world

New Delhi: As global financial dynamics shift, India is taking the lead in creating a BRICS Digital Payment System that could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and the SWIFT network. Contrary to misconceptions, this initiative is not aimed at creating a single BRICS currency. Instead, it seeks a practical, interoperable framework enabling direct trade settlements in national digital currencies. India to Host BRICS Summit The BRICS Summit, scheduled in India later this year, is expected to lay the foundation for this global financial infrastructure. The system will link national digital currencies, including India’s Digital Rupee, China’s Digital Yuan, and Russia’s Digital Ruble, through a secure interoperable network. This ensures each currency retains independence, eliminating depe...

Islamabad: Pakistan has narrowly avoided default but remains trapped in a deepening economic crisis, where financial independence seems increasingly out of reach. Heavily reliant on loans to fund its expenses, the country is edging toward what analysts call “economic servitude.” While China remains Islamabad’s primary backer, its support can only partially ease financial pressures and cannot revive the faltering economy. Multinational companies are exiting the country, IMF programs impose strict conditions, and rising extremist violence has intensified the crisis. Shehbaz Sharif Speaks on Debt In a recently surfaced video, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the compromises Pakistan has made while borrowing from foreign countries. “I don’t know how to explain the manner in whi...

The likelihood of a U.S.-led military strike on Iran has increased sharply following what Western sources describe as a “green signal” from Saudi Arabia, with decision‑makers in Washington and Tel Aviv now moving beyond diplomacy toward military action. Reports suggest that preparations are in an advanced stage, with the only remaining question being the timing of the strike. According to Iran International, citing Western officials, the United States and Israel have reached a broad consensus that military action against Iran is now “almost inevitable.” The sources indicate that discussions are no longer focused on negotiating a new agreement with Tehran but on how and when a military operation will be executed. Some signals from Washington point to Sunday as a possible window for actio...

Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Washington to signal strong support for potential U.S. action against Tehran. During a private briefing, Prince Khalid reportedly told President Donald Trump that a decisive strike against Iran is necessary, warning that inaction could embolden the Iranian government, according to four sources cited by Axios. U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened Iran over its nuclear program, deploying a carrier strike group led by USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East. While the U.S. is considering possible military options, the visit by the Saudi defense chief signals explicit backing from a key Gulf ally, reinforcing the administrat...

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply after the United States issued a direct warning to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over planned live‑fire naval exercises in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The drills, announced by Iran to begin on Sunday, have triggered a strong reaction from the U.S. military, amid reports that Washington may be considering military action against Tehran as early as this weekend. In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) warned the IRGC to conduct its naval exercises in a “safe and professional manner” and avoid actions that could threaten freedom of navigation in international waters. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with nearly 100 commercial vessels passing through daily,...

A catastrophic collapse at a coltan mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed more than 200 people, officials confirmed. The incident occurred on Wednesday in Rubaya Province, a region that produces approximately 15% of the world’s coltan and has been under the control of rebel groups since 2024. According to Lubumba Kambere Muisa, spokesperson for the governor appointed by the rebel administration, the mine collapse struck while miners and local workers, including children and market women, were laboring by hand for a few dollars a day. Some workers were rescued in time, but many sustained serious injuries. By Friday evening, the exact death toll remained uncertain, though a government advisor reported that at least 227 people had perished and around 20 were rec...

Seven months after major airstrikes by Israel and the United States, Iran’s key nuclear facilities are showing signs of new construction, satellite imagery reveals, sparking concerns that Tehran may be resuming work at damaged sites. Satellite images released by Planet Labs PBC show new coverings atop buildings at Iran’s Natanz and Isfahan facilities. The structures appear to shield ongoing activities from satellite observation, limiting the ability of international monitors to verify what is happening on the ground. Background of Attacks In June of last year, Israel and the U.S. conducted a 12-day operation targeting Iran’s nuclear sites. Natanz, located 22 kilometers south of Tehran, houses advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to 60%, while Isfahan produces uranium ...

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have reached a new low, with both countries expelling senior diplomats and giving them 72 hours to leave. South Africa declared Israel’s Deputy Ambassador, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata on Friday, citing repeated insults to President Cyril Ramaphosa on official Israeli social media posts and violations of diplomatic protocols. The South African Foreign Ministry stated that Israeli officials had deliberately failed to notify Pretoria of certain visits, calling it “an unacceptable breach of diplomatic norms and regulations.” Following Israel’s recall of its ambassador in 2023, Seidman has been the most senior Israeli diplomat in South Africa. Israel Responds In a swift countermeasure, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced on X (f...

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has opened up about the challenges and personal compromises involved in securing international loans for the country. In a video that is currently circulating on social media—though the exact date and venue are unclear—Sharif candidly described how seeking foreign aid often comes at the cost of national dignity. Shehbaz Sharif Speaks Sharif recounted that he, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited multiple countries to request financial assistance in support of Pakistan’s IMF programme and to bridge the nation’s external funding gap. “The friendly countries we approached did not disappoint us,” he said. “But anyone who asks for money must bow their head. There is always a price to pay, and compromises are inevitable.” He explained tha...

India’s recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) has caused unease in neighboring Pakistan and raised concerns in Bangladesh. Dubbed the “mother of all trade deals,” the agreement promises to reshape regional trade dynamics, particularly impacting countries that previously relied on preferential access to European markets. According to Pakistani media reports, former Federal Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz has warned that the deal could threaten the livelihoods of over 10 million people in Pakistan, particularly in the textile sector, which forms the backbone of the country’s exports. Pakistan’s textile industry currently contributes approximately $9 billion annually in export revenue, and the FTA could erode its competitive advantage. Pakistan’s Concerns Ejaz h...