International

Over 1.5 mn foreign pilgrims arrive in Mecca for the Hajj

According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Arafat, Saudi Arabia: More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year’s pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly. People paused…
International

India raises alarm over ADB’s $800 million bailout package for Pakistan

Pakistan has a very poor track record in implementing economic reforms that are mandatory with these aid packages from multilateral institutions. New Delhi: India has expressed deep concerns over the potential misuse of the $800 million ADB aid package to Pakistan as the country is increasing its defence expenditure, despite the poor fiscal position, with the army exercising de facto control over the government in Islamabad. The army top brass now leads the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which gives it more control over economic policy. India has warned that this entrenched military role poses serious risks of policy reversal and poor reform implementation, according to reliable sources. Pakistan’s tax-GDP ratio has been declining, with the country going through an economic crisis. The foreign exchange reserves have hit rock bottom, and inflation has soared to double-digit figures. However, despite the dire economic situation, the military-driven government has gone for increasing expenditure on…
International

Pak security forces gunned down 14 terrorists in Waziristan

Fourteen terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation by Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel region, near the Afghanistan border Peshawar: Security forces mowed down 14 terrorists in an intelligence-based operation at a tribal district bordering Afghanistan in northwest Pakistan, military media wing said on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, “On June 2-3, 2025, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in general area of Datta Khel, North Waziristan district, on a reported presence of terrorists.” The troops raided a terrorist hideout in the area. “After an intense exchange of fire, 14 khwarij were sent to hell,” the statement said. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of sponsored terrorism from the country,” it added.
International

South Korea’s new President vows to bolster US-Japan ties, pursue talks with North 

Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, formally began his term, a day after winning a snap election Seoul: South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung vowed on Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term. Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, formally began his term earlier on Wednesday, a day after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with potential North Korean aggression with “strong deterrence” based on the solid South Korea-US military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with…
International

3 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza 

Israeli military says it is one of the deadliest attacks on Israel’s forces since it ended a ceasefire with Hamas in March Khan Younis: The Israeli military said on Tuesday that three of its soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip, in what appeared to be the deadliest attack on Israel’s forces since it ended a ceasefire with Hamas in March. The military said the three soldiers, all in their early 20s, fell during combat in northern Gaza on Monday, without providing details. Israeli media reported that they were killed in an explosion in the Jabaliya area. Israel ended the ceasefire in March after Hamas refused to change the agreement to release more hostages sooner. Israeli strikes have killed thousands of Palestinians since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage in the Oct 7, 2023, attack into Israel that…

International

  • Jun- 2025 -
    3 June
    113

    Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election

    Nawrocki won 50.89% of votes in a very tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11% Warsaw: Conservative Karol Nawrocki won Poland’s weekend presidential runoff election, according to the final vote count on Monday. Nawrocki won 50.89% of votes in a very tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. The close race had the country on edge since a first round two weeks earlier and through the night into Monday, revealing deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union. An early exit poll released Sunday evening suggested Trzaskowski was headed to victory before updated polling began to reverse the picture hours later. The outcome indicates that Poland…

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  • 3 June
    113

    Indian diaspora in UK lauds Op Sindoor, PM Modi’s leadership against terrorism

    The sentiments were echoed during an outreach programme organised by the Indian Embassy in the UK here on Sunday (local time), where an all-party Parliamentary delegation led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad engaged with the diaspora, highlighting India’s unequivocal, unified and assertive stance against terrorism. London: Members of the Indian diaspora in the UK have lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government’s decisive action against cross-border terrorism through Operation Sindoor and expressed pride in India giving a befitting reply to Pakistan-sponsored terror. The sentiments were echoed during an outreach programme organised by the Indian Embassy in the UK here on Sunday (local time), where an all-party Parliamentary delegation led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP…

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  • 2 June
    146

    Ukraine launches drone attack deep inside Russia, destroys more than 40 military aircraft

    Russia’s Defence Ministry in a statement confirmed the attacks, which spanned five airfields. The FPV drones damaged aircraft and sparked fires on air bases in the Irkutsk region. Kyiv: A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press on Sunday, while Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones a day before the two sides meet for a new round of direct talks in Istanbul. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the attack took over 1 1/2-year to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian…

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  • 2 June
    143

    Hajj 2025: Over 2.5 lakh Muslims without Hajj permits stopped from entering Mecca

    There are currently 1.4 million Muslims in Mecca officially, with more expected to arrive in the days to come. Mecca: Saudi Arabia has stopped more than 269,000 people without permits for the annual Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca, officials said Sunday, as authorities crack down on illegal journeys into the city. The government blames overcrowding at the Hajj on unauthorised participants. It also says they made up large numbers of those who died in last year’s searing summer heat. The number of expulsions highlights the scale of unauthorised pilgrimages – as well as the demand to perform the Hajj. There are currently 1.4 million Muslims in Mecca officially, with more expected to arrive in the days to come. There are fines…

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  • 2 June
    145

    Sheikh Hasina charged with crimes against humanity over 2024 Bangladesh uprising

    Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has been charged with crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering a violent crackdown during the 2024 uprising. The International Crimes Tribunal has begun trial proceedings, marking a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political history. Dhaka: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been formally charged with crimes against humanity by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) over her alleged role in the violent nationwide uprising of July 2024, according to local media reports. The charges, which were made public on Sunday, mark a significant turn in the political landscape of Bangladesh, as the trial of the exiled former leader began with live television coverage. Alongside Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of…

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  • 2 June
    143

    Russia: 7 dead as train derails after bridge collapse near Ukraine border

    Authorities have cited “illegal interference” as the reason behind the incident, which occurred early Sunday. Moscow: At least seven people lost their lives, and 30 others were hospitalised after a railway bridge collapsed, causing a train derailment in Russia’s Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Authorities have cited “illegal interference” as the reason behind the incident, which occurred early Sunday. Russian Railways, in a post on Telegram, stated that the train’s locomotive and several cars derailed “due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport.” Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz said two children were among those hospitalised, with one in serious condition. The…

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  • 1 June
    112

    Iran has amassed even more near weapons-grade uranium, says UN watchdog says

    The report comes at a sensitive time, as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to reach a deal with Tehran to limit its nuclear program. Vienna: Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Saturday. In a separate report, the agency called on Tehran to urgently change course and comply with its years-long probe. The report comes at a sensitive time, as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to reach a deal with Tehran to limit its nuclear program. The two sides have held several rounds of talks, so far without agreement. The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency — which…

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  • 1 June
    112

    Pakistan: BLA fighters captures Surab city during Asim Munir’s visit to Quetta

    BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch highlighted that the operation continued for more than three hours on Friday. Quetta: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) freedom fighters on Saturday claimed that they have taken complete control of Surab city in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, paralysing all military, administrative, and financial structures of the “enemy state” just as the Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir was visiting the provincial capital Quetta. Confirming the development, the spokesperson of BLA Jeeyand Baloch highlighted that the operation continued for more than three hours on Friday, during which “freedom fighters” took up positions at all the important locations and highways in the city. He stated that the fighters took control of the Pakistani Levies (paramilitary force) station, police station,…

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  • 1 June
    66

    Can’t trade with people shooting at each other: Trump reiterates his India-Pak ceasefire brokering claim

    India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his claim that he stopped India and Pakistan from fighting and told the two nations that his administration cannot trade with people that are shooting at each other. “We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe that could have turned out into a nuclear disaster,” Trump said during a press conference in the Oval Office with billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is leaving the Trump administration after helming the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump added that he wants to thank the “leaders of India, the leaders of Pakistan, and…

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  • 1 June
    56

    US asks students to check visa slots daily as pause set to end soon

    A news report in Politico said that the Trump administration is weighing requiring all foreign students applying to study in the United States to undergo social media vetting. New York/Washington: In the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to halt scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants, the US has asked foreign students to frequently check to see when those spots might open, saying it’s something that would happen perhaps “sooner than later”. The Trump administration is ordering US embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants as it is considering social media vetting of foreign individuals looking to study in America. “So right now, there might be some delay. And what I’m told to encourage…

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