STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin would avoid catastrophic actions at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid growing international concern. Blix, 96, who led the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1981 to 1997, described Putin as “very rational” and “knowing what he’s doing.” Blix, known for his role in the 2003 Iraq war controversy, reiterated his belief that Iraq was not developing nuclear weapons prior to the Gulf War. His findings contradicted the claims made by US President George W. Bush, which led to the invasion of Iraq. Blix criticized…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
DHAKA: Nearly 300,000 Bangladeshis are taking refuge in emergency shelters as severe floods inundate large areas of the low-lying country, according to disaster officials. The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, have resulted in at least 42 deaths in Bangladesh and India since the start of the week, many due to landslides. Lufton Nahar, 60, shared his harrowing experience from a relief shelter in Feni, one of the worst-hit districts near the Indian border: “My house is completely inundated. Water is flowing above our roof. My brother brought us here by boat. If he hadn’t, we would have died.” Bangladesh,…
A rickshaw driver in Bengaluru is making waves online after a video showing him accepting cryptocurrency as fare went viral on social media. The innovative approach has garnered praise from many users, who admire his forward-thinking attitude. A social media post declaring, “We accept cryptocurrency,” sparked widespread discussion. While some applauded the driver’s initiative, others raised concerns about the tax implications of such transactions. In India, income from crypto asset transfers is taxed at 30%, leading some to question the practicality of the driver’s decision. One user humorously suggested that the Finance Minister would be keen to collect the taxes.
Indian Bengali film star Payel Mukherjee was assaulted by a motorcyclist during ongoing protests in Kolkata against a recent rape case. The attack occurred amidst widespread demonstrations following the brutal incident involving a female doctor at Kolkata’s RG Medical College on August 9. In the midst of these protests, Mukherjee reported that a motorcyclist approached her vehicle, demanding she exit. When she refused out of fear, the attacker smashed the window on the right side of her car, resulting in an injury to her hand. In a tearful video message, Mukherjee expressed deep concern over women’s safety in India, highlighting…
Texas, along with a coalition of Republican-led states, filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday, challenging a new immigration program that offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the US illegally and are now married to US citizens. The lawsuit argues that the program, which began accepting applications this week, exceeds the administration’s authority and undermines US immigration laws. The initiative, known as Keeping Families Together, aims to provide citizenship opportunities to approximately 500,000 immigrant spouses who have been in the US illegally for at least 10 years. Many of these individuals would otherwise need…
Workers at Canadian National Railway (CN) are set to go on strike Monday, according to the Teamsters union. This development threatens Canada’s economy just days after the workers returned to their posts following a previous labor dispute. The union’s decision comes after its earlier pledge to challenge the Canadian government’s intervention aimed at ending a significant rail stoppage. The strike will involve conductors, locomotive engineers, and other CN employees, the country’s largest railway company. This marks the latest escalation in the conflict between unions and Canada’s major rail operators, CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). On Thursday, both rail…
Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a stabbing attack at a festival in Solingen, western Germany, on Friday night, police reported. The attack, which occurred around 10 p.m. local time, involved an unidentified man who targeted several individuals. Witnesses told Bild newspaper that the assailant remains at large. Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed profound sorrow, saying, “It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives.” The…
Noa Argamani, a former Israeli captive in Gaza, has refuted media reports suggesting she was beaten and had her hair cut while in detention. In a statement posted on Instagram, Argamani clarified that she was not abused by her Palestinian captors but was injured from the collapse of a building hit by an Israeli airstrike. Argamani stated, “They didn’t beat me and didn’t cut my hair. I was in a building that was blown up by the Air Force.” She emphasized that her injuries were due to structural damage rather than physical assault. Her remarks came in response to a…
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he is ending his campaign and endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump. Initially running as a Democrat to challenge President Joe Biden, Kennedy’s endorsement marks a dramatic shift in his political trajectory. Kennedy, a member of the Kennedy political dynasty and a prominent anti-vaccine advocate, had entered the race in April 2023. His campaign, which aimed to address voter dissatisfaction with both Biden and Trump, gained traction before he pivoted to an independent run. The impact of Kennedy’s endorsement on Trump’s campaign remains uncertain, with political strategists debating its potential…
Several U.S. Secret Service agents, including the head of the Pittsburgh office, have been placed on leave following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last month, according to reports from Fox and CBS. The incident occurred on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where concerns have been raised about how the suspect was able to access a rooftop with a clear view of Trump’s speaking area. The Secret Service has expressed shame over the security lapse, and its chief resigned in the wake of the attempt. While Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi did not confirm the…
