Category: World

Kyiv: Ukraine has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an end to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha saying Kyiv is ready to pursue diplomatic efforts with the support of India and other international partners. Sybiha made the remarks during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv on Thursday, describing the trip as an important milestone in India-Ukraine relations. He noted that it was the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian foreign minister to Ukraine, reflecting the growing importance…

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Uzbekistan has highlighted India’s growing strategic engagement with Central Asia, with energy security, trade, defence cooperation, connectivity and cultural ties emerging as key areas of focus. The visit was marked by a significant diplomatic gesture when Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev conferred the country’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Friendship, on Prime Minister Modi. The recognition underlined the deepening relationship between the two countries and reflected Uzbekistan’s growing importance in India’s broader Eurasian strategy. Beyond the symbolism of the honour, the…

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Kathmandu/Beijing: The United Nations has expressed solidarity with Nepal and China following a devastating flood disaster that has reportedly claimed 157 lives, while hundreds of people from several countries remain unaccounted for. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, conveyed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished those injured a speedy recovery. He also praised emergency personnel involved in rescue and relief efforts and reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to provide additional assistance as the situation develops. UN Teams Supporting Nepal’s Relief Assessment Dujarric…

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Dhaka: A new defense equation in South Asian and West Asian politics is gaining serious discussion. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement earlier this month. Some analysts are calling this deal the ‘Islamic NATO.’ The reasoning is that the agreement treats an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all members. However, it’s not yet a formal military organization like NATO. The agreement’s stated purpose is to strengthen defense, security, and military cooperation among member states. Pakistan has also positioned it as…

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Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on a dollar-for-dollar basis against the United States. Speaking in Ottawa on Saturday, Carney stated that the new Canadian tariffs will take effect on September 8, targeting American steel, dairy, electronics, and other industries. During remarks to journalists, Carney said Canada will firmly resist the new tariffs imposed by the US to protect its workers, farmers, families, and businesses. This Canadian tariff response comes after the US imposed a 50 percent tariff on Canadian goods. Following…

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Tehran: Iran has announced a major natural gas discovery in the southern province of Fars, claiming more than 212 billion cubic metres (7.5 trillion cubic feet) of gas reserves. The development comes as the country continues to face severe economic sanctions and pressure on its energy infrastructure. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, speaking on national television, said around 160 billion cubic metres (5.7 trillion cubic feet) of the newly discovered gas could potentially be recovered. He described the find as an important development for Iran’s long-term energy security. High-Quality Gas…

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Los Angeles: Los Angeles, one of the world’s most traffic-congested major cities, is about to get flying taxis—and the city is preparing to make them part of its official transportation system. American company Archer Aviation and sports and entertainment company AEG have announced plans to build a vertiport in downtown Los Angeles’s famous L.A. LIVE district. A vertiport is essentially a landing and takeoff location where electric air taxis can lift off vertically like helicopters and land directly. In fact, Archer Aviation has been selected as the official air taxi…

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Washington: US President Donald Trump claimed that America has reached an agreement with Venezuela that will give the United States control over approximately 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s oil reserves. Trump shared details of the deal on social media. According to Trump, the agreement was reached following negotiations between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez. Trump has described it as the world’s largest oil deal. Trump wrote: “The United States has just made an agreement with the nation of Venezuela—the biggest…

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Beyond Kuala Lumpur: Special Packages from Langkawi to Sabah for Indian Travellers Malaysia Sets Its Sights on Indian Tourists with Grand ‘Sales Mission’ in Mumbai Mumbai (Anil Bedag): Recognising the growing importance of Indian travellers in global tourism, Malaysia is stepping up its tourism promotion efforts. The ‘Visit Malaysia 2026’ campaign has now been extended through 2027. As part of this initiative, the ‘Sales Mission Series 2’ is being organised from August 12 to 20 across Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. Led by Mohammad Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General…

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Ottawa: Canada has announced a dollar-for-dollar response to the latest US trade measures, with Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiling new counter-tariffs and a fresh support package for workers and businesses affected by the escalating trade dispute between the two countries. Carney said on Tuesday that Ottawa would match the latest US tariffs while introducing additional assistance worth US$7.5 billion. The new measures will supplement nearly US$25 billion in support programmes that Canada says have already been rolled out since the United States began imposing tariffs. The Canadian government said the…

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