INTERNATIONAL

More than 1,000 people have been killed following two days of violent clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad, followed by a series of revenge killings. This escalation marks one of the deadliest moments in Syria's 14-year conflict. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the casualties include 745 civilians, primarily killed in close-range shootings, as well as 125 members of the security forces and 148 fighters from Assad's loyalist factions. The violence also left large areas, including parts of Latakia, without electricity or clean drinking water. The clashes erupted on Thursday and represent a sharp escalation in the challenge to the newly-formed government in Damascus, which took power three months ago after insurgents...

US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will impose reciprocal tariffs on countries like India and China starting April 2, criticising what he called “very unfair” trade practices. Speaking at a Joint Session of the US Congress on Tuesday night—his first address since beginning his second term—Trump said the US has been subjected to high tariffs by several nations for decades and that it is now time to respond. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn. The European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and Canada—have you heard of them?—all charge us significantly higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair,” Trump said. Highlighting India specifically, Trump pointed out that the country imposes auto tariffs e...

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly opposed any attempts to displace Palestinians from their homeland, asserting that Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem rightfully belong to them, IANS reported.  Speaking at Ataturk Airport before embarking on a three-nation tour of Asia, Erdogan stated, "No one has the power to expel Gazans from their ancient and eternal homeland."   Despite the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Erdogan accused the Israeli government of harboring "sinister and inhuman plans."  He also dismissed the US administration's proposals regarding Gaza, saying they held "no merit or value" under pressure from the Zionist lobby.   His remarks come in response to controversial statements from US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Mini...

A total of 10,152 Indian nationals are currently incarcerated across 86 countries, according to data presented by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Lok Sabha. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar hold the highest numbers, with 2,633, 2,518, and 611 Indian prisoners, respectively. The information was disclosed by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a parliamentary query. He stated that Indian missions abroad are actively engaged in monitoring these cases, providing legal aid, and facilitating communication between prisoners and their families. The government also negotiates for prisoner transfers or amnesties where possible. Beyond the Gulf region, notable figures include 1,317 Indians detained in Nepal, 387 in Kuwait, and...

A US military aircraft, carrying 205 illegal Indian immigrants, is scheduled to land at Amritsar's Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The C-17 military transport plane, which departed from San Antonio, Texas, is returning individuals who had entered the United States through unofficial routes, mostly from Punjab and surrounding states. Although the flight was initially expected to land in the morning, it has been delayed. Local authorities in Punjab are prepared for the arrival, with state officials setting up designated counters at the airport to manage the process. Punjab's Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, confirmed that arrangements have been made to handle the situation smoothly. Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, expres...

Former US President Donald Trump has proposed that the United States should "take over" the Gaza Strip as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing ceasefire with Hamas, Voice of America reported. At a joint press conference, Trump said, "The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it." He outlined a plan to remove unexploded bombs, demolish destroyed buildings, and "create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing." Trump also reiterated his stance that Gaza's two million residents should relocate to other Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Jordan. "It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for...

Chandrika Tandon won the Grammy for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album for Triveni at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, surpassing Indian nominees Ricky Kej (Break of Dawn) and Anoushka Shankar (Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn). Raised in Chennai and the sister of former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Tandon is a business leader and musician who was previously nominated in 2011. Her winning album, Triveni, is a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto. The album weaves Vedic chants with global musical elements, creating a meditative and reflective soundscape. Other Indian-origin nominees included British artist Radhika Vekaria for Warriors of Light and Anoushka Shankar’s collaboration with Jacob Collier on A Rock Somewh...

Salwan Momika, the Iraqi Christian who gained international attention for burning copies of the Quran in multiple protests across Sweden in 2023, has been shot dead. The incident occurred on January 29, 2025, a day before a Stockholm court was scheduled to deliver a ruling on whether he was guilty of inciting ethnic hatred. Momika's actions, which sparked widespread outrage in Muslim-majority countries, had drawn significant criticism and led to protests around the world. Swedish police confirmed that a man had been killed in a shooting the day before, but did not initially release the identity. The Stockholm court, which was set to announce its verdict on the case, postponed the ruling, citing the death of one of the defendants involved. Authorities have yet to provide furt...

Dr. Khalid Shah, a renowned scientist from Kashmir, has introduced a "safety switch" mechanism to eliminate cancer-killing cells after their therapeutic role is complete. This innovation, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on January 16, enhances the safety of cell-based therapies while boosting the immune system to combat tumors. Laboratory models showed improved survival rates and tumor suppression. Building on his earlier work, where he engineered cancer cells to destroy glioblastoma—the deadliest brain cancer—Dr. Shah’s latest development addresses safety concerns in cell-based treatments. His prior therapies utilized tumor cells to deliver targeted agents, overcoming challenges in drug delivery. Dr. Shah, currently Vice Chairman of Research at Harvard Me...

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has expressed gratitude towards Iran and the regional Resistance Front following the recent ceasefire agreement, marking the end of a 15-month-long Israeli assault on Gaza. In a speech on January 15, 2025, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas' Political Bureau, praised the steadfastness of Palestinians in Gaza and thanked allies such as Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen's Armed Forces, and Iraqi resistance groups for their support during the conflict. Al-Hayya highlighted Hezbollah's sacrifices, including the loss of hundreds of fighters, and acknowledged their contributions to the liberation efforts in al-Quds (Jerusalem). The ceasefire follows widespread retaliatory actions from resistance groups across the region, including operations ...