World News Archives - Page 20 of 90

28 Feb

“Mother of All Deals”: India and EU Release Final Draft of FTA, Granting Mutual “Most Favoured Nation” Status

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World Newsduty-free exports India EU, India EU FTA 2026, India Europe trade deal, Most Favoured Nation status, PM Modi Ursula von der Leyen meeting

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh)— In a historic leap for global commerce, India and the European Union (EU) on Friday, February 27, 2026, released the final draft text of their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The proposed pact, hailed by trade experts as the "Mother of All Deals," includes a landmark provision granting both parties "Most Favoured Nation" (MFN) status for a five-year period from the date the agreement officially comes into effect. This strategic alignment ensures that India and the 27-nation bloc will provide each other with the same preferential trade benefits—including reduced tariffs and advantageous regulatory treatment—that they…

28 Feb

Missiles Exchanged as Iran Responds to Israel-US Strikes; Blasts Reported Across Gulf Region

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Israel

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply on Saturday as Iran launched a wave of missiles toward Israel following coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States on targets in Tehran, triggering fears of a wider regional conflict. Reports of explosions also emerged from parts of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, heightening anxiety across the Gulf. The Israeli military said multiple projectiles were fired from Iranian territory in what it described as an “additional barrage.” According to officials, air defence systems were activated across several parts of the country as sirens sounded to warn residents.…

28 Feb

Mark Carney’s India Tour Signals Fresh Push to Rebuild Ottawa–New Delhi Partnership

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, Trending, World NewsMark Carney

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday commenced a four-day visit to India, choosing Mumbai as the first stop in a trip designed to deepen commercial engagement and reset diplomatic momentum between the two countries. He is travelling with his wife, Daina Fix Carney. Describing India as the fastest-expanding major economy, Carney said his immediate focus would be discussions with corporate leaders to explore investment avenues and generate economic gains for Canadian businesses and workers. After his engagements in Mumbai, the Canadian leader will head to New Delhi on March 1. Talks with Prime Minister Narendra…

27 Feb

Pakistan Declares “Open War” on Afghanistan Following Deadly Border Clashes and Air Strikes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAfghan forces kill 55 Pakistani soldiers, Khawaja Asif open war statement, Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, Pakistan Afghanistan open war 2026

Islamabad/Kamul (Rajeev Sharma) — The long-simmering tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan erupted into a full-scale military conflict on Friday, February 27, 2026. In a dramatic escalation, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif officially declared "open war" against Kabul, accusing the Taliban of exporting terrorism and harboring global militant groups. This declaration followed a series of retaliatory Pakistani air strikes targeting Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, marking a point of no return in the diplomatic and security relations between the two neighbours. The immediate catalyst for this declaration was a massive cross-border operation launched by Afghan forces late Thursday,…

26 Feb

India and Israel Conclude First Round of FTA Talks; Launch Strategic Financial Dialogue

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsIndia-Israel Financial Dialogue, India-Israel FTA negotiations 2026, PM Modi Israel visit, UPI Israel payment linkage

NEW DELHI / TEL AVIV (Rajeev Sharma) — Marking a transformative chapter in bilateral relations, India and Israel successfully concluded the first round of negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The four-day session in New Delhi follows the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) in November 2025, providing a structured roadmap to dismantle trade barriers and deepen economic integration between the two strategic partners. Coinciding with the conclusion of the talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a high-profile state visit to Israel, issued a joint statement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.…

25 Feb

Trump Claims Credit for Averting India-Pakistan Conflict in State of the Union, India Rejects Role

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsDonald Trump, India Pakistan conflict, Pahalgam terror attack, Shehbaz Sharif, State of the Union

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that he had helped end eight conflicts during his first 10 months in office, including tensions between India and Pakistan following last year’s Pahalgam terror attack.Speaking during his State of the Union Address, Trump asserted that his intervention prevented a potential nuclear confrontation between the two South Asian neighbours.“In my first 10 months, I ended eight wars... Cambodia and Thailand... Pakistan and India would have had a nuclear war. As many as 35 million people, said the Prime Minister of Pakistan, would have died if it were not for my…

25 Feb

Modi Addresses Knesset, Condemns Terrorism and Receives Top Parliamentary Honour Amid Political Walkout

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIndia-Israel relations, Israel Parliament speech, Knesset, Narendra Modi, October 7 attack, terrorism

Jerusalem (Rajeev Sharma): In a speech marked by repeated applause and symbolic gestures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the Israeli Parliament, asserting that “no cause can justify the murder of civilians” and reiterating India’s uncompromising stand against terrorism.Opening his address with “Shalom! Namaste!”, Modi told members of the Knesset that it was a privilege to stand as “the Prime Minister of India and as a representative of one ancient civilisation addressing another.” He conveyed greetings from 1.4 billion Indians and described India-Israel ties as deeply rooted in history, strengthened by democratic values and elevated into a strategic partnership…

25 Feb

Trump Proclaims “Golden Age” in Marathon State of the Union Address

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump State of the Union 2026, Iran nuclear program, roaring economy, SAVE America Act, Trump SOTU highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Rajeev Sharma) — In the longest State of the Union address in modern history, President Donald Trump stood before a deeply divided Congress on Tuesday night to declare that a "Golden Age of America" has arrived. Over the course of a 108-minute speech, the President combined optimistic economic rhetoric with fierce attacks on his political rivals, framing his first year back in office as a "turnaround for the ages" that has restored American pride and global respect. The President focused heavily on the economy during the first hour, insisting that his administration has successfully sparked a "roaring" economic…

25 Feb

University of Toronto PhD Student Arrested in Pakistan Over Social Media Posts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsHamza Ahmed Khan arrest Pakistan, NCCIA Pakistan cyber crime, Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, University of Toronto PhD student detained

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The family of Hamza Ahmed Khan, a University of Toronto PhD student and dual Canadian-Pakistani citizen, has raised urgent concerns following his arrest by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Ahmed Khan, who was in Pakistan to conduct research for his dissertation on the politics of democracy promotion, went missing on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while traveling via a ride-hailing service in Lahore. His family only discovered his whereabouts on Sunday after being informed by a local journalist that he was being held in a Lahore district jail. According to the NCCIA, Ahmed Khan was taken…

24 Feb

India, Israel Begin Free Trade Pact Talks as PM Modi Embarks on State Visit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsBenjamin Netanyahu meeting, bilateral trade agreement 2026, India Israel FTA talks, Narendra Modi Israel visit

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India and Israel have formally launched the first round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to Israel starting February 25. The inaugural round of discussions, being held in New Delhi from February 25 to 26, follows the signing of the ‘Terms of Reference’ in November 2025, which laid out the roadmap for structured negotiations aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties. Trade Expansion in Focus Merchandise trade between the two countries reached USD 3.62 billion in FY 2024–25. Officials said the proposed FTA…