world

Washington: The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to former President Donald Trump by declaring the global tariffs he imposed as illegal. The Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not permit the president to unilaterally impose such tariffs. Trump had repeatedly defended the tariffs, claiming they generated significant revenue for the U.S. government. However, the Supreme Court has now invalidated these measures, raising questions about the fate of the billions collected under them. Notably, the Court did not clarify whether the revenue should be returned to the affected countries. $13.4 Billion Collected from Importers According to filings from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection submitted to...

Tel Aviv/New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic move, India has joined a group of over 100 countries at the United Nations in criticising Israel’s unilateral actions in the West Bank, marking what observers are calling a major foreign policy turnaround just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Israel. Initially, when a joint statement was issued on February 17 by 85 nations, India’s name was missing from the list. However, in a surprising development, India added its support late on February 18, just before the deadline, shocking diplomatic circles and drawing widespread attention. The joint declaration was read out at the United Nations by Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, accompanied by diplomats from dozens of signatory countries. Joint Statement Co...

Islamabad: India’s decision to significantly expand its fighter jet fleet by approving the purchase of 114 Rafale aircraft from France has triggered serious concern among Pakistani commentators, with one prominent Pakistan-based defence analyst claiming that the scale of the deal is equivalent to nearly half of Pakistan’s national budget. The Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has recently cleared the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets along with six P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, strengthening India’s aerial and strategic reconnaissance capabilities. The move has been widely viewed as a major step toward boosting the combat strength of the Indian Air Force. Reacting sharply to the development, Pakistani commentator Qamar Cheema, often described as close to Pakistan’s...

Helsinki/New Delhi: Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has strongly praised the recently signed India-European Union trade agreement, calling it a model the world should follow at a time when global economies are facing rising protectionism and tariff wars. Orpo said the EU-India trade deal is not only important for Europe and India, but also holds global significance by opening new opportunities for economic cooperation and sustainable development. He urged nations to move towards free trade instead of increasing tariffs. The Finnish Prime Minister made the remarks after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday. Speaking to Reuters, Orpo said: “In today’s world, trade agreements have immense value. We do not need more tariffs across the world. W...

Washington: Pakistan has found itself in a politically sensitive and diplomatically complicated position over the ongoing Gaza crisis, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prepares to visit the United States this week for a high-level meeting chaired by US President Donald Trump. The meeting, being held under the framework of the proposed “Gaza Board of Peace,” is expected to discuss the formation of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza. According to a report by Reuters, citing three Pakistani sources, Islamabad is seeking assurances from Washington that any Pakistani troops deployed in Gaza will be assigned strictly to a peacekeeping mission and will not be involved in direct fighting against Hamas. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will reportedly include delegations ...

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a fresh warning of military escalation, claiming that Pakistan could carry out air strikes inside Afghanistan and stating that another war with India remains a “possibility” under the current circumstances. In a controversial statement, Asif accused India and Afghanistan of allegedly supporting proxy terrorism against Pakistan, while also blaming Kabul for allowing militant organisations to operate from Afghan soil. Asif’s remarks were made during an interview with French news channel France 24, where he claimed that Pakistan would not hesitate to launch aerial attacks across the border if Afghanistan fails to guarantee peace and stability. “If Kabul does not ensure peace, Pakistan will not hesitate to conduct further ...

Dhaka: Just hours after Tariq Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, an unexpected and discreet visit by Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has sparked intense political speculation across South Asia. Bilal Erdogan reportedly arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning in a private aircraft—less than 24 hours after Tariq Rahman’s oath ceremony. The visit was not publicly announced in advance, raising questions about Turkey’s rapidly growing interest in Bangladesh’s political landscape and its intentions with the newly formed government. Observers believe the timing of the visit indicates a calculated Turkish attempt to deepen its influence in Dhaka at a critical moment of political transition. Turkey Expanding Footprint Since 2024 Repo...

Tehran/Washington: The United States is reportedly preparing for a large-scale military strike on Iran, potentially by the end of this week, targeting not only Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure but also key political and military leadership in what could amount to an attempt at regime change. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing senior White House officials, US President Donald Trump has been fully briefed on multiple military strike options. The report suggests that each plan has been designed to inflict maximum damage on Iran’s strategic capabilities and government structure. Officials familiar with the discussions said the proposed operation could involve coordinated attacks on Iran’s military bases, nuclear facilities, government targets, and...

Dhaka: Newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman delivered his first national address on Wednesday night, outlining his government’s priorities and promising strong action to restore democracy, improve law and order, and curb corruption. In a significant message aimed at easing rising communal tensions, Rahman assured religious minorities—including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians—that his government will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of religion. Tariq Rahman, who took oath as Prime Minister on February 17 after securing a sweeping victory in the general elections, said Bangladesh belongs equally to all its citizens, regardless of faith. “Whether someone is Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian, religion does not define citizenship. This is our country, and we...

Washington: US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised the United Kingdom’s controversial agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while keeping the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base on a long-term lease. Trump has warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to allow the territory to slip away from British control, calling the deal a serious strategic mistake. In a sharp post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged Starmer to reconsider the agreement, arguing that leasing such a critical geopolitical asset could weaken the UK’s position in the Indian Ocean. “I want to tell UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that when it comes to countries, leasing is not a good thing. He is making a big mistake with a 100-year lease. Diego Garcia is str...