Category: World

FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN – In a significant crackdown on dissent, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad has sentenced 166 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to 10-year prison terms each for their alleged involvement in the violent May 9, 2023, riots. The sweeping verdict, which includes several high-profile opposition leaders, comes just days before the PTI is set to launch its nationwide “Free Imran Khan Movement” on August 5. The convicted individuals, which include PTI leaders Omar Ayub, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Shibli Faraz, the Leader…

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MOSCOW — A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has triggered widespread tsunami fears, prompting alerts and evacuation orders across a dozen countries. The massive undersea quake, which struck early Wednesday morning, is one of the strongest to hit the region since 1952. Following the seismic event, tsunami waves have begun to strike coastal areas in Russia, Japan, and the United States. In the U.S., the threat is particularly high for coastal states, with Hawaii already reporting waves making landfall. Authorities in Hawaii have initiated evacuations in coastal regions…

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WASHINGTON – In a significant move to enhance accessibility for the Indian diaspora, India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, announced the opening of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres across the country. The initiative, effective from August 1, 2025, is aimed at streamlining services for the millions of people of Indian origin residing in the U.S. In a video message shared on the social media platform X by the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, Ambassador Kwatra outlined the government’s commitment to better serving the community. The new…

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NEW DELHI — The United States has imposed sanctions on six Indian companies, accusing them of “knowingly engaging in significant transactions” for the purchase of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products. The action is part of Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which it claims uses the revenue from these exports to fund terrorism and “destabilizing activities” in the Middle East. The U.S. Department of State announced the sanctions on Wednesday, targeting a total of 20 global entities, including companies in the UAE, Turkey, and Indonesia. According to the State Department,…

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DHAKA – Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 99 other individuals have been indicted by two separate courts on charges of irregularities in the allocation of plots within a major housing project. The charges, stemming from six cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), were framed on Thursday. Two separate Dhaka Special Judge Courts presided over the proceedings. Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam framed charges in three cases, naming Hasina alongside family members including her sister Sheikh Rehana, and others. The court has set August 13 for…

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WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on over 70 countries, with the new duties set to take effect on August 7. The tariffs, which range from 10% to 41%, are part of the administration’s effort to address what it calls long-standing trade imbalances. Under the new measures, imports from India will face a 25% tariff. The move comes amid ongoing trade negotiations and President Trump’s criticism of India’s trade practices and its continued close ties with Russia. The White House stated that…

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Tel Aviv, Israel  — In a historic and unprecedented move, a coalition of Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, have for the first time publicly condemned the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas. At a United Nations conference in New York, these countries urged Hamas to end its rule in the Gaza Strip, disarm, and release all remaining hostages to help bring an end to the ongoing war. The declaration, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was signed by the Arab League,…

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New Delhi – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Indian export industry, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a proposal for a 25% tax on Indian imports, along with extra penalties, to take effect on August 1, 2025. The announcement was made in an interview with ANI and amplified on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump justified the decision as a reaction to what he called India’s high tariff regime and its growing participation in the BRICS alliance. “We are talking to them now,” Trump stated…

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Hasan Yaqoob: Public Policy Strategist | Co-Chairman, ASSOCHAM Uttar Pradesh Lucknow: The announcement by the United States to impose a 25% tariff on certain imports from India, effective from August 1, 2025, is undoubtedly a significant development from a trade perspective. Uttar Pradesh, which has made remarkable progress in recent years in the fields of exports, industrial output, and investment, is likely to feel the direct impact of this global policy shift. Sectors that are relatively more dependent on the American market—such as handicrafts, textiles, leather, ready-made garments, and pharmaceuticals—require…

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Washington, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic pressure, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp reduction in the 50-day ultimatum he had given Russian President Vladimir Putin two weeks ago. The new window? Just 10 to 12 days for Moscow to halt its brutal military campaign in Ukraine or face sweeping economic retaliation. “There is no reason to wait,” Trump declared during a press briefing in Scotland. “We simply do not perceive any advancements being made. Too many people are dying.” Despite mounting international calls for peace, Russia…

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