorities have restored internet for some government departments in Afghanistans southern Kandahar province provincial director for communication Mullah Noorullah Nuri said Monday Pointtopoint internet has been restored for some government offices including banks customs and the Directorate for National ID Cards to enable them to run their daily work smoothly the official saidLast Wednesday local media reported that fibre optic services had been suspended in several provinces including the northern Balkh Baghlan Takhar Kunduz and the southern Kandahar on the grounds of checking immoral activitiesMeanwhile in another development the construction of 18 school buildings has been completed and put into use in eastern Afghanistans Paktia province providing enhanced educational facilities for local communities the countrys Ministry of Economy announced MondayFunded by the Asia Community Development Organisation at a cost of nearly 196 million afghani over 29 million US dollars the projects have been implemented in Gardez the provincial capital and surrounding districts according to the ministryThe Ministry of Education has also ramped up access initiatives establishing 472 communitybased classes in neighbouring Logar province on Saturday to educate nearly 17000 previously deprived children at the primary level reports Xinhua news agencyAdditionally the Afghan government also continues to encourage domestic and foreign investments to combat poverty create job opportunities and bolster economic independenceLast week Abdul Nasir Reshtia the chairman of the ironsmelting union announced that a total of 45 major ironsmelting plants are operational in Afghanistan with over 500 million US dollars invested in the sector achieving full selfsufficiencyHe highlighted the industrys growth noting that nearly 20000 Afghans are directly employed with another 50000 benefiting indirectly through related jobsOver the past year the country exported 210000 tons of iron to Turkmenistan and Pakistan underscoring its emerging role in regional trade Reshtia had notedAccording to the official report around 6000 industrial factories are active nationwide driving Afghanistan to full selfsufficiency in 130 sectors and partial selfsufficiency in another 100 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/internet-restored-in-afghanistans-kandahar-639943.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-engineers-develop-reusable-building-material-with-quarter-carbon-footprint-639945.html Sydney Sep 22 Engineers in Australia have developed a new reusable and recyclable building material made from cardboard soil and water that has approximately onequarter of the carbon footprint of concrete This innovative material called cardboardconfined rammed earth could significantly cut the carbon footprint of construction while reducing waste going to landfill according to a statement released Monday by Australias Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMITThe material which eliminates the need for cement produces about one quarter of the emissions of concrete while costing less than a third as much the statement saidBy simply using cardboard soil and water we can make walls robust enough to support lowrise buildings said RMIT researcher Ma Jiaming lead author of the study published in the British journal StructuresIn a separate study Ma combined carbon fibre with rammed earth achieving strength comparable to highperformance concreteMa said this innovation could revolutionise building design and construction by using locally sourced recyclable materials and reflects the global revival of earthbased construction driven by netzero goals and a focus on sustainability reports Xinhua news agencyEspecially suited to hot climates rammed earth buildings naturally regulate indoor temperatures and humidity he saidThe method involves compacting a soilandwater mixture inside cardboard formwork that can be made onsite reducing the need to transport heavy construction materials the researchers saidAustralia sends more than 22 million tonnes of cardboard and paper to landfill each year while cement and concrete production account for about 8 per cent of annual global emissionsThe RMIT team said the innovation could benefit remote construction in regions with abundant red soils and is seeking partnerships with industry IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-engineers-develop-reusable-building-material-with-quarter-carbon-footprint-639945.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/sri-lankan-police-seize-truck-carrying-200-kilos-of-methamphetamine-heroin-639948.html Colombo Sep 22 Sri Lankan police on Monday seized a truck transporting about 200 kilos of crystal methamphetamine ICE and heroin said a police spokesman Police spokesman FU Wootler told the media that the vehicle was taken into custody in Tangalle in Sri Lankas Southern province with the drugs being hidden among a load of watermelonsIn recent weeks large quantities of drugs and raw materials used to make drugs have been detected in the province reports Xinhua news agencyIn a separate incident in Tangalle on Monday police recovered more than 10 kilos of a substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine from a truck parked near a houseEarlier this month a stockpile of nearly 50000 kg of raw materials suspected to be used in the production of crystal methamphetamine was recovered in Middeniya in southern Sri LankaThis comes just days after Sri Lankan police announced that they have seized nearly a metric tonne of heroin and 13 tonnes of cannabis during raids carried out so far in 2025Police Media spokesperson FU Wootler addressing a press conference in Colombo said 955 kg of heroin 1422 kg of crystal methamphetamine 471 kg of hashish 29 kg of cocaine and 13773 kg of cannabis had been confiscated Police have also seized 35 million narcotic pills he saidDuring these operations 1721 firearms were also seized he saidWootler added that 328 suspects have been arrested in connection with shooting incidents These include 38 gunmen 27 getaway riders and 263 accused of aiding and abetting these crimesHe added that since January 12 police have conducted daily special operations and searched a total of 5101516 individuals arresting 104602 suspects according to the police spokesperson IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/sri-lankan-police-seize-truck-carrying-200-kilos-of-methamphetamine-heroin-639948.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-dead-many-arrested-in-violent-rallies-in-philippines-639986.html Manila Sep 22 A total of 216 individuals were arrested during anticorruption protests on Sunday Philippine Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Monday Of those detained 127 were adults and 89 were minors said Remulla at a press briefing adding that the suspects have been detained at the Manila Police DistrictThe Department of Health said that at least one person died during the clashOn Sunday tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets in Manila and other parts of the country to voice their outrage over widespread corruption Xinhua news agency reportedIn July Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos first spoke about the corruption scandal in flood control projects during his State of the Nation AddressLast week the Philippine House of Representatives elected Deputy Speaker Faustino Dy as its new speaker following the resignation of Martin Romualdez over a corruption scandal involving infrastructure projects The House leadership change came just days after the Senate replaced Francis Escudero with Vicente Sotto as Senate presidentMeanwhile two suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in Capiz province in the central Philippines the Philippine military said SundayThe military said soldiers engaged seven alleged members of the New Peoples Army NPA during a combat operation in Tapaz town at around 745 am local time on Saturday Two insurgents were killed while no government soldiers were reported hurtGovernment troops recovered three rifles and several explosives and ammunition at the scene the military addedNPA rebels have been fighting government troops since 1969 Military data showed that the NPAs personnel strength has declined since its peak of around 25000 armed members in the 1980sDespite its dwindling fighters the NPA continues to launch smallscale attacks in the countryside IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-dead-many-arrested-in-violent-rallies-in-philippines-639986.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-officials-rebuke-trumps-bagram-demands-vow-defence-of-sovereignty-639745.html Kabul Sep 21 Afghan officials have sharply rejected US threats to reclaim Bagram Air Base emphasising that any attempt to reestablish a foreign military presence would be met with unyielding resistance Mullah Tajmir Jawad first deputy of the General Directorate of Intelligence responded to calls for the US to retake the strategic airfield by saying the Afghan government would preserve the current systemEchoing this resolve Afghan Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid told the media Our answer is if you dont leave and want bases we are ready to fight you for another 20 yearsZakir Jalaly political director of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the notion of a US return stating that Afghans have never accepted foreign troops on their territory and that any dialogue with Washington must exclude military reoccupation reports Xinhua news agencyThis comes as Trump issued a stern warning to Afghanistan on Saturday US time demanding the return of the Bagram air base to the United StatesPosting on his social media platform Truth Social Trump wrote If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it the United States of America bad things are going to happenTrump earlier reiterated that Washington has been pushing to regain control of the base which was a key operational hub for American forces following the September 11 2001 attacksAddressing reporters on Friday he confirmed that discussions with Afghanistan on the matter were underwayThe Bagram air base once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban after the withdrawal of American forces in 2021Trump who has been criticising his predecessor Joe Biden over giving up Bagram airbase during the US withdrawal in August 2021 told reporters in London on Thursday that We want to retake itThe Bagram airbase 50 km north of Kabul had served as the main military base of US troops in Afghanistan during the 20year military presence of USled military coalition forces which ended in August 2021 and paved the way for the collapse of the westernbacked forces and takeover of power by the current Afghan regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-officials-rebuke-trumps-bagram-demands-vow-defence-of-sovereignty-639745.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodia-begins-to-celebrate-traditional-pchum-ben-festival-639750.html Phnom Penh Sep 21 Cambodia on Sunday began to celebrate the threeday traditional Pchum Ben festival or Ancestors Day In a special video message Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Pchum Ben festival is a Cambodian tradition that has been observed annually since ancient times Xinhua news agency reportedIt is an occasion that the Cambodian people are engaged in almsgiving and merit making in order to dedicate to their relatives and loved ones who had passed away he said It is also a joyful occasion for family reunionsPchum Ben festival is the secondbiggest celebration for Cambodian people after the Lunar New YearDuring the celebrations the Cambodian Buddhists go to pagodas and make offerings to monks in order to dedicate to their deceased relatives and loved onesThey believe that everything they offer to the monks will reach their dead ancestors or relatives and in return the dead will bless them with good luckBuddhists account for approximately 95 per cent of the kingdoms population of 17 million according to the Ministry of Cults and ReligionsDuring the holiday hundreds of thousands of migrant workers leave the capital Phnom Penh for their hometowns in various provinces across the Southeast Asian countryHun Manet said on the occasion that the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority has arranged 597 buses to transport people to and from their hometowns for free of charge from September 20 to September 25The free bus services aim to facilitate peoples travel and help reduce travel costs for them he saidCambodia had also provided free bus service to transport people to their hometowns for the Pchum Ben festival or the Ancestors Day in 2024 which was celebrated from October 1 to 3At the time Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Khuong Sreng had said that on the advice of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet a total of 653 buses had been arranged to give free rides to anyone traveling from the capital Phnom Penh to their hometowns and vice versa IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodia-begins-to-celebrate-traditional-pchum-ben-festival-639750.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/seven-dead-after-boat-capsizes-on-ugandas-lake-kyoga-639753.html Kampala Sep 21 Seven people drowned and 29 others survived after a boat carrying mourners capsized on Lake Kyoga in northern Ugandas Amolatar District police said The wooden vessel was traveling from Muchora Abino A village to escort a catechist to a burial ceremony when it overturned near Kiryanga Village in Acii SubCounty at about 1100 am local time on Friday police said in a statement on Saturday Xinhua news agency reportedA total of 36 people were on board and 29 survived the accident The incident happened approximately 400 meters from the Kiryanga landing site when the engine boat hit a stationary tree stump causing it to capsize the statement saidPolice said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Amolatar Health Centre IV mortuary for postmortem examinationsBoat accidents are common on Ugandas lakes often blamed on overloading and poor weather conditionsA similar incident occured in Nigeria last month which claimed the lives of 60 peopleAt least 60 people were killed and dozens rescued after a boat capsized in Nigerias northcentral Niger State on September 3Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris on behalf of the Nigerian government expressed sadness with a heavy heart over the tragedy in a statement released on social media platform X the first by any top government official since the accident on Tuesday when a wooden passenger boat carrying people on a condolence visit overturned in the Gausawa community of Borgu Local Government AreaIdris noted that the incident occurred barely four months after devastating floods wreaked havoc in the state The federal government through the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA will provide the necessary support to the victims families and survivors working closely with the Niger State government to ensure prompt relief and assistanceThe boat was reportedly overloaded and collided with a tree stump according to preliminary investigations by local authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/seven-dead-after-boat-capsizes-on-ugandas-lake-kyoga-639753.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/families-forced-to-disown-militant-kin-in-balochistan-rights-body-calls-it-state-persecution-639757.html Quetta Sep 21 A human rights body has strongly condemned the recent directive from the Balochistan government that compelled families to submit sworn affidavits disowning relatives accused of militancy under threat of criminal prosecution confiscation of property and withdrawal of state benefits This order constitutes collective punishment in direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law By seeking to criminalise entire families for the alleged actions of individuals the state is not only violating the principles of individual responsibility and due process but is also engaging in a policy that bears the hallmarks of a crime against humanity read a statement issued by the Human Rights Council of Balochistan HRCBAccording to the HRCB the directive is particularly abhorrent in how it treats the families of victims of enforced disappearanceThe rights body asserted that forcing families to report to Pakistans Army and Frontier Corps the very institutions credibly accused of carrying out enforced disappearances across Balochistan constitutes an act of deliberate humiliation coercion and psychological tortureSuch measures the HRCB said further entrench impunity for grave violations while shifting the burden of responsibility from the Pakistani authorities to the victims themselvesThe rights body urged the international community the United Nations human rights mechanisms and legal experts to unequivocally denounce this draconian and unlawful policyIt is imperative that this measure be recognised for what it is a blatant violation of Pakistans obligations under international law including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR and the Convention Against Torture CAT the HRCB statedThe rights body also emphasised that rather than persecuting families and institutionalising collective punishment the Pakistani Government must be held accountable for ending enforced disappearances ensuring due process and upholding the rule of law in BalochistanAnything less perpetuates a cycle of repression that may amount to statesanctioned persecution of an entire population the HRCB addedPeople from Balochistan are currently fighting for their independence from PakistanVarious human rights organisations of Balochistan have time and again highlighted the repression by Pakistani forces in the province which includes violent raids on the homes of Baloch leaders and civilians unlawful arrests enforced disappearances the kill and dump policy detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and the filing of fabricated police cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/families-forced-to-disown-militant-kin-in-balochistan-rights-body-calls-it-state-persecution-639757.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Kabul Sep 21 Several people in Kabul have complained about reduced internet speed and the challenges caused by this after fibre optic services stopped working in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Kabul residents said that the reduction in internet speed affected their work Wajid an employee at a pharmaceutical company in the capital city said 90 per cent of his work relies on the internet However the drop in internet service speed has caused difficulties for him Afghanistanbased Tolo News reportedWe need fast internet because sometimes when we send a location it doesnt go through or get delivered This creates a lot of problems for us in the office he saidSeveral other residents in Kabul said that disruptions in internet service have negatively affected their online education program personal and worklinked communicationShams questioned how they can progress in marketing if internet access is better He said If we have highspeed internet we can progress in marketing and in areas where internet access is better and we can help our country move forwardAnother resident Saleem Rahini said Since our lessons were progressing through the internet slides WhatsApp and YouTube now with the internet weakening our access to these resources has decreased significantlyResidents of Kabul raised complaints after fibre optic services were suspended in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Balkh Kandahar Herat Helmand Nangarhar Laghman Badakhshan Takhar Kunduz and Baghlan over the past week Tolo News reportedFibre optic internet was suspended in over 10 provinces of Afghanistan after the Talibans order Abdul Hadi Qane a social activist in Herat stated We expect that no restrictions will be imposed on internet access If any programs are to be implemented in this regard they should be designed in a way that minimises harm to the publicResidents of Balkh province said that internet disruption has negatively affected their business educational and social activities One resident of Balkh said Cutting off home internet can have serious negative impacts on all aspects of life A major portion of public services such as the issuance of ID cards passports and the banking system depends on the internet IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-bnp-accuses-jamaat-of-trying-to-create-state-within-state-639805.html Dhaka Sep 21 The Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP on Sunday accused radical Islamist party JamaateIslami of attempting to establish state within the state through its actions in the countrys political landscape and universities media reported Has the Dhaka University Central Students Union Vice President been given magistracy power to decide which shop on the campus is legal or illegal He fined a shop Tk Bangladeshi taka 3000 and then deposited the money into Baitul Mal the partys fund What is the legal basis for this Dhaka Tribune quoted the BNP senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as saying during a discussion at the Jatiya Press ClubThe BNP leader said that in any university it is the administrations duty to monitor who operates shops or markets within the campus and student leaders can raise an alarm if the peaceful and orderly environment of the campus is disruptedInstead you are imposing fines and that money is going into Jamaats party fund This is a very serious matter We have always seen that their activities are creating a state within the state and we are now observing such an environment the BNP leader addedRizvi also criticised Jamaats student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir for supplying iron beds to university halls questioning whether such responsibility should lie with a political party or the student unionIf students have demands they should bargain or negotiate with the vicechancellor If there is a shortage of accommodation beds or other facilities it is the administrations duty to address it the BNP leader saidThis is very strange It undermines the legal foundation of the state and goes against the proper functioning of the university Are you running an orphanage that you provide iron beds Will you also provide dining tables for food These kinds of actions are a very bad sign in our view he addedHe lamented that media outlets fail to highlight the misdeeds of Jamaat leaders and activists while allegations against the BNP are widely reportedRizvi also claimed that the media and social media often accuse BNP of extortion sand lifting or stone theft while it never reports Jamaat leaders involvement in offences including cases of sexual harassment or abuse of womenThe parties that earlier collaborated with countrys interim chief advisor Muhammad Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League led by former PM Sheikh Hasina are now at loggerheads IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-bnp-accuses-jamaat-of-trying-to-create-state-within-state-639805.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-12-people-die-of-dengue-raises-death-toll-in-2025-to-179-639818.html Dhaka Sep 21 As many as 12 people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh on Sunday taking the total number of fatalities in the country since January 2025 to 179 media reported citing Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Health officials said that 740 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the same period raising the number of confirmed cases in 2025 to 48831 As many as 2021 patients are being treated in hospitals across Bangladesh United News of Bangladesh reportedThe fatalities due to dengue were reported in various regions of Bangladesh five in Barishal division three in Dhaka North City two in Dhaka South City Corporation and one each in Chattogram and Mymensingh divisionsFresh cases of dengue were reported in Barishal 165 Dhaka outside city 147 Dhaka North 122 Dhaka South 115 Chattogram 77 Khulna 52 Rajshahi 28 Mymensingh 22 Sylhet 9 and Rangpur 3Public health experts warned that crisis is deteriorating faster than 2024 As many as 575 people were killed in Bangladesh in 2024 They demanded quick action on mosquito control and better preparedness in hospitals as cases continue to increaseEarlier on September 16 the DGHS announced new instructions for public hospitals to ensure treatment of dengue patients According to the guidelines all hospitals in Bangladesh must establish dedicated wards for dengue treatment and set up a specialised medical team The DGHS believes that this decision will help improve patient care lower risks and better the quality of hospital services local media reportedDGHS Director Hospitals and Clinics Abu Hossain Md Mainul Ahsan issued the directive on Tuesday The DGHS said hospitals must ensure special arrangements for dengue patients undergoing treatmentThe hospitals have been asked to ensure facilities for NS1 tests emergency care and sufficient medicines for patients the Dhaka Tribune reportedPatients undergoing treatment for dengue in hospitals should be kept in a designated ward or room and ICU support must be prioritised when required Furthermore doctors and nurses have been given special responsibilitiesThe directive called for a creation of a board comprising medicine pediatrics and other specialist physicians for the treatment of dengue and chikungunya patients Under the supervision of this board trained doctors medical officers and residents will provide care to dengue and chikungunya patientsAccording to the directive the same board and doctors must provide treatment to suspected patients who come to outpatient departments in hospitals It also ordered hospital directors to send letters to city corporations or municipalities to conduct mosquito eradication and cleanliness drives around hospital premises In addition a dengue coordination meeting must be held at hospitals chaired by the director superintendent and civil surgeon on every Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-12-people-die-of-dengue-raises-death-toll-in-2025-to-179-639818.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-south-korean-president-yoon-files-for-bail-amid-insurrection-trial-639826.html Seoul Sep 21 South Koreas impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has requested to be released on bail citing the need to prepare his defence and health concerns according to legal sources on Sunday The application was filed on Friday with the Seoul Central District Court which is handling charges against him for obstruction of duties and abuse of authority A date for the bail hearing has not yet been set Yonhap News Agency reportedYoon has been in custody since July and is on trial for allegedly leading an insurrection and abusing his power in connection with a shortlived martial law declaration in DecemberOn September 20 a special counsel team notified Yoon to appear for questioning next week over allegations linked to his failed martial law bidSpecial counsel Cho Eunsuks team said it issued the summons to Yoon to appear for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office on WednesdayThe team is expected to question Yoon on charges of whether he incited foreign aggression by ordering a drone dispatch to Pyongyang in October ahead of his shortlived declaration of martial law in DecemberIt would be the first time investigators attempt to question him over the allegation of inciting foreign aggressionThe team suspects Yoon of giving direct orders to the Drone Operations Command to dispatch drones to Pyongyang in an attempt to provoke North Korean military responses and allegedly create a pretext for the imposition of martial lawFormer drone command chief Major General Kim Yongdae Joint Chiefs of Staff JCS former Chairman Adm Kim Myungsoo and JCS operations chief Lt Gen Lee Seungoh have already been questioned over the allegationsThe commanders have denied any link between the drone dispatch and Yoons martial law arguing the operations were part of response measures to the Norths balloon campaigns against the SouthHowever it remains unclear whether Yoon would appear as he has refused to cooperate with the special counsels probe and attend his insurrection trial since JulyThe team also plans to question former Defence Minister Kim Yonghyun who is currently in custody at the Seoul Eastern Detention Centre on charges of insurrection officials said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/former-south-korean-president-yoon-files-for-bail-amid-insurrection-trial-639826.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 21:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/as-us-restricts-h-1b-trump-gold-card-visa-goes-on-sale-for-1-million-639714.html Washington September 21 As the Trump administration restricts the H1B visas it has released the details of an investmentbased programme called the Trump Gold Card President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that would allow people to obtain a visa for 1 million and corporations for 2 millionCommerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posted the details of the programme on X on Saturday asserting this pathway does not expand immigrationFor 1M individuals can obtain the Trump Gold Card creating jobs and building businesses here in America For 2M corporations can purchase a Corporate Trump Gold Card for one employee The company not the individual owns the card with the option to transfer to another employee for a fee he wroteLutnick added that all applicants under the Gold Card Programme will undergo rigorous DHS vetting and will pay a 15000 processing feeThe Commerce Secretary emphasised that it will replace broken visa categories like the diversity lottery which brings down America instead of attracting the highearning individuals these programs were originally designed to attractAfter signing the Executive Order on Friday Trump said the Gold Card is like a signing bonus for baseball or football playersOne of the biggest problems we have is that people they go to the best schools and they do great and they get great marks and then theyre thrown out of the country Youre not allowed to stay this way So like a signing bonus in baseball or football a corporation will be able to get them to stay in the country the US President addedLutnick claimed that through the programme the US would only take extraordinary people at the very topInstead of people trying to take the jobs from Americans they are going to create businesses and create jobs for Americans And this programme will raise more than 100 billion for the treasury of the United States of America he noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/as-us-restricts-h-1b-trump-gold-card-visa-goes-on-sale-for-1-million-639714.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 06:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-embassy-in-us-issues-emergency-helpline-amid-h-1b-visa-fee-639715.html Washington Sep 21 In a move that has set off alarm bells among Indian professionals United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing an annual fee of 100000 on H1B visa applications Following the announcement the Indian Embassy in Washington on Saturday released an emergency assistance number for Indian nationals in need of immediate supportIndian nationals seeking emergency assistance may call cell number 12025509931 and WhatsApp This number should be used only by Indian nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries the Embassy stated in a post on XThe measure has raised serious concerns regarding its implications on Indian tech professionals and the flow of remittances with nearly 71 per cent of all H1B visas being granted to Indian citizensSeeking to calm nerves a senior official from the US administration clarified that the steep fee would apply only to fresh H1B visa petitions and not to existing holders or those seeking renewalsIn an exclusive response to IANS the White House on Saturday said that it is a onetime fee that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holdersThis is a onetime fee that applies only to the petition It only applies to new visas not renewals or current visa holders It will first apply in the upcoming lottery cycle a White House official told IANSMeanwhile the Indian government has instructed all its Missions and Posts to provide every possible assistance to Indian nationals who are scheduled to return to the United States in the next 24 hoursThe Ministry of External Affairs also took note of the development stating that it is carefully examining the farreaching changes introduced to the H1B visa programme particularly the newly imposed annual feeThe ministry expressed concern that the move could extend beyond financial ramifications and trigger humanitarian challenges for familiesThe Government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned including by Indian industry which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal saidThe spokesperson further cautioned that the step announced by Trump is likely to resonate beyond business circlesThe full implications are being studied by all concerned including the Indian industry and the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-embassy-in-us-issues-emergency-helpline-amid-h-1b-visa-fee-639715.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/saudi-arabia-grants-fresh-economic-support-to-yemen-639718.html Aden Yemen Sep 21 Yemens Presidential Leadership Council PLC has welcomed new Saudi economic support worth 138 billion Saudi riyals about 368 million US dollars to help stabilise the countrys fragile economy and advance local reforms PLC chief Rashad AlAlimi said in a statement posted on social media platform X on Saturday local time that the grant reflects Riyadhs strong commitment to the Yemeni people and their aspirations for stability peace and development noting that part of the funds will cover operating costs of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in AdenYemens Prime Minister Salem bin Buraik also hailed the grant saying it would reinforce the economy and safeguard the progress achieved under government reformsMeanwhile Saudi Arabias foreign ministry said the grant provided through the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen SPDRY will support the Yemeni government budget petroleum subsidies and key public services reports Xinhua news agencyThe new grant comes amid growing frustration in Aden and other southern cities controlled by the Yemeni government where tens of thousands of public employees have gone more than three months without salariesSince the outbreak of civil war in 2014 Yemens economy has collapsed with real GDP per capita plunging by more than half and poverty rates soaring The conflict has split the country between rival administrations devalued the currency and left millions reliant on humanitarian aidAdditionally according to a recent report in Xinhua news agency in Yemens southern port city of Aden and other neighbouring cities frustration is mounting as tens of thousands of employees have been experiencing monthslong salary delaysThe postponement of payments is forcing numerous families of civil servants teachers and healthcare workers to the edge of survival In recent weeks protests over financial uncertainty have spread to Taiz and other governmentcontrolled cities Demonstrators gathered outside government buildings chanting slogans against corruption and demanding immediate payment of wagesSeveral local activists and members of labour unions have called for strikes warning that essential services may grind to a haltThe Yemeni government based in Aden recognises the ongoing crisis and attributes it primarily to a severe liquidity shortage Local officials have reported that revenue collections have declined citing weak performance and the failure of certain agencies to transfer funds to the central bank IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/saudi-arabia-grants-fresh-economic-support-to-yemen-639718.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-keeps-mum-on-outcome-of-key-parliamentary-session-639720.html Seoul Sep 21 North Korea has not as of Sunday disclosed the results of a plenary session of its parliament that was set to take place last week raising views that the event could extend over a longer period than planned The standing committee of the Norths Supreme Peoples Assembly SPA decided to convene the session on September 20 the staterun Korean Central News Agency KCNA reported last monthBut neither the KCNA nor the Rodong Sinmun the Norths main newspaper for its domestic readers had published reports on the meeting as of 7 am on SundayThe delay in the results raises speculations that the SPA session could take place for two days or longer or has been rescheduled to another date reports Yonhap news agency quoting KCNAIn last months report the KCNA said the session will address a grain management act the review and adoption of an intellectual property rights act and the implementation of a city management act without providing further details on the agendaThe meeting had also garnered attention for its possible review of a constitutional revision reflecting the countrys new hostile policy toward South KoreaDuring a parliamentary session in January last year North Korean leader Kim Jongun ordered a constitutional revision to describe South Korea as the primary hostile state and unchanging primary foe though no official report of the revision has been released so farKim Yojong the influential sister of Kim also referred to a constitutional revision earlier this year saying that South Korea should be permanently described as the most hostile threat in national law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-korea-keeps-mum-on-outcome-of-key-parliamentary-session-639720.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-warns-afghanistan-over-bagram-airbase-threatens-consequences-639721.html Washington Sep 21 US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Afghanistan demanding the return of the Bagram air base to the United States Posting on his social media platform Truth Social Trump wrote If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it the United States of America bad things are going to happenTrump earlier reiterated that Washington has been pushing to regain control of the base which was a key operational hub for American forces following the September 11 2001 attacksAddressing reporters on Friday he confirmed that discussions with Afghanistan on the matter were underwayThe Bagram air base once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban after the withdrawal of American forces in 2021Meanwhile the Taliban regime has denounced Trumps remarks on BagramA senior Afghan official on Saturday slammed the US Presidents remarks on recapturing Bagram airbase saying Afghans never accept foreign military presence in their country reported the staterun Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTAAfghans have never accepted foreign military presence in their land throughout history Afghanistan and America need engagement on economic and political relations based on bilateral respect and common interests the stateowned media outlet cited Jalali a senior diplomat with the foreign ministry as saying Xinhua news agency reportedTrump who has been criticising his predecessor Joe Biden over giving up Bagram airbase during the US withdrawal in August 2021 told reporters in London on Thursday that We want to retake itThe Bagram airbase 50 km north of Kabul had served as the main military base of US troops in Afghanistan during the 20year military presence of USled military coalition forces which ended in August 2021 and paved the way for the collapse of the westernbacked forces and takeover of power by the current Afghan regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-warns-afghanistan-over-bagram-airbase-threatens-consequences-639721.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-one-dead-several-injured-in-new-hampshire-mass-shooting-639727.html New Hampshire Sep 21 A shooting at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua New Hampshire left one person dead and several others injured on Saturday local media reported citing officials The country club located near the Massachusetts border was hosting events at the time of the attackNew Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley confirmed during a latenight press conference that some victims suffered gunshot wounds while others sustained injuries amid the chaos However officials did not specify the exact number of those injured according to CNNNo arrests have been made so far but one person of interest has been detained Hinckley saidPolice revealed that surveillance video captured the suspected shooter leading authorities to revise their initial statement that two suspects were involvedThe New Hampshire State Police announced on X that they are assisting with the investigation Nashua police have designated the Sheraton Nashua hotel located just over a mile from the country club as a unification site for affected familiesAuthorities have urged residents to avoid the Sky Meadow area until further noticeLawmakers expressed concern over the incident extending their prayers to victims and familiesBilly and I are praying for those injured wrote Sen Jeanne Shaheen adding There is no place in our state for this type of senseless violenceRep Maggie Goodlander also offered her condolences and said My heart is with the victims their families and the entire Nashua community as we await more informationSimilarly Sen Maggie Hassan also issued a statement saying Heart goes out to the families of those impacted while adding that she was grateful for the work of the law enforcement officers and first responders at the sceneAccording to its website Sky Meadow Country Club is a private facility that offers a golf course and serves as a venue for weddings and other large gatherings Officials confirmed that a wedding was being held at the time of the shootingNashua situated just 45 minutes from Boston has been left shaken as authorities continue their investigation into the deadly violence at the popular venue IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-one-dead-several-injured-in-new-hampshire-mass-shooting-639727.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/only-4-5-per-cent-of-sexual-crime-suspects-formally-arrested-each-year-in-south-korea-data-639734.html Seoul Sep 21 Around 30000 people in South Korea have been booked for sexual crimes each year for the past five years but only a handful of them have led to formal arrests data showed on Sunday Between 2020 and last year 28000 to 35000 cases of sexual crimes which involved the suspect being booked had been reported each year according to National Police Agency data received by Rep Chung Choonsaeng of the minor Rebuilding Korea PartyThe sexrelated crimes include rape indecent assault illicit filming using cameras obscene acts through telecommunications media and trespassing into multiuse facilities for sexual purposes reports Yonhap news agencyThe number of those booked for such crimes came to 28135 in 2020 29013 in 2021 35656 in 2022 34996 in 2023 and 31755 last yearOf them the proportion of suspects for whom the police sought arrest warrants ranged from 535 to 662 per cent each yearThe issuance rate of arrest warrants was even slimmer ranging from 402 to 51 per cent of the total number of cases booked the data showedIn particular suspects of stalking crimes being formally arrested have remained at around the 3 per cent range over the cited period despite the number of those booked on relevant charges surging from 9895 cases in 2022 to 11520 in 2023 and 12677 cases last year according to the lawmakerThe investigative agencies need to actively review filing an arrest warrant and the bench also should make a decision centred on the victim Rep Chung said noting that crimes involving stalking and sexual abuse have a high risk of second convictions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/only-4-5-per-cent-of-sexual-crime-suspects-formally-arrested-each-year-in-south-korea-data-639734.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-tightens-h-1b-rules-introduces-usd100-000-annual-fee-639538.html Washington Sep 20 In a major setback for Indian tech professionals working in the United States and top tech companies US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H1B visa programme According to the proclamation every application will now require a fee of 100000 per year an attempt to curtail the overuse of the visa programme and encourage hiring of domestic workersSigning the proclamation on Friday at the White House Trump said the incentive is to hire American workersWe need workers We need great workers and this pretty much ensures that Trump addedCommerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also defended the move saying the policy would discourage companies from hiring foreign workersSo the whole idea is no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers They have to pay the government 100000 then they have to pay the employee So its just not economic Youre going to train somebody Youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land train Americans Stop bringing in people to take our jobs Thats the policy here 100000 a year for H1B visas he explainedLutnick also confirmed that the visa can be renewed only for a total period of six years and will be applicable for both new and renewal applicationsSo either the person is very valuable to the company and America or theyre going to depart Stop the nonsense of letting people just come into this country on these visas that were given away for free he addedThe proclamation claimed that the H1B visa programme has been deliberately exploited to replace rather than supplement American workers with lowerpaid lowerskilled labor and is undermining both our economic and national securityAccording to the order the Secretary of Labor will initiate a rulemaking to revise the prevailing wage levels as wellBoth Trump and Lutnick asserted that all major tech companies are on boardThey love it They really love it They need it I think theyre going to be very happy Everyones going to be happy And were going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people Trump addedPresident Trump also signed an executive order creating a gold card programme that would enable people to obtain a visa for 1 million and corporations for 2 millionThe H1B visa programme capped at 85000 new visas annually allowed US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering The latest move is expected to impact major American tech companies as wellAccording to Pew Research data Indiaborn workers received around 73 per cent of the total approved H1B visas in 2023 followed by China with 12 per cent primarily due to a huge backlog in approvals and a high number of skilled immigrants from IndiaIn August the Department of Homeland Security proposed changes to the existing system by eliminating the lottery set up with a weighted selection processThe US Department of Justice DoJ also intensified its scrutiny of hiring practices under the H1B visa program calling on workers and employers to report instances where US citizens are unfairly overlooked in favour of foreign visa holders The initiative is being led by Harmeet Dhillon the Indiaborn Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights at the DoJDhillon announced in August that the department has opened several investigations and taken action against some employers already Send us your leads she urged Americans to reach out on DoJ hotlineIn December 2024 after the elections Trump had endorsed the H1B visas saying hes a believer in the program and had used it himself in the pastI have many H1B visas on my properties Ive been a believer in H1B I have used it many times Its a great program he had saidTrump weighed in after opposition over H1B visas from farright activists Tesla CEO and former Trump aide Elon Musk had also vowed to go to war to defend H1B visas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-tightens-h-1b-rules-introduces-usd100-000-annual-fee-639538.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 06:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-tightens-h-1b-rules-introduces-100-000-usd-annual-fee-639539.html Washington Sep 20 In a major setback for Indian tech professionals working in the United States and top tech companies US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H1B visa programme According to the proclamation every application will now require a fee of 100000 per year an attempt to curtail the overuse of the visa programme and encourage hiring of domestic workersSigning the proclamation on Friday at the White House Trump said the incentive is to hire American workersWe need workers We need great workers and this pretty much ensures that Trump addedCommerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also defended the move saying the policy would discourage companies from hiring foreign workersSo the whole idea is no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers They have to pay the government 100000 then they have to pay the employee So its just not economic Youre going to train somebody Youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land train Americans Stop bringing in people to take our jobs Thats the policy here 100000 a year for H1B visas he explainedLutnick also confirmed that the visa can be renewed only for a total period of six years and will be applicable for both new and renewal applicationsSo either the person is very valuable to the company and America or theyre going to depart Stop the nonsense of letting people just come into this country on these visas that were given away for free he addedThe proclamation claimed that the H1B visa programme has been deliberately exploited to replace rather than supplement American workers with lowerpaid lowerskilled labor and is undermining both our economic and national securityAccording to the order the Secretary of Labor will initiate a rulemaking to revise the prevailing wage levels as wellBoth Trump and Lutnick asserted that all major tech companies are on boardThey love it They really love it They need it I think theyre going to be very happy Everyones going to be happy And were going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people Trump addedPresident Trump also signed an executive order creating a gold card programme that would enable people to obtain a visa for 1 million and corporations for 2 millionThe H1B visa programme capped at 85000 new visas annually allowed US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering The latest move is expected to impact major American tech companies as wellAccording to Pew Research data Indiaborn workers received around 73 per cent of the total approved H1B visas in 2023 followed by China with 12 per cent primarily due to a huge backlog in approvals and a high number of skilled immigrants from IndiaIn August the Department of Homeland Security proposed changes to the existing system by eliminating the lottery set up with a weighted selection processThe US Department of Justice DoJ also intensified its scrutiny of hiring practices under the H1B visa program calling on workers and employers to report instances where US citizens are unfairly overlooked in favour of foreign visa holders The initiative is being led by Harmeet Dhillon the Indiaborn Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights at the DoJDhillon announced in August that the department has opened several investigations and taken action against some employers already Send us your leads she urged Americans to reach out on DoJ hotlineIn December 2024 after the elections Trump had endorsed the H1B visas saying hes a believer in the program and had used it himself in the pastI have many H1B visas on my properties Ive been a believer in H1B I have used it many times Its a great program he had saidTrump weighed in after opposition over H1B visas from farright activists Tesla CEO and former Trump aide Elon Musk had also vowed to go to war to defend H1B visas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-tightens-h-1b-rules-introduces-100-000-usd-annual-fee-639539.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 06:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-lottery-proceeds-to-support-migrants-in-us-639540.html Mexico City Sep 20 Mexican authorities said that the proceeds from a special National Lottery draw held on September 15 will be used to expand protection programs for vulnerable Mexican migrants particularly those living in the United States National Lottery chief Olivia Salomon said the draw generated sales of 3385 million pesos about 184 million USD with net proceeds of 1159 million pesos after prize payouts Xinhua news agency reportedForeign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente said the funds will be used to support six initiatives designed to strengthen Mexicos consulates and provide better legal humanitarian and emergency assistance Related plans involve supporting legal representation visiting detention centers boosting consular staffing in highdemand locations and responding to natural disastersThese actions will be carried out with transparency with quarterly evaluations and public reports de la Fuente saidPresident Claudia Sheinbaum said The top priority is to pay bail for our compatriots which is often very difficult for them to affordEarlier this month the government of Mexico has officially joined the National Lotterys special draw Mexico with an M for Migrant which took place on September 15 at 4 pm The initiative recognizes Mexican migrants who support their families and communities from abroad with a single ticket offering a chance to win up to MXN255m 142mThe director general of the National Lottery highlighted that President Sheinbaum has designated that the funds raised from the draw after awarding prizes will be used to strengthen consular support and protection for Mexicans living abroad in times of uncertainty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mexico-lottery-proceeds-to-support-migrants-in-us-639540.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-fm-rejects-unfair-pressure-as-europe-pushes-to-restore-un-sanctions-639541.html Tehran Sep 20 Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran would not accept political action and unfair pressure over its nuclear program warning such moves could escalate tensions He insisted Iran has consistently pursued diplomacy and technical cooperation Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA chief Rafael Grossi state news agency IRNA reported The call came after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief under the 2015 nuclear dealBritain France and Germany the socalled E3 last month triggered the deals snapback mechanism which allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is judged in breach of the 2015 nuclear accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA The sanctions are expected to take effect later this month Xinhua news agency reportedAraghchi criticised the political atmosphere at a recent IAEA board meeting saying Irans cooperation with the watchdog remained within international regulationsIrans foreign ministry separately denounced the European move as illegal unjustified and provocative accusing the E3 of undermining diplomacyThe E3 argue that Iran has failed to provide full access to inspectors withheld clarity over nuclear material and ignored a lateAugust deadline to present concrete proposals for returning to talks with the United States and other partiesIran held several rounds of nuclear negotiations with Washington earlier this year but halted both the talks and cooperation with the IAEA after Israeli strikes joined by the United States hit Iranian nuclear facilities in JuneSigned by Iran and six world powers in 2015 the JCPOA has been under strain since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 prompting Tehran to gradually scale back compliance IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-fm-rejects-unfair-pressure-as-europe-pushes-to-restore-un-sanctions-639541.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-prez-trump-tightens-h-1b-visa-rules-introduces-100-000-annual-fee-639548.html Washington Sep 20 In a major setback for Indian tech professionals working in the United States and top tech companies US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H1B visa programme According to the proclamation every application will now require a fee of 100000 per year an attempt to curtail the overuse of the visa programme and encourage hiring of domestic workersSigning the proclamation on Friday at the White House Trump said the incentive is to hire American workersWe need workers We need great workers and this pretty much ensures that Trump addedCommerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also defended the move saying the policy would discourage companies from hiring foreign workersSo the whole idea is no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers They have to pay the government 100000 then they have to pay the employee So its just not economic Youre going to train somebody Youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land train Americans Stop bringing in people to take our jobs Thats the policy here 100000 a year for H1B visas he explainedLutnick also confirmed that the visa can be renewed only for a total period of six years and will be applicable for both new and renewal applicationsSo either the person is very valuable to the company and America or theyre going to depart Stop the nonsense of letting people just come into this country on these visas that were given away for free he addedThe proclamation claimed that the H1B visa programme has been deliberately exploited to replace rather than supplement American workers with lowerpaid lowerskilled labor and is undermining both our economic and national securityAccording to the order the Secretary of Labor will initiate a rulemaking to revise the prevailing wage levels as wellBoth Trump and Lutnick asserted that all major tech companies are on boardThey love it They really love it They need it I think theyre going to be very happy Everyones going to be happy And were going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people Trump addedPresident Trump also signed an executive order creating a gold card programme that would enable people to obtain a visa for 1 million and corporations for 2 millionThe H1B visa programme capped at 85000 new visas annually allowed US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering The latest move is expected to impact major American tech companies as wellAccording to Pew Research data Indiaborn workers received around 73 per cent of the total approved H1B visas in 2023 followed by China with 12 per cent primarily due to a huge backlog in approvals and a high number of skilled immigrants from IndiaIn August the Department of Homeland Security proposed changes to the existing system by eliminating the lottery set up with a weighted selection processThe US Department of Justice DoJ also intensified its scrutiny of hiring practices under the H1B visa program calling on workers and employers to report instances where US citizens are unfairly overlooked in favour of foreign visa holders The initiative is being led by Harmeet Dhillon the Indiaborn Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights at the DoJDhillon announced in August that the department has opened several investigations and taken action against some employers already Send us your leads she urged Americans to reach out on DoJ hotlineIn December 2024 after the elections Trump had endorsed the H1B visas saying hes a believer in the program and had used it himself in the pastI have many H1B visas on my properties Ive been a believer in H1B I have used it many times Its a great program he had saidTrump weighed in after opposition over H1B visas from farright activists Tesla CEO and former Trump aide Elon Musk had also vowed to go to war to defend H1B visas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-prez-trump-tightens-h-1b-visa-rules-introduces-100-000-annual-fee-639548.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-notifies-ex-president-yoon-to-appear-for-questioning-next-week-639559.html Seoul Sep 20 A South Korean special counsel team on Saturday notified exPresident Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning next week over allegations related to his failed martial law bid Special counsel Cho Eunsuks team said it issued the summons to Yoon to appear for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office on WednesdayThe team is expected to question Yoon on charges of whether he incited foreign aggression by ordering a drone dispatch to Pyongyang in October ahead of his shortlived declaration of martial law in DecemberIt would be the first time investigators attempt to question him over the allegation of inciting foreign aggressionYoon who has been in custody since July has been standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through the martial law bidIt remains unclear whether Yoon would appear as he has refused to cooperate with the special counsels probe and attend his insurrection trial since JulyThe team suspects Yoon of giving direct orders to the Drone Operations Command to dispatch drones to Pyongyang in an attempt to provoke North Korean military responses and allegedly create a pretext for the martial law impositionFormer drone command chief Maj Gen Kim Yongdae exJoint Chiefs of Staff JCS Chairman Adm Kim Myungsoo and Lt Gen Lee Seungoh the JCS operations chief have already been questioned over the allegationsThe commanders have denied any link between the drone dispatch and Yoons martial law arguing the operations were part of response measures to the Norths balloon campaigns against the SouthThe team also plans to question former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun who is currently in custody at the Seoul Eastern Detention Centre on charges of insurrection officials saidYoons legal team claimed that the notice was delivered via text message to one of Yoons lawyers assigned to a different case involving the former president The team also said it was also busy preparing for upcoming court hearings scheduled for next week Yonhap news agency reportedThe summons investigation must be carried out lawfully and in accordance with due process through an official written notice and once we receive the notice we will review whether to comply with the questioning Yoons team said in a statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-notifies-ex-president-yoon-to-appear-for-questioning-next-week-639559.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-celebrates-62nd-itec-day-in-myanmar-highlights-deepening-cooperation-cultural-bonds-639563.html Naypyidaw Sep 20 The 62nd Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ITEC Programme Day was celebrated in Myanmars Naypyidaw which was attended by several diaspora members and officials Indias flagship capacitybuilding initiative more than 250 guests including Myanmar ITEC beneficiaries alumni of civilian and defence ITEC courses senior officials and members of the Indian community in Myanmar gathered in Naypyidaw for the celebrationsThe reception hosted by Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur on Friday saw the presence of Myanmars Prime Minister U Nyo as Chief Guest accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs U Than Swe Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Wah Wah Maung Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Naing Min Kyaw along with senior representatives from various ministries and institutionsAccording to the Indian Embassy in Myanmar the ITEC programme was introduced in the country in 1996 with an initial 30 slotsOver the years this number has steadily grown to nearly 700 slots annually with around 500 actively utilised Since 2014 over 4500 professionals from Myanmar have participated in shortterm specialised training programmes under ITECAmong the most popular courses are Proficiency in English Language Leadership for 21st Century Professionals Public Policy and Administration Budgeting Accounting and Financial Management and Data AnalyticsDevelopment Cooperation for the benefit of the people of Myanmar driven by the needs and priorities of Myanmar has long been a distinguishing feature of Indias bilateral cooperation with Myanmar It extends from connectivity and infrastructure projects to initiatives in establishing longterm institutions for capacity building and human resource development in select areas read a statement issued by the Indian EmbassyIt further highlighted Indias major ongoing projects including the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project KMTTP and the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral HighwayAlongside these several communityfocused initiatives are being implemented under frameworks such as the IndiaMyanmar Border Area Development Programme Rakhine State Development Programme High Impact Community Development Projects HICDPs and Quick Impact Projects QIPsAs a testament to the Government of Indias enduring commitment to longterm preservation of Myanmars invaluable religious heritage as well as to strengthen ageold cultural and spiritual bonds between the people of India and Myanmar the Archaeological Survey of India ASI is conserving and restoring 72 earthquakeaffected pagodas in Bagan over 10 years in three phases the Indian Embassy mentionedPhase I of the project was completed in December 2024 when 11 pagodas 22 works were completed and handed over to Myanmar in the presence of Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Myanmars Union Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin in the ancient city of Bagan in the Southeast Asian nationA fourmember ASI team tasked to undertake Phase II of the structural conservation chemical preservation and restoration works comprising approximately 50 earthquakeaffected Pagodas commenced its work in September 2025The Indian Embassy further emphasised Indias commitment to continue its assistance in meeting the socioeconomic needs of the people of Myanmar across different states and regions and across different sectors in the years ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-celebrates-62nd-itec-day-in-myanmar-highlights-deepening-cooperation-cultural-bonds-639563.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-denies-airspace-violation-during-mig-31-transfer-flight-639564.html Moscow Sep 20 Russia said that a flight by three Russian MiG31 fighter jets from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region adhered to international aviation rules and did not cross into the airspace of other countries In a statement published on its Telegram channel on Saturday the Defence Ministry said that the redeployment flight on Friday was scheduled in advance and carried out under objective monitoring systems which confirmed that no borders were violated Xinhua news agency reportedThe statement came after Estonias Foreign Ministry summoned Russias charge daffaires on Friday to protest over what it claimed was an airspace violation by Russian aircraftEarlier in the day Estonia had summoned Russias charge daffaires to protest what it said was an airspace violation by three Russian fighter jets an allegation Moscow flatly deniedThe Estonian Foreign Ministry had said in a statement that the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland where three Russian Federation MIG31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutesEstonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal had said Tallinn would seek NATO consultations under Article 4 in response to what she called Russias provocations Article 4 allows any NATO member to call for discussions when it perceives a threat to its territorial integrity or securityRussias Defence Ministry had rejected the accusation saying the aircraft were on a planned flight that was carried out in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states as confirmed by objective monitoringTensions have escalated between the Nato military alliance and Russia in the last week after Poland and Romania both Nato members said Russian drones breached their airspaceNato confirmed its jets intercepted the Russian aircraftEarlier today Russian jets violated Estonian airspace Nato responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Natos ability to respond a spokesperson said on XThe alliance patrols the skies over Estonia and other Baltic states under its Baltic Sentry mission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-denies-airspace-violation-during-mig-31-transfer-flight-639564.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-expresses-regret-over-un-failure-to-stop-gaza-war-639568.html Moscow Sep 20 Russias Foreign Ministry expressed regret that the United Nations Security Council remains unable to end the violence and humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip due to repeated vetoes by the United States The UN Security Councils inability to stop the fighting and bloodshed and end the suffering of civilians is therefore deeply regrettable and disappointing the ministry said in a statement published on its official website on FridayOn Thursday a group of nonpermanent members of the Security Council attempted yet again to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip the release of hostages and access for humanitarian aidAll council members voted in favour of the draft resolution except the United States which used its veto for the seventh time since the escalation of the crisis Xinhua news agency reportedThe Foreign Ministry reiterated that Russias position on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict remains consistent While condemning the Hamas attack of October 7 2023 Moscow said the incident cannot and should not be used as a pretext for the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians or for fueling a broader war in the Middle EastRussia believes that achieving genuine peace and security in the region is impossible without a just settlement of the Palestinian issue and the fulfillment of the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people the ministry addedEarlier on September 18 the United States had vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have demanded Israel immediately lift all restrictions on humanitarian access and delivery in GazaThe draft would have also called for an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for the unconditional dignified and immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and other armed groupsThe draft put forward by the 10 elected members of the Security Council won 14 votes in favour among the 15member council The United States a permanent member of the council has veto powerThe US veto drew widespread criticism in the Security CouncilAlgerian UN ambassador Amar Bendjama had said that the 14 council members who voted in favor of the draft resolution have acted with conscience echoing the calls of the international public opinionAgain this council failed another scar of the conscience of humanity he had said adding that it is a shame in the face of a genocide unfolding before open eyesAnd at this moment there can be no ambiguity Each of us must choose either to act to stop the genocide or to be counted among those who were complicit he saidSomali UN ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman had depicted Thursdays voting result as a profound moral failureHe said the draft is grounded in the very language and spirit of the UN Charter which all member states have vowed to uphold The draft resolution demanded the bare minimum Yet time and again the Security Council has been blocked from actionRussian UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia had said that there will be no breakthrough on the Middle East question as long as Washingtons perception of the Gaza crisis remains unchanged and as long as it views multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations as an obstacle rather than a critically important toolThe UN Security Council will remain a helpless witness to this catastrophe paralyzed not by some inherent structural flaw but by the will or more accurately by the lack thereof of one single delegation he had saidOn the US claim that the draft resolution if adopted would undermine diplomacy on the ground Nebenzia had said the Israeli attack on Qatar a major mediator of the Gaza conflict bears evidence of Israels lack of interest in peaceThat act was essentially an assault on the very idea of attaining an agreement It discredited any assertions that Israel is allegedly ready to embrace diplomacy and reach a deal Blaming Hamas for derailing the talks as our American colleagues are persistently doing is utterly absurd he had saidBritish UN ambassador Barbara Woodward also regretted that the Security Council was unable to reach a consensus on the draft resolutionWe need a ceasefire more than ever And yet Israels reckless expansion of its military operation takes us further away from a deal which could bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza she had saidWe are witnessing an entirely manmade famine in Gaza and images of starving Palestinians killed while desperately seeking scraps of food for their families she had saidWe urge Israels government to end the bloodshed which has already cost the lives of 65000 Palestinians and to immediately lift its restrictions on the entry of aid and allow the UN and humanitarian agencies to save lives IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-expresses-regret-over-un-failure-to-stop-gaza-war-639568.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-tech-firms-urge-h-1b-visa-workers-to-return-before-sunday-deadline-639570.html New Delhi Sep 20 US tech films like Microsoft have advised employees with H1B and H4 visas who are currently outside the United States to return immediately ahead of the September 21 deadline set by President Donald Trump when the 100000 fee on H1B visa comes into effect The US administration has imposed a 100000 annual fee on each visa The new rule will take effect on September 21 and remain in force for 12 months the US President saidAccording to reports companies like Microsoft and JPMorgan have instructed H1B workers currently in the US to continue their employment in the country for the foreseeable future and avoid international travel until further guidanceMicrosoft has also reportedly recommended H4 visa holders to remain in the US We strongly recommend H1B and H4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline according to the companyThere was no official statement yet from either Microsoft or JPMorganPresident Trump expects the revised feebased visa programme to generate over 100 billion for the US Treasury designated for national debt reduction and tax cuts Critics however argued that the new fee hinders talent mobility and stifles innovationApproximately 71 per cent of H1B visa holders are from India primarily working for technology companies including Infosys Wipro Cognisant and Tata Consultancy ServicesShares of major IT services firms including USlisted Indian companies dropped by 2 per cent to 5 per cent following the announcementWith visas typically valid for three years and renewable up to six the new 100000 annual fee could make it expensive for companies to retain Indian professionals especially given the decadeslong wait for Green CardsThe H1B programme allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in fields like technology and engineering IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-tech-firms-urge-h-1b-visa-workers-to-return-before-sunday-deadline-639570.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mauritius-it-minister-lauds-indias-c-dot-lab-urges-deeper-bilateral-collaboration-639577.html New Delhi Sep 20 Mauritiuss Minister for Information Technology Communication and Innovation Dr Avinash Ramtohul who visited the Centre for Development of Telematics CDOT here has urged the need for deeper collaboration between the two countries in emergency alerting and telecom innovation the Ministry of Communications said The minister commended the centres disastermanagement and cybersecurity initiatives Ramtohul assessed CDOTs Early Warning System and Cell Broadcast solution and commented on its implementation nationwide to notify citizens including fishing communities of impending natural hazardsCDOTs cybersecurity stack includes a realtime Security Operations Centre Quantum Key Distribution PostQuantum Cryptography and SAMVADa a secure chat and calling application the Ministry saidCDOT CEO Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay introduced the Mauritius delegation to diverse telecom product portfoliossolutions in the areas of key applications such as Disaster management solution using ITU CAP protocol and Cell Broadcast solutionThe CEO also demonstrated new telecom innovations including 4G and 5G core and RAN networks switching and routing platformsThe solution is highly beneficial and would help in saving the lives of citizens including the fishermen community This engagement has set the stage for deeper forwardlooking collaboration in emergency alerting and telecom innovation Ramtohul saidHe also appreciated the RampD efforts of CDOTs research community and stressed the need for a larger collaboration for the development of futuristic and cuttingedge telecom solutions for mutual benefitsCDOT the RampD arm of the Department of Telecommunications has led Indias rural connectivity efforts and is currently exploring 6G use cases the Ministry notedOver the past four decades CDoT has been at the forefront of Indias telecom revolution bringing connectivity to rural areas powering the ambitious BharatNet NOFN project and delivering cuttingedge solutions in cyber security disaster management 4G5G next generation networks AI Network Management Systems IoTM2M applications among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mauritius-it-minister-lauds-indias-c-dot-lab-urges-deeper-bilateral-collaboration-639577.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-calls-on-un-to-stop-us-military-moves-in-caribbean-639596.html Caracas Sep 20 Venezuela has called on the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate halt to US military operations in the Caribbean In a post on the social platform Telegram on Friday local time Foreign Minister Yvan Gil shared a video of a related speech at the UN by Venezuelas permanent representative Alexander Yanez saying the appeal was made on behalf of President Nicolas MaduroIn the video Yanez told the Security Council that his country has been the target of systemic harassment by Washington including smear campaigns unilateral sanctions and a rejection of Venezuelan institutions reports Xinhua news agencyHe warned that the situation has escalated into a more dangerous phase with US naval air and ground deployments in the Caribbean including sending a nuclear submarine which he said violates the UN CharterYanez also pointed to US reports of extrajudicial executions in the CaribbeanVenezuela urged the UN system to condemn the US moves which it said threaten stability in both the South American country and the wider regionEarlier on September 15 the Venezuelan President said that channels of communication between the United States and Venezuela have been severed by Washington amid persistent aggressionToday I can announce that communications with the US government have been severed by them Maduro told a press conference in Caracas Venezuelas capitalThe President blamed the breakdown on threats and blackmail from WashingtonMaduro stressed that Venezuela has managed to preserve peace despite provocations from the United StatesFor the past five weeks he said Venezuela has faced challenges while working to maintain stability He added that Venezuela is exercising its legitimate right to defend itself against political diplomatic and potential military aggression IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-calls-on-un-to-stop-us-military-moves-in-caribbean-639596.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-canadian-nsas-discuss-counterterrorism-security-cooperation-mea-639609.html New Delhi Sep 20 National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G Drouin discussed strengthening the bilateral relationship in areas such as counterterrorism combating transnational organised crime and Intelligence exchanges the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said on Saturday Doval and Drouin met on Thursday September 18 in New Delhi as part of the regular bilateral security dialogue between the two sidesAccording to the MEA it was also an opportunity to follow up on the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in Alberta Canada earlier this yearBoth sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership They had productive discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship including in areas such as counterterrorism combating transnational organised crime and Intelligence exchanges the MEA saidBoth sides also agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations it addedThey agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments the MEA statement readEarlier on Friday reacting strongly to the reports of growing Khalistani threats to Indian diplomatic missions in Canada including the Indian Consulate in Vancouver the MEA made it clear that it is the responsibility of the Canadian government to provide security as and when there is a concernIt is the responsibility of the Canadian government or the host government wherever we are wherever we have diplomatic establishments to provide security as and when there is a concern we do take it up with the concerned side in this case Canada to ensure that there is adequate security of our diplomatic premises MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi while responding to a question on the threats being issued to the Indian Consulates in CanadaThe reaction came after the NSAs of both countries held talks on Thursday as part of the regular bilateral security consultations between Ottawa and New DelhiThe NSA of Canada held talks with our National Security Advisor I think it happened yesterday the 18th This is part of the regular bilateral security consultations that happen between the two countries It was also an opportunity and an occasion for them to follow up on the discussions that happened between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney in Kananaskis on the sidelines of the G7 in Alberta Canada stated JaiswalIt was on the sidelines of the G7 Summit that PM Modi and Carney held a meeting aimed at reviving the strained ties between both nations The June 18 discussions were described as very positive and constructive by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri As an initial move both leaders had agreed to restore High Commissioners to each others capitals at the earliest opportunityFurther the two nations resolved to revive senior and workinglevel mechanisms on various fronts They also agreed to resume senior and workinglevel mechanisms and discussions in a host of areas related to trade peopletopeople contact and connectivity all of them intended to bring greater momentum to the relationshipThe ties between India and Canada had soured after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament that he had credible allegations of Indias hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh NijjarA major diplomatic row had erupted when Canada labelled Indias High Commissioner and other diplomats as persons of interest in the investigation of Nijjars deathIndia denied all the allegations calling them absurd and motivated accusing Ottawa of giving space to extremist and antiIndia elements in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-canadian-nsas-discuss-counterterrorism-security-cooperation-mea-639609.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unexploded-wwii-bomb-defused-in-hong-kong-639626.html Hong Kong Sep 20 The Hong Kong Police Force on Saturday morning defused the unexploded World War II bomb discovered at a construction site in the Eastern District according to a police briefing The Police said that the site and its surroundings are now safe enough for evacuated residents to return and all blocked roads had been reopenedDespite a rain delay the Police managed to cut a hole in the shell and burn the 500 pounds of TNT explosives inside a highstakes operation given the power of the bomb said Suryanto Chinchiu senior bomb disposal officer of the Polices explosive ordnance disposal bureauTo dispose of the aerial bomb which is 15 metre long and weighs about 1000 pounds the Police had evacuated around 6000 people in surrounding buildings by 11 pm on Friday Xinhua news agency reported Some of them spent the night at community centers with assistance from care teams and District Council membersMeanwhile it has been revealed that an explosion in the town of Tsotyli northern Greece which left two men injured on Friday was caused by a World War II shell Greek state broadcaster ERT reportedThe blast occurred around 1130 am local time at a yard for earthmoving machinery where a 54yearold man sustained multiple traumatic injuries and a 45yearold man suffered fracturesThe 54yearold victim who was in critical condition with severe burns and partial amputations to his knee and elbow was transferred to Hippocrates Hospital in Thessaloniki The second man underwent orthopedic surgery at Mamatseio Hospital in Kozani and will remain there for observationArmy bomb disposal experts examined the site following the explosion and confirmed the presence of ammunition fragments indicating the device was a wartime shell ERT saidAuthorities have cordoned off the area while investigations continue IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/unexploded-wwii-bomb-defused-in-hong-kong-639626.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-faeces-639629.html Sydney Sep 20 An Australianled study used prehistoric faeces to uncover how molecular fossilisation occurs revealing new insights into what ancient animals ate the world they lived in and what happened after they died The study published in the journal Geobiology examined 300millionyearold fossilised droppings or coprolites mostly from the Mazon Creek fossil site in the United States according to a statement released Friday by Australias Curtin UniversityThe coprolites were already known to contain cholesterol derivatives which is strong evidence of a meatbased diet but the new research explored how those delicate molecular traces were preserved and survived the ravages of time reports Xinhua news agencyUsually soft tissues are fossilised due to phosphate minerals but scientists from Australia the United States Sweden and Germany found molecules were preserved thanks to tiny grains of iron carbonate scattered throughout the fossil acting like microscopic time capsulesFossils dont just preserve the shapes of longextinct creatures they can also hold chemical traces of life said study lead Madison Tripp adjunct research fellow at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary SciencesIts a bit like discovering a treasure chest in this instance phosphate but the real gold is stashed in the pebbles nearby Tripp said adding the findings deepen scientists understanding of molecular preservation crucial to gaining insights into the ancient worldCarbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history said Curtin University Professor Kliti Grice adding that expanded analysis of diverse fossils spanning different species environments and eras confirmed consistent mineralmolecule preservation patternsUnderstanding which minerals best preserve ancient biomolecules lets scientists target fossil searches more effectively focusing on conditions that increase the chances of finding molecular clues about ancient life Grice saidResearchers said the findings could help build richer pictures of past ecosystems including diets interactions and decomposition processesIt brings prehistoric worlds to life in molecular detail Grice said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-faeces-639629.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-feces-639631.html Sydney Sep 20 An Australianled study used prehistoric feces to uncover how molecular fossilization occurs revealing new insights into what ancient animals ate the world they lived in and what happened after they died The study published in the journal Geobiology examined 300millionyearold fossilized droppings or coprolites mostly from the Mazon Creek fossil site in the United States according to a statement released Friday by Australias Curtin UniversityThe coprolites were already known to contain cholesterol derivatives which is strong evidence of a meatbased diet but the new research explored how those delicate molecular traces were preserved and survived the ravages of timeUsually soft tissues are fossilised due to phosphate minerals but scientists from Australia the United States Sweden and Germany found molecules were preserved thanks to tiny grains of iron carbonate scattered throughout the fossil acting like microscopic time capsulesFossils dont just preserve the shapes of longextinct creatures they can also hold chemical traces of life said study lead Madison Tripp adjunct research fellow at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Xinhua news agency reportedIts a bit like discovering a treasure chest in this instance phosphate but the real gold is stashed in the pebbles nearby Tripp said adding the findings deepen scientists understanding of molecular preservation crucial to gaining insights into the ancient worldCarbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history said Curtin University Professor Kliti Grice adding expanded analysis of diverse fossils spanning different species environments and eras confirmed consistent mineralmolecule preservation patternsUnderstanding which minerals best preserve ancient biomolecules lets scientists target fossil searches more effectively focusing on conditions that increase the chances of finding molecular clues about ancient life Grice saidResearchers said the findings could help build richer pictures of past ecosystems including diets interactions and decomposition processesIt brings prehistoric worlds to life in molecular detail Grice said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/study-unlocks-secrets-of-ancient-life-through-fossil-feces-639631.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-one-year-rice-demand-through-next-june-estimated-at-711-million-tonnes-639636.html Tokyo Sep 20 Demand for rice in Japan is estimated to rise slightly to 711 million tonnes in the year through June 2026 according to the countrys agriculture ministry The 2025 staple rice production is expected to see a significant increase to 745 million tonnes boosted by expanded planting in response to shortages an estimate from the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries has shownMeanwhile the private sectors rice inventory is forecast to reach nearly 23 million tonnes by the end of June next year an unusually high level that could approach the record stockpile that was built up in 2015 Xinhua news agency reportedFor the key oneyear estimate the ministrys food council subgroup which used to make staple rice demand projections in view of falling population and increased bread consumption took into account for the first time increasing demand from foreign tourists and householdsMeanwhile the Philippines is considering extending its rice import suspension by 15 to 30 days as farmgate prices of palay or unhusked rice improve Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on FridayPhilippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos earlier imposed a 60day ban from September to October to protect local farmers during the peak harvest seasonLaurel said the Department of Agriculture will recommend to Marcos by the end of September whether to prolong the moratorium Pending data validation I am now inclined to recommend that he extend the ban for at least 15 to 30 days he addedAccording to preliminary data wet palay prices rose from as low as 810 pesos 014017 US dollars per kilo before the ban to 17 pesos 029 dollars in some parts of Mindanao and 1314 pesos 022024 dollars in major ricegrowing provincesThe cost of producing a kilo of palay is estimated at 1214 pesos 021024 dollars Laurel said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-one-year-rice-demand-through-next-june-estimated-at-711-million-tonnes-639636.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-senior-official-slams-trumps-remarks-on-bagram-airbase-639637.html Kabul Sep 20 A senior Afghan official has slammed recent remarks of US President Donald Trump on recapturing Bagram airbase in postwar Afghanistan saying Afghans never accept foreign military presence in their country reported the staterun Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTA Afghans have never accepted foreign military presence in their land throughout history Afghanistan and America need engagement on economic and political relations based on bilateral respect and common interests the stateowned media outlet cited Jalali a senior diplomat with the foreign ministry as saying Xinhua news agency reportedTrump who has been criticising his predecessor Joe Biden over giving up Bagram airbase during the US withdrawal in August 2021 told reporters in London on Thursday that We want to retake itThe Bagram airbase 50 km north of Kabul had served as the main military base of US troops in Afghanistan during the 20year military presence of USled military coalition forces which ended in August 2021 and paved the way for the collapse of the westernbacked forces and takeover of power by the current Afghan regimeMeanwhile as the world prepares to mark the International Day of Peace on September 21 Afghans who have suffered from more than four decades of conflict say their greatest wish is simple enduring peaceMore than four decades of war and civil unrest according to Afghans have left their country undeveloped and impoverishedMy wish for Afghanistan is to have lasting peace and security to see the return of refugees and their contribution to rebuilding the country said Abdul Qadus Rahmani a Kabul baker and father of sixRahmani 45 explained that even his daily bread sales reflect the countrys fragile stability If there is war I sell 200 to 300 pieces of bread a day In a peaceful environment I can sell 1000 to 1500 and earn a better incomeAs the International Day of Peace approaches ordinary Afghans see tranquility not as an abstract ideal but as the foundation for work education and dignity proof that even after decades of hardship the simple hope for peace endures IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-senior-official-slams-trumps-remarks-on-bagram-airbase-639637.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fossilised-faeces-help-bring-prehistoric-worlds-to-life-study-reveals-639639.html Sydney Sep 20 An Australianled study used prehistoric feces to uncover how molecular fossilization occurs revealing new insights into what ancient animals ate the world they lived in and what happened after they died The study published in the journal Geobiology examined 300millionyearold fossilized droppings or coprolites mostly from the Mazon Creek fossil site in the United States according to a statement released Friday by Australias Curtin University The coprolites were already known to contain cholesterol derivatives which is strong evidence of a meatbased diet but the new research explored how those delicate molecular traces were preserved and survived the ravages of timeUsually soft tissues are fossilised due to phosphate minerals but scientists from Australia the United States Sweden and Germany found molecules were preserved thanks to tiny grains of iron carbonate scattered throughout the fossil acting like microscopic time capsulesStudy lead Madison Tripp an Adjunct Research Fellow at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said the findings add a new dimension to how scientists understand molecular preservation which is crucial to gaining insights into the ancient worldFossils dont just preserve the shapes of longextinct creatures they can also hold chemical traces of life Tripp saidBut how those delicate molecules survive for hundreds of millions of years has long been a mystery since phosphate minerals help preserve the fossils shape and structure we might have expected these to also help preserve molecules but we found instead that it was the iron carbonate that shielded the molecular traces insideIts a bit like discovering a treasure chest in this instance phosphate but the real gold is stashed in the pebbles nearbyCarbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history said Curtin University Professor Kliti Grice adding expanded analysis of diverse fossils spanning different species environments and eras confirmed consistent mineralmolecule preservation patternsTo determine whether this mineralmolecule association was unique to the Mazon Creek site researchers expanded the analysis to include a diverse range of fossils spanning different species environments and time periodsFounding Director of Curtins WAOrganic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre and ARC Laureate Fellow Professor Kliti Grice said this revealed the findings were consistent across the samplesThis isnt just a oneoff or a lucky find its a pattern we are starting to see repeated which tells us carbonate minerals have been quietly preserving biological information throughout Earths history Professor Grice saidUnderstanding which minerals are most likely to preserve ancient biomolecules means we can be far more targeted in our fossil searchesRather than relying on chance we can look for specific conditions that give us the best shot at uncovering molecular clues about ancient lifeProfessor Grice said by revealing how biomolecules are preserved scientists were gaining powerful new tools to reconstruct the world hundreds of millions of years agoThis helps us build a much richer picture of past ecosystems not just what animals looked like but how they lived interacted and decomposed Professor Grice saidIt brings prehistoric worlds to life in molecular detail he was quoted as saying in a statement released by Curtin University IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fossilised-faeces-help-bring-prehistoric-worlds-to-life-study-reveals-639639.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/repression-in-china-both-a-political-imperative-and-a-profitable-business-report-639645.html New Delhi Sep 20 Leaked documents from two Chinese firms infrastructure builder Geedge Networks and AI company GoLaxy have revealed how repression in China is both a political imperative and a profitable business illustrating that the country is not only perfecting digital authoritarianism at home but also packaging it for export according to a report in The Diplomat The leaked internal files from Geedge Networks laid bare how Geedge sold itself as a cybersecurity company while actually building censorship and surveillance infrastructure the report mentionedGoLaxy was exposed when researchers at Vanderbilt University uncovered nearly 400 pages of internal planning documents It is a Beijingbased company that has emerged as a major player in deploying AI tools that monitor influence and manipulate narratives onlineTogether these leaks have provided an unprecedented window into the mechanics of Chinas censorship and propaganda apparatus the report addedIt further stated that the products they sell differ though they complement each other within the larger control systemGeedge is an infrastructure builder Its flagship product the Tiangou Secure Gateway is essentially a turnkey firewall in a box It performs deep packet inspection blocks VPNs and other circumvention tools fingerprints devices analyzes metadata and even offers prototype reputationbased access controls according to the reportGoLaxy systems ingest opensource social media data map relationships among political actors and influencers and use artificial intelligence to generate content for orchestrated campaignsDashboards allow operators to monitor discourse around sensitive topics Taiwan Hong Kong Xinjiang US politics and plan interventions by seeding narratives or amplifying favoured voices Where Geedge builds the pipes for information control GoLaxy provides the tools to flood those pipes with content aligned to government priorities the Diplomat report explainedGeedge has even reached abroad marketing its Great Firewall in a box to regimes that want Chinesestyle control Reports show deployments in Kazakhstan Pakistan Ethiopia and MyanmarUnlike Geedge GoLaxy does not yet appear to export its tools widely to foreign regimes instead it focuses on strengthening the CCPs domestic propaganda system and building the capacity for global influence campaigns said the reportThe report further stated that these client patterns reveal how both firms embody the partystates dual strategy to perfect control at home and to promote its model abroadBoth companies also maintain close ties to the Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS Chinas premier research institution This makes clear that China has turned repression into an export industry the report stressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/repression-in-china-both-a-political-imperative-and-a-profitable-business-report-639645.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/smokescreen-or-strategy-why-isi-is-unlikely-to-shift-terror-bases-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-639672.html New Delhi Sep 20 Over the past week there have been many reports relating to the damage caused to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan following Operation Sindoor Terrorists on their own have been posting videos about the damage caused to the Muridke training camp of the LashkareTaiba Further terrorists of the JaisheMohammad have openly spoken about how their chief Masood Azhars family was blown to pieces due the operation that India undertook to avenge the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent livesAmidst this there was also news that terror groups are shifting out of Bahawalpur and Murdike and setting up their camps and headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPWhile outfits such as the LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammad have terror bases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Indian Intelligence agencies however have doubts on this claimOfficials say that given the current equation that Pakistan has with the Afghan Taliban the ISI would not risk moving major operations of its top two terror outfits to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The Afghan Taliban would be breathing down their neck and to add to the misery of the ISI would be the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTPThe TTP is very active in Pakistans northwest province Khyber PakhtunkhwaThere are operations that are carried out on a regular basis by the Pakistan Army against the TTP and this has made the place extremely volatile Hence the ISI may not take the gamble and shift the major bases of the two terror groups to KPThis week the security forces in Pakistan gunned down three terrorists including an Afghan national in KP The three were said to be involved in a bombing in Peshawar which led to the death of a subinspector and constableLast weeks raids by the Pakistan security forces in KP led to the death of 19 soldiers and 45 terrorists Pakistan has repeatedly said that the TTP with the help of the Afghan Taliban carries out attacks on Pakistani soldiersKhyber Pakhtunkhwas proximity to the Afghan border also makes the place a high risk zoneThe TTP has been accused of using the Afghan border to launch attacks against the Pakistan ArmyTaking all these aspects into mind the ISI may not want the terrorists of the LashkareTaiba or the JaisheMohammad to be caught in a cross fire Intelligence Bureau officials say that putting out news stating that operations are being moved to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to escape from the radar of the Indian forces could be a smoke screen to divert attentionPutting out such material gives the ISI the breathing space to create new infrastructure for the terror groups Pakistan may not have expected in its wildest dreams that India could carry out an operation of such a scale The precision strikes and the depth is what hit Pakistan the most and caused it major embarrassmentOfficials say that despite Operation Sindoor Pakistan will not change its policy regarding terror However this time it does know that any terror attack will be treated as an act of war and India will hit harderIn such an event it would want to ensure that even if there is a hit there is no major damage to terror infrastructure Operation Sindoor was a huge setback for terror groups especially the JaisheMohammad and LashkareTaiba There is panic among the ranks the ISI knows thisGiven the circumstances and taking into consideration the might of the Indian armed forces and also the rising tensions with the Afghan Taliban Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would not be the best option for the ISI to set up terror operationsIn the aftermath of Operation Sindoor the ISI started to pull terror camps and related infrastructure from known places It was decided that the main facilities such as the headquarters and the training camps will be set up close to army installations This decision was taken keeping in mind that in case of an operation by the Indian armed forces the Pakistan Army would be able to protect the terror infrastructure IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/smokescreen-or-strategy-why-isi-is-unlikely-to-shift-terror-bases-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-639672.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/four-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-attack-in-russias-samara-region-639688.html Moscow Sep 20 A nighttime drone attack by Ukraine killed four people and injured another in Russias Samara region Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on Saturday It is with deep sorrow that I report that four people were killed as a result of a night attack by enemy UAVs Fedorishchev said on social mediaAnother person was injured and the regional government will provide the families of the victims with necessary assistance including financial support he addedThe Russian defence ministry said Saturday that air defence systems shot down 149 drones overnight including 15 over the Samara region Xinhua news agency reportedMeanwhile Russia said that a flight by three Russian MiG31 fighter jets from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region adhered to international aviation rules and did not cross into the airspace of other countriesIn a statement published on its Telegram channel on Saturday the Defence Ministry said that the redeployment flight on Friday was scheduled in advance and carried out under objective monitoring systems which confirmed that no borders were violatedThe statement came after Estonias Foreign Ministry summoned Russias charge daffaires on Friday to protest over what it claimed was an airspace violation by Russian aircraftThe Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland where three Russian Federation MIG31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutesEstonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Tallinn would seek NATO consultations under Article 4 in response to what she called Russias provocations Article 4 allows any NATO member to call for discussions when it perceives a threat to its territorial integrity or security IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/four-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-attack-in-russias-samara-region-639688.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-experts-warn-trump-administration-against-undermining-relationship-with-india-report-639693.html Washington Sep 20 US strategic experts have warned the administration led by President Donald Trump about the consequences of straining ties with India a report cited on Saturday According to a report in Eurasia Review top former US officials Kurt Campbell and Jake Sullivan remarked in an article in Foreign Affairs that the only thing harder than building and formalising a deeply significant relationship with India is not having oneThe report said that the former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has also cautioned that damaging ties with India would effectively give China a pass amid Beijings deepening relationship with MoscowTensions have recently surfaced in the USIndia relationship particularly after President Donald Trumps decision to impose tariffs on India over its oil purchases from Russia By penalizing India for purchasing Russian oil while strengthening ties with Pakistan the US risks alienating one of its most important partnersand undermining Indias longstanding relationship with Russia the report detailedIf the trust deficit between India and the US continues to widen both nations could lose influence in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region The reality is clear India and the United States need each other now more than ever it addedAccording to the report unlike the restrictions placed on India Trumps trade deal with Pakistan which included preferential tariffs and support for oil exploration did not require Pakistan to limit its relationship with China This leniency it said has emboldened Pakistan to adopt a more aggressive strategy towards IndiaThe report highlighted that Indias relationship with the US has soured in recent months especially after Trump hosted Pakistans controversial army chief Asim Munir at the White House in Washington following the deadly April 22 Pahlagam terrorist attackMunirs provocative remarks about Pakistans potential global impact seemingly aimed at India If Pakistan goes down it would take half the world down with it made during a meeting in Tampa Florida in the presence of US military officials sparked widespread criticismFormer Pentagon official Michael Rubin compared Munir to Osama bin Laden in a suit and criticised the US for failing to understand the ideological foundation of terrorismIndia has long been a steadfast US ally since the end of the Cold War Former President Barack Obama called India an indispensable partner and as a key member of the Quad India stands at the heart of Washingtons IndoPacific strategya framework China views as an Asian NATO Until the recent trade dispute both countries enjoyed a strong partnership serving as a counterweight to Chinas influence in the region the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-experts-warn-trump-administration-against-undermining-relationship-with-india-report-639693.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-interim-pm-karki-has-to-rebuild-public-trust-in-governance-639694.html Kathmandu Sep 20 Nepal has become the latest country where public mobilisation has overthrown the ruling regime fueled by anger over widespread corruption nepotism and administrative misgovernance a report cited on Saturday It said the mass uprising against the backdrop of political upheavals sweeping across South Asia beginning with Sri Lanka in 2022 followed by Bangladesh in 2024 marked a decisive break in the Himalayan nations democratic trajectoryAccording to the report of International Centre for Peace Studies ICPS over the past three years a clear pattern of youthled protests and uprisings often described as apolitical emerged in the extended region of Nepal including Sri Lanka Bangladesh and IndonesiaAt times these apolitical uprisings were seen to have been influenced or even facilitated by internal as well as external actors with vested interests However they often result in the creation of a political vacuum that is filled by individuals or groups with little or no prior experience in governance the report statedIronically the very objectives these movements claim to champion such as strengthening democracy and ensuring inclusive political participation are often undermined in the process While these movements may succeed in toppling governments through mass mobilisation they typically fail to offer a viable or structured alternative in the aftermath it notedOn September 8 the protests started in Kathmandu in response to the Nepalese governments decision to block 26 social media platforms including Facebook Instagram WhatsApp X and YouTube for failing to comply with a sevenday deadline to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology However the social media ban served only as a triggerThe protest quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding government accountability for widespread corruption growing inequality and the worsening living conditions that have forced many citizens to migrate abroad in search of a better life Protesters expressed anger over the stark contrast between the struggles of ordinary people and the lavish lifestyles of ruling elites Nepo Kids many of whom openly flaunt their wealth and assets on social media the report stressedAmid intense public and political pressure Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 10 Several highprofile leaders including Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak the Ministers in charge of Health Agriculture Water and Youth and Sports also stepped down ahead of Oli in the wake of the escalating crisisThe ICPS report emphasised that Sushila Karki appointed as Nepals interim Prime Minister in the wake of the GenZ revolt has a critical role to play She has a daunting challenge ahead to stabilise the country rebuild public trust in governance push for inclusive systemic change including better representation of women and marginalized communities in politics and prepare Nepal for the next elections scheduled to take place in March 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-interim-pm-karki-has-to-rebuild-public-trust-in-governance-639694.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-parliamentary-panel-reviews-abuses-against-children-at-religious-seminaries-639697.html Islamabad Sep 20 Pakistans Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has reviewed disturbing reports of corporal punishment torture and sexual abuse against children at religious seminaries across provinces of Punjab Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local media reported The meeting chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri at Parliament House called for strong action to protect children from abuse at seminaries and schools declaring that no child should suffer in the name of educationHighlighting that the Pakistani authorities bear the foremost responsibility to protect children Senator Zehri expressed concern over the lack of proper registration financial transparency and monitoring of these institutionsShe demanded strict measures including regular inspections of madrasas mandatory parentteacher engagement teacher training on child protection and a ban on corporal punishment She also raised alarm over the low conviction rates in reported cases warning that without prosecution and deterrence the cycle of abuse would continue uncheckedSenator Aimal Wali Khan noted that many madrasas have become revenuegenerating enterprises rather than being integrated into the national education framework He urged the need for legislative measures to ensure transparency and bring seminaries under mainstream education boardsOther members suggested districtlevel monitoring and harmonised provincial laws to protect children from abuses Pakistans leading newspaper Dawn reportedReports suggest that the committee also reviewed a case at COMSATS University in Islamabad where a student was subjected to derogatory remarks about his financial background and deceased father during a class presentation in June Reportedly the matter was eventually reconciled with the instructor even gifting a laptop to the studentAsserting that such incidents reflected deeprooted problems in Pakistan Senator Zehri stressed that no student should face humiliation over financial circumstances which could cause lasting psychological harm She called on universities to foster compassion and respect recommend training for teachers and students in communication tolerance and mental health awarenessThe meeting also discussed the plight of Pakistani citizens imprisoned abroad Zehri demanded stronger action including countrywise data systematic case tracking and transparent reporting She urged the Pakistani ministries to formulate a coordinated national strategy with clear timelines covering legal aid consular support and rehabilitation for returnees IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-parliamentary-panel-reviews-abuses-against-children-at-religious-seminaries-639697.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 22:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-awami-league-claims-10-000-new-millionaires-emerge-as-ordinary-people-swept-by-poverty-639698.html Dhaka Sep 20 Bangladeshs Awami League Party on Saturday highlighted that over 10000 new millionaires have emerged in just 810 months amid the countrys economic recession while ordinary people are being swept away in a tide of poverty under the Muhammad Yunusled interim government According to the party the economy of Bangladesh is currently in a severe recession with unemployment exceeding eight per cent and the poverty rate at nearly 28 per centThe party mentioned that hundreds of factories have shut down foreign investment is almost zero and 26 million people have lost their jobs with ordinary people struggling to cope with soaring prices of essential goods It stressed that in the postCovid period GDP growth has dropped to just 397 per centNever before has the country seen wealth grow in such a crisisbut banking data tells a different story According to Bangladesh Banks Banking Statistics Report in the past 810 months 10928 new millionaire accounts have been added As of June 2025 the total number of millionaire accounts has reached 127336 What is particularly concerning is that 87 per cent of the new millionaires are under the age of 30 and more than 2000 of them have not yet even completed their studies the Awami League statedRaising concerns the Awami League questioned who these millionaires are and how they are amassing such abnormal wealth while the lives of ordinary people are becoming increasingly unbearable in BangladeshThree million people have lost their jobs Foreign investment is nearly zero 10928 new millionaires in just 810 months Over 2000 millionaires have not yet finished their education This growing inequality and opaque wealth accumulation is heightening social concern Without vigilance regulatory intervention and transparent policies the gap between the ordinary population and a small wealthy elite will continue to widenpotentially leading to lasting social instability the party assertedEarlier this month the Awami League stated that Bangladesh is experiencing its most severe crisis in over a decade caused by Islamist militancy extremism economic collapse unemployment a breakdown of law and order and widespread unrest under the Yunus regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-awami-league-claims-10-000-new-millionaires-emerge-as-ordinary-people-swept-by-poverty-639698.html Sat, 20 Sep 2025 22:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-envoy-in-mongolia-highlights-itecs-role-in-fostering-global-cooperation-639494.html Ulaanbaatar Sep 19 The Indian Embassy in Mongolia celebrated the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ITEC Day recently marking the 61st anniversary of the ITEC Scholarship Programme During the event Indias Ambassador to Mongolia Atul Malhari Gotsurve highlighted the important role played by ITEC in fostering global cooperation He noted that the ITEC is a demand driven programme that offers fullyfunded training courses in various sectors including IT finance governance and defence enabling professional to enhanced their skills and contribution to their countries developmentThe Embassy on Friday stated that the event honoured the enduring partnership between India and Mongolia Established on 15th September 1964 the ITEC Programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India focused on technical assistance and human resource development for developing countries The programme operates on the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutubakam the world is one family and is testament to Indias longstanding tradition of sharing its knowledge and expertiseThe ITEC Day celebration brought together around 250270 people including prominent alumni of the ITEC programme Mongolian government officials and dignitaries from various sectors in the countryThe Chief Guest of the event HE Mr Damdinnyam Gongor Minister of Industry amp Mineral Resources Government of Mongolia an ITEC Alumni appreciated and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for ITEC programme in enhancing and sharing valuable skills for working professional across key sectors of Mongolias state ministriesdepartments He also thanked Government of India for the support given in building the Oil Refinery Project at Dornogibi which will enhance the energy security of Mongolia the Embassy highlightedDuring the event several ITEC alumni shared their experiences on how the training programmes have positively impacted their careers and provided them with valuable insights about Indias culture and societyN Enkhbayar 3rd President of Mongolia A Bayar Speaker of Citizens Representative Council of Ulaanbaatar City O Nyamdavaa former Ambassador of Mongolia to India and Kh Chinbat President of the IndiaMongolia Alumni Association were also present during the eventSince its inception the ITEC Programme has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting SouthSouth cooperation The programme offers over 15000 fully funded training slots annually across a diverse range of discipline with course conducted at more than 100 premier institution in India with active participation from more than 160 countries Over 3500 professionals from Mongolia have benefited from these initiatives till now Every year 200 scholarship slots are available for Mongolian nationals the Embassy statedThe ITEC programme embodies Indias commitment to supporting the aspirations of its partners focusing on model of cooperation that is voluntary free of conditionalities and aligned with the priorities of the recipient countries It continues to be a powerful symbol of friendship and shared progress between India and Mongolia it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-envoy-in-mongolia-highlights-itecs-role-in-fostering-global-cooperation-639494.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepals-gen-z-has-paved-the-way-but-will-elections-bring-the-new-leaders-they-seek-639495.html New Delhi Sep 19 The Gen Z protests in Nepal led to the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government following which an interim government took over Gen Z may have achieved its objecting of toppling a corrupt regime but for the interim government under Sushila Karki the task ahead is uphill and extremely challenging The citizens now want corruption eradicated and the interim government has a lot of work on that front However the most daunting task for the interim government is to ensure that elections are conducted at the earliest In case of the citizens they would hope that new faces and clean politicians are in fray so that they could get a good government which delivers clean and effective governanceIf one looks at the choice of members who are part of the interim cabinet then it is clear that these people will first focus on taking on corruption head on Some of the members who are part of the cabinet are reformers and hence there is a lot of pressure on them to deliverRameshwor Khanal is a respected economist and former bureaucrat and was sworn in a finance minister Kulman Ghising is a big name in Nepal as he reformed the countrys power sector He holds the rank of energy minister The minister for home affairs is Om Prakash Aryal a human rights lawyerWith such big names the expectations too are high They have not only been tasked with cleaning up the rot and conducting elections but the people want their trust in the system restoredWhile the interim government recognised those protestors who lost their lives as martyrs it has also ensured that there would be an inquiry commission to probe the violence and arson during the protests This is tricky for the interim government since there is a chance that the blame for the violence would be entirely put on the protestors Not only will this cause unhappiness among the Gen Z but there is also a chance that the former government officials who took decisions that triggered the protests may get awayFurther the interim government also has the daunting task of rebuilding judicial institutions and police stations which lie in ruins due to the protests During the protests Singha Durbar the historic palace which served as the administrative centre since 1908 was also destroyed This would too need rebuildingThe toughest jobs in Nepal today are that of the Home and Finance Minister Security has become a major concern and this has led to a major fall in tourism This sector is one of the biggest money generators for Nepal and that has been severely affected During the protests one got to see hotels that housed tourists being attacked Some Indians too had complained that they were not allowed to return in peace due to the protests All this has put a lot of stress on the tourism industry and restoring this would be a tough taskAs a result of the uprising investor confidence in Nepal has plummeted He would have to address this issue on a war footing while also planning a budget to reconstruct and restore all that was damage during the protestsSushila Karki as interim prime minister is being watched both internally and internationally She is a high reputed person and has served as the chief justice of Nepal As she was the choice made by GenZ the citizens of Nepal have pinned all their hopes on herWhile all these issues would gradually be worked upon the big challenge is the election itself It would not just be a run of the mill process where elections are conducted in a free and fair manner The results are the real test and it is to be seen if fresh leaders who are not tainted by privilege and corruption can make the cutAfter the fall of the monarchy in 2008 Nepal has faced upheavals on many occasions The nation has managed to get through all of that However this time it is different There is plenty of rebuilding to do a lot of reconstruction and more importantly the people do not want to see the usual faces as parties during the elections whenever they are conducted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepals-gen-z-has-paved-the-way-but-will-elections-bring-the-new-leaders-they-seek-639495.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mpox-cases-in-africa-surpass-190-000-deaths-near-2-000-africa-cdc-639501.html Addis Ababa Sep 19 The number of mpox cases reported in Africa since the start of 2024 has exceeded 190000 with deaths nearing 2000 the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC said Speaking at an online media briefing Yap Boum II Deputy Incident Manager for mpox at the Africa CDC said 29 mpoxaffected African countries have reported 191559 cases since January 2024 including 53013 confirmed cases and 1999 deaths Xinhua News Agency reportedBoum noted that response efforts are showing results with both confirmed and suspected cases declining steadily in recent weeks compared to the peak around May Weekly confirmed cases have dropped by 70 per cent from 1620 in May to 491 last week alongside improvements in testing coverage the Africa CDC saidEarlier this month the World Health Organisation WHO said that the spread of mpox in Africa no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern PHEICHowever the WHO also said that lifting the emergency declaration does not mean the threat is over nor that our response will stop and we note the Africa CDCs decision that mpox remains a continental emergencyThe possibility of continued flareups and new outbreaks remains requiring adequate surveillance and response capacityOngoing efforts are needed to protect the most vulnerable groups particularly young children and people living with HIVMpox is a viral zoonotic diseaseInitial symptoms of human infection include fever headache muscle aches back pain and swollen lymph nodes which can later develop into widespread rashes on the face and bodyMost infected individuals recover within a few weeks but some may experience severe illness or even deathSince May 2022 more than 100 countries and regions worldwide have reported cases of mpoxMeanwhile the agency urged stronger communitybased surveillance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC to help contain the latest Ebola outbreak in the countryOn Thursday the World Health Organization WHO said at least 31 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC Patrick Otim an official from the WHO Regional Office for Africa told an online press briefing that 48 cases have been reported in the central province of Kasai including 38 confirmed Thirtyone patients have died while 15 remain under treatment at an Ebola center in the Bulape health zone the epicenter of the outbreak and two have been dischargedBoum emphasised the need to identify all suspected cases and effectively transfer them to treatment centers for isolation and appropriate care He said the recent recovery of two Ebola patients was very positive and encouraging news for the responseEbola is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that causes a range of symptoms such as fever vomiting diarrhea generalized pain and malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding according to the WHO IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mpox-cases-in-africa-surpass-190-000-deaths-near-2-000-africa-cdc-639501.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-pact-with-iskp-will-come-at-a-cost-expansion-into-india-639505.html New Delhi Sep 19 The recent strikes in Balochistan have raised questions about the ISIs support to the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP The Afghan Taliban has been accusing Pakistan of supporting the ISKP for some years now a charge that Islamabad strongly denies However the role of the ISKP in the recent strikes in Balochistan make amply clear that it had the complete backing of the Pakistan Army and ISI Indian agencies have stated for long that there is a nexus between the two However recent Intelligence inputs suggest that the ISI will use the ISKP more in BalochistanInitially the ISKP was used to fight against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP which Islamabad claims is backed by the Afghan Taliban Now there is a change in strategy and the ISI has asked the ISKP to go all out against the Baloch peopleProof of this development came in the form of a video released by ISKPs AlAzaim Media In this a man speaking in Pashto language says that the ISKP has declared a war on the armed Balochistan nationalist groups as well as political organisations and rights groupsWhile the ISKP claims that this war is declared because the Balochistan insurgents attacked its training camps killing 30 people in reality it is Pakistan which is pushing this terror groupIn the last couple of months Pakistan has signed mineral deals with the United States It has also inked an agreement with Afghanistan and China relating to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project 20 CPEC During the meeting in China Pakistan was told clearly that it would have to raise funds for the project It once again reminded Pakistan about the pathetic security situation in Balochistan and Islamabad must urgently fix itFurther the US is also pressuring Pakistan to restore order in Balochistan as it would be essential for the minerals deal to go through The US even did the Pakistanis a favour by declaring the Balochistan Nationalist Army BLA a terror organisation While this would give the Pakistan Army more power and accountability to fight against the BLA in reality it is having a hard timeThe Pakistan Army is facing intense heat from both the TTP and BLA and hence needs the support of the ISKP to battle these groups While the ISKPISI partnership has been in the works for sometime now this renewed push to go all out in Balochistan is a worrying development for the regionThis renewed push gives the ISKP a free hand to go about its business While this would create chaos in Balochistan one must be mindful that the biggest target for the ISKP is IndiaWhen the ISKP was first formed it made Afghanistan its base Gradually it expanded deeper into Pakistan and over a period of time won over the establishment However one must bear in mind the primary target for the ISKP is IndiaThis was the same outfit which was recruiting Indians and training them in Pakistan The ISKPs plans was to train Indians and send them back to India It had managed to recruit 21 persons from Kerala and was planning on moreThis bonhomie is worrying from another stand point also Now the ISI would give the ISKP a free hand to undertake attacks anywhere in IndiaEarlier it had ensured that the ISKP would not meddle in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab since this is the turf of the JaisheMohammad LashkareTaiba and Khalistani terrorist groupsSecurity officials say that now that the ISI is seeking so many favours from the ISKP in return the terror outfit would seek more turf in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-pact-with-iskp-will-come-at-a-cost-expansion-into-india-639505.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-election-to-interpol-asian-committee-underscores-commitment-to-jointly-address-common-challenges-mea-639508.html SingaporeNew Delhi Sep 19 India on Friday said that its election as a member of Interpol Asian Committee underscores the countrys commitment for regional cooperation to address common challenges like drug trafficking cyber crime terrorism and human trafficking Committed to address shared challenges India has been elected as a member of INTERPOL Asian Committee for the term 202529 in 25th Interpol Asian Conference in Singapore Indias membership underscores its commitment for regional cooperation to address common challenges like drug trafficking cyber crime terrorism and human trafficking Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on XThe election took place through a multistage voting process marking an important milestone in Indias engagement with international law enforcement cooperation emphasised the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI the National Central Bureau NCB for Interpol in India which serves as the national focal point for all Interpolrelated matters and facilitating international cooperation among law enforcement agenciesThe federal probe agency coordinates and processes requests for Interpol notices such as Red Notices and manages the Bharatpol portal for seamless interaction between Indian agencies and Interpol channelsThe statement said that the Interpol Asian Committee shall advise the Asian Regional Conference in the execution of its mandate and facilitate the deliberations at the session of the Asian Regional Conference by providing a clear understanding of the strategic and operational issues at stakeThe Committee shall identify regional strategic priorities in the fight against crime and police cooperation issues specific to the region said the statementIndias membership will further enhance regional cooperation particularly in addressing pressing challenges such as organised crime cybercrime human trafficking terrorism and drug trafficking it saidThis achievement underscores Indias proactive participation in international policing initiatives its commitment to the Global Policing Goals and its efforts to reinforce security cooperation in the AsiaPacific region the CBI saidIt follows a history of Indian representation at the highest levels of Interpol and demonstrates Indias growing global leadership in law enforcement and transnational security mattersThe Committee will meet annually to deliberate on regional security issues and provide guidance for coordinated actions among member countriesIndia was represented in the Asian Regional Conference by a delegation from CBI Indias victory is attributed to an intensive and coordinated campaign by Indian diplomats EmbassiesHigh Commissions and National Central Bureau NCBIndia which sought crucial support from friendly nations through bilateral and multilateral engagements said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-election-to-interpol-asian-committee-underscores-commitment-to-jointly-address-common-challenges-mea-639508.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-sees-surge-in-religious-violence-under-yunus-regime-global-advocacy-group-639517.html Dhaka Sep 19 A leading international advocacy group has highlighted the alarming rise in religious violence in Bangladesh that extends beyond minority persecution under the Muhammad Yunusled interim government In its report titled The Burning of Shrines Bangladeshs Spiritual and Cultural Soul Under Attack Canadabased Global Centre for Democratic Governance GCDG noted that while Hindu Christian Ahmadiyya and indigenous communities have faced documented violence and repression widespread attacks have also targetted sacred sites within the majority Muslim community specifically Sufi shrines dargahs and pilgrimage centres that are deeply rooted in Bangladeshi Bengali spiritual and cultural traditionSince August 2024 attacks on over 100 Sufi shrines and sacred sites have occurred with chilling regularity across the country In many cases the attackers armed with local weapons have carried out acts of destruction in broad daylight sometimes even in the presence of law enforcement officers who have been widely criticised for their inaction the GCDG statedSuch acts of religious desecration are not isolated cases They reflect a broader campaign to erase the syncretic spiritual identity of Bangladesh These shrines often built around the graves of Sufi saints and revered preachers have long been pilgrimage destinations for people of all backgrounds seeking peace healing and divine blessings it addedThe advocacy group emphasised that the ongoing attacks are being interpreted by many as part of a deeper cultural assault an attempt by extremist groups to supplant Bangladeshs diverse and tolerant religious traditions with a narrow militant and imported ideologyAccording to GCDG the symbolic destruction of shrines and the simultaneous targetting of markets and cultural spaces suggest a coordinated strategy to impose a more radical socioreligious order in the countryExpressing deep concern the advocacy group said that the most troubling is the silence or failure of the Yunusled interim government to act against the wave of religious violence and shrine attacks sweeping across BangladeshThe lack of decisive action from the interim government has emboldened extremists and left the general public gripped by fear and uncertainty Many now believe that unless the state decisively intervenes Bangladesh risks becoming a fertile ground for Talibanstyle fanaticism the GCDG assertedIn a nation founded on pluralism and cultural resilience this wave of extremism poses an existential threat The urgent need of the moment is that civil society law enforcement and spiritual leaders must come together to resist the violence before the damage to Bangladeshs soul becomes irreversible it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-sees-surge-in-religious-violence-under-yunus-regime-global-advocacy-group-639517.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/young-christian-man-in-pakistan-faces-turmoil-amid-false-blasphemy-charges-639520.html Islamabad Sep 19 Another young Christian mans life in Pakistan has plunged into crisis following a false blasphemy accusation exposing the dark side of these laws that have long been weaponised against vulnerable communities said a leading minority rights group on Friday The Voice of Pakistan Minority VOPM mentioned Asher Rasheed Bhatti has been forced into hiding after being accused of posting derogatory content about Prophet Muhammad in a social media post However it noted that the accusation may not be as straightforward as it appearsAccording to VOPM Asher claimed to be the victim of a malicious attack orchestrated by his uncle Paul Samuel Masih who allegedly created a fake social media account in his name to frame him for an offence he did not commitThe case which has rattled the community and caught national attention began on September 14 2025 when Muhammad Umair a local bookshop owner discovered what he described as blasphemous sketches and derogatory content posted on a Facebook account under the name Asher Bhatti Umairs allegation triggered an FIR First Information Report at Nishtar Colony Police Station under Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code PPC a law that carries a mandatory death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defiling the name of Prophet Muhammad said the rights bodyThis law which has caused immeasurable suffering to many innocent people in Pakistan stands as a sword of Damocles over the lives of religious minorities particularly Christians like Asher Bhatti it addedNasir Saeed Director of the United Kingdombased charitable group CLAASUK Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement has called this case a tragic example of how blasphemy laws are grossly misused in PakistanThis case is not unique Thousands of innocent people including women and children are languishing in prisons under false blasphemy charges Tragically some have been murdered by vigilantes before their cases even went to trial VOPM quoted Saeed as sayingThis law is being abused to settle personal grudges inflame communal tensions and target vulnerable groups Social media has become a powerful tool in this misuse with false cases being fabricated to harm individuals and incite hatred he addedThe VOPM asserted that the case of Asher is a stark reminder of the deep flaws in Pakistans blasphemy laws which allow for accusations to be made without evidence and punishment to be swift and mercilessAs Asher hides in an undisclosed location his fate hangs in the balance the rights body noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/young-christian-man-in-pakistan-faces-turmoil-amid-false-blasphemy-charges-639520.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-tops-in-fdi-stocks-in-nepal-639522.html Kathmandu Sep 9 Even though China maintains that it has topped Foreign Direct Investment FDI commitments to Nepal in recent years it is actually India which continues to rule the roost when it comes to the actual stock of FDI prevailing in the country According to a study released recently by the Nepal Rastra Bank NRB the Central Bank the FDI stock from India topped the chart FDI stock is the total accumulated value of Foreign Direct Investments over timeAccording to the Survey Report on Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal 202324 total FDI stock in Nepal stood at Rs 333 billion in fiscal year 202324 with paidup capital accounting for 507 per cent reserves 367 per cent and loans 126 per centOf the total FDI stock India ranked in the top position 323 per cent followed by China 102 per cent Singapore 83 per cent Ireland 69 per cent and South Korea 61 per centIndia has topped the chart at a time when Chinese investors have been making huge FDI commitments consistently leading the chart over the last decade according to the Department of Industry where industries including those with FDI are registered Till midJune of fiscal year 202425 Chinese investment commitments to Nepal topped the chart with 4477 per cent followed by India with 1955 per cent the department saidIndia continuing to have dominant FDI stocks in Nepal suggests that huge FDI pledges from China have not been realised to the maximum levels Prakash Kumar Shrestha former Executive Director of NRB told IANS On the other hand Indian FDI stocks in Nepal have remained since the early 1990s and recently Nepal received huge Indian investment to develop the 900 MW Arun 3 Hydropower Project in eastern Nepal he addedIndias SJVN Limited a stateowned company has been developing one of the largest hydropower projects in Nepal which is now nearing completionThe same Indian company has also been awarded two other hydropower projects the 669MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project and the 490MW Arun4 Hydropower Project The latter will be developed in partnership with the Nepal Electricity AuthorityRajesh Kumar Agrawal former President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries CNI a representative body of medium and large scale industries said Indias FDI stock continues to remain high because of the significant FDI Nepal received in the 1990s when companies including Unilever Nepal Dabur Nepal and Arati Strips Pvt Ltd among others established in Nepal with investment from IndiaEven though Chinese investment commitments have surpassed Indias in recent years it will take time for the realisation of Chinese investment commitments in Nepal he told IANSNot all FDI commitments are realised according to experts It depends on several factors investment climate market availability investor mentality the situation of alternative markets among others said Shrestha IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-tops-in-fdi-stocks-in-nepal-639522.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-insurers-face-record-claims-over-gen-z-protest-damages-639342.html Kathmandu Sep 18 The destruction of properties during the recent GenZ protests in Nepal has triggered the largestever insurance claims in Nepals history from a single incident with claims reaching close to NPR 21 billion to date NPR1NPR16 According to data released by the Nepal Insurance Authority the regulator of the insurance sector on Thursday nonlife insurers have received 1984 claims from insured individuals with claims of NPR 207 billion by September 16 which is a record high for damages in a single incidentWith assessments of losses being undergone the claims are expected to rise further The claims received by insurers so far is more than the claims during the 2015 earthquake when claims had reached NPR 165 billion Nepal had also launched an insurance scheme in 2020 to cover the risk of COVID19 and insurers had received claims exceeding NPR 16 billion according to the regulatorThe Oriental Insurance Company Limited a branch of Indias Oriental Insurance has received the largest amount of claims till September 16 according to the data released by the authorityThe company alone has received claims of NPR 514 billion across 40 cases The bulk of this is said to have come from Hotel Hilton Kathmandu which suffered one of the heaviest losses during the protestsSiddhartha Premier Insurance and Shikhar Insurance IGI Prudential Insurance Sagarmatha Lumbini and Company come into the top five positions in terms of receiving the highest amount of claimsSome of the major business enterprises alone have reported damages worth over NPR 60 billion according to an official of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries CNI a business body which is collecting details of damages to the properties of the private sectorThe latest protests saw major properties gutted by fire including the Hilton Kathmandu Hotel several outlets of BhatBhateni Supermarket the largest retail chain of Nepal the headquarters of Ncell the private sector telecommunication company an assembly plant and vehicle showroom of Chaudhary Group owned by Binod Chaudhary Nepals only billionaire listed by Forbes among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-insurers-face-record-claims-over-gen-z-protest-damages-639342.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-committee-chairman-meets-indian-envoy-to-us-hails-india-as-essential-partner-639343.html Washington Sep 19 Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra met with House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar RMI and discussed the significance of the IndiaUS relationship According to a statement issued by the Select Committee on Thursday they spoke about regional security manufacturing trade and efforts to shift critical manufacturing from China to IndiaMoeelenar termed India as an essential partner for global security which has experienced the Chinese Communist partys aggression firsthandIndia is the worlds largest democracy and an essential partner for global stability It has experienced CCP aggression firsthand and is a major US security partner with an increasingly close defense industrial relationship that helps protect the American people he addedMoolenaar also called New Delhi a global leader in countering malign CCPdirected technology and social media companiesIt India recognizes that it cannot be a free and secure nation if it allows the CCP to manipulate and control information to its people Todays meeting with Ambassador Kwatra reaffirmed the USIndia strategic partnership and I am hopeful our two countries will continue to build an even stronger friendship grounded in common values said MoolenaarThe Committee statement highlighted Indias banning of TikTok and other Chinese apps after clashes in the Galwan Valley between Indian and Chinese soldiers in 2020According to the readout they also discussed the security partnership of Quad and efforts to counter the Chinese Communist Partys expansionist ambitionsThe meeting comes days after Vinay Kwatra called on the US Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby at the PentagonA productive conversation with the brilliant Elbridge Colby Reviewed the current agenda and charted actionable path on several initiatives in the pipeline of IndiaUS defence cooperation Value his deep knowledge perspective and consistent support for our strategic partnership Kwatra wrote on X on ThursdayColby also posted about the meeting calling it a valuable discussionI was very pleased to host AmbVMKwatra at the Pentagon earlier this week for a valuable discussion We at the Department of War look forward to continuing to elevate our critical defense cooperation with India he wrote on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-committee-chairman-meets-indian-envoy-to-us-hails-india-as-essential-partner-639343.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-trying-to-retake-key-afghan-air-base-639344.html Washington Sep 19 US President Donald Trump revealed that his administration is attempting to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan asserting that its required due the proximity to Chinas nuclear facilities Were trying to get it back by the way Were trying to get it back because they need things from us We want that base back One of the reasons we want the base is as you know its an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons Trump said during his press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday at Chequers in the United KingdomTrump made the plan public four years after the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from AfghanistanHe once again criticised the previous Biden administration for the Afghanistan disaster and linked it to the conflict in UkraineHe Putin would have never done what he did except that he didnt respect the leadership of the United States Trump addedBagram is located 44 kilometres north of the capital Kabul and was the biggest US military base in Afghanistan and the military centre of the 20year US occupation of the countryIts not the first time Trump has raised the issue of Bagram airbase In March he claimed that Beijing controlled itWe were going to get out but we were going to keep Bagram not because of Afghanistan but because of China because its exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles And you know whos occupying it right now China he saidAt the time the Taliban had rejected the allegationsBagram is controlled by the Islamic Emirate Taliban regime not China Chinese troops are not present here nor do we have any such pact with any country Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the official broadcaster IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-trying-to-retake-key-afghan-air-base-639344.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-unveils-progress-report-on-structural-reforms-program-realignments-639348.html United Nations Sep 19 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres unveiled a progress report on structural reforms and program realignments under the third workstream of the UN80 Initiative In the report shared with UN member states the UN chief outlined proposals for paradigmshifting changes in the United Nations structure in the way its entities collaborate and in how it operates Xinhua news agency reportedThe report Shifting Paradigms United to Deliver sets out proposals to strengthen the United Nations delivery across all three pillars of its work peace and security sustainable development and human rights while also advancing more effective collaboration across the pillars according to a press release issued by the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN SecretaryGeneralIt launches a new humanitarian compact to cut bureaucracy and integrate billions of dollars in global supply chains establishes a systemwide human rights group to coordinate human rights systematically across all UN activities and proposes the creation of a UN System Data Commons and a Technology Accelerator Platform to drive the modernization of the system the release saidThe report complements earlier reports on efficiency and on the mandate implementation review Issued before the UN General Assemblys HighLevel Week scheduled to kick off next week the report is intended to inform UN member state deliberations on ways to strengthen the UN system the release saidThis is a work in progress We look forward to working with Member States as owners of the process to realize our common ambition a UN system that is more coherent more effective and better equipped to serve We the Peoples Guterres said in the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-chief-unveils-progress-report-on-structural-reforms-program-realignments-639348.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 07:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-justice-department-urges-sc-to-allow-firing-of-federal-governor-lisa-cook-639349.html Washington Sep 19 The US Justice Department urged the Supreme Court to put US President Donald Trumps firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook into effect Solicitor General D John Sauer wrote in an application that the lower courts decisions flout many strands of this Courts precedents local media reported ThursdayThe application may spark a highstake battle at the Supreme Court over the independence of the Fed Xinhua news agency reportedTrump fired Cook on August 25 over alleged mortgage fraud Cook denied any wrongdoing and filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington DC on August 28 A judge ruled on September 9 temporarily blocking Trumps removal of CookThe Trump administration then took the case to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ahead of the Fed meeting but the court rejected Trumps bid to remove Cook on Monday just hours before the Feds twoday meeting kicked offCook participated in the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday and joined the majority in voting for a quarterpoint cutBeing an appointee of former US President Joe Biden Cook has served on the Fed since being appointed to complete another members unexpired term in 2022 and her current term would run until 2038Cook who made history as the first Black woman to serve as a Federal Reserve governor filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump in August challenging his attempt to remove her from office She argues that the reasons cited by Trump were legally insufficient and served merely as a pretext to oust her due to disagreements over monetary policyIn a filing submitted on Thursday the Justice Department stated that as long as a president cites a cause for removal that decision falls within the scope of his unreviewable discretion IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-justice-department-urges-sc-to-allow-firing-of-federal-governor-lisa-cook-639349.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yemens-houthis-claim-multiple-attacks-on-israeli-cities-639358.html Sanaa Sep 19 Yemens Houthi group said it launched a longrange hypersonic ballistic missile and three drones on three cities in Israel In a televised statement aired by Houthirun alMasirah TV the groups military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the missile targeted a military target in the city of Jaffa Tel Aviv while the three drones hit targets in the city of Beer Sheva and the port city of Eilat Xinhua news agency reportedEilat will remain under the continuous targeting of our military operations Sarea saidMeanwhile the Israel Defense Forces IDF said in a statement that a drone hit a hotel in Eilat and damaged its gate while the missile and other drones from Yemen were intercepted No casualties were reportedThe Israeli military says a drone launched from the east crashed in the southern city of Eilat causing material damage but no casualtiesThe drone reportedly fell in the citys hotel zoneAccording to Israeli media following the launch air defense sirens were activated in large areas of central Israel including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area sending millions rushing to sheltersThe Houthis who control much of northwestern Yemen have launched attacks at Israel since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 Israel in response conducts retaliatory strikes on Houthiheld areasThe Houthis say their attacks aim to show solidarity with Palestinians demanding an end to the war and blockade in Gaza IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yemens-houthis-claim-multiple-attacks-on-israeli-cities-639358.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-return-to-bagram-faces-logistical-diplomatic-challenges-639402.html New Delhi Sep 19 US President Donald Trump on Thursday again publicly stated that he is considering a return to the strategic Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan It has been four years since the Americanled International Security Assistance Force ISAF withdrew from the airbase which is about 60 km north of Kabul He had earlier suggested the idea which must have resulted from a deep probe long discussions and a detailed briefing by his team of advisorsIncidentally the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan was signed with the Taliban in Doha on February 29 2020 during the first term of President Trump The Taliban returned to power in Kabul after USled forces hastily withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021Hours after Trump shared his thoughts Zakir Jalaly a Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul replied on X Afghanistan and America need to interact with each other and can have economic and political relations based on mutual respect and shared interests without the US having a military presence in any part of AfghanistanReferring to the agreement he added Military presence has never been accepted by Afghans throughout history and this possibility was completely rejected during the Doha talks and agreement however the doors are open for further interactionsFor the US Bagram can be an ideal intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance hub to monitor South Central and West Asia It would enable regional counter terrorism operations maintain an airlift and refueling node for rapid regional response and provide a forward platform to monitor activities in the areaIn April this year there were reports about a US military aircraft operating under radio silence and with its transponder blocked apparently flying from Doha toward Afghanistan It was said to have been tracked near Bagram Air Base sparking speculation of a US visit or temporary presence at the baseThe claims remain unverified and the Taliban administration denied that it has handed over Bagram or that US personnel have landed there calling such reports false or propagandaSome experts had warned the sightings could be misinformation or a psychological operation noting flighttracking anomalies and a lack of primarysource verificationFor the US to reclaim the Bagram airfield would involve astute diplomacy and leverage it may not purely be a kinetic reentryThough Beijing has been quietly following the developments Chinese and Hong Kong Englishlanguage media coverage framed Trumps remarks as geopolitically sensitiveThe Wakhan Corridor situated in Afghanistans Badakhshan Province connects Chinas Xinjiang region where the Uyghur ethnic group is demanding an independent state for themselvesThis autonomous region in northwest China borders several Central Asian countriesAnalysts quoted in regional reporting warned that Beijing would view any renewed US military presence in Afghanistan as destabilising for regional security and a potential escalation in USChina rivalryThe move would also involve spending several billion dollars on largescale military commitment heavy defensive and sustainment requirements repairing refurbishing and then continuously resupplying a large isolated air base in a landlocked countryAdditionally it would be a costly logistical process and demand longterm force protection and sustainment capabilitiesEven after occupation the base would need continuous clearing and defense of a massive perimeter to prevent rocket mortar and infiltration attacks from insurgents and hostile militant groups IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-return-to-bagram-faces-logistical-diplomatic-challenges-639402.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-nepal-pm-oli-breaks-silence-says-police-never-had-automatic-weapons-used-during-gen-z-protests--639425.html Kathmandu Sep 9 IANS Nepals former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Friday claimed that shots fired from the automatic weapons during the first day of GenZ protests in Nepal on September 8 which led to the death of 19 people were not in the possession of the police authoritiesnbspOli who resigned on September 9 amid violent street protests against his rule claimed in a statement that his government had not issued any orders to fire directly at the demonstrators The use of automatic weapons not in police possession must be investigated he saidThe former Prime Minister claimed that the youths were killed during the protests because of violence unleashed by conspirators who infiltrated the protests Never in the past movements such a large number of people were killed in a single daynbspAccording to the Police at least 72 people have been confirmed dead from the GenZ protest related events including those who were found dead at the Bhatbhateni Supermarket burnt down by the group of protestorsOli sees conspiracy behind arson attacks on Singh Durbar the main administrative centre of the government parliamentary building judiciary Supreme Court building and other court buildings business enterprises offices of the political parties their leaders and cadresnbspOlis own house located in the Balkot area of Bhaktapur about four kilometres away from Kathmandu was badly damaged in an arson attack The houses of other former Prime Ministers including Sher Bahadur Deuba Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Jhalanth Khanal were also targettedAs the violent protests targetted houses of Oli and other top leaders Oli came under the protection of the Nepal Army He left the army protection on Thursday and reportedly moved to a rented accommodation at Gundu area of Bhaktapur some 12 kms away from KathmanduOli has faced widespread criticism for taking the Himalayan nation downhill under his leadership Critics assert that during his Prime Ministership Oli always tried to present an image that the country was on the path to prosperity even though many corruption scandals surfaced during the period Oli himself was allegedly linked with many of those scandalsFollowing the forced exit of Oli a new apolitical government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been formed with the mandate of holding the parliamentary elections within six months Next elections for the House of Representatives have been scheduled for March 5 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-nepal-pm-oli-breaks-silence-says-police-never-had-automatic-weapons-used-during-gen-z-protests--639425.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/world-food-programme-warns-of-rising-hunger-in-afghanistan-calls-for-urgent-aid-639456.html Kabul Sep 19 The World Food Programme WFP has warned that hunger in Afghanistan is increasing sharply and raised demand for urgent funding to deliver aid before winter isolates vulnerable communities across the nation The WFP has voiced concern over deepening hunger crisis in Afghanistan warning that millions of people face worsening insecurity as repeated crisis affect resources Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reportedOn September 18 the agency said urgent funding is required to provide food before winter cuts off remote villages leaving families without important suppliesWFPs Deputy Executive Director Rania Dagash Kamara stated that needs remain vast and immediate and warned that millions of more Afghans could be pushed into extreme hunger in the coming months if new resources are not providedThe crisis has been further exacerbated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR decision to suspend cash assistance programmes across the nation after September 9 following restrictions imposed on female staffThe disruption harsh weather and dwindling aid pipelines have left thousands of vulnerable households without support at a critical time Expressing concern over the situation UNICEF said that more than 95 million people in Afghanistan face severe food insecurity with 16 million facing emergencylevel conditionsUNICEF warned that the children are among the most impacted with malnutrition rates increasing sharply and urgent international support required to stop longterm damageThe warnings highlight how political challenges lack of funding and aid restrictions are exacerbating Afghanistans humanitarian crisis The situation could further deteriorate if global supply is not provided Humanitarian agencies continue to urge donors to increase funding and on authorities to lift restrictions so that lifesaving aid can reach those who need it the mostLast week the United Nations has said that more than 47 million women and children in Afghanistan urgently require malnutrition treatment as drought economic collapse and reduced aid would lead to nation facing deeper humanitarian crisisSpeaking to reporters UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that Afghanistans food security situation remains alarming He stated that one in every four Afghans faces severe food insecurity with children being the most impacted Khaama Press reportedThe World Food Programme WFP stated that Afghanistan has seen its highest levels of acute malnutrition in 2025 Many impacted children have been admitted for urgent treatment in Kabuls Indira Gandhi hospitalAccording to the United Nations more than 47 million women and children need immediate care Aid officials warned that rising malnutrition could cause widespread fatalities and longterm health consequences if timely interventions are not made IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/world-food-programme-warns-of-rising-hunger-in-afghanistan-calls-for-urgent-aid-639456.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/typhoon-mitag-makes-landfall-in-south-chinas-guangdong-639457.html Guangzhou Sep 19 Typhoon Mitag the 17th typhoon of this year made landfall in south Chinas Guangdong Province at about 250 pm Friday according to the provincial meteorological observatory The typhoon with the maximum wind force near its center reaching 25 metres per second churned ashore at Shanwei City in GuangdongMeteorological authorities forecast that Mitag will continue moving to the northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 kilometres per hour and gradually weaken as it moves inland Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on September 18 Chinas State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters had activated a LevelIV emergency response for south Chinas Guangdong ProvinceTyphoon Mitag was forecasted to make landfall along the Guangdong coast between Huilai and Taishan from Friday afternoon to evening bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to most parts of the province according to meteorological forecastsDue to its impact torrential rainstorms were expected to affect parts of Guangdong and east Chinas Fujian Province from Friday to Sunday the National Meteorological Centre saidHeavy rains or rainstorms are also forecast for some regions in east Chinas Jiangxi central Chinas Hunan and Guangxi and Hainan both located in south China during the same periodThe national observatory has urged local authorities to implement emergency measures in preparation for the typhoon and potential flooding and geological disasters that may be triggered by the heavy rainfallChina has a fourtier emergency response system with Level I being the most severe responseEarlier on September 8 Tapah the 16th typhoon of this year had made landfall in south Chinas Guangdong Province forcing school closures and the evacuation of tens of thousands of residentsThe typhoon with maximum winds of up to 30 metres per second near its centre had churned ashore in Taishan a countylevel city in Jiangmen CityClasses were suspended for about 120000 students at 182 schools and kindergartens in Taishan while more than 41000 people across Jiangmen were evacuated to safer areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/typhoon-mitag-makes-landfall-in-south-chinas-guangdong-639457.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indonesia-grapples-with-fuel-shortages-at-private-stations-public-voices-concern-639251.html Jakarta Sep 18 A shortage of fuel stocks at private filling stations in Indonesia since August has sparked widespread complaints with some workers losing their jobs as companies scale back operations Local media reported Thursday that fuel supplies at nearly all private stations including Shell and British Petroleum BP remain depleted These companies which primarily operate in major cities have been unable to meet demand leaving motorists with little choice but to rely on stateowned PertaminaFor many Indonesians Shell and BP serve as alternatives to Pertamina But the ongoing scarcity has disrupted daily routinesI have been coming to the Shell station every morning since last week hoping they are already in stock But they are not said Muhammad Dika a resident of Bekasi West Java Drivers are forced to switch again and again to other stations Xinhua News Agency reportedIn Depok 29yearold Ibrahim Hanif said he had not driven his car for days because Shell and BP stations near him were out of stockShell Indonesia confirmed Tuesday that the company had cut operating hours reduced workdays and placed some employees on temporary leaveThe adjustments are necessary due to difficulties in securing supplies of fuel products said Ingrid Siburian the companys president Director and Managing Director mobility as quoted by local mediaIndonesia Southeast Asias largest economy produces crude oil domestically but still depends heavily on imports of refined products due to limited refinery capacityThe Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources attributed the shortage to a surge in demand for nonsubsidized fuel at private stations which quickly exhausted their import quotasThat is the dynamic that happens there is indeed a shift Actually this is just a consumption dynamic said Laode Sulaeman director general of oil and gas at the ministryThis is the second shortage private companies have faced this year following similar disruptions between late January and early FebruaryBahlil Lahadalia minister for energy and mineral resources urged private oil firms to collaborate with Pertamina to ensure fuel availability and prevent further hardshipWhy Because this concerns the livelihoods of many people Industrial sectors that impact the livelihoods of many people must remain under state control to ensure everything runs smoothly Lahadalia said on Monday in JakartaHe added that the government would continue to monitor the ground situation including potential impacts on the workforce and coordinate with Pertamina to quickly address shortages at private stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indonesia-grapples-with-fuel-shortages-at-private-stations-public-voices-concern-639251.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-and-bhutan-review-and-approve-high-impact-community-development-projects-639264.html Thimphu Sep 18 India and Bhutan on Thursday reviewed and approved 297 projects of total amount Nu 406 billion Rs 406 crore as the second batch of High Impact Community Development Projects HICDPs for the 13th Five Year Plan FYP period The decision was taken during the 2nd IndiaBhutan HICDP Committee Meeting held between officials of the two countries in Thimphu on ThursdayThe Indian delegation at the meeting was led by Aniket G Mandavgane Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of India in Thimphu while the Bhutanese side was led by Pema Tshomo Director Bilateral Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External TradeHICDPs are smallsized projects having a short implementation timeline covering areas such as rural connectivity drinking water supply irrigation agriculture infrastructure flood protection tourism development township infrastructure development waste management They are implemented by the local governments particularly in rural and semiurban areasFor the 13th Five Year Plan period of Bhutan the Government of India has committed assistance of Nu 100 billion INR 10000 crore of which Nu 10 billion INR 1000 crore has been earmarked for HICDPsAccording to a statement issued by the Embassy of India in Bhutan the meeting also reviewed the progress in implementation of the first batch of HICDP projects and approved its revision to 275 projects of total amount Nu 440 billion INR 440 croreThese projects are expected to enhance accessibility and economic opportunities for the local communities and contribute to improved livelihoods job opportunities and food securityThe meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere in keeping with the unique and enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries read the statementEarlier this month Je Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choedra the Chief Abbot of Bhutan accompanied by Tshering Tobgay Prime Minister of Bhutan visited India for the Consecration Ceremony of the Royal Bhutan Temple at Rajgir in BiharFollowing the Consecration Ceremony the Bhutanese Prime Minister also visited the Shri Ram Temple at Ayodhya IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-and-bhutan-review-and-approve-high-impact-community-development-projects-639264.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-president-meets-visiting-russian-minister-says-era-of-unipolar-world-over-639292.html Tehran Sep 18 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asserted that the cooperation between independent nations like Iran and Russia signals the end of global unipolarity Pezeshkian made the comment during his meeting with visiting Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev in Tehran where he stressed that nations can achieve growth without relying on unilateral powers the local media reported on Thursday During his meeting with Tsivilev Pezeshkian expressed optimism about the ongoing cooperation between Iran and Russia and spoke about expediting the implementation of bilateral agreementsAccording to Irans leading Tasnim News Agency Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised the determination shared by two nations in realising their agreements especially in transportation energy and power generation sectors He highlighted the importance of transforming the outcomes from expert meetings into actionable results calling on ministers and technical teams to make efforts to achieve these goalsIranian President expressed hope that the diplomatic exchanges between Iran and Russia would result in broader development of their friendly ties He urged Tsivilev to convey his warm greetings to Russian President Vladimir PutinIn response Sergei Tsivilev conveyed Putins greetings and shared details regarding his meeting with various officials in Iran to discuss the implementation of bilateral agreements especially those created during the joint economic commissionHe expressed Russias readiness to swiftly implement the bilateral agreements and added that hat no hindrance pressure or sanctions can impact the trade and economic cooperation between the two nationsEarlier this month Russian President Vladimir Putin met Pezeshkian on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Summit in Chinas TianjinIn a statement shared on X Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated President Vladimir Putin to President Dr Pezeshkian during talks on the sidelines of SCO Summit I want to especially highlight friendly nature of our relations and the truly special character of the multifaceted ties RussiaIran IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iranian-president-meets-visiting-russian-minister-says-era-of-unipolar-world-over-639292.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/despite-pakistans-spin-saudi-pact-unlikely-to-alter-riyadhs-robust-ties-with-india-639296.html New Delhi Sep 18 India said that it is following the developments after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed The Strategic Mutual Agreement The agreement says that any aggression against either country shall be considered as an aggression against both Pakistan is ecstatic about the agreement but would deep within know that it is just posturing since the deal does not name any countryPakistan would make it sound as though if there is any aggression against it then Saudi Arabia will dispatch its aircraft to aid Islamabad Pakistan does view it as a major diplomatic victory as the wordings of the agreement state attack on one equals attack on bothWhat Pakistan should be mindful of is that India has never been the aggressor Operation Sindoor was executed to avenge the Pulwama attack Balakot to avenge the Pulwama terror strikes and surgical strikes were carried out in the aftermath of the Uri terror attacksMoreover Saudi Arabia is Indias ally and is well aware that it was Pakistan which was the aggressor as a result of which India hit back as it has every right to protect itselfWhat Pakistan could be happy about this agreement marks a strategic shift in relations with Saudi Arabia The two nations have had an informal partnership in defence for several decades This agreement formalises security cooperation between the two countries Pakistan may also be relieved that some agreement has been signed after years of sour tiesTo the question whether Saudi Arabia will go to war with India for the sake of Pakistan the experts say it is a firm no First and foremost Saudi has delinked the pact from its ties with India Saudi made it clear that relations with India are robust and the same would continue to growMoreover Saudi Arabia would not want trade relations with India to fail Saudi is the the fourth largest trading partner while New Delhi is second for Riyadh The two nations share deep economic ties and in FY 202425 bilateral trade stood at 4188 billion There is too much at stake here for both countriesNow compare this with the 34 billion bilateral trade that Pakistan and Saudi haveIndia has responded cautiously and said that this agreement only formalises a long standing agreement between Saudi and PakistanWhile Pakistan may try and state that this is a message to India one must also look at the timing of this agreement This comes at a time when Israel attacked Doha to target the Hamas leadershipThis strike has sent jitters in the Arab world and they suspect that Israel with the tactical support of US President Donald Trump may undertake more such strikesWhile India and Saudi have shared ties for long it was further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiDuring his April 2025 visit the two countries signed many agreements that covered energy space health sports and plans to establish two oil refineries in IndiaWhile Pakistan may portray that this agreement is a message to India in reality it is to do with the situation in Gaza The Arab world wants a regrouping of the Islamic nations not against India but against Israel Hence once must read into the timing while decoding the agreement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/despite-pakistans-spin-saudi-pact-unlikely-to-alter-riyadhs-robust-ties-with-india-639296.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/at-least-31-dead-in-latest-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-who-639297.html Kinshasa Sep 18 At least 31 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC a World Health Organisation WHO official said Thursday Patrick Otim an official from the WHO Regional Office for Africa told an online press briefing that 48 cases have been reported in the central province of Kasai including 38 confirmed 31 patients have died while 15 remain under treatment at an Ebola centre in the Bulape health zone the epicentre of the outbreak and two have been discharged Xinhua News Agency reportedAccording to Otim a vaccination campaign has begun with about 760 doses already delivered to Bulape More than 500 health workers and close contacts of confirmed cases have been inoculated and 45000 additional doses are expected in the national capital Kinshasa in the coming days He noted however that Bulapes remote location poses logistical challenges particularly for coldchain transportThe official said transmission has slowed following interventions but urged continued vigilance stressing the need for faster testing tracing and vaccinationWe are seeing that there is a slowing down of transmission It is very good progress that we can build upon We are quite certain that if we continue on this trajectory along with the rollout of vaccination we should be able to control this outbreak as soon as possible said OtimThe DRC government declared the outbreak on September 4 in Kasai marking the countrys 16th outbreak since Ebola was first identified in 1976 The previous outbreak ended in September 2022 after a single case was confirmed in North Kivu Province Genetic testing later linked it to the 20182020 epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri that killed nearly 2300 peopleEbola is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that causes a range of symptoms such as fever vomiting diarrhea generalized pain and malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding according to the WHO IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/at-least-31-dead-in-latest-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-who-639297.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-radical-islamist-party-slams-khaleda-zias-bnp-over-pr-system-639306.html Dhaka Sep 18 In an escalating political standoff ahead of February 2026 elections the radical Islamist party Islami Andolan Bangladesh IAB has severely criticised the Khaleda Zialed Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP for objecting to the Proportional Representation PR system despite its claim of having public support local media reported on Thursday If BNP really trusts the people why should PR be a problem for them Let them win 90 per cent of the votes and form a singleparty government with 270 seats we will have no objection Why cant the BNP place its trust in the people Bangladeshs leading newspaper The Daily Star quoted IABs leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim as saying at a rally organised at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in DhakaHold a referendum on PR If the people reject PR then we will also drop our demand Our demands are clear Reforms must be carried out the July Charter must be given legal recognition trials must be visible and the election must be held under the PR system These are peoples demands he claimedThe Islamist party leader also questioned the Muhammad Yunusled interim government for not accepting their demandsIf you proceed with the election before reforms and trials we will assume the government is leaning towards a particular party he addedReports suggest that a total of seven Islamic parties including JamaateIslami Islami Andolan and KhilafateMajlis organised separate processions and rallies across Dhaka on Thursday reiterating common demands such as implementing the July Charter introducing the PR system and a level playing field to ensure a free fair and acceptable electionOn Tuesday the BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed affirmed that his party is totally opposed to the PR systemWe are against PR everywhere both the lower and upper house If any party wants it they should put it in their manifesto and seek a mandate from the people If the people support it only then can they legislate he saidThe BNP leader also called the threeday protest programmes announced by the Islamist parties an apparent attempt to derail the next years electionThe parties that earlier collaborated with Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina are now at loggerheads over reform proposals IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-radical-islamist-party-slams-khaleda-zias-bnp-over-pr-system-639306.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/on-uk-trip-us-president-trump-highlights-his-very-good-relationship-with-pm-modi-639310.html Washington Sep 18 IANS US President Donald Trump on Thursday spoke about IndiaUS ties and his recent phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying hes very close to India and has a very good relationship with the Indian PMnbspWhile addressing a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before concluding his UK visit on Thursday Trump recalled his discussions with PM ModinbspIm very close to India Im very close to the Prime Minister of India The other day wished him a happy birthday We have a very good relationship He put out a beautiful statement too Trump saidIn their first phone conversation in months Trump had called Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday to wish him on his 75th birthdaynbspPrime Minister Modi in a post on X termed Trump as his friend and thanked him for the wishesnbspThank you my friend President Trump for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday Like you I am also fully committed to taking the IndiaUS Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict PM Modi wrotePresident Trump also posted on Truth Social calling the phone call wonderful and thanked him for his support in attempting to end the conflict in UkrainenbspJust had a wonderful phone call with my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi I wished him a very Happy Birthday He is doing a tremendous job Narendra Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine he saidThe phone call happened on the day US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch held trade talks with Indias chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in DelhinbspBoth sides termed the discussions as positivenbspTrump during the press conference also said hes willing to take action against Russia only if other European countries join innbspIm willing to do other things but not when the people that Im fighting for are buying oil from Russia if the oil price comes down very simply Russia will settle he added https://dailyworld.in/international/on-uk-trip-us-president-trump-highlights-his-very-good-relationship-with-pm-modi-639310.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/uzbekistan-experts-from-10-nations-discuss-yogas-growing-popularity-in-central-asia-639320.html Tashkent Sep 18 Highlighting the growing relevance of Yoga in Central Asia the 7th ICCR International Yoga Conference 2025 in Uzbekistan on Thursday brought together experts from 10 nations including India Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Georgia Armenia Mongolia and Russia discussing Challenges and Opportunities for Yoga in Central Asia The 7th International Conference on Yoga titled Yoga for One Earth One Health the firstever such event held in Central Asia was organised by the Indian Embassy in Tashkent under the aegis of Indian Council of Cultural Relations ICCR New Delhi and in partnership with Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan with the support of Uzbek Ministry of Sports on September 17 and 18On Thursday the interactive plenary session on integrating yoga into traditional and modern medical practices hosted by Ram Narayan Mishra an official from the Ministry of Ayush focused on dynamic exchanges between Central Asian health leaders the Ministry of Ayush and yoga institutionsThe discussions explored the future of holistic healthcare with ancient wisdom powers and modern medicinal practicesEarlier on Wednesday in her opening remarks Indias Ambassador to Uzbekistan Smita Pant noted the increasing popularity of Yoga in Uzbekistan and offered Indias support in training the teachers and capacity building She also mentioned that the WHO has recognised the physical and mental benefits of YogaDeputy Director General DDG of ICCR Abhay Kumar speaking on the occasion said that it is for the first time that the ICCR is organising an international conference on Yoga in Central Asia with robust participation from Eurasian countries He added that it will truly help in making yoga popular among the younger generation of Uzbekistan and all the participating countriesInternational Yoga Conference is a flagship event of ICCR organised annually Earlier conferences have been held in New York 2018 London 2019 New Delhi 2021 Seoul 2022 Meinberg Germany 2023 and Durban 2024Apart from an interactive plenary session on Integrating Yoga into Traditional and Modern Healthcare Systems Local healing traditions amp modern medical practices from Central Asian region panel discussions on current status challenges and opportunities for yoga in Central Asia benefits of yoga in treating chronic health conditions latest trends and innovations and capacity building and skill development in yoga were also organised IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/uzbekistan-experts-from-10-nations-discuss-yogas-growing-popularity-in-central-asia-639320.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/three-police-officers-killed-in-us-shooting-suspect-gunned-down-639130.html Pennsylvania United States Sep 18 Three police officers lost their lives and two others were critically injured in a shooting incident in Pennsylvanias Codorus Township according to local media reports State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris confirmed the deaths and said the gunman was also killed during the confrontation on Wednesday afternoon US timeThey were there to follow up on an investigation that began yesterday Paris told reporters at a press conference describing the case as domesticrelatedHe declined to share further details about the nature of the investigation The incident unfolded shortly after 2 pm local time in North Codorus Township located about 115 miles west of Philadelphia near the Maryland border the local media reportedGovernor Josh Shapiro stated that the officers were responding to a domestic investigation when gunfire eruptedHe confirmed that the two wounded officers remain in critical but stable condition Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect or specified which agencies the slain officers were serving at the timeWe grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county served this commonwealth served this country Shapiro said expressing condolences on behalf of the stateVisuals from the scene showed one of the injured officers being airlifted by helicopterIn response to the shooting a nearby school district in Spring Grove was briefly placed under a shelterinplace order though officials later clarified that students were safe and unaffected according to local media reportsAttorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the violence calling the attack a scourge on our society and confirmed that federal agents were assisting local authorities in the investigationLieutenant Governor Austin Davis appealed to residents to keep the victims and their families in their prayersInvestigation is underway and further details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/three-police-officers-killed-in-us-shooting-suspect-gunned-down-639130.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rate-by-025-pc-balancing-curbing-inflation-639131.html New York Sept 18 After a confrontation with US President Donald Trump the Federal Reserve cut its interest rate by a quarter per cent in a balancing act to prevent inflation while staving off an economic slowdown Announcing the cut that brings the benchmark interest rate to the 4 per cent to 425 per cent range on Wednesday local time the Fed indicated that two more cuts could be on the way this yearAlthough Chairman Jerome Powell had steadfastly held the rate since the last rate cut in December because he feared a resurgence of inflation the slowing job growth wore him downHe had resisted so far Trumps repeated call to cut the rate and his threats to fire himPowell said at a news conference Ordinarily when the labour market is weak inflation is low But right now we face twosided risks of weaker growth and higher inflation There is no riskfree pathThis is a challenging situation he saidEven though the unemployment rate has been holding around 43 per cent job growth has slowed from a monthly increase of 139000 in May to 22000 last monthThe inflation rate rose to 29 per cent in August a 02 per cent increase from JulyPowell said that job growth may be slowing because of immigration restrictionsTheres very little growth if any in the supply of workers And at the same time demand for workers has also come down quite sharply he saidPowell said that he expected a smaller effect from the tariffs on inflation than he expected a few months ago and it could be slower and shortlivedTrump had politicised the Federal Reserve accusing Powell of deliberately refusing to cut the interest rate while he had obliged former President Joe Biden with three cuts last yearTrump was away in Britain when the cut was announcedTrump who had appointed Powell as Fed chair during his first term had a falling out over his reluctance to cut rates and said he was considering dismissing Powell even though his powers were in doubtBut he backed off while keeping up a barrage of criticismTrump dubbed him Too Late Powell and accused him of holding back economic growth during his presidency by keeping the interest rate highIn his bid to change the Feds composition Trump tried to dismiss one of the Fed governors Biden nominee Lisa Cook alleging irregularities in a mortgage application which she has deniedA federal court blocked her dismissalTrump appointed Stephen Miran who had been the chair of his Council of Economic Advisers as a governor and he was sworn in just before the Fed meetingHe was the only governor to dissent saying the cut should have been 05 per centPowell reaffirmed the Feds independence which has been facing Trumps onslaught stating We dont frame these questions at all or see them in terms of political outcomesWere taking a longer perspective Were trying to serve the American people as best we can he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rate-by-025-pc-balancing-curbing-inflation-639131.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-declares-antifa-a-major-terrorist-organisation-days-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-639132.html Washington Sep 18 US President Donald Trump on Thursday Indian time officially designated Antifa as a major terrorist organisation days after the killing of his close aide and rightwing political activist Charlie Kirk I am pleased to inform our many USA Patriots that I am designating Antifa a sick dangerous radical left disaster as a major terrorist organisation I will also be strongly recommending that those funding Antifa be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices Thank you for your attention to this matter Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth SocialTrump did not elaborate on what parameters his administration would use to make the characterisation and what actions he would take to target a leftleaning movement Antifa does not seem to have a centralised structure or any defined leadershipLast week the US President repeatedly blamed the left for rising political violence in the country including for the murder of conservative commentator Charlie KirkIll tell you something thats going to get me in trouble but I couldnt care less The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they dont want to see crime The radicals on the left are the problem and theyre vicious and theyre horrible and theyre politically savvy he said in an interview with Fox NewsOn Tuesday prosecutors in Utah charged Tyler Robinson the main accused in Kirks killing with aggravated murder and six other charges and announced that they will seek the death penaltyAccording to the prosecutors Robinsons mother told investigators that over the last year or so Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left becoming more progay and transrights orientedThe document also noted that the mother stated Robinson had begun dating his roommate a biological male transitioning to become a womanKirk who was 31 years old was delivering remarks during a campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10 when he was shot in the neck He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly afterKirk was the founder of Turning Point USA TPUSA the countrys most prominent conservative student organisationHe launched the Arizonabased group in 2012 at the age of 18 building it into a political powerhouse with over 800 chapters across US collegesTPUSA became a central force in mobilising young conservative voters particularly in the 2024 election where it played a pivotal role in boosting Trumps reelection campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-declares-antifa-a-major-terrorist-organisation-days-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-639132.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-ex-pm-hasina-family-members-barred-from-casting-votes-in-feb-elections-639134.html Dhaka Sep 18 Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several of her family members will be barred from voting in next years election as their National Identity NID Cards are blocked local media reported Election Commission EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Wednesday told the reporters that anyone whose NID card has been locked cannot vote from abroad Those who fled abroad due to cases or for other reasons face no obstacle in voting but their NID must remain unlockedTo vote from abroad one must register online using their NID number A passport will not work So if someones NID is locked how can they register They cannot Only those who register with their NIDs will get this opportunity Bangladeshs leading newspaper The Business Standard quoted the EC official as sayingWhen asked whether Hasina will be able to vote he said She cannot vote because her NID is blockedIn April the National Identity Registration Wing under the EC locked the NID of Hasina and her nine family members following a verbal instruction from its Director General ASM Humayn KabirThe family members include Sheikh Rehana Siddique Sajeeb Wazed Joy Saima Wazed Shahnaz Siddique Bushra Siddique Tulip Rizwana Siddique Azmira Siddique Radwan Mujib Siddique and Tarique Ahmed SiddiqueEarlier in July the EC removed the election symbol of Hasinas Awami League party from its website in an attempt to end the partys decadeslong political existence in the country according to local media reportsOn May 12 the Muhammad Yunusled interim government issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliate organisationsThe ban was imposed under the AntiTerrorism Act until the trial of the party and its leaders in Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal ICT is completedAnalysts reckon the latest developments as an extension of the political vendetta pursued by the interim government led by Yunus against former PM Hasina and her family members with a larger plan of keeping the Awami League away from taking part in the national electionsThe unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic setup in the country The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-ex-pm-hasina-family-members-barred-from-casting-votes-in-feb-elections-639134.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-calls-on-international-community-to-ensure-let-jem-dont-use-afghan-territory-639136.html United Nations Sep 18 India has called on the international community to ensure that LashkareTaiba LeT JaisheMohammed JeM and other terrorist organisations do not exploit Afghanistans territory India is closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan Indias Permanent Representative P Harish told the Security Council on WednesdayThe international community must coordinate efforts towards ensuring that entities and individuals designated by the UN Security Council the ISIL Islamic State group and AlQaeda and their affiliates including LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammed along with those who facilitate their operations no longer exploit the Afghan territory for terrorist activities he saidHarish said that India welcomed the strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack by LeT affiliate The Resistance Front which killed 26 civilians based on their religionThe SecretaryGenerals Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva who spoke earlier during the Council discussion on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA warned that the presence of extremist groups posed a problem for Afghanistan despite a notable decline in largescale armed conflict and violenceThe Taliban regime which took over Afghanistan after the US withdrew its troops in 2021 has not been recognised by the UN which refers to it as the de facto authorities and by most countries including IndiaHarish however said a fresh approach was needed towards AfghanistanAny coherent policy to address a postconflict situation must combine incentivising positive behaviour and disincentivising harmful actions he saidFocusing only on punitive measures is unlikely to meet desired results he saidHe pointed out that the UN and the international community have adopted more nuanced approaches in other postconflict contexts and added that similarly Afghanistan needs a fresh approach with hitherto unused policy instruments to support its people who are in such a dire needMaintaining the status quo is not good for Afghanistan and unlikely to meet international community expectations for Afghanistans people he addedHe said that India will continue engaging with all relevant stakeholdersOn the political front Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has spoken twice with Afghanistans Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi he saidMuttaqi was expected to visit New Delhi this month but his trip was cancelled because he is under UN sanctions which restrict his travelHowever Deputy Medicine and Food Minister Hamdullah Zahid and a top Taliban official handling security and strategic affairs whose identity could not be disclosed visited India recently IANS has revealedHarish said I would like to reiterate that our commitment to meeting the developmental needs of the people of Afghanistan is nonnegotiableHe listed the various humanitarian aid India has sent to AfghanistanSpeaking through a video link Otunbayeva said that she hoped a pathway can be agreed for engagement with Afghanistan to continue and for it to begin yielding more positive results especially for women and girls in AfghanistanShe said that there were different trends vying for influence within the de facto authorities one that is more pragmatic and oriented to the needs of Afghan people and the other more focused on the creation of what is described as a pure Islamic systemThe Islamic systemoriented faction has placed increasing restrictions on the Afghan people especially women whose education and ability to work have been severely curtailed she saidOtunbayeva recounted how women have been denied assistance during the recent earthquake and women UN employees have been prevented from accessing their officesIn view of the lack of pragmatism members of the international community increasingly ask how much they should support a country whose leaders undermine their population she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-calls-on-international-community-to-ensure-let-jem-dont-use-afghan-territory-639136.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-envoy-asks-international-engagement-with-afghanistan-to-continue-amid-political-crisis-639168.html United Nations Sep 18 The outgoing top UN envoy in Afghanistan called for the international communitys continued engagement with the wartorn country As I prepare to leave Afghanistan in a few days I am certain that most Afghans want engagement between the international community and their country to continue despite the obstacles said Roza Otunbayeva the UN secretarygenerals special representative for Afghanistan on Wednesday local timeIt is my fervent hope that a pathway can be agreed for this engagement to continue and for it to begin yielding more positive results especially for women and girls in Afghanistan she told the Security Council in her last briefing as special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in AfghanistanIt is an open question whether there is sufficient pragmatism among the Taliban as the de facto authorities to manage this perfect storm of crises facing Afghanistan or whether decisions driven by ideology will prevent sustainable solutions extending the Afghans suffering and undermining existing stability she saidWe have seen evidence of both trends recently In response to the Kunar earthquake de facto authorities mobilised helicopters to evacuate the wounded coordinated with international agencies and countries providing bilateral aid set up sites for internally displaced people and in other ways addressed the immediate and mediumterm needs of the affected communities Otunbayeva saidAt the same time as United Nations agencies were ramping up their support for earthquake victims while continuing their assistance to the returnee crisis personnel from the de facto Ministry of Defence deployed outside UN compounds in Kabul preventing access of our female national staff she saidThis serious restriction hinders the world bodys ability to help the Afghan people at their moment of great need she saidOtunbayeva said Afghanistan faces multiple and simultaneous crises the Talibans restrictions fueling popular discontent international aid cuts of almost 50 per cent in 2025 a struggling economy and widespread poverty an emerging drought and other climaterelated stressors including natural disasters such as the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan and significant population returns from neighbouring countries reports Xinhua news agencyShe said the UN Comprehensive Approach that seeks to maintain a basic international consensus on Afghanistan provides the only multilateral framework for engagement between the international community and the Taliban If advanced it could allow the country to reach its full economic potential and develop its human capital she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-envoy-asks-international-engagement-with-afghanistan-to-continue-amid-political-crisis-639168.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jimmy-kimmel-live-show-suspended-indefinitely-over-charlie-kirk-comments-639179.html Washington Sep 18 The American Broadcasting Company ABC one of the major television networks in the United States announced Wednesday that it has suspended the Jimmy Kimmel Live show indefinitely after controversial comments by its host about the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk who was fatally shot last week Washington Sep 18 The American Broadcasting Company ABC one of the major television networks in the United States announced Wednesday that it has suspended the Jimmy Kimmel Live show indefinitely after controversial comments by its host about the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk who was fatally shot last weekNexstar Media Group Inc announced in a statement that the companys owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live for the foreseeable future beginning with Wednesday nights showNexstar owns Americas largest local television broadcasting group comprising top network affiliates with more than 200 owned or partner stations reaching 220 million people according to its websiteNexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABCaffiliated markets the statement readMr Kimmels comments about the death of Mr Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions views or values of the local communities in which we are located said Andrew Alford president of Nexstars broadcasting divisionShortly after the release of the statement NBC News quoted an ABC spokesman as saying that Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitelyIn Monday nights monologue Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson the suspect in Kirks killing could have been a proTrump Republican reports Xinhua news agencyThe MAGA Gang is desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it Kimmel saidUS President Donald Trump and senior administration officials have accused the radical left of being responsible for the death of Kirk while rejecting the Democrats argument that political violence has been a problem from both sidesIn an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson earlier Wednesday Federal Communications Commission FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to take action against Disney and its subsidiary ABC over the comments noting that the FCC could consider revoking licenses of ABC affiliate stations as a penaltyCriticising the FCC chair on the social platform X FCC commissioner Anna Gomez the only Democrat on the panel said An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship and controlThis Administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression said GomezJimmy Kimmel Live is one of the several nationally recognised latenight talk shows in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jimmy-kimmel-live-show-suspended-indefinitely-over-charlie-kirk-comments-639179.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/adb-approves-52-million-loan-for-grid-expansion-project-in-cambodia-639182.html Phnom Penh Sep 18 The Asian Development Bank ADB announced on Thursday that it has approved a 5272millionUSdollar loan for the Grid Expansion Project in Cambodia The project will strengthen the countrys transmission network to integrate more renewable energy into the national grid and help meet rising electricity demand with cleaner locally generated power the ADB said in a news releaseCambodia has expanded its domestic electricity generation rapidly doubling output from 868 terawatt hours TWh in 2020 to 1785 TWh in 2024 it said adding that over the same period reliance on imported electricity dropped from 306 to 157 TWh reports Xinhua news agencyThis progress reflects the countrys growing energy selfreliance and the potential of renewable sources to support its development goals the news release saidADB country director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma said reliable and affordable electricity is the backbone of Cambodias growth storyThis project is about more than building transmission lines it is about connecting people schools hospitals and businesses to a cleaner and more resilient energy future she saidBy bringing more renewable energy into the grid Cambodia can power opportunities for its people while protecting the environment for generations to come Varma addedCambodias grid was built for conventional power and now needs expansion to handle growing solar and windThe project will build 55 km of 230kilovolt transmission lines between Pursat and Kampong Chhnang provinces and upgrade nine substations across the country the news release saidAligned with Cambodias Power Development Master Plan 20222040 and the National Energy Efficiency Policy 20222030 the project will help reduce transmission losses and enhance energy security it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/adb-approves-52-million-loan-for-grid-expansion-project-in-cambodia-639182.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/muhhamad-yunus-shehbaz-sharif-to-hold-talks-on-unga-sidelines-in-us-639205.html Dhaka Sep 18 Bangladesh interim governments Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is set to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to New York on September 22 according to local media reports Yunus and Sharif will be in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly UNGA sessionThe meeting comes amid growing closeness between Dhaka and Islamabad since the ouster of the democratically elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaAddressing a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka Bangladeshs Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain announced that Yunus will address the session on September 26He added that Yunus is also slated to hold meetings with the Prime Minister of Pakistan the President of Finland the Prime Minister of the Netherlands the UN SecretaryGeneral and the SecretaryGenerals Special Envoy for Myanmar on the sidelines of the UNGA session local media reported on ThursdayDuring his visit the Chief Advisor will be accompanied by four senior leaders from three major political parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP radical Islamist party JamaateIslami and National Citizens Party NCP reports the countrys leading Bengali daily JugantorRelations between Dhaka and Islamabad remained strained during the 15year rule of the former Awami League government due to issues such as the war crimes trials in Bangladesh and broader regional politicsKey issues in BangladeshPakistan relations have always included Pakistans role in the 1971 genocide during the Liberation War the return of stranded assets and compensationHowever things have changed drastically since the formation of the interim government led by Yunus in August 2024Last month Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made a twoday official visit to Dhaka marking the first statelevel visit of any Pakistani official to Bangladesh in 13 yearsDuring this meeting Dar claimed that the longstanding 1971 genocide issue had been resolved twice in the past a claim which was quickly denied by DhakaFollowing a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain Dar asserted that three unresolved matters between Islamabad and Dhaka including the longstanding demand for an apology over the 1971 genocide have been resolved twice in the past according to the leading Bangladeshi media outlet Prothom AloHowever rejecting the claims made by the Pakistani Foreign Minister Hossain told reporters I definitely do not agree If we had agreed the problem would have been resolvedLast year Yunus met Pakistani PM Sharif on the sidelines of the UNGA where both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral tiesThe two nations historically estranged since the brutal 1971 Liberation War wherein Pakistani forces massacred millions of people and reportedly raped hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi women are now demonstrating signs of rapprochement IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/muhhamad-yunus-shehbaz-sharif-to-hold-talks-on-unga-sidelines-in-us-639205.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-commits-to-2035-emissions-reduction-target-of-62-to-70-pc-639215.html Sydney Sep 18 The Australian government on Thursday committed to cutting the countrys greenhouse gas emissions by 62 to 70 per cent from 2005 levels by 2035 under its new climate target Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the longawaited 2035 emissions reduction target on Thursday describing it as the right target to protect Australias environment and to protect and advance the economyThis is a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there and built on proven technology he said at a press conferenceAccording to government data published in August Australias greenhouse gas emissions were 28 per cent lower in the year to March 2025 than in 2005Albaneses Labor government previously committed to cutting emissions by at least 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 which it says it is on track to achieve reports Xinhua news agencyThe 2035 target is based on advice from the Climate Change Authority CCA the federal governments independent expert advisory body on climate policyMatt Kean chair of the CCA said on Thursday that he is hopeful that Australia can overachieve on the 2035 targetHe said that the agency set a flexible target in order to be flexible with global uncertaintyWe have looked at providing a target that will futureproof our industries futureproof our economy and futureproof our way of life and the planet Kean saidTreasurer Jim Chalmers said on Thursday that modelling conducted by the Treasury Department found that Australias economy can be a big beneficiary if the government continues to take decisive action and set clear targetsIn addition to the 2035 target Albanese also announced on Thursday over eight billion Australian dollars 53 billion USD in new government spending to help drive down emissionsThe funding includes an additional 2 billion AUD 13 billion USD for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation CEFC the government agency responsible for facilitating increased flows of finance into clean energy projects and 5 billion AUD 33 billion USD for a new Net Zero Fund that will help industrial facilities decarboniseAnother 11 billion AUD 7313 million USD has been committed to encourage more production of clean fuels in AustraliaChris Bowen the minister for climate change and energy said that the clean energy transition represents a major economic opportunity for AustraliaToday the Albanese government decided to seize that opportunity he saidPrior to Thursdays announcement environmental groups had called for the government to set a 2035 emissions reduction target of at least 75 per cent from 2005 levels while business groups had advocated for a target not exceeding 70 per centGreenpeace Australia Pacific said on Thursday that the 6270 per cent target undermines global action to limit global warming to 15 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levelsBran Black chief executive officer of the Business Council of Australia BCA said that the 2035 target was ambitious and would require significant capital investment major reform and exceptional collaboration between the public and private sectorsSpeaking earlier on Thursday Sussan Ley the leader of Australias conservative opposition said that the government must be upfront about the cost of meeting the 2035 targetAustralias 2035 emissions reduction target will be formally submitted later in September at the United Nations General Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-commits-to-2035-emissions-reduction-target-of-62-to-70-pc-639215.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/together-we-will-take-partnership-to-new-heights-netanyahus-birthday-wishes-to-good-friend-pm-modi-638981.html Jerusalem Sep 17 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared heartfelt wishes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday lauding his accomplishments for India Netanyahu referred to PM Modi as his good friend and expressed his anticipation of meeting him soon stating that together they can elevate the partnership and friendship between India and Israel to even greater heightsWhile sharing a video message of Netanyahu on X Netanyahus office stated Happy birthday to my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi Together we will take our partnership to new heightsIn the video message Netanyahu said Prime Minister Modi my good friend Narendra I want to wish you a happy birthday Youve accomplished so much for India in your life and we have together accomplished a great deal in the friendship between India and Israel I look forward to seeing you soon because we can bring our partnership and our friendship to even greater heights Happy birthday my friendPM Modi turns 75 today Born on September 17 1950 at Mehsana town in Gujarat he served as the Chief Minister of the state for three consecutive terms between 2001 and 2014 He is now the Prime Minister for the third term after first being elected in 2014India and Israel share a strong and diverse bilateral relationship rooted in strategic interests and a history of cooperation across multiple sectors Throughout the years Israel has become one of Indias key partnersEarlier Netanyahu had extended wishes to PM Modi and the people of India on the occasion of the 79th Independence DayIn his greetings Netanyahu stated that both India and Israel have achieved much together and expressed confidence that the best chapters of the partnership between the two nations are still waiting to be writtenCongratulations to my dear friend PM Narendra Modi and the people of India on your Independence Day Israel and India are two proud democracies bound by history innovation and friendship Our nations have achieved much together and the best chapters of our partnership still lie ahead said Netanyahu in his message that was posted on X by the Israeli Prime Ministers Office IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/together-we-will-take-partnership-to-new-heights-netanyahus-birthday-wishes-to-good-friend-pm-modi-638981.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/man-dies-after-targetted-stabbing-in-eastern-australia-638986.html Sydney Sep 17 A man has died after being stabbed in a targetted attack in eastern Australia on Wednesday morning Emergency services were called to reports of an assault on a street near the rural city of Grafton 490 km northeast of Sydney in the state of New South Wales NSW around 1 am local time on WednesdayPolice officers arrived and found that a 35yearold man had been stabbed by unknown assailants while walking along the street Xinhua News Agency reportedHe was treated by ambulance paramedics but died at the sceneNSW Police said in a statement that initial inquiries indicated that the stabbing was a targetted attackLocal detectives have commenced an investigation with assistance from the state homicide squad and police said the area is expected to remain a crime scene for a considerable amount of timeOn September 6 two people died following a stabbing in Melbournes western suburbs that police are treating as a targeted attackEmergency services were deployed to reports that a person was seriously injured in Cobblebank 34 km west of central Melbourne shortly before 8 pm on September 6They arrived and located a 12yearold boy at the scene with critical injuries according to a police statementCPR was commenced but he died at the sceneA short time later police found a 15yearold boy seriously injured on a nearby street He was treated but also died at the sceneA crime scene was established and homicide squad detectives commenced an investigation into the exact circumstances of the deathsPolice said that the incident is being treated as a targeted attackThis comes just days after a teenager was charged over a stabbing at a western Sydney train station that left a boy in a critical condition in hospital on September 3Police in the state of New South Wales NSW said that emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing at a railway station in Merrylands 20 km west of central Sydney around 515 pm on MondayA 16yearold male victim was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and taken to the hospital in a critical conditionInvestigators believe that the 16yearold boy had interacted with two males who were not known to him before they assaulted him and left the sceneNSW Police said that a 17yearold attended a police station on Tuesday afternoon where he was arrested and charged with seven offences including wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm being armed with intent to commit a serious offence and using a knife in a public placeHe was refused bail and will make an initial appearance before a childrens court on Wednesday Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/man-dies-after-targetted-stabbing-in-eastern-australia-638986.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/american-singer-mary-millben-extends-heartfelt-birthday-wishes-to-pm-modi-638987.html Washington Sep 17 AfricanAmerican singer and actress Mary Millben on Wednesday extended her heartfelt wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and hoped that he takes a day off on his special day She also sang a birthday song in PM Modis honour and expressed gratitude for his life leadership and legacyIn a video message Millben stated Namaste hello to my beloved India and Indian communities across the world Today is a special day for today is the birthday of my friend His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi Happy birthday Prime Minister Modi I hope that you are doing well today I hope that you gave yourself the day off since it is your birthday However I just wanted to take a moment and say happy birthday to you and welcome everyone all across the world Join me here in the United States and lets sing Happy Birthday to His Excellency Prime Minister ModiShe also prayed and wished that PM Modi is blessed with good health prosperity and God fulfills all his hearts desiresLet me pray a blessing over you if I can Father thank you so much for my friend Prime Minister Modi Thank you for his life his leadership and his great legacy I pray Father that you continue to bless him with good health and prosperity and most of all Father let your spirit your fruits of the spirit of love joy and peace continue to surround the Prime Minister and let all of his hearts desires be fulfilled in this birthday And we ask all these things in Jesus name amen Amen Bless you Prime Minister Modi God bless you India and Indian communities across the world and may God continue to bless the United StatesIndia relationship For truly we are stronger together God bless you she said in the videoPM Narendra Modi was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar Gujarat and is the 14th Prime Minister of India He assumed office on May 26 2014 after the BJP secured a majority in the general elections He previously served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014First elected in 2014 he is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister In the past PM Modi has used his birthday to engage with the public introduce welfare programs or participate in public activitiesToday PM Modi is in Madhya Pradesh where he will launch the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar and 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah campaigns This is the largest ever health outreach for women and children in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/american-singer-mary-millben-extends-heartfelt-birthday-wishes-to-pm-modi-638987.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-leaders-need-to-relook-at-gsp-trade-status-for-pakistan-639000.html New Delhi Sep 17 The GSP or Generalised System of Preferences of the European Union was designed as a means of linking trade preferences to specific commitments in the areas of human rights labour rights environmental protection and good governance However Pakistan while reaping rich economic gains from the system has exploited to persecute minority communities and suppress human rights The GSP regime a European Union tool created to promote human rights through trade has been hijacked in Pakistan to cover up and tolerate abuses Instead of strengthening religious freedom and democracy it accompanies surveillance silencing and persecution of minorities The irony is that a policy designed to serve human dignity is in practice acting as a silent accomplice to oppression according to an article by Staikou Dimitra in Eurasia ReviewThe article calls for EU leaders to take a fresh look at the GSP status of Pakistan as the country has violated all the principles embodied in the system EU leaders can either choose to take a stand for the principles they swore to protect or risk being accomplices to a tragedy unfolding in Pakistan the article observesDespite the trade privileges hat Pakistan enjoys from its access to the European market the government continues to allow attacks on religious communities such as the Ahmadiyya and Christians and restrict freedom of expression through digital surveillance Rather than translating into institutional progress economic cooperation often serves as a safety net for the regime the article statesEnforced disappearances sometimes by state backed militias and in some cases by the state agencies themselves have left scars on vulnerable communities in Pakistan This practice which began during Pervez Musharrafs military dictatorship continues with the involvement of the military and intelligence servicesMore than 5000 people have disappeared according to humanitarian organisations In addition approximately 80 civilians were convicted by military courts for participating in riots in 2023 which is considered incompatible with Pakistans international obligations The trial of civilians by Military Courts was condemned by the EU at multiple times in the last one year a cause big enough for the EU to seriously reconsider the GSP status for Pakistan the article points outPakistans violation of basic human rights which GSP is designed to promote is not limited to enforced disappearances and military trials It extends to the technical domain as wellAccording to a report by Amnesty International Pakistan has developed one of the most advanced surveillance systems in the world using technology from China and the West The findings of its report are based on a 2024 case in the Islamabad High Court filed by Bushra Bibi wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan after her private phone calls were leaked onlineIn court Pakistans defence ministries and intelligence agencies denied that they conduct or have the capacity to conduct telephone tapping However during questioning the telecommunications regulatory authority acknowledged that it had already ordered telephone companies to install LIMS for use by designated services This system allows intelligence services to monitor at least 4 million mobile phones simultaneously and block 2 million internet sessions the article observesIt highlights that the conflictridden province of Balochistan in particular faces frequent internet outages and restrictions on freedom of speech In a recent report Paank the human rights department of the Balochistan National Movement BNM in a recent report strongly called on the European Union to review Pakistans GSP status stressing that it is unacceptable for Pakistan to enjoy economic advantages while committing severe oppressionThe report strongly condemned the AntiTerrorism Balochistan Amendment Bill 2025 which grants unchecked powers to the military police and intelligence agencies to arrest anyone on mere suspicion for up to three months with the possibility of extension The report noted that several Baloch leaders such as Mahrang Baloch Gulzadi Baloch Beebow Baloch Sibghat Ullah Baloch and Beeberg Baloch remain in prison even after appearing in courtAmnesty said it also examined licensing agreements commercial data leaked technical files and Chinese records linking the firewall supplier to stateowned companies in Beijing It added that the firewall is provided by Chinese company Geedge NetworksThe implementation of advanced monitoring systems LIMS WMS 20 with Chinese and Western equipment creates a climate of fear prevents freedom of expression and reinforces the repression of opponents GSP does not exercise control over these practices thus acting as an economic and political safety net for the regimeAmnesty said the firewall uses equipment from the American company Niagara Networks software from Thales DIS a subsidiary of the French company Thales and servers from a Chinese stateowned IT company An earlier version was based on Canadian SandvinePakistans secret services can monitor at least 4 million mobile phones simultaneously through the Lawful Interception Management System LIMS while a firewall known as WMS 20 which controls internet traffic can block 2 million active connections simultaneously according to Amnesty Pakistan currently blocks approximately 650000 web links and restricts platforms such as YouTube Facebook and X according to Amnesty IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-leaders-need-to-relook-at-gsp-trade-status-for-pakistan-639000.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-thanks-leaders-of-guyana-nz-bhutan-and-dominica-for-warm-birthday-wishes-639029.html New Delhi Sep 17 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked counterparts from Bhutan New Zealand and Dominica as well as Guyana President for extending warm wishes to him on his 75th birthday Expressing gratitude to Guyana President Irfaan Ali PM Modi stated that he is touched by his warm sentiments that showcase the deep bonds of friendship and mutual trust between two nationsThank you President Ali for your kind wishes I am touched by your warm sentiments that reflect the deep bonds of friendship and mutual trust between India and Guyana PM Modi posted on XHis response came after Irfaan Ali posted a message as well as a video wishing PM Modi on his birthday In a post on X he wrote Narendra Modi on the joyous occasion of your 75th birth anniversary I extend my warmest and most heartfelt congratulations May this milestone be accompanied by continued health abundant strength and divine blessings as you carry forward your extraordinary mission of service to your people to the Global South and to humanity at largePM Modi also thanked New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for his wishes and said that he deeply cherishes the shared friendshipThank you Prime Minister Luxon for your warm wishes I deeply cherish our friendship New Zealand is an important partner in Indias journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 PM Modi posted on XEarlier in the day in a video message New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated Kia ora namaskar my good friend Prime Minister Modi Congratulations on your 75th birthday from me and all of your friends across New Zealand A milestone like this is a moment to reflect on the wisdom of your leadership as you seek to guide India towards becoming a developed country by 2047Luxon also expressed his eagerness to strengthen cooperation between the two nations He said Im really excited about New Zealand partnering more with India to achieve that vision as we look to ensure both our great nations achieve the security and also the prosperity that we seekThe Kiwi PM expressed hope of welcoming PM Modi to New Zealand and recalled his visit to India He stated I hope I might be able to reciprocate the very warm hospitality you extended to me in March by hosting you here in New Zealand But in the meantime I wish you a very very happy birthdayPM Modi thanked his Dominica counterpart Roosevelt Skerrit for his warm birthday greetings In a post on X he stated Thank you for your kind wishes Prime Minister Skeritt India deeply cherishes the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity with the Commonwealth of DominicaWhile wishing PM Modi on his birthday he said that Dominica deeply values Indias support including lifesaving assistance during the pandemic and our cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable developmentOn behalf of the Government and people of Dominica I extend warm birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India We deeply value Indias steadfast support including lifesaving assistance during the pandemic and our cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable development I wish you continued good health happiness and success as you lead your nation with vision and dedication Skerrit posted on XPM Modi thanked his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay for his wishes and expressed eagerness to working with him to further strengthen special partnership between two nationsIn a post on X he stated Thank you Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay for your kind wishes I look forward to working with you to further strengthen our special partnership with BhutanWhile extending wishes to PM Modi on X Tobgay wrote Warm birthday wishes to Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Wishing you good health and long life Grateful for your leadership and the special friendship between Bhutan and India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pm-modi-thanks-leaders-of-guyana-nz-bhutan-and-dominica-for-warm-birthday-wishes-639029.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-pays-tribute-to-mahatma-gandhi-plants-sapling-in-australias-brisbane-639057.html Brisbane Sep 17 Minister of State for External Affairs MoS Pabitra Margherita paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at Roma Street Parklands in Australias Brisbane on Wednesday Honoured to pay a floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Roma Street Parklands Brisbane Australia today Remembering the Father of the Nation and his timeless message of peace and nonviolence Margherita posted on XMargherita also planted a sapling as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative calling it a fitting tribute to PM Modi on his 75th birthdayUnder Honble PM Shri Narendra Modi jis initiative EkPedMaaKeNaam planted a sapling this afternoon at Roma Street Parklands Brisbane Australia A fitting tribute on the birthday of our beloved Prime Minister inspiring us to nurture Mother Earth as we honour our mothers Margherita wrote in a post on XEarlier Margherita concluded his official visit to Papua New Guinea where he represented PM Modi at the commemorative events marking the countrys 50th anniversary of IndependenceThe minister met Micronesia President Wesley Simina on Tuesday at the sidelines of celebrations Pleasure to meet Honble Wesley Simina President of the Federated States of Micronesia in Port Moresby on the sidelines of PNGAt50 Simina posted on XHe also met visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Papua New GuineaWhile sharing picture of Albanese and himself on X he wrote Glad to meet Honble Anthony Albanese Prime Minister of Australia in Port Moresby on the sidelines of the commemorative events marking PNGAt50During the visit Margherita called on Papua New Guinea PM James Marape and conveyed the warm greetings of the Government of India on the 50th anniversary of Independence of Papua New Guinea They held discussions on various aspects of the bilateral relationship and discussed ways to further enhance ties between India and Papua New GuineaEarlier Indian Naval Ship INS Kadmatt participated in the 50th Anniversary events of Papua New Guinea including the fleet review from August 30September 8President Droupadi Murmu also sent a letter to Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae the GovernorGeneral of Papua New Guinea conveying warm greetings of to the Government and people of Papua New Guinea on the occasion of their 50th anniversary of Independence according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs MEAMargherita also conveyed wishes of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to his Papua New Guinea counterpart Justin TkatchenkoHe attended various events commemorating the 50th Independence Day of Papua New Guinea including the Flag Raising Ceremony at Independence HillOn the sidelines of the events commemorating the 50th Independence Day of Papua New Guinea MoSPM also had brief pullaside interactions with Honble Wesley Simina President of the Federated States of Micronesia and Honble Manoa Kamikamica the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji the MEA statedHe also addressed members of the Indian diaspora in a community event organised at the High Commission of India in Port Moresby and reaffirmed Government of Indias strong commitment towards welfare of the Indian diaspora During his visit he interacted with the business community in Papua New Guinea including leading textile entrepreneurs of the countryFollowing the historic 3rd Summit of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in May 2023 in Port Moresby the visit of MOSPM to Papua New Guinea provided an opportunity to continue our engagement with the leadership in the Pacific Island Countries PICs the MEA statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-pays-tribute-to-mahatma-gandhi-plants-sapling-in-australias-brisbane-639057.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/deeply-appreciate-italys-friendship-pm-modi-thanks-pm-meloni-for-birthday-wishes-639094.html New Delhi Sep 17 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni for her warm wishes on his 75th birthday expressing hope to further strengthen growing IndiaItaly ties Thank you Prime Minister Meloni for your warm wishes Deeply appreciate Italys friendship and look forward to strengthening it further PM Modi posted on XPM Modis response came after Meloni extended warm greetings to him on his birthday She wished him health and energy to continue leading India towards a bright future while hoping to further strengthen ties between the two nationsSharing a photo with PM Modi on X Meloni stated Happy 75th birthday to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi His strength his determination and his ability to lead millions of people are a source of inspiration With friendship and esteem I wish him health and energy to continue leading India toward a bright future and to further strengthen the relations between our nationsOn September 10 PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Meloni with both leaders reaffirming their joint commitment to deepen the IndiaItaly Strategic Partnership Meloni and expressing support for the success of the AI Impact Summit set to be hosted by India in 2026The Prime Minister thanked his Italian counterpart for her support in concluding the trade agreement between India and European Union EU and promoting connectivity through the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEEEC initiativeThe two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest They agreed on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine PM Modi reiterated Indias full support for efforts in this directionHad an excellent conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni We reaffirmed our joint commitment to deepen IndiaItaly Strategic Partnership and shared interest in bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine Thanked PM Meloni for Italys proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial IndiaEU trade agreement and promoting connectivity through the IMEEEC initiative PM Modi posted on X after the phone callThe Indian Prime Ministers Office PMO stated that both leaders reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral Strategic Partnership across sectors such as investment defence security space science and technology education peopletopeople ties and counterterrorismThey also reaffirmed their commitment towards further deepening of the partnership in line with the Joint Strategic Action Plan 202529PM Modi had last met Meloni on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Canadas Kananaskis in June where both leaders had committed to making the friendship between India and Italy strongero wMeloni had shared a picture of herself and PM Modi on X along with the caption Italy and India bound by a great friendshipA video showed PM Modi greeting Meloni with a handshake and engaging in a brief conversation with her during the summitIn a post on X PM Modi stated Fully agree with you PM Giorgia Meloni Indias friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger greatly benefiting our peopleThe camaraderie between PM Modi and Italian PM Meloni has also been making waves on social media with their interactions sparking a hashtag Melodi IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/deeply-appreciate-italys-friendship-pm-modi-thanks-pm-meloni-for-birthday-wishes-639094.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/deeply-appreciate-italys-friendship-pm-modi-thanks-meloni-for-birthday-wishes-639095.html New Delhi Sep 17 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni for her warm wishes on his 75th birthday expressing hope to further strengthen growing IndiaItaly ties Thank you Prime Minister Meloni for your warm wishes Deeply appreciate Italys friendship and look forward to strengthening it further PM Modi posted on XPM Modis response came after Meloni extended warm greetings to him on his birthday She wished him health and energy to continue leading India towards a bright future while hoping to further strengthen ties between the two nationsSharing a photo with PM Modi on X Meloni stated Happy 75th birthday to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi His strength his determination and his ability to lead millions of people are a source of inspiration With friendship and esteem I wish him health and energy to continue leading India toward a bright future and to further strengthen the relations between our nationsOn September 10 PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Meloni with both leaders reaffirming their joint commitment to deepen the IndiaItaly Strategic Partnership Meloni and expressing support for the success of the AI Impact Summit set to be hosted by India in 2026The Prime Minister thanked his Italian counterpart for her support in concluding the trade agreement between India and European Union EU and promoting connectivity through the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEEEC initiativeThe two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest They agreed on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine PM Modi reiterated Indias full support for efforts in this directionHad an excellent conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni We reaffirmed our joint commitment to deepen IndiaItaly Strategic Partnership and shared interest in bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine Thanked PM Meloni for Italys proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial IndiaEU trade agreement and promoting connectivity through the IMEEEC initiative PM Modi posted on X after the phone callThe Indian Prime Ministers Office PMO stated that both leaders reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral Strategic Partnership across sectors such as investment defence security space science and technology education peopletopeople ties and counterterrorismThey also reaffirmed their commitment towards further deepening of the partnership in line with the Joint Strategic Action Plan 202529PM Modi had last met Meloni on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Canadas Kananaskis in June where both leaders had committed to making the friendship between India and Italy strongero wMeloni had shared a picture of herself and PM Modi on X along with the caption Italy and India bound by a great friendshipA video showed PM Modi greeting Meloni with a handshake and engaging in a brief conversation with her during the summitIn a post on X PM Modi stated Fully agree with you PM Giorgia Meloni Indias friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger greatly benefiting our peopleThe camaraderie between PM Modi and Italian PM Meloni has also been making waves on social media with their interactions sparking a hashtag Melodi IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/deeply-appreciate-italys-friendship-pm-modi-thanks-meloni-for-birthday-wishes-639095.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-announces-new-strategy-to-reinforce-prosperity-and-security-with-india-639099.html Brussels Sep 17 The European Commission and the High Representative on Wednesday adopted a Joint Communication outlining a New Strategic EUIndia Agenda aimed to deepen broaden and better coordinate bilateral cooperation enhance prosperity and security for two sides in order to tackle major global challenges European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the initiative in the 20242029 Political Guidelines She stated that EU with its new strategy is taking its relationship with India to the next level by advancing trade investment and talent mobility while deepening industrial cooperation in the defence sector at the same timeNow is the time to focus on reliable partners and double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values With our new EUIndia strategy we are taking our relationship to the next level Advancing trade investment and talent mobility Strengthening our joint economic security Advancing the clean transition and driving innovation together Leyen statedDeepening our industrial cooperation in defence Europe is already Indias biggest trading partner and we are committed to finalising our Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year Europe is open for business And we are ready to invest in our shared future with India she addedThe Joint Communication outlines the EUs strategic vision for enhancing cooperation with India and identifies five areas of shared interest and complementary strengths building on existing ties while addressing areas that present potential for increased engagement Amid shifting geopolitical realities closer EUIndia relations are increasingly vital for strengthening economic growth and security and diversifying supply chains in response to todays uncertain global order an EU statement detailedThe Joint Communication takes forward the proposed EUIndia Security and Defence Partnership This will enhance strategic consultations and joint initiatives including on crisis management maritime security cyber defence and counterterrorism and foster defence industrial cooperation focusing on boosting production and technological capabilities securing supply chains and driving innovation it mentionedLaunching negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement to facilitate classified information exchange will support closer security and defence cooperation Closer cooperation on the IndoPacific addressing hybrid threats space security and intensifying engagement on Russias war against Ukraine shadow fleets and sanctions are other areas of focus the statement addedThe Joint Communication also stresses on strengthening regional connectivity initiatives like the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC and advances Global Gateway and EUIndia trilateral cooperation with and in third countries It prioritises increasing interaction and bolstering coordination between India and the EU at all levels including skills mobility with the pilot European Legal Gateway Office to facilitate labour mobility It calls for developing a comprehensive mobility cooperation framework covering study work and researchThe Joint Communication identifies significant untapped potential in trade and investment outlining strategies to strengthen commercial ties particularly finalising the ongoing negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement FTA It proposes reinforcing supply chains while promoting critical emerging technologies and engagement on digital issues with particular attention to strengthening economic security within the Trade and Technology Council TTC the EU statedThis new strategy also proposes deepening tech cooperation including a potential EUIndia Startup partnership and invites India to associate with Horizon Europe programme It suggests ambitious initiatives for decarbonisation and the clean transition such as intensifying cooperation on renewables developing green hydrogen capabilities and expanding green finance Moreover it highlights opportunities to jointly strengthen food security and health climate and disaster resilience it addedHigh Representative for EUs Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas called India as one of the important players in the world and a natural partner for the European UnionShe stated India is one of the most important players in the world today and a natural partner for the European Union There are many areas where our interests strengths and political will align Boosting our collaboration which we are proposing today will benefit the security and prosperity of citizens and businesses on both sides There are areas where we disagree Ultimately our partnership is about defending a rulesbased international order Our negotiations will address these challenges IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-announces-new-strategy-to-reinforce-prosperity-and-security-with-india-639099.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rattled-pakistan-warns-taliban-to-end-ties-with-ttp-639101.html Islamabad Sep 17 Pakistan has urged Taliban authorities to cut ties with TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and fulfill its commitments to eliminate the terrorist group from Afghan soil warning that failure would be considered as a hostile activity local media reported on Wednesday Pakistan conveyed its concerns to Kabul through Afghanistans interim ambassador in Pakistan who was summoned at the Foreign Office in Islamabad Pakistani authorities conveyed that Taliban must ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terror activities leading Pakistani daily The News International reportedThe interim Afghan envoy was summoned after a recent rise in terrorist activities of Fitna alKhawarij terrorists sheltering on Afghan soil the newspaper reportedAdditional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Assad Gilani reportedly expressed Pakistans concern to the Afghan envoyMeanwhile Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Sadiq Khan is likely to lead a delegation of senior officials to Kabul later this week to discuss latest developments in bilateral issues with Taliban He will convey Pakistani authorities message to his interlocutors in AfghanistanRecently Khan returned to Islamabad from his visit to United Arab Emirates where was on an Afghanistanrelated unannounced mission He will be presenting a detailed report to the Pakistans leadership about his visit the local media reportedThe latest development comes after at least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in various attacks conducted by TTP between September 10 to 13Confirming the deaths of soldiers Pakistan militarys InterServices Public Relations ISPR said that they were killed during an intense fire exchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas South Waziristan district in two separate engagementsLast Saturday citing the staterun Radio Pakistan the local media mentioned that the countrys Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to continue responding to terrorism with full force after the attacks which continued on SaturdayRadio Pakistan reported that PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir later visited Bannu and attended a highlevel meeting on counterterrorism It added that they also participated in the funeral prayers of the South Waziristan operation martyrs Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedSharif was also quoted as saying that terrorist leaders and facilitators responsible for attacks in Pakistan are operating from Afghan soilThe Prime Minister stated that the Afghan Interim Government has been clearly told to choose between supporting the Khawarij or stand with Pakistan He highlighted the involvement of infiltrated Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents and stressed the urgent need for the repatriation of illegal Afghan residents currently living in Pakistan the report statedA report in another leading Pakistani media outlet The Express Tribune stated that besides the 12 soldiers 35 terrorists have also been killed in the retaliatory operations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rattled-pakistan-warns-taliban-to-end-ties-with-ttp-639101.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pope-leo-xiv-blesses-pm-modi-on-75th-birthday-during-papal-audience-in-vatican-city-639106.html Vatican City Sep 17 IANS In a moment of spiritual diplomacy and global goodwill His Holiness Pope Leo XIV extended his blessings to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of his 75th birthdaynbspnbspThe gesture took place during the weekly Papal Audience at St Peters Square where over 30000 pilgrims and visitors gathered to receive teachings and blessings from the head of the Catholic Church The Papal Audience held every Wednesday is a revered tradition where the Pope addresses the faithful and dignitaries from around the worldnbspThis weeks gathering was marked by a special meeting between Pope Leo XIV and a delegation from the Indian Minorities Federation IMF led by Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu former diplomat and MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla and IMF convener Prof Himani SoodDuring the meeting Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for Prime Minister Modis long life and continued good health recognising his leadership and commitment to public service In a symbolic gesture the Pope blessed a portrait of PM Modi presented by the delegation The moment was described by attendees as deeply respectful and spiritually resonantnbspMP Satnam Singh Sandhu also gifted Pope Leo XIV a copy of Heart to Heart Reverence of Saga a biographical tribute that explores PM Modis enduring relationship with the Sikh community The book highlights PM Modis efforts to promote interfaith harmony and cultural respect themes that align closely with the Popes own calls for peace and unity across religious boundariesThe Vaticans acknowledgement of PM Modis milestone birthday comes amid growing engagement between India and the Holy SeenbspEarlier this year PM Modi had conveyed his own greetings to Pope Leo XIV praising his leadership in advancing global peace solidarity and servicenbspPope Leo XIV the first American to lead the Catholic Church has emphasised inclusive dialogue and humanitarian outreach since his appointment in May 2025 His blessing of PM Modi underscores a shared commitment to fostering mutual respect and cooperation between diverse faiths and nationsnbspThe IMF delegation expressed gratitude for the Popes gesture calling it a historic moment of spiritual solidarity that reflects Indias pluralistic ethos and the universal values of compassion and service https://dailyworld.in/international/pope-leo-xiv-blesses-pm-modi-on-75th-birthday-during-papal-audience-in-vatican-city-639106.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unicef-urges-taliban-to-end-restrictions-on-girls-education-639109.html Kabul Sep 17 Calling on Taliban to allow girls to pursue education at all levels the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund UNICEF on Wednesday warned that the restrictions on girls education have confined them to their homes and they are increasingly facing mental health problems child marriage and early pregnancies The agency urged Taliban to lift restrictions without delay and ensure that every girl gets access to education at all levels from primary school to higher education Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reported Notably Taliban banned secondary education for girls in Afghanistan shortly after they seized power in August 2021UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell voiced concerns over the deteriorating mental health challenges and increasing early marriages among Afghan girls banned from pursuing education for nearly four yearsIn a statement on Wednesday UNICEF stated millions of girls have been impacted by restrictions imposed by Taliban It warned that over 22 million adolescent girls will be excluded from schooling by the end of 2025Russell stated that return of two million Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran in 2025 has further increased the number of girls not going to school She warned that restrictions have not only led to girls missing academic lessons but are also getting deprived of social interaction personal growth and opportunities to shape their futureShe said that Afghan girls were being deprived of being their basic right of education She stated While millions of children worldwide return to classrooms for the new academic year Afghan girls are denied this basic right terming it defining injustices of our timeThe UNICEF also expressed concern over Talibans exclusion of women from workforce saying that the restrictions threaten Afghanistans longterm stability and progress as no nation can prosper when half its population is not allowed to contribute in national development and workforce The agency emphasised that the recent earthquake in Afghanistan demonstrates the critical need for trained female health and social workers in a segregated societyOn September 8 UN Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA head Roza Utunbayeva marked the International Literacy Day by calling for access to education especially for Afghan women and girls Khaama Press reported Speaking in Kabul on September 8 Utunbayeva said books are source of knowledge and a path to sustainable wellbeing emphasising that equal access is important for Afghanistans futureUNAMA warned that Talibans restrictions continue to bar girls for pursuing education in secondary schools and universities a policy that now continues for fourth year The UN officials warned that restrictions on Afghan girls education undermines both human rights and development leaving Afghanistan further isolated and unprepared for modern day realities IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/unicef-urges-taliban-to-end-restrictions-on-girls-education-639109.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unsc-reform-now-at-centre-of-unga-discussions-guterres-638896.html United Nations Sep 17 UN Security Council reform is now at the centre of discussions at the General Assembly and there is some progress in the reform process according to SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres Before there was a committee that couldnt even issue papers and the documents would not move from one year to another he said on Tuesday at a news conference referring to the InterGovernmental Negotiations IGNNow there is a committee working seriously So I seem movement he saidAlthough the IGN has failed to adopt a negotiating text that India has demanded to form the basis for discussion its cochairs have prepared Elements Papers broadly laying out the positions of various countries on reform and points of divergence and convergence and creating a recordThe Councils legitimacy and efficiency is compromised by its current structure Guterres saidThe Security Council has a composition that doesnt correspond to the world of today it corresponds to the world of 1945 And that creates not only a problem of legitimacy but a problem of efficiency he saidGuterres took some credit for the heightened interest in Council reform that he said was completely taboo in the pastOne thing I can tell you is that I believe I am the first SecretaryGeneral that talks all the time about the need to reform the Security Council he saidOne of the factors driving the momentum for reform is Africas claims for permanent seats because most of the peacekeeping operations mandated by the Council are in the continentSeveral countries have recognised for instance even the P5 the five permanent members that Africa should have the right to have a permanent member Guterres saidAnother reform needed Guterres said was curbing the veto powers of the permanent membersThe truth is that this item Council reform that was completely taboo in the past is now in the centre of the discussions of the General Assembly he saidThere were proposals from namely by France and UK limiting the right of veto especially in situation where we have massive violation of human rights or dramatic cases of this kind and I see with sympathy that proposal he saidHe blamed the paralysis of the Council caused by geopolitics and permanent members acting with impunity for the failure of the UN to resolve many conflictsThe UN is a Security Council and the geopolitical divides have paralysed Security Council And it is the Security Council that has the primary responsibility to preserve peace and security in the world he saidThe paralysis of the Security Council is a source of impunity that undermines our work but that needs to be clarified as what it is he said It is not the UN Its the Member States that divided do not allow the UN to work properlyThe Council is unable to act on the two conflicts overwhelming the world because of permanent members veto powersRussia a permanent member is the aggressor in the Ukraine War and in the Gaza conflict another permanent member the US protects IsraelOn his meeting with US President Donald Trump who is antagonistic towards the UN scheduled for next week Guterres said that they shared the desire for peace mediationWe have no carrots and no sticks to make the protagonists in conflicts make peace he saidNow the United States has carrots and sticks and combining it with the UNs expertise can be effective in bringing peace in some situaitons he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/unsc-reform-now-at-centre-of-unga-discussions-guterres-638896.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/two-youngradicalised-alleged-assassins-appear-in-us-courtsin-politically-charged-cases-638906.html New York Sept 17 Two young radicalised alleged assassins appeared in US courts in a nation focused on rising political violence Tyler Robinson 22 appeared in a local Utah court remotely to face charges in the killing of Charlie Kirk a close supporter of US President Donald Trump last weekHe is charged with the murder of the Conservative youth activist and the prosecutor said that he would seek the death penalty which in the state can be carried out by a firing squadIn New York a local judge threw out terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione 27 who is charged with killing a health insurance CEO last year but retained murder charges against himNew York State does not have the death penaltyMangione has emerged as a lightning rod for the fury of some people against health insurance companies and his supporters rallied in front of the court in protesting his prosecutionA fund for his legal defence has collected over 1 million in public contributionsMangione allegedly shot dead United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the middle of New York City last December and in a manifesto ranted against parasitical health companies driven by profit motiveBoth men will also face charges in a federal court under federal statutes which could carry the death penaltyIn the US there are parallel federal and state justice systems and the laws and penalties vary by stateProsecutors said that Robinsons mother recognised him from pictures circulated of the suspect in Kirks killing and informed his father who confronted him and arranged his surrenderThey said that Robinson had admitted to the shooting in messages to his roommate a man transitioning to womanIronically he said he had committed the assassination because the guy spreads too much hate according to officialsKirks murder was the latest in an unsettling spate of violence with political or similar motives across the US many of them by radicalised young peopleTwentyyearold Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to assassinate US President Donald Trump when he was campaigning in Pennsylvania last yearWhile Trump was injured another man was killed and Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service agentAnother assassination attempt also last year by an older person was thwarted in Florida and his trial began last weekRobin Westman a 23yearold transgender female killed two children and injured 18 others at a schoolrelated event at a Minneapolis church before committing suicide last monthShane Tamura 27 killed four people in July at a building in New York that houses the National Football League and committed suicide He had said that he suffered brain injuries as a result of playing American football and seemed to blame the league for not doing enough to prevent the traumaIn June Vance Boelter 57 allegedly killed former Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husbandPennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro escaped an assassination attempt by Cody Balmer 38 who allegedly set fire to his official residence in April IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/two-youngradicalised-alleged-assassins-appear-in-us-courtsin-politically-charged-cases-638906.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/social-media-platforms-required-to-deactivate-accounts-of-under-16s-under-australian-ban-638739.html Canberra Sep 16 Social media companies will be required to detect and deactivate accounts held by underage children when Australias worldfirst under16 ban comes into effect in December the government revealed on Tuesday The federal government on Tuesday released regulatory guidance for technology companies to comply with the under16 social media ban ahead of it coming into effect on December 10The guidance says that social media platforms will be expected to initially focus on the detection and deactivation of existing accounts held by children younger than 16 and on taking reasonable steps to prevent those whose accounts have been removed from immediately creating a new accountPlatforms will not be required to test the age of every user and will not be told by the government which technology to use for age assurance the guidance says but will need to provide transparent and accessible information about how they are enforcing the ban as well as a process for disputesUnder the legislation for the ban which passed the federal parliament in December 2024 companies that fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban will face fines worth up to 495 million Australian dollars 33 millionReleasing the guidelines on Tuesday Communications Minister Anika Wells and Julie Inman Grant Australias eSafety Commissioner said at a press conference that they do not expect the ban to be fully effective instantlyWe are not anticipating perfection here these are worldleading laws but we are requiring meaningful change through reasonable steps that will seek cultural change and a chilling effect that will keep kids safe Wells saidGrant said that the government recognises that building the required systems and technology will take some time and that her agency would initially focus on systemic failures by platforms to apply the policy and processes that they are required to Xinhua news agency reportedThe government in August released the results of a trial that found age assurance technologies can be effectively used to enforce agerelated eligibility requirements IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/social-media-platforms-required-to-deactivate-accounts-of-under-16s-under-australian-ban-638739.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-flu-in-nebraska-dairy-herd-638740.html Los Angeles Sep 16 The US Department of Agriculture USDA confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI in a dairy cattle herd in the state of Nebraska In a statement the USDA said on Monday that the confirmed strain is H5N1 clade 2344b genotype B313 The case was detected through stateled tracing and investigation following an initial finding from premovement surveillance milk samples which are required under a federal order issued by the USDA in April 2024This marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Nebraska Since the outbreak began in March 2024 dairy cattle infections have been reported in 17 states though the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service APHIS noted that cases have remained confined to a small number of states this yearAPHIS said it is working closely with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to conduct additional onfarm investigation testing and gathering of additional epidemiological information to better understand this detection and prevent further spread of the disease The agency also urged all dairy farms to strengthen biosecurity measures especially as the fall migratory bird season approachesThere is no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health or that it affects the safety of the commercial milk supply said the USDA Xinhua news agency reportedThe US Food and Drug Administration FDA has confirmed that pasteurisation is effective at inactivating H5N1 ensuring the safety of pasteurised milk productsThe US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said that H5N1 viruses circulating in birds and US dairy cattle are believed to pose a low risk to the general public in the United States but warned that individuals with occupational or recreational exposure to infected birds or mammals are at higher risk and should take appropriate precautionsHighly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI is a highly contagious transboundary disease with zoonotic potential affecting both animal and human health It causes variable clinical signs and high mortality rates in both wild and domestic bird populations Current H5 AI outbreaks have severely impacted countries globally causing losses of rare and important wild bird species as well as significant social and economic costs including livelihood losses and egg shortagesThe spread of HPAI also strains poultryrelated businesses as measures such as culling and movement restrictions are necessary to contain the virus which can disrupt the trade of poultry products The ongoing devastation highlights the urgent need for improved control measures to prevent spillover and viral changes that could lead to a global pandemic HPAI also infects mammals and humans posing serious public health risks Infected mammals include domestic cats cattle and wild animals such as foxes and seals with human cases although rare occurring in those with close contact with infected poultry or environments IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-flu-in-nebraska-dairy-herd-638740.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-reports-481-new-measles-cases-bringing-total-to-1-251-638753.html Jerusalem Sep 16 Israels Health Ministry reported 481 new measles cases bringing the total to 1251 since the outbreak started in early April The ministry estimates that between 2250 and 3950 people may have been infected based on high hospitalisation rates and reports from the community Currently 29 patients are still hospitalised most of them under the age of six Five are in intensive care including one receiving ECMO supportThe outbreak has resulted in the deaths of two unvaccinated boys aged 18 months and two years respectivelyIn May roughly a month after the outbreak began the ministry launched a nationwide vaccination campaign during which more than 142000 doses were administeredIn cities experiencing active outbreaks the ministry has allowed residents to receive immediate vaccinations without an appointment including infants from other areas who have relatives or friends in highincidence cities Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus It spreads easily when an infected person breathes coughs or sneezes It can cause severe disease complications and even deathMeasles can affect anyone but is most common in childrenMeasles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body Symptoms include a high fever cough runny nose and a rash all over the bodyBeing 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 virusBefore the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 26 million deaths each yearAn estimated 107 500 people died from measles in 2023 mostly children under the age of five years despite the availability of a safe and costeffective vaccineSymptoms of measles usually begin 1014 days after exposure to the virus A prominent rash is the most visible symptomEarly symptoms usually last 47 days They include Running nose cough red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeksThe rash begins about 718 days after exposure usually on the face and upper neck It spreads over about 3 days eventually to the hands and feet It usually lasts 56 days before fading IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-reports-481-new-measles-cases-bringing-total-to-1-251-638753.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-infant-killed-child-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-in-southwest-sydney-638772.html Sydney Sep 16 An infant has died and a second child has been hospitalised with serious injuries after they were hit by a car in Australias Sydney Police in the state of New South Wales NSW said on Monday night that emergency services were called to reports that a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle in the carpark of a shopping centre in Minto 37 km southwest of Sydney at around 330 pm local time Xinhua news agency reportedOfficers arrived and commenced CPR on a fivemonthold girl until the arrival of ambulance paramedics but she died at the sceneA fiveyearold boy was also treated by ambulance paramedics before being taken to the hospital in a serious conditionLocal media reported that the vehicle involved in the incident was an SUV and police said the 35yearold driver was uninjuredPolice established a crime scene and have launched an investigation into the incidentA similar incident occurred on September 10 when a girl died after a vehicle crashed and became submerged in a dam over 500 km north of SydneyPolice in the state of New South Wales said in a statement that emergency services were called to reports of the crash near the town of Tenterfield 540 km north of Sydney in the states New England regionThe black SUV had crashed into a tree before entering the dam and becoming submerged police saidAn 11yearold girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was treated by ambulance paramedics after being pulled unresponsive from the water but died at the sceneThe driver a 50yearold woman was also pulled from the water and treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital in a stable conditionNSW Police said that officers from the crash investigation unit established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-infant-killed-child-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-in-southwest-sydney-638772.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-infant-killed-child-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-in-sydney-638773.html Sydney Sep 16 An infant has died and a second child has been hospitalised with serious injuries after they were hit by a car in Australias Sydney Police in the state of New South Wales NSW said on Monday night that emergency services were called to reports that a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle in the carpark of a shopping centre in Minto 37 km southwest of Sydney at around 330 pm local time Xinhua news agency reportedOfficers arrived and commenced CPR on a fivemonthold girl until the arrival of ambulance paramedics but she died at the sceneA fiveyearold boy was also treated by ambulance paramedics before being taken to the hospital in a serious conditionLocal media reported that the vehicle involved in the incident was an SUV and police said the 35yearold driver was uninjuredPolice established a crime scene and have launched an investigation into the incidentA similar incident occurred on September 10 when a girl died after a vehicle crashed and became submerged in a dam over 500 km north of SydneyPolice in the state of New South Wales said in a statement that emergency services were called to reports of the crash near the town of Tenterfield 540 km north of Sydney in the states New England regionThe black SUV had crashed into a tree before entering the dam and becoming submerged police saidAn 11yearold girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was treated by ambulance paramedics after being pulled unresponsive from the water but died at the sceneThe driver a 50yearold woman was also pulled from the water and treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital in a stable conditionNSW Police said that officers from the crash investigation unit established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australia-infant-killed-child-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-in-sydney-638773.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/interpol-makes-record-synthetic-drug-seizures-across-18-countries-638777.html New Delhi Sep 16 The International Criminal Police Organisation INTERPOL in one of its biggest worldwide operations against drug trafficking made a massive seizure of synthetic drugs valued at 65 billion the global crime policing body said on Tuesday The authorities intercepted a total of 76 tonnes of drugs including 51 tonnes of methamphetamine along with fentanyl heroin cocaine and chemical precursors from across continents including Asia and North AmericaA total of 386 arrests were made during the twoweek operation including a red corner notice suspect running a largescale methamphetamine smuggling operation into Incheon National AirportThe record confiscation of drugs took place under Operation LionfishMayag III conducted over a period of 15 days from June 30 to July 13The Operation LionfishMayag III was focused on combating the manufacturing trafficking and smuggling of synthetic drugs across 18 countries in Asia and North AmericaIn Sri Lanka the Operational Coordination Unit brought together specialised officers and international partners to work together in realtime on transnational casesIn India the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB authorities dismantled a top Darknet drug syndicate known as KetamelonLSD blots and ketamine as well as digital assets with an estimated value of 87000 were seized by the authorities Investigations revealed the vendor was responsible for more than 600 drug shipments in the past 14 monthsIn Myanmar two vehicles carrying 22kg of heroin hidden in pineapples and the other containing 525 million yaba pills were impounded Investigations traced both shipments to the same person and a subsequent house search led to the seizure of an additional 4 million pillsIn the Lao PDR 39 tonnes of methamphetamine and 10 production machines were seized leading to the arrest of two individualsIn the Maldives authorities intercepted 386kg of ketamine concealed inside a surfboard while in Myanmar the traffickers concealed the heroin in powdered teaThe LionfishMayag III also caught many big fish of drug trafficking in Mexico and the United StatesIn Mexico the authorities seized more than 190000 fentanyl tablets and 17 tonnes of methamphetamineIn the United States the Drug Enforcement Administration officers seized MDMA pills laced with fentanyl while in Indonesia authorities intercepted 116kg of xylazine a veterinary tranquilliser often mixed with fentanyl heroin or cocaine said an official statementIt further said that the authorities are witnessing a rise in nitazenes highly potent synthetic opioids with up to 200 times the potency of morphineSmall amounts are enough to be deadly making them more profitable easier to transport and increasingly difficult to detectThe US authorities also seized a parcel containing metonitazene at JFK Airport sent from the United Kingdom and a separate package containing protonitazene at Chicago OHare Airport sent from ChinaSpeaking on the multinational police operation the INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said The drugs trafficked by transnational criminal networks fuel violence cripple economies and endanger public health Each successful seizure highlights the power of law enforcement working together to protect lives and dismantle these threats IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/interpol-makes-record-synthetic-drug-seizures-across-18-countries-638777.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/1-killed-3-injured-in-motorbikes-mishap-in-afghanistan-638782.html Kabul Sep 16 One person was killed and three others injured with one in critical condition as two motorbikes collided with each other in Afghanistans Badakhshan province police said on Tuesday The mishap took place due to reckless driving in Kasham district on Monday evening provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar saidMore than 100 commuters have been killed due to road mishaps elsewhere in Afghanistan over the past month Thousands of people lose their lives in road accidents in Afghanistan each year due to reckless driving on congested roads poor conditions of roads lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways overloading and overspeedingOn September 14 at least six passengers were killed and four others injured in a headon collision between a passenger car and a truck in Afghanistans Faryab provinceThe accident occurred on the outskirts of Khwaja Sabz Posh district where the vehicles rammed into each other killing six commuters on the car instantly and wounding four othersAmong the victims were women and children and all the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatmentAt least three travellers were killed and two more injured as a car turned turtle in Afghanistans Samangan province said a news statement of the provincial police office on September 13Blaming reckless driving for the deadly accident the news statement added that the mishap took place in DaraeSufi Payan area on September 12 and the injured passengers had been taken to the nearby health centreOn September 9 three motorbikes collided with each other in the western Afghanistan Badghis province killing one on the spot and injuring five others provincial police spokesman Sediqullah Sediqi saidThe deadly mishap took place in the provincial capital QalaeNaw due to the carelessness of the motorists the official said adding all five injured people some in critical conditions have been shifted to the nearby hospitalOn September 8 17 commuters lost their lives and two others were injured as their cars were involved in accidents in the northern Badakhshan and eastern Ghazni provinces respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/1-killed-3-injured-in-motorbikes-mishap-in-afghanistan-638782.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-pm-hans-insurrection-trial-to-be-held-once-a-week-638784.html Seoul Sep 16 The insurrection trial of South Koreas former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo will be held once a week starting later this month a court said on Tuesday Han has been indicted on charges of abetting former President Yoon Suk Yeols martial law imposition in December perjury falsifying and destroying official documents and other offences Yonhap news agency reportedDuring the first pretrial hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday the bench said the formal trial will begin September 30 and proceed swiftly with one hearing every MondayThe first formal hearing will be used to examine surveillance camera footage from the presidential office on the day martial law was declared on December 3Before Yoon declared martial law he convened a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office allegedly at Hans suggestionThe footage reportedly shows Han gathering papers printed with the martial law declaration and Yoons address to the nation from the meeting roomIt also allegedly shows Han checking whether the quorum for a Cabinet meeting is met by counting with his hand and conferring with the then Interior Minister Lee Sangmin after the meeting is overHans indictment accuses him of drafting a revised proclamation after December 3 with the aim of enhancing the legitimacy of the decree and later destroying itHe also stands accused of lying under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was not aware that Yoon had given him a copy of the martial law declaration until after the decree was liftedHan did not attend Tuesdays pretrial hearing as it was not requiredEarlier in August a special counsel team indicted Han on charges of abetting Yoons failed imposition of martial lawHan was indicted without physical detention on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection perjury falsifying and destroying official documents and other offences according to special counsel Cho Eunsuks team IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-ex-pm-hans-insurrection-trial-to-be-held-once-a-week-638784.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-interacts-with-indian-community-in-papua-new-guinea-638796.html Port Moresby Sep 15 Minister of State for External Affairs MoS Pabitra Margherita interacted with the Indian community members in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday terming them as a living bridge between the two nations He lauded the role of Indian community in strengthening partnership between two nations In a statement shared on social media platform X Margherita stated A heartwarming evening with our vibrant Indian family in Papua New Guinea Over 4000 strong they are a living bridge between India and PNG playing a pivotal role in strengthening our partnership through cultural economic and community contributionsOn Monday Margherita called on Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape conveying greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and people of India on the occasion of countrys 50th anniversary of independenceMargherita expressed both nations commitment to deepening bilateral and peopletopeople tiesHonoured to call on Honble James Marape Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Conveyed warm greetings from PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and the people of India on the occasion of PNGAt50 Both countries remain committed to deepening bilateral and peopletopeople ties MoS Margherita posted on XMargherita arrived in Port Moresby on Monday on an official visit to Papua New Guinea where he will represent PM Modi at the commemorative events marking Papua New Guineas 50th anniversary of IndependenceDuring the visit MoS Margherita is expected to have bilateral meetings with the political leadership of Papua New Guinea according to Ministry of External Affairs MEA statementFollowing the historic 3rd Summit of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in May 2023 in Port Moresby the visit of MOSPM to Papua New Guinea would provide an opportunity to continue our engagement with the leadership in the Pacific Island Countries PICs the MEA statedThe visit also follows the momentum created by Prime Minister Modis landmark visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023 where both nations committed to deepening bilateral relations expanding development partnerships and enhancing defence cooperationPM Modi had travelled to Port Moresby to host the FIPIC III Summit jointly with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape Launched in 2014 FIPIC involves India and 14 Pacific Island Countries PICs namely Cook Islands Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Nauru Niue Palau Papua New Guinea Republic of Marshall Islands Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu and Vanuatu IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-interacts-with-indian-community-in-papua-new-guinea-638796.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/agencies-alerted-to-burdwan-style-bomb-making-modules-after-pahalgam-638820.html New Delhi Sep 16 Security along the IndiaPakistan border is at an alltime high following the Pahalgam attack It was ramped up even further after India carried out Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives The tightening of security has made it nearly impossible for terrorists from Pakistan to infiltrate Another problem that is being faced by these elements is that they are unable to smuggle arms and ammunition for terrorists to use in Jammu and KashmirThe ISI has now activated its modules in India and is encouraging them to operate from remote places and prepare the ammunition or bombs This is very much on the lines of the Burdwan module in West Bengal that was busted by the agencies in 2014The ISI proposes similar modules across the country as it feels that this would ensure quicker and secure arms delivery to its terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir and other placesIntercepts picked up by the Intelligence Bureau suggest that smaller units to manufacture arms and ammunition are being planned across the country The agencies have advised the state police units to coordinate closely with the central agencies These modules have to be tracked and shut down If there are slipups these have the potential to set up scores of small units and produce a large amount of arms and ammunitionThe primary intention of the ISI is to manoeuvre the block that it is facing at the Line of Control LoC owing to heightened security Initially it had managed to overcome this problem by using the border with Punjab to send in drugs arms and ammunition When the manual routes were blocked Pakistan used drones to deliver narcotics money arms and ammunition Once these were dropped off in Punjab they would be transported by route to Jammu and Kashmir The arms were also meant to be used by the Khalistani terrorists based in PunjabHowever with technology being enhanced the Indian agencies managed to shut down this menace largelyWith so many blocks the ISI has now plotted to set up small units and manufacture arms The money would be routed through clandestine methods The agencies say that the ISI uses the hawala route extensively to send money to its operatives in India Most of the money that comes in for such activities using the hawala route is usually from Gulf nationsOfficials say that identifying such units would be crucial and hence the coordination between the states and the Centre is important While such units can come up overnight it is important to prevent them from manufacturing arms and ammunition officials also noteThe job would be harder for the security agencies since these factories would be set up in remote places away from the public eye This is an intentional ploy to avoid scrutiny It worked for terror groups in Burdwan The bomb making factories in Burdwan were operating as cottage industries Bombs were being manufactured in firecrackermaking units and hence they never caught the attention of the policeAfter the module was busted the police found that bombs had been manufactured in thousands It was later learnt that the bombs were being manufactured by the Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh JMB This was being done at the insistence of the JamaateIslami which was planning on carrying out a series of blasts in Bangladesh to enforce regime changeWhile the ISIs new plan is similar in terms of infrastructure and secrecy the intention is to carry out blasts in the country and also ensure that there is a proper supply chain of arms and ammunition to Jammu and Kashmir IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/agencies-alerted-to-burdwan-style-bomb-making-modules-after-pahalgam-638820.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-launch-joint-review-of-possible-rights-violations-in-us-raid-with-companies-involved-638824.html Seoul Sep 16 The South Korean foreign ministry on Tuesday said that it will launch a joint review with relevant ministries and the companies involved in possible human rights violations during a recent US raid on Korean workers Since a total of 316 South Koreans returned home on Friday after a week in detention in Georgia following a US immigration raid at a car battery plant site corun by Hyundai and LG local media have reported numerous accounts alleging extremely poor conditions and harsh treatment during their detentionThe workers recounted cramped spaces mouldcovered mattresses cold temperatures and limited access to basic hygiene Several also described how they were shackled with chains around their waist legs and wrists during the arrest and treated roughly by immigration officers reports Yonhap news agencyThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs the justice ministry and the companies involved will immediately launch a joint comprehensive review and we are currently in talks with company officials ministry spokesperson Lee Jaewoong said in a press briefingThe government will discuss with company representatives how to carry out the review including ways to interview the individuals who were detained and other details Lee addedThe release of the South Koreans came after Seoul had intense negotiations with Washington last week stressing that the rights and dignity of its citizens must not be unfairly violated Seoul expressed strong regret to Washington over the incidentOn September 13 a Korean Air chartered plane carrying 316 South Koreans and 14 foreigners landed at Incheon International Airport west of Seoul around 323 pm a day after their release from detention following the immigration sweepThe workers were released from the facilities in Folkston early on September 11 US time as Seoul made intensive efforts to secure their release and return home through negotiations with Washington IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-launch-joint-review-of-possible-rights-violations-in-us-raid-with-companies-involved-638824.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-digital-economy-plunges-into-deep-crisis-as-online-financial-frauds-soar-638830.html New Delhi Sep 16 Pakistans digital economy has plunged into a deep crisis of cyber scams data breaches and online financial fraud with scammers leveraging online banking platforms and deceptive investment schemes to cheat unsuspecting users according to a report The scale of the problem is staggering Between 2020 and 2024 the Federal Investigation Agency FIA received over 722000 cybercrime complaints Yet fewer than 10 per cent were formally investigated and a mere 152 cases led to convictions In 2024 alone more than 13000 complaints of online financial fraud resulted in 1212 arrests but only 17 verdicts were delivered These figures reveal not just inefficiency but a systemic collapse in justice and deterrence according to the report in Islam Khabar by Khaalid HanifThe financial sector continues to absorb the shock In Q1 2024 the State Bank of Pakistan SBP imposed fines exceeding PKR 776 million on eight major banks for lapses in antimoney laundering customer due diligence and fraud risk protocols The Banking Mohtasib resolved nearly 28000 digital fraud complaints in 2024 with PKR 165 billion in restitution Yet these recoveries are dwarfed by the scale of unrecovered losses and the erosion of consumer confidence said the reportThe report further states that digital fraud has evolved into organised industrialscale crime In July 2025 the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency NCCIA dismantled a massive Ponzi scheme operating out of a Faisalabad call center arresting 149 suspects including foreign nationals Meanwhile the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan SECP flagged 141 illegal lending apps exploiting platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp many of which reappear under new names even after regulatory takedownsIt cites the Pakistan Cybersecurity Councils 2024 report which highlights that over 60 per cent of Pakistani companies fail to implement basic cybersecurity protocols such as encryption and multifactor authentication International institutions have taken noteDespite legislative efforts including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA 2016 the National Cybersecurity Policy 2021 and the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority DRPA in 2025 Pakistans response remains fragmented Jurisdictional overlaps and turf wars between the FIA and NCCIA have created confusion over investigative primacy further weakening enforcementWith only 350 cybercrime investigators in the country handling over 160000 cases each officer has to handle an average of 6000 complaints annually Some provinces have just two digital locators and five forensic vehicles The judiciary too is illequipped lacking technical training specialised benches and clarity on digital evidence interpretation The result is a justice system unable to keep pace with the complexity and volume of cybercrime the report statesPakistans digital infrastructure is equally vulnerable The PTAs Cybersecurity Report 202425 recorded a 17 per cent rise in attacks on critical systems with phishing incidents surging by 173 per cent globally and mirrored domestically While the CTDISR2025 introduced commendable security protocols compliance remains uneven and largely confined to major telecom operators Sectoral CERTs for banking and government are still embryonic and incident response remains underresourced the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-digital-economy-plunges-into-deep-crisis-as-online-financial-frauds-soar-638830.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-last-rites-of-fallen-gen-z-protesters-performed-with-national-honours-638849.html Kathmandu Sep 16 Protestors killed during last weeks GenZ protests in Nepals capital Kathmandu were cremated with national honours on Tuesday with the newlyappointed government ministers attending the funeral The first cabinet meeting of the new government on Monday had declared that those who had fallen during the protests on September 8 and 9 be termed as martyrs The deceased were paid homage with the national flag draped over them beside the Pashupatinath temple in the presence of interim government ministers Kulman Ghising and Om Prakash AryalArmed Police personnel offered a salute to the newlydeclared martyrs Before their cremation a funeral procession was carried out from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital passing through various locations before reaching the funeral site near the Pashupatinath TempleAs per the cabinet decision a day of mourning will be observed on September 17 when the national flag will be flown at halfmastThose injured during the protests will be treated free of cost and a GenZ Memorial park will also be built according to the government decisionAt least 72 people died in last weeks antigovernment protests called by Gen Z youths while hundreds remain hospitalised across the country according to the policeThe protests organised against corruption and social media ban had turned violent with police shooting at protestors leading to the death of 19 on the first day September 8The death of youngsters fuelled public anger and the angry protestors then vandalised and torched several government buildings and private properties including the business enterprises on the second day forcing the then Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resignMeanwhile discredited top leaders of political parties have started to reappear in public On Tuesday Communist Party of Nepal Maoist Centre Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda visited his party headquarters which was burnt down by the protestorsThe protestors had burnt down the party offices of three major political parties including that of the Maoist Centre CPN UML and Nepali Congress along with the residences of the leaders of these political parties IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-last-rites-of-fallen-gen-z-protesters-performed-with-national-honours-638849.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-interacts-with-business-community-of-papua-new-guinea-638851.html Port Moresby Sep 16 Minister of State for External Affairs MoS Pabitra Margherita on Tuesday met with the leading businesspersons of Papua New Guinea discussing with them ways to further strengthen bilateral trade ties In a statement shared on social media platform X Margherita stated Had productive and engaging discussions with the leading businesspersons of Papua New Guinea including key Indian entrepreneurs in the textile sector of the country Explored ways to further strengthen bilateral trade tiesEarlier in the day Margherita interacted with the Indian community members in Papua New Guinea terming them as a living bridge between the two nations He lauded the role of Indian community in strengthening partnership between two nationsA heartwarming evening with our vibrant Indian family in Papua New Guinea Over 4000 strong they are a living bridge between India and PNG playing a pivotal role in strengthening our partnership through cultural economic and community contributions Margherita posted on XOn Monday Margherita had called on Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape conveying greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and people of India on the occasion of countrys 50th anniversary of independence He expressed both nations commitment to deepening bilateral and peopletopeople tiesHonoured to call on Honble James Marape Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Conveyed warm greetings from PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and the people of India on the occasion of PNGAt50 Both countries remain committed to deepening bilateral and peopletopeople ties MoS Margherita posted on XMargherita arrived in Port Moresby on Monday on an official visit to Papua New Guinea where he will represent PM Modi at the commemorative events marking Papua New Guineas 50th anniversary of IndependenceDuring the visit MoS Margherita is expected to have bilateral meetings with the political leadership of Papua New Guinea according to Ministry of External Affairs MEA statementFollowing the historic 3rd Summit of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in May 2023 in Port Moresby the visit of MOSPM to Papua New Guinea would provide an opportunity to continue our engagement with the leadership in the Pacific Island Countries PICs the MEA stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mos-margherita-interacts-with-business-community-of-papua-new-guinea-638851.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/namibias-capital-launches-zero-emissions-week-638861.html Windhoek Sep 16 Namibias capital city Windhoek has officially launched Zero Emissions Week 2025 to raise awareness about climate change sustainable mobility and the benefits of reducing emissions The weeklong event features various activities including an electric vehicle exhibition an environmental video awareness competition cycling gear giveaways a corporate trivia challenge and a citywide CarFree DayWith these initiatives Windhoek is seeking to lead by example making sustainable mobility and clean energy a reality for its residentsIn his welcoming remarks Pierre van Rensburg strategic executive for urban and transport planning at the City of Windhoek emphasised that Zero Emissions Week is not about following international trends but about addressing practical challenges facing the city including transportrelated emissions congestion and urban air qualityTransport contributes a significant 25 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions with vehicles accounting for 70 per cent according to van Rensburg Xinhua news agency reported He encouraged residents to envision a future with sustainable transport and adopt greener alternatives like public transport cycling and walkingAs part of the initiative the municipality also inaugurated its first electric vehicle charging station which would help normalize electric mobility and expand EV infrastructure across the cityNdeshihafela Larandja Mayor of Windhoek said this milestone reflects the citys commitment to climateresilient development sustainable mobility and reducing its carbon footprintLast week Namibia announced plans to mobilise about 17 billion US dollars for green hydrogen projects as the Global African Hydrogen Summit wrapped up Thursday in the capital Windhoek after drawing more than 1500 participants from over 75 countriesWe are trying to mobilise Namibias share of about 17 billion dollars that we now want to bring home and start deploying into our projects Namibias Green Hydrogen Commissioner James Mnyupe told delegates Namibia has now gone beyond the realms of dreaming and its now beginning to construct beginning to produce and beginning to implementThe threeday summit held under the theme Ambition in Action Fuelling Africas Green Industrial Revolution gathered over 25 ministers 125 experts financiers project developers and youth representatives to discuss financing infrastructure community benefits and over 50 bankable hydrogen projects across Africa IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/namibias-capital-launches-zero-emissions-week-638861.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-desperation-for-chinese-funds-risks-clash-with-afghan-taliban-638875.html New Delhi Sep 16 Pakistan may have gloated about the fact that China insisted on Afghanistan being part of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project CPEC 20 but during his recent visit to China Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was left emptyhanded after Beijing said that investments would be subject to the security of the project The Chinese have had a hard time dealing with the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and the TehreekTaliban Pakistan TTP while executing the CPEC project that passes through Balochistan They have repeatedly complained that Pakistan has failed to provide security to its people working on the project Further the two groups have caused substantial damage to the project during its executionChina is no doubt interested in the CPEC 20 involving Afghanistan However it has decided that it would tread cautiously this time around and would not put in its money unless Pakistan can guarantee the projects securityFor Pakistan taming the TTP is extremely crucial as it enjoys the support of the Afghan Taliban Pakistan had repeatedly blamed the Taliban of backing the TTP and allowing the outfit to use its soil to strike at PakistanNow Intelligence assessments say that Pakistan is getting desperate and has decided to take matters into its own hands while also conveying a message to the TalibanPakistan has now decided to carry out strikes on TTP bases within Afghanistan This risks a fullblown confrontation with the Taliban as well Pakistan has mapped TTP infrastructure across the Durand Line following a highlevel security meeting The meeting was chaired by Pakistans army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and other officials It was decided that Pakistan would carry out strikes thus indicating that there would be a major escalationAn official from Pakistan is likely to travel to Afghanistan and convey to the Taliban about their plans on dealing with the TTPRecently the Foreign Ministers of China Pakistan and Afghanistan held a meeting to discuss the CPEC 20 project China made it clear that it wanted Afghanistan to be part of the project While the meeting decided on a variety of factors the point on which there was no agreement was about the Talibans support for the TTP While Afghanistan assured China that it would not allow the BLA to use its soil to stage attacks it failed to give any such assurance about the TTPA lot would depend on the Pakistan officials visit to Afghanistan If the Taliban do not agree to what Pakistan is saying then one could expect chaos in the region Pakistan needs the investment from China desperately as its economy continues to fall each day However for that to take place it needs to convince Beijing that it is capable of securing the projectDespite making all efforts the Pakistan Army has failed to rein in the TTP Following the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries the TTP has only scaled up attacks against the Pakistan Army The army has in the last week lost 50 personnel in attacks that were carried out by the TTP in areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lower Dir Unable to fight the outfit the Pakistan Army has even reached out to the US seeking support in terms of Intelligence and other logisticsSharif recently blamed terrorists based in Afghanistan for striking in Pakistan He had also warned that they would no longer keep quiet The Pakistan Army may go on the offensive but the battle would not be an easy one especially against the TTPIndian officials feel that Pakistan without the support of the US or China is not likely to have any major success against the TTP or BLA However it is desperate for money and hence is ready to take the risk of going into an allout war against the TTP This however risks regional stability and the possibility of a massive escalation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-desperation-for-chinese-funds-risks-clash-with-afghan-taliban-638875.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/realism-and-caution-must-be-adopted-in-efforts-to-add-momentum-to-warming-india-china-ties-report-638885.html Sofia Sep 16 The recent diplomatic engagement between India and China is hardly a reset as there are a number of strategic security and economic challenges that complicate the diplomatic thaw and bilateral ties a report stated on Tuesday As India and China engage in diplomatic activities caution and realism must guide the next phase of efforts to add momentum to warming ties it mentioned The resumption of diplomatic engagement between India and China has led to agreements on key aspects of the bilateral relationship disengagement at the border and discussions on the possibility of reviving economic linkages and Foreign Direct Investment FDI according to a report in Modern Diplomacy These developments are suggestive of a thaw in bilateral ties that were strained since the Galwan clashes in 2020India and China have worked to restore diplomatic relations by leveraging cooperation in the domain of peopletopeople ties hydrological data sharing and crossborder connectivity since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Kazan in October last yearRelations between two nations have normalised on the back of peopletopeople ties as India resumed issuing tourist visas for Chinese nationals for the first time in five years In March China lifted visa restrictions on Indian nationals after both nations announced that they would resume direct air travel These decisions allow greater peopletopeople interactions in the domain of tourism and academic and cultural exchangesThe recent diplomatic reengagement between India and China is hardly a reset There are several pressing strategic security and economic challenges that complicate the diplomatic thaw and broader bilateral relations Tensions at the border could flare with any misstep from either side and disengagement would be replaced with escalation Similarly on the trade front Indias import dependence on Chinese goods is an economic vulnerability that Beijing could exploit in the event of any new confrontation The same applies to hydrological data sharing which became a casualty of the Doklam standoff At the same time reintroducing Chinese FDI and economic linkages carries national security risks with it that will have to be carefully scrutinized wrote Rahul Karan Reddy and Tridivesh Singh Maini in Modern DiplomacyBeyond existing challenges there are emerging ones that threaten to complicate relations further The Dalai Lamas succession issue is already shaping into a thorny one and Chinas Medong County dam is a troubling development with significant downstream implications for Indian states in the Northeast Even paradiplomacy efforts are embedded with concerns about Chinas influence operations and data security the report addedTherefore it emphasised it is crucial to view progress on nonconfrontational issues like peopletopeople ties and paradiplomacy efforts as a small but meaningful step in the direction of restoring trust and balanceFurther improvements must be pursued keeping in mind the core interests and concerns of both sides the writers assertedWith the door for paradiplomacy held ajar by the progress made so far between India and China caution and realism must guide the next phase of efforts to add momentum to warming ties it concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/realism-and-caution-must-be-adopted-in-efforts-to-add-momentum-to-warming-india-china-ties-report-638885.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yudh-abhyas-2025-indian-us-soldiers-conclude-exercise-in-alaska-638716.html Washington Sep 16 The 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 the annual bilateral ArmytoArmy exercise between India and the United States concluded successfully after two weeks of rigorous training in Alaska In a statement the Indian embassy in Washington termed the exercises a hallmark of the growing militarytomilitary interaction between India and the US aligned with the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between both countriesAs part of the exercise a total of 450 soldiers from each side took part in field and command post drills while also engaging with subjectmatter experts SMEs to further strengthen operational synergy The Indian side was led by a battalion of the Madras Regiment with soldiers of the US Armys 11th Airborne DivisionThe exercise was conducted from September 114 at Fort Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area in AlaskaThe 2025 edition was one of the largest bilateral military exercises for the Indian Army in terms of troops mobilisedThe embassy statement noted that the exercises allowed soldiers from both armies to adapt their procedures to another and build familiarity under realistic combat conditionsThe Exercise saw command post exercises wherein Indian and American officers worked side by side on operational planning command and control and coordination across brigade and battalion levels This was followed by field training in challenging subarctic terrain including drills and maneuvers specialist training such as sniper and recce counter IED training and laying of obstacles and demolitions it explainedThe drills also included livefire activities such as joint firing and mortar livefire exercises that tested coordination in fire control and communications in a demanding terrain providing valuable lessons in precision adaptability and joint targetingExercise Yudh Abhyas has evolved significantly since its inception in 2002 when it began as a platoonlevel exercise focused on peacekeeping It has steadily grown in scale and complexity alternating between locations in India and the US the embassy statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yudh-abhyas-2025-indian-us-soldiers-conclude-exercise-in-alaska-638716.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-us-military-again-strikes-alleged-venezuelan-drug-boat-killing-three-638717.html Washington Sep 16 US President Donald Trump said that the US military launched the second strike in two weeks targeting an alleged drug boat from Venezuela killing three men aboard the vessel in international waters This morning on my Orders US Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility Trump wrote on social mediaThese extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to US National Security Foreign Policy and vital US Interests he saidTrumps post also includes a video marked unclassified showing that a vessel caught fire in unknown watersOn September 2 Trump ordered a US military strike in international waters on a vessel allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela killing 11 people onboard whom Trump described as all positively identified Tren de Aragua TDA NarcoterroristsVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro later denounced the first US strike as unlawful He accused Washington of fabricating drug trafficking claims to justify its regime change attempt insisting that Venezuela is free of coca cultivation and cocaine production Xinhua news agency reportedThe Venezuelan side has not yet commented on the second US strikeMaduro said at a press conference Monday that channels of communication between the United States and Venezuela have been severed by WashingtonHe blamed the breakdown on threats and blackmail from Washington while stressing that Venezuela has managed to preserve peace despite provocations from the United StatesMaduro added that Venezuela is exercising its legitimate right to defend itself against political diplomatic and potential military aggression IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-claims-us-military-again-strikes-alleged-venezuelan-drug-boat-killing-three-638717.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/dna-evidence-links-suspect-to-charlie-kirks-killing-fbi-638718.html Washington Sep 16 US Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Director Kash Patel said that investigators have found DNA evidence tying alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson to last weeks crime scene We have the DNA on the screwdriver that was found on the rooftop and the towel that the firearm was wrapped in Patel said in an interview with Fox News on MondayThe rifle itself is being processed at the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives laboratories in Maryland Patel notedThe FBI director also said that the suspects family has collectively told investigators that he subscribed to leftwing ideology and even more so in these last couple of yearsKirk a rightwing activist and influencer was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday while debating in front of the audience during an event at Utah Valley University Xinhua news agency reportedRoughly 33 hours after the shooting the 22yearold suspect was apprehended in Washington County Utah after relatives helped identify him from images released by investigatorsA family member of Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriffs Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them Utah Governor Spencer Cox said on FridayDuring a Sunday appearance on NBC the Utah governor said that interviews conducted by investigators with friends and relatives of Robinson indicated that he had a leftist ideology that was very different from that of his conservative familyDespite being a registered voter state voting records showed that Robinson is unaffiliated with any political party and indicated that he did not vote in the November presidential election the first presidential election since he turned 18 His parents are both registered RepublicansThe authorities have continued to search for a motive IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/dna-evidence-links-suspect-to-charlie-kirks-killing-fbi-638718.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-says-it-struck-hezbollah-site-in-lebanon-one-wounded-638719.html Jerusalem Sep 16 The Israeli military said that it struck a Hezbollah command site in southern Lebanon as crossborder tensions persist despite a ceasefire Lebanons staterun National News Agency said Israeli drones fired two missiles at a car in the town of Yater wounding one person The Health Ministrys emergency operations center confirmed the casualty on MondayIn a statement the Israeli military said the strike targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and vowed to continue operations to remove threats to Israel Hezbollah has not commented Xinhua news agency reportedA US and Frenchbrokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on November 27 2024 ending more than a year of clashes But Israel has continued occasional strikes in Lebanon saying they aim to eliminate Hezbollah threats It has also kept forces in parts of the border area after the deadline for a full withdrawal expired on February 18Meanwhile last week Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike in the Qatari capital of Doha targetting a building used by senior Hamas officials in what Israeli authorities described as an attempt to assassinate leaders of the groupIn a joint statement the military and the Shin Bet security agency confirmed responsibility saying the strike targeted Hamas leaders directly responsible for the October 7 massacre and used precise munitions and intelligence to limit civilian harmIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a wholly independent Israeli operation Israel initiated it Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility he said in a statement released by his office Xinhua News Agency reportedEyewitnesses heard loud explosions and saw a large plume of smoke rising over the Qatari capital no initial casualties were reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-says-it-struck-hezbollah-site-in-lebanon-one-wounded-638719.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-condemns-murder-of-indian-man-in-texas-promises-justice-638551.html Washington Sep 15 US President Donald Trump has reacted to the brutal killing of an Indian national by an undocumented immigrant in Texas promising prosecution of the accused to the fullest extent of the law who will be charged with murder in the first degree I am aware of the terrible reports regarding the murder of Chandra Nagamallaiah a wellrespected person in Dallas Texas who was brutally beheaded in front of his wife and son by an ILLEGAL ALIEN from Cuba who should have never been in our Country Trump posted on Truth SocialTrump also blamed the previous Biden administration for releasing the murder accused into the communityThis individual was previously arrested for terrible crimes including child sex abuse grand theft auto and false imprisonment but was released back into our Homeland under incompetent Joe Biden because Cuba did not want such an evil person in their Country Rest assured the time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch Trump addedOn September 10 41yearold Nagamallaiah was fatally attacked and decapitated at a motel in Dallas Texas 37yearold Martinez was arrested and charged with capital murder He is accused of beheading Nagamallaiah and leaving the victims head in a trash binA disturbing video circulating on social media showed Martinez chasing the victim with a machete and continuing the attack until Nagamallaiah was decapitated He then kicked the victims head into the motel parking lot before picking it up and placing it in a dumpsterOn Friday the US Department of Homeland Security DHS announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE has started the process of the attackers removal from the countryIn a statement DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughli also accused the Biden administration of allowing undocumented immigrants into the countryThis gruesome savage slaying of a victim at a motel by Yordanis CobosMartinez was completely preventable if this criminal illegal alien was not released into our country by the Biden Administration she addedAccording to the DHS Martinez was in ICE Dallas custody at the Bluebonnet Detention Centre until he was released on an Order of Supervision on January 13 2025 under the Biden administration IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-condemns-murder-of-indian-man-in-texas-promises-justice-638551.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-presidential-office-agrees-in-principle-that-chief-justice-should-reflect-on-calls-for-resignation-638555.html Seoul Sep 15 The presidential office said Monday it agrees in principle that Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae should reflect on calls for his resignation The remark came after Rep Choo Miae chair of the National Assemblys Legislation and Judiciary Committee called for Chos resignation in a Facebook post the previous day accusing him of shielding figures involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeols martial law imposition by delaying their trialsWe agree in principle that if there is public demand and it reflects the needs of the times it is necessary as an appointed authority to reflect on the plausibility and reasons for such demands presidential spokesperson Kang Yujung said during a press briefing when asked to comment on Choos remarksKang stressed the need to respect the National Assembly as the foremost elected body representing the spirit of the Constitution and the will of the people in a thinly veiled message that the judiciary which is an appointed body should reflect on Choos callsKang also addressed the judiciarys recent call for caution on the ruling Democratic Party DPs judiciary reform bills Yonhap news agency reportedAn authority appointed by indirect appointing power should fully observe the legislatures discussions rather than doubting the legislatures ability to exercise selfcorrection and hold internal deliberations she saidCho earlier stressed the importance of respecting the independence of the judiciary vowing to seek what he called the right path to judicial reformSeparately DP leader Jung Chungrae also called for Chos resignation during the partys supreme council meeting earlier in the dayThe judicial reform bills being pushed by the DP call for increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14 to 30 overhauling the recommendation process for Supreme Court justices and evaluation method for judges expanding public access to lowercourt rulings and introducing a preexamination system for search and seizure warrantsThe party has said it aims to pass the bills before the extended Chuseok holiday that begins October 3 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-presidential-office-agrees-in-principle-that-chief-justice-should-reflect-on-calls-for-resignation-638555.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ukraine-claims-strike-on-major-oil-refinery-in-russias-leningrad-region-638558.html Kyiv Sep 15 The Ukrainian military said it struck the Kirishi oil refinery in Russias northwestern Leningrad region The attack took place on Sunday night caused explosions and a fire at the facility which is one of the largest oil refineries in Russia the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a reportAccording to it the refinery which produces about 80 types of petroleum products including automotive gasoline diesel and aviation fuel is involved in supplying the Russian army Xinhua news agency reportedThe strike on the Kirishi refinery in Russias northwestern Leningrad region follows weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscows war effort The facility operated by Russian oil major Surgutneftegas produces close to 177 million metric tons per year 355000 barrels per day of crude and is one of Russias top three by outputMore than three years since Russias fullscale invasion of Ukraine drones have emerged as a key weapon for both sides Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining longheld concerns that the fighting might spill over beyond Ukraines bordersAccording to Ukraines General Staff explosions and a fire were reported at the Kirishi refineryThe Kirishi refinery also known as Kirishinefteorgsintez or KINEF is one of Russias top two oil refineries by volume along with the Ryazan Oil Refinery A subsidiary of Surgutneftegaz the facility refines about 177 million metric tons per year 355000 barrels per day of Russian crude IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ukraine-claims-strike-on-major-oil-refinery-in-russias-leningrad-region-638558.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-china-using-tiktok-vs-soybeans-as-bait-amid-madrid-summit-638564.html Seoul Sep 15 There are speculations that a tense battle of wits will unfold between Chinese company TikTok and American soybeans on the first day of the USChina trade talks held in Madrid Spain on September 14 According to reports from foreign media outlets such as Bloomberg and Chinese media outlets such as the South China Morning Post SCMP in Hong Kong TikTok and soybeans appear to have emerged as new points of contention amid a tense tugofwar between the two sides over existing issues such as the imposition of high reciprocal tariffs restrictions on advanced technologies such as semiconductor chips for artificial intelligence AI in the US and restrictions on the supply of rare earth elements in ChinaThe US has officially raised the issue of forcibly selling TikTok and in response China has also put forward the issue of importing US soybeans which are entering the harvest season as a new cardThe general consensus is that the USChina tariff and trade conflict which is the biggest concern of the international community will only find a solution when US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meetFor this reason it is clear that the two countries are speeding up coordination of agendas ahead of President Trumps visit to China which is expected to take place around the time of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation APEC summit to be held in Gyeongju South Korea from October 31 to November 1China is moving into negotiations after flaunting its antiUS nonUS big tent with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Tianjin Summit which even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended and the 80th anniversary military parade featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong UnOn the 9th US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun held a video call and on the 10th US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Wang Yi Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs held a video call to coordinate defense and diplomatic issues and then trade talks began on the 14thOn the first day of the Madrid trade talks the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and the Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng held six hours of discussionsBloomberg reported that the Chinese delegation is expected to stay in Spain until the 17th and predicted that the second meeting will be held on the 15thDiplomatic circles predict that a USChina summit will be held before November 10th the end date of the 90day ceasefire in the USChina tariff and trade war which was reestablished by President Trumps executive order on the 11th of last monthThe Trump administration has been concerned about TikTok the videosharing platform owned by Chinas ByteDance TikTok which is effectively under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party has been wildly popular among American youth since 2019In particular President Trump has been pushing for a complete ban on TikTok since his first term in office citing the potential for personal information leaks and threats to national security However concerns about the potential infringement of freedom of expression as stipulated in the US Constitution were also significantThe United States has enacted the socalled TikTok Forced Divestment Act citing national security concerns President Trump has extended the deadline for the forced divestment of TikToks US business rights three times with the final extension ending on the 17th of this monthIn light of this the Trump administration appears intent on pressuring Chinese authorities through USChina tariff and trade negotiations to induce TikTok to voluntarily sell and withdraw from the United States Yonhap news agency reportedIn response China has threatened legal action viewing the pressure to sell TikTok as unfair treatment of its technology and companies and an infringement on its sovereignty and has also expressed its strong will to take action including suspending TikToks service in the United StatesMeanwhile China appears to have applied strong pressure during the talks over the issue of importing American soybeansThis trend can also be seen in the editorial published on the 15th by the Global Times a staterun media outlet and sister publication of the Chinese Communist Partys Peoples Daily which emphasized that American soybean farmers are missing out on the opportunity to sell billions of dollars worth of soybeans even though the harvest season has arrived and that this is the adverse effect of the US trade war with ChinaThe paper also said US soybean farmers are deeply concerned that they will have to prepare for harvest in the absence of purchase orders from ChinaIn fact President Trump said on the 11th of last month that he hopes China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders but China has been weighing the situation without giving an immediate responseAccording to data from the General Administration of Customs of China Chinas soybean imports from January to July this year amounted to 6103 million tons of which Brazilian soybeans accounted for 70 per cent and American soybeans slightly over 25 per centThe United States was once Chinas largest importer of soybeans but Chinas tariff and trade disputes with the United States have changed thatChina the worlds largest soybean importer claims that it is diversifying its import sources but the general analysis is that its true intention is to weaponize soybeansThe issue that the international community is most interested in is the reciprocal tariff rate that the United States will impose on ChinaPresident Trumps hardline stance led the US and China to impose tripledigit retaliatory tariffs but the situation was temporarily adjusted through two rounds of 90day tariff trucesFollowing President Trumps executive order signed on the 11th of last month the US and China are conducting trade negotiations while maintaining their existing reciprocal tariffs of 30 per cent and 10 per cent respectivelyOn April 4th China pressured the Trump administration by imposing export controls on seven of the 17 rare earth elements to the United States In exchange for lifting those restrictions China secured export permits for Nvidias H20 AI chips China which dominates the rare earth supply chain has made no secret of its willingness to use the rare earths weaponization card against the United States at any timeGiven that the USChina delegations to the Madrid summit are centered on economic and trade issues there are speculations that issues such as the South China Sea territorial dispute and the Taiwan issue will not be addressed in earnestIn this regard the US and China are expected to hold further discussions through defense and diplomatic channelsHowever it is expected that it will not be easy for the United States which has opposed Chinas claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea with its commitment to freedom of navigation to find common groundRegarding the Taiwan issue the prevailing view is that a onesided agenda coordination ahead of the USChina summit will be impossible given that the US cannot tolerate Chinas will to unify the island by force IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-china-using-tiktok-vs-soybeans-as-bait-amid-madrid-summit-638564.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-bnp-jamaat-at-loggerheads-over-democracy-and-religious-freedom-638582.html Dhaka Sep 15 The Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP has expressed grave concern over the rise of dangerous forces in the country warning that they pose a serious threat to democracy religious freedom and cultural diversity local media reported on Monday Addressing a programme organised by the Diploma Engineers Association of Bangladesh in Dhaka BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday said that many of those involved in the JulyAugust protests last year are now attempting to enforce a new form of cultural dominance in the countryHe also accused the radical Islamist Party JamaateIslami of exploiting religious sentiments in the country by trying to spread its founder Syed Abul Ala Maududis ideology in the name of IslamThe remarks came after Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar recently called for the cancellation of the recruitment of music and dance teachers at government primary schools and instead appointing religious teachers to instil moral values in studentsHere people pray five times a day watch dramas on television listen to music this is our cultural reality But when you make everything onesided fascism will rise And the ultimate form of fascism is the development of radical communalism and radical religious politics Bangladesh leading Bengali daily Jugantor quoted the BNP leader as sayingRizvi also questioned the fairness of the recent student union elections of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University where Jamaats student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir won the key postsHe alleged that a hidden agenda might be at play to wipe out nationalist forcesWhether a deep blueprint is being prepared to eliminate nationalist forces within the state and university authorities this has become a matter of concern for people today The ballot papers for the DUCSU and JACSU elections were printed by a privately owned company whose owner has close ties to a particular political party Isnt this an irregularity the BNP leader saidThe state and university authorities are trying to implement a master plan together where it is being said we have driven out the Awami League now we have to defeat the BNP too Isnt this part of their deep blueprint If something unilateral happens a new type of fascism will be born in society which will destroy the national consciousness Rizvi addedThese parties who earlier collaborated with Muhammad Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina are now at loggerheadsThe unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic setup in the countryThe Yunusled interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-bnp-jamaat-at-loggerheads-over-democracy-and-religious-freedom-638582.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/five-eyes-alliance-must-work-together-to-counter-khalistani-extremism-report-638593.html Canberra Sep 15 Australia the United Kingdom New Zealand and the United States should join hands with Canada to dismantle Khalistani extremist fundraising and propaganda networks globally a report said on Monday It stated that key steps include coordinated monitoring of suspicious nonprofit activities intelligence sharing and decisive political distancing from separatist lobbies according to a report in The Australia TodayIt further mentioned that the Khalistani extremism has long been treated as an Indian issue but with Canadas recognition it is evident that the matter is a global security concernIf Five Eyes democracies truly believe in safeguarding pluralism and protecting their diverse communities they must act together Australia with its growing Indian diaspora and deepening strategic ties with New Delhi is well placed to lead this collective effort Canada has broken the silence Now it is time for its allies Australia included to stand firm and follow suit wrote Amit Sarwal cofounder of The Australia TodayThe report stated that Canada for the first time officially confirmed that banned extremist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation are engaged in promoting separatism and violence in the countryCanada has taken a decisive step in acknowledging what India has long warned about the presence and operations of Khalistani extremist groups on its soil The 2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks categorically identifies these groups as national security threats marking a pivotal shift in Ottawas counterterrorism strategy he addedThe 2025 assessment warns that while their operations are largely directed at India the activities have serious implications for Canadian national security and foreign policySarwal stressed that the move reflects a broader pattern building on the 2024 annual report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service CSIS tabled in Parliament shortly after breakthrough talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the Group of Seven G7 Summit in Alberta in June 2025The 2024 annual report said Canadabased Khalistani extremists CBKEs continue to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interestsFor the first time the report said the Canadian government labelled Khalistan supporters operating within its borders as extremistsIndia has for long voiced concerns over Canada providing a safe haven to such elements for decades and the new acknowledgement marks a diplomatic breakthroughThis is where Australia and other Five Eyes intelligence partners come in Canada has finally drawn a red line between free expression and violent extremism and the rest must follow the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/five-eyes-alliance-must-work-together-to-counter-khalistani-extremism-report-638593.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/major-australian-bank-hit-with-record-fine-for-widespread-misconduct-638598.html Sydney Sep 15 One of Australias big four banks has been hit with a recordbreaking fine after admitting to engaging in widespread misconduct The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC on Monday announced that the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ has agreed to pay 240 million Australian dollars 1595 million in penalties in relation to four separate investigations spanning the banks institutional and retail divisions Xinhua news agency reportedASIC said that ANZ Australias fourthlargest bank by market capitalization admitted to engaging in unconscionable conduct in dealings with the federal government by incorrectly reporting trading data relating to its management of a 14 billion Australian dollars 93 billion bond dealAdditionally it said the bank engaged in widespread misconduct across products and services impacting nearly 65000 customers including failing to refund fees charged to dead customersASIC said the agreed settlement which is subject to approval by the Federal Court is made up of a 125 million Australian dollars 831 million fine for the institutional and markets matters and a 115 million Australian dollars 764 million penalty for the retail mattersTime and time again ANZ betrayed the trust of Australians ASIC Chairman Joe Longo said in a statementThe total penalties across these matters are the largest announced by ASIC against one entity and reflect the seriousness and number of breaches of law the vulnerable position that ANZ put its customers in and the repeated failures to rectify crucial issues he saidChairman of ANZ Paul OSullivan apologized for mistakes that had a significant impact on customers and said that several relevant executives have been held accountable IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/major-australian-bank-hit-with-record-fine-for-widespread-misconduct-638598.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/elon-musks-starlink-experiences-service-outage-again-638603.html New Delhi Sep 15 Thousands of users of Starlink on Monday experienced internet issues and total outage as billionaire Elon Musks satellite internet service is down yet again According to outagetracking website Downdetector there were nearly 50000 outage reports by 1001 amStarlink is currently experiencing a service outage Our team is investigating the company said on its website However it did not provide any reasons for the outageDowndetector reported that 59 per cent of users experienced internet issues while 40 per cent faced a total blackout with 1 per cent facing poor reception The issue affected customers majorly across the US including Virginia Louisiana Indiana and Washington state Some users in Colombia also reported losing connectivitySome said the service was down for several minutes and others noted outages lasting more than 20 minutesWhile Musk is yet to share a comment users took to his social media platform X to complain of the outageStarlink is down again These outages are getting more frequent wrote a userAnother Starlink outage AGAIN Thought it was mine Now I see everybody getting problems too added another userEarlier in July the internet satellite service faced a global outage for nearly three hoursOn Thursday night Starlinks satellite internet service experienced an outage affecting many users worldwide The issue affected customers across multiple continents with outage tracking sites showing spikes in North America Europe and parts of AsiaIn a post on X Musk apologised for the disruption and ensured that it doesnt happen againStarlink provides internet through a network of satellites orbiting Earth The company currently operates the worlds largest constellation of satellites with more than 6750 in orbit It has a presence in 150 countries including IndiaMeanwhile Starlink has already secured the necessary clearances from Indian authorities and been allotted trial bandwidth The company has also finalised 17 locations for ground stations which will connect its lowearth orbit satellites with terrestrial fibre and data networks The launch is expected by the end of 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/elon-musks-starlink-experiences-service-outage-again-638603.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/brazils-democracy-sovereignty-non-negotiable-lula-638621.html New York Sep 15 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has rejected the Trump administrations 50 per cent tariffs on Brazilian products and defended the countrys democratic institutions and other policies Affirming Brazils openness to negotiate anything that can bring mutual benefits Lula in an opinion piece published in The New York Times stressed that Brazils democracy and sovereignty are not on the tableIn the article titled Brazilian democracy and sovereignty are nonnegotiable Lula said that while the United States has its legitimate goals such as reindustrialisation resorting to unilateral tariffs is misguided and illogical Xinhua aews agency reported citing The New York Times opedHe pointed out that Washington has recorded a 410 billion US dollar surplus in goods and services trade with Brazil over the past 15 years with nearly threequarters of its exports entering Brazil dutyfreeHe accused the US government of using tariffs and the Magnitsky Act to seek impunity for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison on Thursday for attempting a coup arguing that the measures lack economic rationale and are politically motivatedThe Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act allows Washington to impose sanctions including asset freezes credit card cancellations and travel bans on foreign individuals accused of human rights abuses or corruptionAddressing US accusations over digital censorship Lula said all platforms are subject to the same laws in Brazil and that regulation aims to protect Brazilians from fraud disinformation and hate speech He also defended Brazils digital PIX instant payment system as promoting financial inclusionRefuting US allegations of Brazils failure to enforce environmental laws Lula mentioned that the Brazilian government has cut the rate of deforestation in the Amazon by half in the past two yearsThere are no ideological differences that should prevent two governments from working together in areas where they have common goals Lula said adding that Brazil and the United States are capable of respecting each other and cooperating for the good of Brazilians and Americans IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/brazils-democracy-sovereignty-non-negotiable-lula-638621.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-warns-earthquake-hit-families-in-afghanistan-risk-not-surviving-winter-without-international-aid-638655.html Kabul Sep 15 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA and United Nations Development Programme UNDP has warned that thousands of earthquakehit families in eastern Afghanistan risk not surviving the coming winter months without urgent international support local media reported on Monday The UN called for 139 million dollars in urgent aid to secure shelter food and healthcare Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva called on the global community to respond quickly and mentioned that the UN has requested for 139 million dollars to meet international needs leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reportedOtunbayeva underscored the importance of womens role in providing humanitarian aid saying that restrictions placed on female aid workers have made supporting victims extremely difficult She added that womens presence in this process is important for reaching families particularly vulnerable women and childrenAccording to local and aid officials hundreds of people were killed thousands were injured and tens of thousands were left homeless after an earthquake of 60 magnitude struck Nangarhar Kunar and Laghman provinces The UNDP stressed communitybased recovery providing cashforwork programs so survivors can earn money while participating in debris removal housing reconstruction and restoring infrastructureThe UN stated that earthquakes disproportionately impact the poorest who live in fragile homes and do not have resources for recovery The humanitarian agencies said that many recent returnees from Pakistan and Iran are among the victims and stressed that aid is essential for women returnees and vulnerable groupsLast week the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA said at least 2164 people including hundreds of women and children were killed in the recent earthquake that struck the eastern provinces Khaama Press reportedAccording to OCHAs update on September 11 the victims included 516 women and 476 men Furthermore 509 girls and 663 boys were among those who died due to the earthquake showcasing the disasters impact on families The OCHA stated that humanitarian agencies had so far given food assistance to over 60800 earthquakehit people and stressed that needs remain overwhelming in many communitiesThe aid agencies have also been delivering shelter support to earthquakeaffected families with at least receiving tents or temporary housing However aid groups have mentioned that resources are limited and winter is approaching rapidly The disaster demonstrates acute vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural calamities and showcases the urgent need for sustained humanitarian funding IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-warns-earthquake-hit-families-in-afghanistan-risk-not-surviving-winter-without-international-aid-638655.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-govt-checking-human-rights-violations-during-us-raid-on-korean-workers-presidential-office-638696.html Seoul Sep 15 The government is closely looking into whether any possible human rights violations took place during the raid and detention of Korean workers by US immigration authorities in Georgia the Presidential Office said Monday A total of 316 South Koreans returned home Friday after a week in detention following a US immigration raid at an electric vehicle battery plant in Bryan County following intense negotiations between Seoul and WashingtonLocal media have since reported numerous firsthand accounts of the raid and detention with many describing the detention facility as overcrowded unsanitary and harshThe workers recounted cramped spaces moldcovered mattresses cold temperatures and limited access to basic hygiene Yonhap News Agency reported Several also described how they were shackled with chains around their waist legs and wrists during the arrest and treated roughly by immigration officersI understand that the government is conducting a more thorough review with the companies to determine whether any human rights violations occurred presidential spokesperson Kang Yujung said in a press briefingThe foreign ministry is looking at whether our demands were properly addressed and the companies are also conducting their own reviews to check whether any measures were insufficient on either the Korean side or US side Kang saidSeoul had stressed that the rights and dignity of South Korean citizens must not be unfairly violated expressing strong regret to Washington over the incidentSome of our requests have been accepted and there were improvements However we will continue to look into whether any issues or inconveniences for our citizens remain she addedHyundai and LG the two South Korean companies whose joint venture site was raided last week will collect the accounts from the workers on possible discrimination mistreatment or rights violations and share the outcome with the foreign ministry a ministry official told reportersA comprehensive factfinding review will be carried out to check for possible human rights violations during the detention and the issue will be raised with the US if needed the officials saidSouth Korean consular officials said they received no specific complaints from the workers during meetings at the Folkston detention facility noting that time was limited and the priority was securing their early release from the detention and departure from the USUS Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE which carried out the raid agreed to the consular access after Seouls strong protests allowing the workers to make phone calls and get the medication they needed the official saidICE also agreed to waive the requirement for the detained workers to sign documents admitting to unlawful stay a condition normally needed for voluntary departureThrough negotiations with Washington Seoul secured assurances that workers on shortterm B1 visas issued for meetings and contract signings would not have their visas revoked the official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-govt-checking-human-rights-violations-during-us-raid-on-korean-workers-presidential-office-638696.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-deputy-state-secretary-landau-expresses-regret-over-detention-of-skoreans-638467.html Seoul Sep 14 A senior US State Department official on Sunday expressed regret over the recent mass detention of South Korean workers in America and vowed to prevent similar occurrences Christopher Landau Deputy Secretary of State visited Seoul for a meeting with South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoonjoo Yonhap news agency reportedAccording to Seouls Foreign Ministry Landau conveyed his deep regrets over the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers in an immigration crackdown earlier this month at an electric vehicle battery plant construction site for a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Bryan County GeorgiaA total of 316 South Korean workers returned home on Friday after being held in a detention centre for a weekLandau also told Park that the two allies should try to use the incident as an opportunity to further strengthen their bilateral ties and improve relevant systems where necessary according to the MinistryLandau also said that US President Donald Trump has a keen interest in the matter and ensured that those who have returned home will not face any disadvantages when reentering the USThe State Department official said that Washington would try to ensure there would be no further incidents of a similar nature in the futureLandau proposed workinglevel talks on issuing proper visas for South Korean workers in the US citing a need to provide institutional support for South Korean corporations investments that contribute to the American economy and manufacturingIn response Park touched upon inconveniences that South Korean workers faced while in detention and said the general public in South Korea in addition to the workers themselves felt deeply shocked by the crackdownAccording to the Ministry Park also strongly urged the US to take practical steps and implement systematic improvements to ease South Korean peoples concernsMost of the detained Korean workers had entered the US on nonimmigrant shortterm business visas either B1 visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation permits which are meant for brief business visits rather than employmentSouth Korean companies view such visa challenges as a major obstacle to their US investments a concern that contrasts sharply with South Koreas status as the largest foreign investor in the US in 2023 with 215 billion investedSeoul has also pledged 350 billion in additional investment under a new trade framework Yet only about 2000 South Koreans with specialty occupations receive H1B visas annually out of nearly 85000 issued IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-deputy-state-secretary-landau-expresses-regret-over-detention-of-skoreans-638467.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shadow-looms-over-pakistans-ties-with-china-638471.html New Delhi Sept 14 Pakistan a country which once dreamed of leading the Muslim world and linking South and Central Asia has been reduced to becoming excessively dependent on China Even this relationship could turn precarious as Islamabad tries to maintain a fine balance between cosying up to the US and keeping up its ties with Beijing Even the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC is not Islamabads brainchild but a spoke in Beijings Belt and Road Initiative which is aimed more at serving Chinas own ambitions according to an article in Pakistan TodayIn the Middle East the regional diplomatic order is shifting Arab states are moving towards normalisation with Israel under the Abraham Accords reshaping traditional alliances and potentially altering the balance of influence in the Muslim world the article said Even historically close partners such as Kazakhstan which imports their locally assembled JF17 fighter jets and Turkey are gradually adopting more flexible positions towards Tel Aviv Afghanistan remains unstable and unreliable as a trade and security partner Iran meanwhile faces deepening international isolation and has had occasional military tensions with Pakistan such as last years crossborder skirmishes the article further statesThe article also highlights that Islamabad has not succeeded in implementing any economic project planned with Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and UzbekistanAll of this leaves Pakistan with one major and consistent ally China While the partnership with Beijing remains central to our economic and security strategies it is not immune to the turbulence of global politics The delicate balancing act Islamabad must perform between deepening US engagement and maintaining Chinese trust is becoming increasingly precarious Even the muchcelebrated CPEC now entering its second phase is exposed to vulnerabilities from regional instability shifting geopolitical alignments and global power competition the article lamentsIt also highlights that Islamabads recent flirtation with the idea of cryptomining partnerships with the USA seems less like a serious economic pivot and more like a political talking point Our history of announcing ambitious projects without the institutional capacity or longterm followthrough suggests that such ventures are far more likely to evaporate than materialiseThe article also underlines that on the strategic front Pakistans room to manoeuvre is narrowing at an alarming rate The country is not part of BRICS the rapidly expanding economic bloc that now accounts for a significant share of global GDP and is increasingly shaping the future of trade and development financing outside Western frameworks Indias Act East Policy initiated in 2012 has deepened its integration with ASEAN economies and strengthened security partnerships across East Asia while leaving Pakistan excluded from emerging regional supply chainsIf New Delhi were to further revise its policy towards the Indian Ocean Rim Association Pakistans maritime trade routes could face additional strategic restrictions effectively tightening a noose around our seabased economic lifelines the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shadow-looms-over-pakistans-ties-with-china-638471.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-protest-over-dam-land-compensation-continues-highway-remains-blocked-638477.html Islamabad Sep 14 Hundreds remain stranded as residents of Harban in KhyberPakhtunkhwas KP Upper Kohistan continue blocking the Karakoram Highway KKH for the seventh consecutive day demanding immediate and higher compensation for land acquired for the DiamerBasha Dam project according to local media reports The sitin near Harban Nallah has severed the main route linking Pakistanoccupied GilgitBaltistan with the rest of Pakistan leading to acute shortages of food and medicine while leaving hundreds of goodsladen trucks immobilisedProtesters accused WAPDA and the KhyberPakhtunkhwa administration of reneging on commitments over compensation payments according to a report in the leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune Our land was taken the rates were unfair and the payments have been delayed for years a demonstrator was quoted as sayingOfficials from the Kohistan administration and WAPDA acknowledged that about Rs 3 billion is owed in total stating that nearly Rs 2 billion has already been transferred to the deputy commissioners account They maintained that the remaining sum will be released once legal formalities are concluded Protesters however have rejected any further delaysThe prolonged blockade has driven up prices of essential vegetables such as onions and tomatoes while transport rerouted through the Babusar Pass is charging exorbitant fares adding to inflation in an already fragile local economy according to local media reports Traders and transporters report heavy losses with each passing dayCivil society groups have criticised the silence of the KhyberPakhtunkhwa government questioning the writ of the state in addressing the crisisProtesters have vowed to continue the sitin until their demands are met while residents and traders are urging federal and provincial authorities to step in negotiate and restore traffic on the strategic highway IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-protest-over-dam-land-compensation-continues-highway-remains-blocked-638477.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-condemns-move-to-expel-transgender-community-from-pakistans-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-638484.html Islamabad Sep 14 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP on Sunday strongly condemned reports that an 11member committee of elders in KhyberPakhtunkhwa KP Swabi district had declared all transgender persons would be expelled from the area The HRCP strongly condemns the reported decision by community elders in Swabi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to form a committee aimed at expelling transgender persons from the district Such actions are unconstitutional discriminatory and amount to incitement to violence against an already marginalised community the body said in a statement on XThe commission stressed that no citizen can be deprived of the right to reside work or earn a livelihood anywhere in Pakistan on the basis of gender identityIt called on provincial and district authorities to immediately ensure the safety and dignity of transgender persons in Swabi and uphold their fundamental rights under the Constitution and the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act 2018The committee of elders reportedly includes Jamiat UlemaiIslamFazls tehsil president Maulana Abdul Samad Haqqani along with other members Maulana Samad stated that transgender persons should leave the district peacefully and find livelihoods elsewhere claiming their presence encouraged music shows that negatively impact the youth according to the leading Pakistani daily DawnAnother committee member Yasir Khan said the first step would be to ask transgender persons to leave voluntarily but if they refused the district police would be approachedThe group is expected to meet again in the coming days and also hold discussions with the police to finalise a strategy for expelling transgender persons from the districtThe development comes after police arrested over 200 individuals including two transgender persons in Swabi during a raid on a music programme alleging resistance and use of abusive language against the police local media reportedResponding to the committees announcement members of the transgender community released a video rejecting the demand for their expulsionThey asserted that they respected local norms and values while earning a living and insisted that the elders had no right to take the law into their own handsThey further said they were aware of the law and the Constitution and expressed readiness to give up performing at functions if provided with government jobsUrging society to see them through the lens of humanity they stressed that forcing them out of Swabi was not acceptable local media reports suggested IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rights-body-condemns-move-to-expel-transgender-community-from-pakistans-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-638484.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nkorea-slams-joint-military-drills-by-us-skorea-japan-638486.html Pyongyang Sep 14 IANS Senior officials of North Korea have condemned upcoming military drills by the US South Korea and Japan media reported on SundaynbspSeoul will launch two simultaneous drills on Monday including Freedom Edge a trilateral outdoor multidomain exercise with the US and Japan and Iron Mace a tabletop drill simulating a nuclearattack response with the US the official Korean Central News Agency reportednbspKim Yo Jong vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea WPK said the Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula fabricated by the US anad South Korea are a dangerous idea Xinhua news agency reportedShe said the North Korea will regard it as an unfiltered demonstration of their antiNorth Korean confrontational stand and succession of confrontational policynbspThe reckless show of strength made by the three countries in real action near North Korea will inevitably bring bad results to themselves she addednbspPak Jong Chon vicechairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK said Iron Mace is a nuclear war rehearsal aimed at using nuclear weapons against North Korea from A to Z while the Freedom Edge is the most comprehensive and offensive war drill for aggression in its scale content and natureThe reckless military moves of the three countries pose a grave challenge to the security interests of our state and a major danger of undermining regional stability and escalating military tension he addednbspPak stressed that if the hostile forces persist in their muscleflexing the North Korea will respond to them with counteraction in a very clear and intensified waynbspSince a failed summit with the US in 2019 on denuclearisation North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an irreversible nuclear stateNKorean leader Kim Jong Un has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside MoscownbspMoscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state https://dailyworld.in/international/nkorea-slams-joint-military-drills-by-us-skorea-japan-638486.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/those-responsible-for-violence-during-protests-will-face-action-says-nepals-pm-karki-638487.html Kathmandu Sep 14 IANS Nepals interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday said that criminal acts must be thoroughly investigated the truth made public and those responsible held accountable local media reportednbspEarlier in the day Karki announced that those killed during the Gen Z protests would be recognised as martyrs with each bereaved family receiving Rs 1 million as compensationnbspShe called for unity and told reporters after assuming office that a collective effort was essential to guide the nation forwardnbspI have never seen such a transformation in just about 27 hours of protests To meet this groups demands we must all work with determination I did not come here out of desire I took on this responsibility after you all urged me to step in she was quoted by The Kathmandu Post as sayingLooking at what happened in the name of protests it seems as if it was executed in a planned way raising questions of a conspiracy she addednbspKarki also assured that the government would probe the vandalism that targeted key institutions including Singha Durbar the Parliament building the Supreme Court business complexes and private propertiesnbspShe emphasised the need to move forward with a positive outlook to revive Nepals fragile economynbspOne of her first decisions was to extend immediate relief to victims of last weeks violent demonstrationsChief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal confirmed that those killed during the protests would be recognised as martyrs with their families receiving financial support of Rs 1 million eachnbspAccording to The Kathmandu Post the government has also ensured free medical treatment for 134 injured protesters and 57 injured police personnelnbspMinistries have been directed to prepare comprehensive reports detailing the damages sustained during the protestsnbspThe protests which escalated into widespread unrest have claimed 72 lives so far including 59 demonstrators 10 inmates and three police officers according to local media accounts The Himalayan Times reported https://dailyworld.in/international/those-responsible-for-violence-during-protests-will-face-action-says-nepals-pm-karki-638487.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/6-killed-4-injured-in-road-accident-in-afghanistan-638498.html Kabul Sep 14 At least six passengers were killed and four others injured in a headon collision between a passenger car and a truck in Afghanistans Faryab province on Sunday the media reported The accident occurred on the outskirts of Khwaja Sabz Posh district where the vehicles rammed into each other killing six commuters on the car instantly and wounding four othersAmong the victims were women and children and all the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment Xinhua news agency reportedThousands of people lose their lives in road accidents in Afghanistan each year due to reckless driving on congested roads poor conditions of roads lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways overloading and overspeedingAt least three travellers were killed and two more injured as a car turned turtle in northern Afghanistans Samangan province said a news statement of the provincial police office on SaturdayBlaming reckless driving for the deadly accident the news statement added that the mishap took place in DaraeSufi Payan area on Friday night and the injured passengers had been taken to the nearby health centreEarlier two commuters including a driver were killed and four others injured in two separate road accidents on a road crossing in Samangan province on Friday morning and all the injured persons had been shifted to a hospital in the neighbouring Balkh provinceEarlier on Tuesday 10 people died and several were injured in two separate accidents in AfghanistanThree motorbikes collided with each other in the western Afghanistan Badghis province on Tuesday evening killing one on the spot and injuring five others provincial police spokesman Sediqullah Sediqi had saidThe deadly mishap took place in the provincial capital QalaeNaw due to the carelessness of the motorists the official said adding all five injured people some in critical conditions were shifted to the nearby hospitalIn another incident nine commuters were confirmed dead and seven others sustained injuries as a minibus plunged into a ravine in northern Afghanistans Baghlan province on Wednesday provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Burhani saidThe mishap took place on a congested road in KhostoFaring area on Wednesday morning leaving nine dead on the spot and seven injured some in critical condition the officer saidEarlier 17 commuters lost their lives and two others were injured as their cars were involved in accidents in the northern Badakhshan and eastern Ghazni provinces respectively on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/6-killed-4-injured-in-road-accident-in-afghanistan-638498.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 17:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/amnesty-report-exposes-pak-govts-mass-surveillance-of-phones-computers-report-638519.html Islamabad Sep 14 The debate in Pakistan over data protection law as a fundamental necessity has grown intense with a report by Amnesty International detailing the expansive technologyenabled state surveillance in Pakistan said a media report on Sunday The Amnesty report details the level of mass surveillance that the state is carrying out Citizens phones and computers can be turned into listening devices conversations emails and location data can be accessed without oversight or judicial authorisation and there is no legal redress for those targeted said the article in Pakistani news website DawncomThe writer Usama Khilji director of Bolo Bhi an advocacy forum for digital rights cautioned that the state carries out surveillance under its perceived notions of security but the lack of legal cover for these invasive surveillance systems and the leaks of data that make personal details into a market commodity show how insecure and unsafe these systems really areA data protection law is a fundamental necessity to govern the right to privacy of Pakistanis that is afforded under Article 14 of the Constitution and further expanded by several precedents in the superior judiciary such as in the Benazir Bhutto case in 1988 the Ghulam Hussain case in 2010 and the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case in 2024 The Fair Trial Act 2013 permits digital surveillance only after a warrant from a magistrate is granted not the kind of mass surveillance that we are experiencing now wrote KhiljiThe Amnesty report also highlights the violation of United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which require both states and companies to respect human rights including in their exports he saidThe sale of spyware and surveillance technology shows how states such as the US France Canada the UAE and China violate these principles by allowing the export of technology that carries out mass surveillance with no regard for citizens fundamental rights said the media reportAs the Amnesty report recommends there is a dire need for a comprehensive legal framework that regulates surveillance to ensure that it is targeted and proportionate and subject to independent oversight Parliament must play its role in conducting a transparent inquiry into the illegal surveillance systems in Pakistan and legislate to regulate this industry under its oversight it saidParliament must also move forward on the Personal Data Protection draft that has been debated since 2020 but has not yet reached a stage where it can be enacted it said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/amnesty-report-exposes-pak-govts-mass-surveillance-of-phones-computers-report-638519.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-must-pave-way-to-speed-up-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor-638524.html New Delhi Sep 14 The IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC initiative has the potential to change the face of global trade and transportation as well as digital and energy connectivity but has received a setback due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas The IMEC initiative offers benefits to all the participating countries possessing a great potential to leverage the economic growth of Europe India and the Gulf And it also grants Israel an opportunity to enhance its significance and role in the international arena on strategic economic and geographic levelsThe government of Israel should prioritize taking steps to implement the IMEC project once its war against Hamas is over according to an article by Uzay Bulut published in JNSIndia the European Union UAE France Germany Italy Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build an economic system by creating a multimodal network of railways ports and highways to boost trade efficiency and regional collaboration These will become a vital artery of global commerce and a potential alternative to Chinas Belt and Road InitiativeThe corridor is expected to connect India the Middle East and Europe with the support of Washington When completed it will likely include three major Mediterranean Sea ports Haifa in Israel Piraeus in Greece and Trieste in Italy the article points outFor Israel the IMEC represents more than an economic opportunity it is a pathway to redefine its strategic regional status and geopolitical alignments according to Mordechai Chaziza of the University of HaifaIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the corridor as a transformative platform for Israeli integration into Arab economies and global supply chainsAccording to initial estimates IMECs overland transportation route could reduce logistics costs by 30 per cent and transportation time by 40 per cent relative to shipping via the Suez Canal The new route would also likely provide important structural benefits such as reducing the risk of supply chain shocks and lowering energy costsThe Hamasled terrorist attacks in southern Israel on October 7 2023 and the ensuing war with Hamas in Gaza came as a major setback for implementing the project Just weeks after the IMEC memorandum of understanding was signed at the G20 Summit Hamas invaded IsraelThe escalating regional instability particularly from Irans regional proxies has effectively led to the halting of this significant initiative as well as a SaudiIsraeli normalization deal the article statesWhile normalization would certainly ease political and logistical hurdles its not an absolute requirement and the project could still move forward with careful diplomatic management wrote Rachel Rizzo and Nicholas Shafer for the Atlantic CouncilHence it appears that the quicker Israel manages to stabilize the Gaza situation the sooner it will be able to focus on doing its part to make this project a realityAn article by Nir Levitan and professors Arie Reich and Jonathan Rynhold notes some suggestions to realize the economic potential of IMEC To make the agreement a reality and attract private and governmental investment several initial steps are required including the creation of a multilateral agreement to establish an institutional framework for a structured and systematic dialogue between the participating countries A dedicated body should be established to attract private investment and promote infrastructure development among the participating countriesVia this corridor the United States and European Union seek to bolster their connectivity with South Asia and the Gulf aiming to align their strategic objectives and counter Chinas growing regional influenceSeveral European countries have since appointed special envoys to the IMEC including France and Italy Under its framework Israel and Cyprus announced new energy development projects in May calling to relaunch the IsraelCyprusGreece trilateral forumIt is now important for Europe the United States and Israel to double down on their support so that more progress for this initiative can be achieved the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israel-must-pave-way-to-speed-up-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor-638524.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 19:19:00 +0530