World News

Netanyahu Vows Firm Opposition After UK, Canada, Australia Recognize Palestine

Netanyahu Vows Firm Opposition After UK, Canada, Australia Recognize Palestine

Jerusalem (Rajeev Sharma): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly rejected the recognition of Palestine by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, asserting there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu accused the three countries of rewarding terrorism and pledged that Israel would respond after his return from the United States.“There will be no Palestinian state. The response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States,” Netanyahu said. He argued…
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Jaishankar to Meet US Secretary of State Rubio Amid Trade and Strategic Talks at UNGA

Jaishankar to Meet US Secretary of State Rubio Amid Trade and Strategic Talks at UNGA

New York (Rajeev Sharma): India’s External Affairs Minister, Subramanyam Jaishankar, is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today at 11:00 am EDT (8:30 pm IST) in New York, according to the US State Department’s public agenda. The meeting is set on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where Jaishankar will hold multiple bilateral discussions with global leaders.The talks assume heightened importance as trade relations between the two nations face tension. Washington recently imposed hefty tariffs, including a 50% levy on key Indian exports, citing India’s ongoing energy trade with Russia. While New Delhi has…
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U.S. Revokes Chabahar Port Sanctions Waiver

U.S. Revokes Chabahar Port Sanctions Waiver

Toronto/New Delhi (Bureau)– The Trump administration has announced the revocation of the U.S. sanctions waiver for Iran's Chabahar Port, effective September 29, 2025. The waiver, initially granted in 2018, permitted India to invest $500 million in the Shahid Beheshti terminal, thereby securing strategic access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while circumventing Pakistan.The U.S. move exposes Indian operators to potential sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter Proliferation Act (IFCA). Analysts caution that this development may bolster China's influence in the region through Pakistan's Gwadar Port, part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).India now confronts a critical decision: comply with…
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Australia, Canada, and UK Recognize Palestine, Call for End to Hamas

Australia, Canada, and UK Recognize Palestine, Call for End to Hamas

National Times Bureau (Rajeev Sharma): Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom jointly announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, reaffirming support for a two-state solution in the Middle East. The coordinated move, declared in separate statements by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese, Mark Carney, and Keir Starmer, emphasized that the recognition was meant to revive hopes for peace and not to reward Hamas, which they urged must disband immediately.Albanese called the recognition a historic acknowledgment of the Palestinian people’s long-held aspirations for independence, while Carney cited Canada’s decades-long support for a two-state solution as the foundation of its decision. Starmer…
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$100,000 H-1B Fee Applies Only to New Applicants, White House Confirms

$100,000 H-1B Fee Applies Only to New Applicants, White House Confirms

Washington/New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma)— The White House on Saturday moved to dispel alarm after President Donald Trump signed an order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the charge is a one-time levy, applying only to new petitions and not retroactively.She stressed that existing H-1B visa holders will not be affected, whether they are already in the U.S. or temporarily abroad. “Those already on H-1B visas, including individuals travelling abroad, will not be asked to pay this amount upon re-entry,” Leavitt posted on X, adding that the change will come into force in…
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Don’t Miss It! Last Solar Eclipse of 2025 to Stun Skywatchers on September 21

Don’t Miss It! Last Solar Eclipse of 2025 to Stun Skywatchers on September 21

National Times Bureau: The final solar eclipse of the year will take place on Sunday, September 21, offering a celestial spectacle to skywatchers in select regions of the world. This partial eclipse will begin at 1:29 pm EDT (10:59 pm IST) and end at 5:53 pm EDT (3:23 am IST, September 22).The maximum phase of the eclipse, when the Moon covers the largest portion of the Sun, will occur at 3:41 pm EDT (1:11 am IST). Viewers in Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans will be able to witness the event, though India will…
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Trump Claims He Stopped India-Pakistan Conflict With Trade, Seeks Nobel Prize for ‘Ending Seven Wars’

Trump Claims He Stopped India-Pakistan Conflict With Trade, Seeks Nobel Prize for ‘Ending Seven Wars’

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for resolving tensions between India and Pakistan, asserting that his trade diplomacy helped prevent conflict earlier this year. Speaking at the American Cornerstone Institute Founder’s Dinner on Saturday, Trump said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for “ending seven wars.”“On the world stage, we are respected at a level that we have never been respected before,” Trump said. “We are forging peace agreements, and we are stopping wars. So we stopped wars between India and Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia.”The President claimed that trade negotiations were central to his…
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Trump Administration Seeks $100,000 Annual Fee for H-1B Visas, Sparking Concerns in Tech Industry

Trump Administration Seeks $100,000 Annual Fee for H-1B Visas, Sparking Concerns in Tech Industry

Washington/San Francisco: In a sweeping move that could dramatically impact U.S. technology firms, the Trump administration announced a proposal on Friday to charge companies a $100,000 annual fee for each H-1B visa they sponsor. The new fee, which would be assessed for each of the three years that the visa holder is employed, has raised concerns about the future of skilled labor in the technology sector, particularly in companies that rely heavily on workers from India and China. The announcement is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which has already targeted various aspects of legal immigration. The H-1B…
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India Urges Saudi Arabia to Consider Mutual Interests After Riyadh-Pakistan Defence Pact

India Urges Saudi Arabia to Consider Mutual Interests After Riyadh-Pakistan Defence Pact

New Delhi, September 19 — India on Friday said it expects Saudi Arabia to keep “mutual interests and sensitivities” in mind while pursuing its bilateral strategic partnership with New Delhi. The statement came after Riyadh signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” with Pakistan, a move seen as deepening defence ties between the two nations.The pact, signed on Wednesday by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, declares that aggression against one country will be treated as aggression against both.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia has expanded significantly in…
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Canada and Mexico Elevate Ties with New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Joint Action Plan

Canada and Mexico Elevate Ties with New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Joint Action Plan

Mexico City (Rajeev Sharma): In a landmark meeting held at the National Palace in Mexico City, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced the elevation of bilateral relations through the creation of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new chapter in Canada–Mexico cooperation. Joined by cabinet members from both governments, the leaders emphasized their shared ambition to deepen collaboration, strengthen regional ties, and promote inclusive prosperity, particularly in light of ongoing global shifts. A Partnership for the Future The upgraded partnership reflects what both leaders described as a “forward-looking and dynamic relationship” aimed at navigating…
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