Category: World

New Delhi: Tensions between Israel and Britain over the occupied West Bank have escalated into a fresh diplomatic confrontation, with Israel announcing the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. The Israeli government has also decided to remove Britain from the US-led Gaza coordination mission and suspend British training arrangements for Palestinian security forces. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the measures were among several steps taken following discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The British consulate in East Jerusalem has traditionally handled matters involving Britain’s relations with the…

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New Delhi: As the upcoming BRICS Summit approaches, a key diplomatic question is whether member countries will be able to set aside their differences and unite around a common agenda. The challenge has gained prominence following the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held under India’s chairmanship in May, where efforts to reach consensus on a joint communique failed. BRICS traditionally operates through consensus-based decision-making. However, the disagreements at the ministerial meeting highlighted the growing complexity within the grouping as its membership expands and countries bring increasingly diverse strategic interests to the…

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Berlin: The growing electoral influence of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is drawing increasing attention across Europe, with the party’s advance raising questions about the country’s political direction and the future of the European Union. Founded in 2013, the AfD initially emerged as a eurosceptic movement focused on opposition to eurozone bailout policies, but its politics shifted sharply to the right during the 2015 refugee crisis. Immigration, opposition to multiculturalism, German nationalism and criticism of the European Union have since become central to the party’s platform. The AfD advocates…

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New Delhi: A recent United Nations initiative on improving the accuracy of world maps has triggered renewed discussion over geography, historical representation and national sovereignty. India has supported efforts aimed at promoting more scientifically accurate representations of the relative sizes of continents and countries, while maintaining that any depiction of its territory must conform to its official position. The debate centres on the longstanding limitations of conventional world maps, particularly the Mercator projection, which was developed in the 16th century primarily to assist maritime navigation. While the projection preserves directions…

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Ayodhya: Senior Indian Postal Service officer Dr Vinay Prakash Singh, a native of Purabazar in Ayodhya, has once again brought honour to India and Uttar Pradesh by being re-elected as the Secretary General of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) for a second consecutive four-year term. Dr Singh was declared elected unopposed on September 4 during the APPU Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Asian-Pacific Postal Union comprises 32 member countries, including India, China, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Bhutan, Nepal and Fiji. His first…

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By Tanveer Jafri Tehran: The debate over Sharia often overlooks an important reality: Islamic law is interpreted differently across Muslim-majority countries, producing sharply contrasting legal and social outcomes. The experiences of women in Iran and Afghanistan offer perhaps one of the clearest examples of this divergence. Sharia broadly refers to a body of Islamic principles derived from sources including the Quran, Sunnah, Hadith, scholarly consensus and methods of legal reasoning. Its scope can cover worship, marriage, divorce, inheritance, commerce, criminal law and other aspects of social life. Yet there is…

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New Delhi: The devastating floods along the Nepal-China border on August 26 have raised fresh questions about disaster preparedness and the sustainability of development across the Himalayan region, offering important lessons for India’s mountain states. The disaster, which reportedly killed more than 900 people and left thousands missing, has highlighted a changing pattern of Himalayan risks. Experts and officials increasingly recognise that extreme weather events in the mountains can trigger a chain of hazards, making conventional flood-warning systems alone insufficient. The key lesson is that Himalayan disasters often begin far…

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New Delhi: The 18th BRICS Summit, to be hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, is expected to place renewed emphasis on global peace, economic cooperation, sustainability and the concerns of developing nations amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. India assumed the BRICS chairmanship from Brazil on January 1, 2026, and will host the summit at Bharat Mandapam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lead the Indian delegation at the high-level gathering, which will bring together leaders of BRICS member countries as well as invited…

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Sana’a: At least 25 people were killed and several others injured as intense fighting erupted between Yemen’s government forces and Houthi fighters in the southwestern province of Taiz, according to a government military official. The fighting was concentrated around Maqbanah and Al-Kadha, where a major assault reportedly began at dawn. The clashes involved artillery, mortars and other heavy weapons, with government forces and Houthi fighters exchanging fire for several hours. The military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 15 government soldiers and 10 Houthi fighters were among those…

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Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah is expected to lead the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly this month, with climate change, extreme weather and the devastating impact of recent floods likely to feature prominently in his address. The Nepalese Cabinet approved Shah’s participation at a meeting on Thursday, according to officials familiar with preparations for the visit. The decision represents a change from an earlier plan under which Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal was expected to represent Nepal at the annual UN gathering. Preparations for the Prime Minister’s…

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