Month: September 2025

Calling India-US ties a “very special relationship”, United States President Donald Trump affirmed that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would always be friends, asserting that there is “nothing to worry about”.

However, he expressed displeasure over what “he (PM Modi) is doing” in contemporary times.

When asked by ANI, “Are you ready to reset relations with India at this point?”, US President Trump said, “I always will. I’ll always be friends with (PM) Modi. He’s a great Prime Minister. I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion”.

In another question by the media regarding the progress of trade talks with India and other countries with which the US has yet to reach a deal, Trump stated that the deals are going well. However, he expressed displeasure over the recent fines imposed upon Google by the European Union.

Trump said, “They are going great. Other countries are doing great. We are doing great with all of them. We’re upset with the European Union over what’s happening with not just Google but with all of our big countries”.

Trump had sharply criticised the EU in a series of posts on Truth Social for its whopping USD 3.5 billion fine on American tech giant Google, calling it unfair and saying his administration would not allow the ‘discriminatory action’ to stand.

The European Commission (EC) announced on Friday a fine on Google for anti-competitive practices in the online advertising technology (adtech) sector.

Earlier during his interactions with the press, US President Donald Trump also responded to his post on Truth Social, where he called of losing ‘India and Russia to China’, saying that he does not think that has happened.

US President said while responding to a media query by ANI, “I don’t think we have. I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India- 50 per cent, very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi as you know. He was here couple of months ago, in fact we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference.”

His positive remarks on ties with India come shortly after he had posted a comment on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that the US has “lost Russia and India to deepest, darkest China.”

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote.

Earlier, on ties with Washington, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson underlined the importance of the bilateral relationship during a weekly press briefing on Friday.

“This relationship between the United States and India is very important for us. Both our countries share a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which is anchored in our shared interests, democratic values and robust people-to-people ties,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

“This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to, and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests,” he added.

He also affirmed that India “continues to remain engaged with the US side on trade issues.” (ANI)

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday lashed out at Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, accusing him of trying to create unrest in Bihar and disrupt social harmony.

Sinha’s remarks come in response to Yadav’s jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he questioned his intentions to set up factories in Gujarat while seeking votes in Bihar.

“Those who forced Biharis to migrate and ruined Bihar are now at their final stage. Like Dhritarashtra, blinded by affection for his sons, they are once again trying to create unrest in Bihar and disrupt social harmony to destroy the state. But now, Biharis will not tolerate it,” Vijay Kumar Sinha told reporters.

Sinha claimed that those who forced Biharis to migrate and ruined Bihar are now at their final stage and are trying to create unrest in the state. He emphasised that Biharis will no longer tolerate this and will move forward towards peace, prosperity, and a developed Bihar with social harmony.

“Now, Biharis will move forward towards peace, prosperity, and a developed Bihar with social harmony. The dream that has begun to be realised through the commitment of the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will now be fulfilled,” he said.

This comes after Lalu Prasad Yadav shared an ‘X’ post on September 5 targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he discriminated against Bihar and moved factories to Gujarat.

“Hey Modi ji, Do you want victory from Bihar and give the factory in Gujarat? This Gujarati formula won’t work in Bihar!,” RJD supremo posted on X.

RJD leader and Lalu Yadav’s son, Tejashwi Yadav also chimed in earlier, suggesting that the people of Bihar are not made for labor work and that the state’s issues, such as poverty, unemployment, crime, migration, and poor health and education systems, need to be addressed.

“Modi Ji! Bihar will not fall for your false promises. This time’s issue is poverty, unemployment, crime, migration, better health and education system! You want victory from Bihar and will set up factories in Gujarat! The people of Bihar are not made for labor work,” Tejashwi Yadav posted on X.

Notably, the political row between the two sides began with a now-deleted post by the Kerala Congress unit, which compared Bihar to bidis (tobacco products) in the context of GST reforms. The post sparked outrage among Bihar leaders, with BJP and JD(U) leaders accusing Congress of insulting the state and its people.

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal called the Congress post “an insult to Biharis,” while Union Minister Nityanand Rai said that people of Bihar will teach a lesson to those who hurt their self-respect.

JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha demanded a response from opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, asking whether Bihar should be equated with bidi. Another JD(U) spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, also sought a response from Yadav.

The Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet announced an official date.

While the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, aims to continue its tenure in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, comprising the RJD, Congress, and left parties, seeks to oust Nitish Kumar.

In the current Bihar Assembly of 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131, with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U)-45, HAM(S)-4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates.

The Opposition’s INDIA Bloc comprises 111 members, with the RJD leading with 77 MLAs, followed by Congress with 19, CPI(ML) with 11, CPI(M) with 2, and CPI with 2. (ANI)

Several terrorist entities, including Khalistani violent extremist groups, continue to receive financial support originating from Canada for activities linked to politically motivated violence in the country, according to a new report released by the Canadian Department of Finance.

The 2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks places certain Khalistani groups, including Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, under the category of Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) and suspects them of exploiting funding networks, including those in the non-profit and charitable sectors, to support their objectives.

The assessment defines PMVE as “the use of violence to establish new political systems or new structures and norms within existing systems.”

These groups are designated as terrorist entities under the Canadian Criminal Code, which is also includes Hamas and Hezbollah.

It clarifies that while such extremism may include religious elements, it is primarily driven by political self-determination or representation rather than by racial or ethnic supremacy.

“Several terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code in Canada that fall under the PMVE category, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Khalistani violent extremist groups Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, have been observed by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to receive financial support originating from Canada,” the report read.

Notably, Canada’s financial intelligence agency, FINTRAC, in its 2022 Operational Alert, had identified Hezbollah as the second most frequently identified international terrorist group receiving funds from Canada.

The new 2025 assessment elaborates on the financing methods employed by PMVE groups.

Khalistani extremist elements, particularly those advocating violent means to establish an independent state in Punjab, are also suspected of raising funds through similar channels.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Hezbollah, described as “well-resourced”, are known to exploit multiple avenues, including money service businesses (MSBs), the banking sector, cryptocurrencies, state sponsorship, and the misuse of charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs).

“These groups previously had an extensive fundraising network in Canada but now appear to consist of smaller pockets of individuals with allegiance to the cause but seemingly no particular affiliation to a specific group,” the report notes.

One of the key concerns raised in the report was the abuse of non-profit and charitable activities, a method widely documented in the case of Hamas and Hezbollah. Khalistani networks have similarly solicited donations from diaspora communities, including through NPOs, to raise and transfer funds.

“The misuse of the charitable and NPO sectors has been observed as a prominent financing method used by Hamas and Hezbollah. Khalistani violent extremist groups have also been known to use networks to solicit donations from diaspora communities to raise and move funds, including through NPOs. Despite these observations, it is estimated that revenue generation through NPO abuse represents a relatively small percentage of operational budgets of terrorist groups overall,” the report read.

Earlier, Canada’s premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), officially acknowledged that Khalistani extremists are using Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violence in India.

In its annual report released in June, CSIS outlined some key concerns and threats to Canada’s national security.

The Canadian intelligence agency CSIS report categorically states, “Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.”

India has been raising concerns about Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil for years, but Canada has largely turned a blind eye to the issue.

The CSIS report confirmed that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements, validating India’s concerns that have been raised for years.

The PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to create an independent nation-state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab in India.

The report noted that since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through CBKEs.

This revelation, part of CSIS’s latest annual report, has reignited concerns about foreign interference and extremist activity within Canada, particularly in the context of its sensitive diplomatic relationship with India.

Canada’s own intelligence security has confirmed what New Delhi has long maintained – Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements. The report called for sustained vigilance against both external influence campaigns and domestic extremist financing networks. (ANI)

Every Onam, Malaika Arora and her sister Amrita make it a point to visit their mother Joyce’s home and relish the sumptuous sadhya she lovingly prepares.

This time too, the sisters paid a visit to their mother and celebrated Onam with her.

On Friday, Malaika took to Instagram to share an adorable collage featuring pictures of her mother. Of course, there were snaps of Sadhya as well.

Sadhya is a traditional vegetarian feast from Kerala, India, featuring an elaborate spread of diverse dishes served on a banana leaf.

“Happy Onam @joycearora,” Malaika captioned the post.

Amrita, too, shared pictures from her fam-jam Onam celebrations.

Onam, a festival associated with harvest and the homecoming of King Mahabali in Kerala, is celebrated through various rituals. People thronged temples since early morning for prayers to mark the occasion.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Onam.

He said Onam reflects the timeless heritage and rich traditions of Kerala.”Wishing everyone a very happy Onam! May this beautiful festival bring renewed joy, good health and abundant prosperity to all. Onam reflects the timeless heritage and rich traditions of Kerala,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

“This festival is a symbol of unity, hope and cultural pride. May this occasion strengthen the spirit of harmony in our society and deepen our connection with nature,” he added.

This year, Onam festivities began on August 26, and today Malyalis across the nartion are celebrating Thiruvonam, the concluding day of the festival. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his congratulations to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness on his party’s third consecutive victory.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Heartiest congratulations to Dr. Andrew Holness on leading the Jamaica Party to victory for the third consecutive time. Looking forward to deepening India-Jamaica bonds of friendship and further strengthening cooperation between our two countries.”

Andrew Holness also shared a post on X, thanking the people for choosing him.

“Thank you, Jamaica. Thank you for choosing hope, thank you for choosing the Jamaica Labour Party, and most of all, thank you for choosing Jamaica! This historic third term is about the trust you’ve placed in us to keep working for you. We will work harder to serve better and to build a Jamaica where every single one of us can be proud to call home,” he wrote on X.

According to the preliminary results from Jamaica’s fractious parliamentary election, Andrew Holness has secured a third term in office, with his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) winning at least 34 seats in the 63-seat parliament.

The governing party’s main challenger, the People’s National Party, secured 29 of the 63 seats in parliament.

That saw the opposition party’s leader, Mark Golding, concede defeat in an election which was dominated by concerns over inequity and the economy, and marred by allegations of corruption and low voter turnout, according to Al Jazeera.

“Make no mistake about it, this was not an easy victory,” Holness told supporters after declaring victory, according to the Jamaica Observer.

Conceding in a brief speech, Golding said he was disappointed in the outcome but acknowledged his opponent’s success.

Despite a vibrant democratic tradition, recent years have seen a decline in poll participation in Jamaica.

The turnout for Wednesday’s polls was just 38.8 per cent, which was only slightly higher than the turnout for the 2020 elections, which took place during the pandemic, as per Al Jazeera.

More than two million registered voters were eligible to cast their ballots on the island of 2.8 million people.

As prime minister, Holness will appoint 13 senators to Jamaica’s upper chamber, while the opposition will choose the remaining eight.

According to Al Jazeera, under Holness, Jamaica has seen a 43 per cent drop in killings so far this year, marking the most significant decline in decades, with his administration stepping up firearm seizures and security presence across the Caribbean island. (ANI)

A Lookout Circular (LOC) has been issued against Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband, Raj Kundra, by Mumbai Police in an alleged Rs 60 crore cheating case.

A case has been registered against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra for allegedly cheating a businessman of Rs 60 crore. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, which is probing the case, has issued the LOC.

The complainant’s lawyers, Dr. Yusuf Iqbal and Adv. Zain Shroff of YNA Legal, had earlier demanded that a lookout circular be issued in the case.

In August, a case was filed against Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raj Kundra, and another person for allegedly cheating a businessman of over Rs 60 crore.

The complaint, filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, claims the incidents took place between 2015 and 2023. Kothari alleged that the couple took the money under the pretext of expanding their business but used it for personal expenses instead.

According to Kothari, in 2015, Shetty and Kundra approached him through a mediator seeking a Rs 75 crore loan for their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, which promoted lifestyle products and ran an online shopping platform. The proposed interest rate was 12 per cent.

Later, they reportedly asked him to provide the funds as an “investment” instead of a loan, assuring him of monthly returns and repayment of principal.

Kothari claimed he transferred Rs 31.95 crore in April 2015 under a share subscription agreement, and another Rs 28.53 crore in September 2015 under a supplementary agreement. The total amount was credited to Best Deal TV’s bank accounts.

Repeated attempts to recover the funds allegedly failed, and Kothari accused the couple of “dishonestly using” the money for personal benefit.

Shilpa and Raj’s lawyer Prashant Patil has denied the allegations and said they will present “our truth” before investigating agencies. (ANI)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that India will continue purchasing Russian oil, stressing that decisions will be guided solely by national interest.

“Whether it is Russian oil or anything else, we will take a call based on what suits our needs in terms of rates, logistics or whatever. Where we buy our oil from, especially it being a big ticket foreign exchange related item, is a call we will take based on what suits us best. So, we will undoubtedly be buying Russian oil,” she said in an interview with News18.

The Union Minister reiterated that the contribution of crude oil to India’s import bill is the highest.

The minister’s statement has come at a time when the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has accused India of buying Russian oil and funding the Ukraine war, and has imposed a 50 per cent import tariff, effective from August 27.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that the United States has not yet rolled out “Phase-2” and “Phase-3” tariffs against countries continuing trade ties with Russia. He called secondary sanctions on India a direct action against Russia, as “that cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia.”

He said this when being asked about why he has taken no action against Russia after he assumed the Oval Office in January this year.

He also called India the largest buyer of Russian oil after China, indicating that New Delhi could face further penalties if it continues energy imports from Moscow.

Sitharaman also noted that “with a reform like GST, many of the tariff concerns would be offset.”

Assuring support for industries facing a 50 percent tariff, Sitharaman said, “We will come out with something to handhold those who have been hit. The package includes a variety of measures, and something is definitely coming to help them.” (ANI)

India has been sharing high flood data with Pakistan through diplomatic channels, including its High Commission in Islamabad, as a “humanitarian gesture,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

At the weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have been sharing high flood data with Pakistan through our High Commission, through our diplomatic channels. This is being done as and when required first. You have seen the kind of water that is rainfall that is happening in that part of India and that part of the world. And this is being done based on humanitarian consideration.”

On August 26, Indian officials had communicated details about possible flooding in Pakistan. The Indian High Commission in Islamabad conveyed the information to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, stressing that the communication was made entirely on humanitarian grounds.

Pakistan continues to battle a severe flood crisis, triggered by relentless monsoon rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outbursts, which have claimed over 800 lives and affected more than 1.2 million people across multiple provinces. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture has worsened economic pressure, with potential losses reaching USD 50 billion.

Earlier on Thursday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab had issued a weather alert, forecasting heavy thunderstorms across most districts of Punjab from September 6 to 9, ARY News reported. Strong monsoon showers are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Gujranwala. Rainfall is also predicted in Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, and several other cities during the same period.

Between September 7 and 9, there is a risk of flash flooding in Dera Ghazi Khan, the PDMA warned. Commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province have been directed to remain on high alert and take necessary precautionary measures. (ANI)

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast torrential rains in several districts of Sindh and eastern Punjab between September 7 and 9, with chances of urban flooding in low-lying areas, Dawn reported.

According to the Met Office, a low-pressure system currently lies over the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and is likely to shift towards the west and northwest. The system is expected to reach Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Sindh on September 6.

Due to this development, strong monsoon currents are expected to enter Sindh and eastern Punjab starting September 6, the weather department said.

“Under the influence of these meteorological conditions, widespread rain and windstorms/thundershowers, coupled with scattered heavy to very heavy falls, are expected to hit Tharparkar, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Chachro, Dhali, Diplo, Kaloi, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Tando Allayar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Hyderabad, Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Jamshoro, Dadu, Kashmore, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki from Sept 6 (evening/night) to Sept 9 with occasional gaps,” the PMD said, as quoted by Dawn.

The Met Office has further warned that torrential rains may trigger urban flooding in low-lying areas of Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Hyderabad and Karachi from September 7 to 9.

Heavy rains during the monsoon season have repeatedly brought life to a standstill in Karachi and other parts of Sindh in recent years, disrupting transport and causing significant damage to infrastructure. Authorities have been advised to remain on alert in view of the upcoming weather conditions, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, international agencies have stepped up support to Pakistan ahead of the predicted floods. The United Kingdom and the United Nations have announced additional humanitarian assistance as severe flooding devastates the northern region and Punjab, with Sindh facing impending threats, Dawn reported.

On Thursday, the UK announced an additional £1.2 million to support the government’s coordinated response and help communities in Sindh prepare for floods. According to a press release from the British High Commission, this brings the UK’s total humanitarian assistance to £2.53 million, providing life-saving support to more than 400,000 people.

The funds will be channelled through non-governmental organisations in Sindh to strengthen early warning systems, enable community evacuations, pre-position essential supplies, and protect livestock. “Sindh is in a critical window to prepare and reduce the impact of the upcoming floods,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said. “For every dollar spent on prevention, up to seven dollars are saved in response. More importantly, lives are saved, and destruction is avoided,” Dawn reported.

The new aid package follows GBP 1.33 million announced on August 22 for early response and relief operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. That support includes food rations, search and rescue operations, mobile medical camps and the restoration of irrigation channels. The UK has also contributed GBP 500,000 to the Start Ready Disaster Risk Financing system in Pakistan, assisting 20,000 people across Punjab, Sindh and KP.

The UN is working closely with Pakistani authorities to assess the humanitarian impact of the floods. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher released USD 600,000 from the Regional Humanitarian Pooled Fund to support relief and recovery operations, the UN Information Centre in Islamabad said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed solidarity with Pakistan and commended the authorities for relocating more than one million people in Punjab, according to a statement issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Health has issued advisories to curb the heightened risk of disease outbreaks following widespread water contamination. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has warned of rising threats from cholera, typhoid, dengue fever, chikungunya and malaria. The ministry urged citizens to follow protocols outlined in advisories posted on its website and that of the NIH.

Separately, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in its “Desert Locust Bulletin” that Pakistan faces no immediate locust threat. Surveys in August found no locusts in key summer breeding areas, though very small-scale breeding may still occur. “No significant developments are expected,” the report noted, as quoted by Dawn. (ANI)