Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping wrapped up their Washington summit on Friday, facing criticism that they had squandered an opportunity to pause their countries’ artificial intelligence (AI) arms race. The three-day state visit emphasised pageantry and personal rapport rather than substantial agreements. The US president and Xi discussed the wars in Iran and Ukraine and the status of...
WORLD
FSSAI proposes nationwide ban on manufacture and sale of analogue paneer
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of the analogue product as paneer. In a notification, the FSSAI stated that the products already licensed or registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category shall discontinue the use of the term ‘Paneer’ in their nomenclature, labelling, or marketing. The...
Britain agrees to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia to counter attacks from Iran-backed Houthis
Britain has agreed to provide limited support to Saudi Arabia, to counter attacks from Iran-backed Houthis. Riyadh has requested the support after the Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, a new front in the wider war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. For the new...
Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, including ‘largest ever’ attack on Moscow
Ukrainian forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, including hundreds that were launched toward Moscow, officials said Sunday, as the Kremlin was wrapping up the third and last day of its parliamentary elections. Moscow’s mayor described the wave of drones as the “largest ever” drone attack on the Russian capital and said there had been damage to the...
Thick smoke seen near Riyadh airport as Houthis attack Saudi capital, Riyadh
Yemen’s Houthis said they attacked “sensitive” sites in the Saudi capital with missiles and drones, hours after flames and a large plume of black smoke were seen rising above Riyadh airport on Saturday. The Saudi government sent air raid alerts to citizens by phone overnight warning of aerial attacks, marking the first time the government has issued such alerts for...
‘When do I blow the entire nation up?’ Trump warns Iran of ‘serious consequences’
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of “serious consequences” if Tehran refuses to change course, as Washington weighs its next move in the conflict and Iran threatens retaliation against any fresh US attack. At the same time, both sides have left the door open to diplomacy, with Trump saying he would “probably be open” to talks with Iranian President...
Trump administration approves sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia
United States President Donald Trump’s administration has asked lawmakers to clear the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $24.3bn. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress...
Pakistani ship collides with Indian naval unit, India summons Islamabad’s envoy
India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich and lodged a strong protest over a collision involving naval vessels from the two countries in international waters. The incident took place on the evening of September 15 in the North Arabian Sea, around 220 kilometres east of Oman. According to details released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), an Indian...
Pakistan abandons Mecca pact ally Saudi Arabia in fight against Houthis
Saudi Arabia has indirectly reached out to Israel for intelligence assistance against the Houthis through US Central Command, despite Riyadh not recognising Israel or maintaining diplomatic relations with it, as per a report by The Jerusalem Post. The move comes as Houthi forces intensify attacks on Saudi targets and impose maritime restrictions that have created an economic threat around the...
India, China agree to ‘properly address’ economic and trade concerns in a balanced manner
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Monday wherein they agreed to implement the important consensus reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of BRICS Summit. The two leaders, in a bilateral meeting held on Saturday, had agreed to “expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and trade fields, properly address each other’s economic and trade...
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales sign historic MoU to break away from UK
Elected representatives of three devolved UK legislatures – Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales – signed ahistoric pact on Monday, declaring their intent to break free of Westminster’s control. “The political landscape across these islands is changing. For the first time ever, there are first ministers in Scotland, inWales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence...
Houthis attack Saudi Arabia airbase as Hormuz talk stalls
Fresh attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis on Saudi Arabia and renewed pressure on the kingdom’s infrastructure pushed oil prices higher. Gulf Arab states also postponed planned talks with Iran, raising concerns about wider disruption to global oil supplies. Crude oil prices rose more than 4% on Monday before settling about 1% higher. At 0026 GMT on Tuesday, Brent crude futures...