World News Archives - Page 72 of 81

19 Apr

Putin Announces Brief Easter Ceasefire Amid Continued Attacks in Ukraine

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsCeasefire, Easter Truce, Putin, Russia-Ukraine war

Moscow/Kyiv, April 19, 2025 — In a symbolic move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 30-hour Easter truce in the ongoing war with Ukraine. Set to begin at 6 PM Moscow time on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday, the unilateral ceasefire was framed as a gesture of respect for Orthodox Easter. However, the announcement has sparked skepticism amid continued hostilities on the ground.The Kremlin claims the temporary pause is a humanitarian measure, allowing space for religious observances. Yet, even as the ceasefire was declared, Ukrainian regions like Kharkiv, Sumy, and Odesa reported new drone attacks and casualties.…

18 Apr

20 Dead in U.S. Strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa Oil Port, Houthis Claim Major Civilian Toll

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsHouthis, Ras Isa oil port, U.S. airstrikes, Yemen

Sanaa, April 18 — At least 20 people were killed in U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s western Ras Isa oil port, according to Houthi rebels. The group, which controls large parts of Yemen, accused the U.S. of targeting critical infrastructure and causing significant civilian casualties. The attacks reportedly hit fuel storage facilities and surrounding areas in the Hodeida province.Houthi media condemned the strikes as a war crime, asserting that civilians, including port workers and rescue responders, were among the dead. The group warned of retaliation and said the bombings would not go unanswered.This latest attack adds to a growing list of…

18 Apr

US National Fatally Shot After Attempted Plane Hijacking in Belize

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBelize

Belize City (National Times): A dramatic mid-air incident unfolded on a Tropic Air flight bound for San Pedro on Thursday, when a 49-year-old American man attempted to hijack the aircraft using a knife. The assailant, identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, reportedly injured three people before being fatally shot by a fellow passenger. According to Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams, Taylor began attacking passengers mid-flight, prompting another traveler to intervene and shoot him. The police chief commended the individual’s quick response, referring to them as a "hero" for potentially saving many lives. Authorities are still investigating how the weapon was smuggled…

18 Apr

Close Aide of Terrorist Rinda, Gangster Happy Passia, Arrested in the US

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsHappy Passia

New Delhi (National Times): Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, a notorious gangster with alleged terror links, has been arrested in the United States, in what marks a key success for Indian security agencies. Passia is a known close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda. Passia was wanted in India for his alleged involvement in multiple grenade attacks, including on a private house in Chandigarh and police stations in Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier declared a Rs 5 lakh bounty on him, seeking public assistance in tracing his whereabouts. According to officials, Happy Passia was…

17 Apr

Indian Student Outflow Declines Sharply: Canada, US, UK See First Simultaneous Drop in 4 Years

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, World NewsCanada, UK, US

New Delhi (National Times): In a major reversal of recent trends, the number of Indian students heading abroad has seen a steep and simultaneous decline across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the top three global education destinations. This marks the first time in four years that all three countries have recorded a dip at the same time, according to an analysis by The Indian Express based on official visa data. In 2024, student visa approvals for Indians dropped by at least 25 percent in all three nations: Canada recorded a 32% decline, with the number of study…

16 Apr

UK Supreme Court Rules ‘Woman’ Refers Only to Biological Females Under Equality Law

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsEquality Act 201, UK Supreme Court

National Times Bureau, April 16, 2025: In a landmark ruling, the United Kingdom's Supreme Court has declared that the term "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 refers exclusively to individuals born female, not including trans women. The decision, delivered unanimously on Wednesday, emphasized that legal protections based on sex apply specifically to biological definitions, not gender identity.The case was triggered by a group of Scottish campaigners who argued that sex-based rights should only cover those assigned female at birth. In contrast, the Scottish government held that trans women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) should be treated as women under the…

16 Apr

Trump Reaffirms Controversial View: Canada Would Prosper as 51st US State, Says White House

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsCanada, Donald Trump

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump continues to stand by his longstanding and contentious belief that Canada would significantly benefit from becoming the 51st state of the United States, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Leavitt addressed queries regarding Trump’s recent silence on the issue. “I would reject the notion that the president’s stance on Canada has changed,” she said. “He simply hasn’t been asked about it recently. But let me be clear, President Trump maintains that Canadians would thrive as part of the United States, particularly given the subsidies the…

15 Apr

Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium; Authorities Confirm India’s Extradition Request

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsBelgium, Mehul Choksi

Brussels/New Delhi (National Times): Belgian authorities have confirmed the arrest of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, stating that he is currently in custody following his detention on April 12. The Belgian Justice Department also acknowledged receiving a formal extradition request from India. “The Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice can confirm that Mr. Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He is currently being held pending judicial proceedings, with access to legal counsel assured,” the department told NDTV. Further details were withheld, citing standard protocols in ongoing legal matters. Choksi, 65, is a central figure in the massive…

14 Apr

Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium While Plotting Escape to Switzerland, Tracked by Indian Agencies for Years

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBelgium, Mehul Choksi

Belgium (National Times): Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium while allegedly planning an escape to Switzerland, marking a major breakthrough for Indian investigative agencies after a seven-year international manhunt. Choksi, wanted in connection with the Rs 12,636 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, had fled India in 2018 just before the scam surfaced. The CBI and Enforcement Directorate had been tracking his movements across multiple countries ever since. A key figure in the PNB case, Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, and his brother Neeshal Modi, is accused of defrauding the state-run…

14 Apr

Wisconsin Teen Allegedly Killed Parents in Plot to Assassinate President Donald Trump, Says FBI

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Wisconsin

Wisconsin (Rajeev Sharma): A 17-year-old high school student from Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been accused of murdering his parents as part of a broader plan to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, according to recently unsealed FBI documents. The teenager, identified as Nikita Casap, faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide following the discovery of his mother, Tatiana Casap (35), and stepfather, Donald Mayer (51), dead in their home on February 28. Authorities believe the killings occurred around February 11. Court documents indicate Casap's digital devices contained disturbing material, including affiliations with the neo-Nazi group Order of Nine Angles, antisemitic writings, and…