The red mark stencilled above the stairs in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum acts as an eviction notice for long-time residents like Bipinkumar Padaya. “I was born here, my father was born here, my grandfather was born here,” sighed the 58-year-old government employee. “But we don’t have any choice, we have to vacate.” Soon, bulldozers are expected to enter Asia’s largest slum, located in the heart of Mumbai, to flatten its maze of filthy alleyways and construct a brand-new, modern neighborhood. The massive redevelopment scheme, led by Mumbai authorities and billionaire tycoon Gautam Adani, is characterized as reflecting a modern India that…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Iran and Russia signed a $25 billion deal to construct nuclear power plants in Tehran, Iranian state media reported on Friday, just hours ahead of the likely return of sweeping UN sanctions on Iran. State television announced: “A deal for the construction of four nuclear power plants with a value of $25 billion in Sirik, Hormozgan, was signed between the Iran Hormoz company and Rosatom.” Iran currently possesses only one operational nuclear power plant in Bushehr, located in the south, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts—a mere fraction of the country’s overall energy needs. According to state news agency IRNA,…
Indian police on Friday detained prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk following violent protests in the Himalayan territory of occupied Ladakh that resulted in at least five deaths, a lawyer confirmed. The demonstrations, demanding greater political autonomy for the sparsely populated, high-altitude region bordering China and Pakistan, turned deadly on Wednesday when security forces opened fire. New Delhi quickly attributed the unrest to “provocative speeches” made by Wangchuk. The activist had been on a hunger strike, demanding either full federal statehood for occupied Ladakh or constitutional protections (known as the “Sixth Schedule”) for its tribal communities, land, and fragile environment. Mustafa Haji,…
The US criminal case against former FBI director James Comey shatters norms of independence in federal investigations and will face significant hurdles in court, according to legal experts. But for President Donald Trump, the final verdict may matter less than the move to exact retribution against an official who investigated him and the warning to others he sees as political enemies. Comey, who was indicted on Thursday on charges of false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, led the FBI when it began an investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government. Comey has professed his…
The United States trade negotiators have informed their Indian counterparts that curbing purchases of Russian oil is a crucial element required to reduce India’s tariff rate and finalize a bilateral trade deal, two people familiar with the talks told Reuters. While a US official stated that the trade negotiations are on a positive track, they emphasized that more work is needed to ensure India addresses US concerns over market access, the trade deficit, and most notably, purchases of Russian oil. US President Donald Trump has been actively seeking to pressure India, the European Union, and NATO members to curb their…
The death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi climbed to 11 in the Philippines on Saturday, according to authorities, as the cyclone tracked westward toward Vietnam. Bualoi hammered small islands in the central Philippines on Friday, causing widespread destruction by uprooting trees and power pylons, ripping roofs off homes, triggering floods, and forcing 400,000 people to evacuate. The small island of Biliran was among the worst-hit, where eight people died and two remain missing, provincial disaster official Noel Lungay told AFP. “There was widespread flooding and some roads remained under water early today,” he said, adding that “Evacuees are starting…
Tehran has recalled its ambassadors in Britain, France, and Germany for consultations, following the three European nations’ decision to trigger the mechanism for the “snapback” of United Nations sanctions, Iranian state television reported Saturday, according to AFP. The move comes as Iran was set to face sweeping UN sanctions late Saturday—the first time in a decade—after nuclear talks with Western powers failed to find an unexpected last-minute resolution. The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed on Friday that inspectors had been granted return access to Iranian sites, but Western powers determined that progress was insufficient to justify a delay after a week…
The granddaughter of US President Donald Trump has launched a new clothing brand bearing her name, with promotional photos featuring the teenager wearing a $130 sweatshirt taken at the White House. Don Jr.’s daughter stood alongside the 79-year-old Republican on Friday, sporting one of her brand’s pullovers as he addressed reporters outside the White House. “This is Kai, by the way,” President Trump told the Washington press corps, introducing his 18-year-old granddaughter who previously delivered a short speech at last year’s Republican National Convention. The pair, both avid golfers, subsequently boarded a helicopter to attend the sport’s Ryder Cup competition.…
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified on Friday that the United States has made no demands on Pakistan following the recent positive shift in bilateral relations. Speaking on the Geo News program “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath,” Asif stated that circumstances stemming from the war have led to a “positive turn” in Pakistan-US relations. He emphasized that Pakistan would meticulously assess any potential requests from Washington. He added, “If any demand does come, we will take a decision keeping in view our national interest.” His statement came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field…
Diplomatic sources confirmed on Friday that a ship carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, destined for Yemen, has come under attack. According to these sources, the vessel’s captain and all 24 crew members are Pakistani nationals. Crucially, no casualties of the Pakistani crew have been reported in the incident. Diplomatic sources further indicated that the ship is not currently located in an area under the control of the Yemeni government. They added that Pakistan is making every possible effort to ensure the safe return of its citizens on board. In a video message, the crew reported…
