Two Maldivian ministers resigned on Tuesday, months after being suspended for making controversial comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The resignations come in the wake of a diplomatic dispute triggered by their remarks, which included one minister calling Modi a “clown.” The suspension of the three ministers began in January, following their criticism of Modi’s visit to promote Lakshadweep, an Indian territory. Modi’s promotion of the islands, including photos of him snorkelling, was intended to boost tourism, which the ministers had disparaged. There has been no update on the status of the third suspended minister.
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
India is reevaluating its approach to Chinese investments as it seeks to bolster its manufacturing sector and become a major player in global supply chains. The Modi government, which had imposed stringent vetting on Chinese investments and visas following a deadly border clash with China in 2020, is now looking to relax some of these restrictions. The initial measures, aimed at curbing Chinese influence and protecting domestic industries, had led to billions of dollars in potential investments being turned away and created additional bureaucracy for Indian firms with Chinese stakeholders. However, as businesses struggle to scale up production despite government…
Nestlé Waters has agreed to a $2.2 million settlement to resolve criminal allegations in France related to its natural mineral water production. The settlement, approved by a judge in Epinal on Tuesday, concludes two separate investigations into illegal drilling practices and misleading claims about the company’s water products. As part of the agreement, Nestlé Waters Supply Est (NWSE), a division of Nestlé SA, will fund a $1.22 million ecological restoration project to address environmental damage caused by its operations. The company will also pay approximately $552,000 in compensation to several environmental groups, including Foodwatch, which had lodged complaints against the…
Ukraine warned on Tuesday that it might sever diplomatic ties with Iran if reports that Russia is using Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukraine are confirmed, calling such support “unacceptable.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Russia recently acquired these missiles from Iran, more than two years after the full-scale invasion began, and may deploy them soon. Iran has denied any involvement in supplying the missiles. With a recent increase in Russian missile and drone strikes, Ukraine has stated that confirmed missile transfers would have serious consequences for its relationship with Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy…
Medical staff in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are urgently calling for the rapid arrival of mpox vaccines as they struggle with a rise in infections, particularly among infants. Despite the recent delivery of 200,000 vaccines to Kinshasa, distribution to affected areas like South Kivu has been delayed due to logistical issues and could take weeks. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has claimed over 635 lives in the DRC this year. Healthcare workers in South Kivu report an influx of patients, with shortages in essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) at local treatment centers. Nurse…
Chinese troops will participate in Brazil’s annual “Operation Formosa” military exercises this week, marking their first involvement in the drills alongside US forces, the Brazilian Navy announced on Tuesday. Operation Formosa, one of Latin America’s largest military exercises, has been conducted near the city of Formosa, Brazil, since 1988. This year’s exercises will feature both US and Chinese troops, though Pentagon spokesperson Major Pete Nguyen clarified that the two nations will not be training together. The Brazilian military will deploy 3,000 troops for the three-day exercise, which will include aircraft, tanks, artillery, and live ammunition. Observers from eight countries, including…
In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, protesters stormed Mexico’s Senate, halting discussions on a contentious judicial reform. Demonstrators, who labeled lawmakers as “traitors,” occupied the chamber in response to the reform, which has already sparked widespread protests. Critics argue that the reform could undermine Mexico’s rule of law. The proposed reform, put forward by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, aims to introduce popular elections for over 6,500 judges and magistrates, including Supreme Court justices. Lopez Obrador and his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, have defended the proposal as a necessary measure for increasing accountability and tackling corruption. However, opponents…
In the 2016 presidential debates, former President Donald Trump made headlines for his disparaging comments about Democratic contender Hillary Clinton, including calling her a “nasty woman” and questioning her “look” and “stamina” to serve as commander-in-chief. As he faces off against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has continued this pattern of personal attacks, leveling racist and sexist criticisms at Harris, who is Black and South Asian. He has falsely claimed she only recently “became a Black person,” reposted derogatory messages about her career advancement, and used terms like “weak,” “dumb as a rock,” and “lazy.” The upcoming debate between Trump…
Former President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance in the spin room following his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Trump declared himself the winner of the night, addressing reporters before heading to a live interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “I had a good time. I think it was our best debate ever. We had three against one,” Trump said, referring to the ABC News moderators, and describing his performance as the “best” of his debate career. It is unusual for candidates to enter the spin room, typically reserved for their surrogates. Trump, however, said…
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly commenced on Tuesday, emphasizing conflict resolution and sustainable economic growth as key priorities. Philemon Yang of Cameroon, the newly elected president of the Assembly, succeeded Dennis Francis from the previous session. Yang outlined his focus areas, which include promoting peace, security, and addressing conflicts in Gaza, Haiti, and Ukraine. He also pledged to prioritize human rights and enhance international legal frameworks. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the challenges of the past year, such as poverty, inequality, and the escalation of conflicts. He also addressed the record-breaking heat and…
