World News

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Visit India Next Week, Focus on Trade, Defence and Technology Ties

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Visit India Next Week, Focus on Trade, Defence and Technology Ties

New Delhi, January 5, 2026 — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will undertake a two-day official visit to India from January 12 to 13, with the trip expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation across key sectors such as trade, investment, defence, technology and clean energy. This will be Merz’s first visit to India since assuming office and comes at a time when New Delhi is working to deepen economic engagement with Europe amid evolving global trade dynamics, including recent tariff-related challenges with the United States. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the German Chancellor will arrive in…
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Sarbjeet Kaur (Noor Hussain) and Pakistani Husband Arrested in Nankana Sahib; Deportation Process Initiated-Pak Media Report

Sarbjeet Kaur (Noor Hussain) and Pakistani Husband Arrested in Nankana Sahib; Deportation Process Initiated-Pak Media Report

National Times Bureau :- In a significant development in the long-running and sensitive case involving Indian Sikh pilgrim Sarbjeet Kaur, who later adopted the name Noor Hussain after embracing Islam and marrying a Pakistani national, both she and her husband Nasir Hussain have been arrested in Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib district. Official sources indicate that deportation proceedings have now been initiated. The development has been reported by senior Lahore-based journalist Ali Imran Chatha in the Pakistani newspaper Nazarana Times. According to an official statement attributed to Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Punjab Provincial…
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Missing Indian Woman in Maryland Found Killed; Police Say Former Partner Left US After Crime

Missing Indian Woman in Maryland Found Killed; Police Say Former Partner Left US After Crime

Maryland (Rajeev Sharma): US authorities are searching for a 26-year-old man suspected of killing his former girlfriend, an Indian woman whose disappearance earlier this month had triggered a police search in Maryland. Investigators believe the suspect fled to India shortly after the crime. The victim, 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala of Ellicott City, was reported missing on January 2. Howard County Police confirmed on Sunday that her body was discovered inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, linked to her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma. Officials said she had suffered multiple stab injuries. Following the discovery, police obtained an arrest warrant against Sharma on charges…
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Trump Hints at Swift Trade Action as India’s Russian Oil Ties Draw US Attention

Trump Hints at Swift Trade Action as India’s Russian Oil Ties Draw US Attention

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Former US President Donald Trump has again signalled that India’s growing energy trade with Russia could invite economic consequences, warning that higher tariffs remain an option if New Delhi continues importing Russian crude. Trump suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully aware of his concerns on the issue. Speaking to the media while returning to Washington aboard Air Force One, Trump said he shared a cordial relationship with the Indian leader but made it clear that displeasure over Russia-related trade had been communicated. He remarked that trade policies could be adjusted quickly, indicating that tariff measures…
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India Voices Deep Concern Over Venezuela Crisis, Urges Peaceful Dialogue

India Voices Deep Concern Over Venezuela Crisis, Urges Peaceful Dialogue

New Delhi: India on Sunday expressed deep concern over the rapidly unfolding situation in Venezuela, following the United States’ military action that resulted in the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, while stopping short of directly criticising Washington’s operation. In a carefully worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi is closely watching developments in the South American nation and reiterated its long-standing position that conflicts should be resolved through peaceful means. The MEA called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue to maintain regional peace and stability. “Recent developments in Venezuela are…
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UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting Over US Operation in Venezuela

UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting Over US Operation in Venezuela

New York, January 4: The United Nations Security Council will meet in emergency session on Monday to discuss the recent United States military action in Venezuela and the detention of former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to officials familiar with the matter. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am local time and will be held under the agenda item “Threats to international peace and security.” Somalia, which is serving as the rotating president of the 15-member Security Council for January, confirmed the timing through its permanent mission to the United Nations. Calls for an urgent discussion at the…
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Three Arrested in Brutal Killing of Hindu Businessman in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur

Three Arrested in Brutal Killing of Hindu Businessman in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur

Dhaka, January 4 — Bangladeshi authorities on Sunday arrested three men in connection with the brutal attack and burning to death of a Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district, an incident that has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country. The victim, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was assaulted near Keurbhanga Bazar in the Damudya area of Shariatpur, around 100 kilometres south of Dhaka, on Wednesday night. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday after battling for life for several days. According to reports by leading daily Prothom Alo, a team of the Rapid…
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Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, Appointed Acting President of Venezuela?

Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, Appointed Acting President of Venezuela?

National Times Bureau :- Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Sunday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to take over as Interim President. This decision came a day after the United States carried out a rare military operation in Caracas and captured President Nicolas Maduro.  In its ruling, the court said Rodriguez would take charge to keep the government running smoothly and to protect the country’s defence. The court added that it would continue discussions to decide the legal steps needed to manage the government and protect Venezuela’s sovereignty during the president’s forced absence. Delcy Rodriguez, 56, is one of the most powerful…
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US Shares Arrest Footage of Maduro as Venezuela Enters Uncertain Transition

US Shares Arrest Footage of Maduro as Venezuela Enters Uncertain Transition

Washington/Caracas/New York (Rajeev Sharma): The United States has made public a video showing detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro being escorted in handcuffs by federal agents, a move that has amplified global attention on the dramatic turn of events following his capture. The footage, released by US authorities, shows Maduro under tight security as he is taken into custody, marking the first visual confirmation of his detention. American officials confirmed that Maduro is expected to be moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York, a federal facility known for severe conditions and long-standing criticism over safety, staffing shortages, and…
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Trump Says US Will Oversee Venezuela After Maduro’s Ouster, Eyes Oil Exports

Trump Says US Will Oversee Venezuela After Maduro’s Ouster, Eyes Oil Exports

Washington/Caracas (Rajeev Sharma): In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves across the region, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would temporarily assume control of Venezuela following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, with plans to revive and utilise the country’s vast oil resources. The announcement came hours after a covert military operation led to Maduro and his wife being taken into US custody and flown out of Venezuela. Trump described the action as part of a broader effort to stabilise the country, combat drug trafficking and restructure its collapsing energy sector. He said Washington…
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