Category: WORLD

Muscat, Nov 5 (IANS) Oman and Iran on Thursday stressed the importance of consolidating sustainable understandings to ensure maritime security, end the state of war and prevent renewed confrontations in the region.

During a phone call, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, reviewed the latest contacts and talks aimed at reaching understandings to resume navigation through the Strait of Hormuz without hindrance, according to a report by the Oman News Agency.

The two ministers said such understandings should be grounded in practical arrangements to ensure the safety of maritime corridors and joint technical mechanisms to secure the unimpeded flow of international trade and energy, thereby bringing an end to the state of war and preventing renewed confrontations in the region, Xinhua News Agency reported.

They added that these understandings should respect national sovereignty and the legitimate interests of all parties while creating conditions for renewed dialogue and negotiations to address outstanding issues behind the escalation.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that three vessels, including two supertankers, caught fire in two separate incidents the previous night while crossing the Strait of Hormuz through an “illegal and unauthorised” route south of the waterway.

In a statement on its official media outlet, Sepah News, the IRGC said that in one of the incidents, an oil tanker caught fire after hitting naval mines as it was passing through the “illegal” route.

In the other incident, another oil tanker, which was leaving the strait through the same route, was stopped after catching fire east of the waterway. A tugboat that had approached the oil tanker to help contain the blaze also caught fire, the statement said.

In a separate operation, members of its naval electronic warfare unit took control of two “invading” low-cost uncrewed combat attack system drones and landed them unharmed, the IRGC said.

It accused the US government of imposing “very heavy” insurance costs on American taxpayers and its allies in West Asia by enticing vessels into committing violations and passing through the mined route in the strait.

–IANS

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Yaounde, Nov 5 (IANS) At least seven people, including four civilians and three militants, have been killed when Boko Haram fighters raided a locality in Cameroon’s Far North region, security sources said Thursday.

The attack occurred overnight into Thursday in Koza in the Mayo-Tsanaga division.

According to a security source in the region, heavily armed militants invaded the locality while residents were asleep, ransacking homes and firing indiscriminately.

“They killed three civilians on the spot, and another civilian died from injuries early this morning,” the source told Xinhua. “Our brave forces confronted them and killed three of the terrorists. There is relative calm in Koza now.”

Local media reported that the militants had also kidnapped a man and two children during the raid.

In September, at least 11 civilians were killed when Boko Haram militants raided an island in Lake Chad near Ngouboua in Chad’s Lake Province.

Army official Moussa Djibrine said that the militants arrived by canoe and opened fire on civilians who were fishing, killing seven men and four women, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Soldiers alerted to the incident launched a pursuit operation and killed nine of the attackers, he said.

Lake Province, which borders Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon, frequently faces attacks by Boko Haram and other jihadist groups operating in the Lake Chad basin.

Also in September, at least 13 civilians were killed, and another was injured in an overnight attack blamed on Boko Haram militants in Cameroon’s Far North region, an official told Xinhua.

The attack occurred in Madegoua, a locality in the Makary subdivision of the Logone-et-Chari division, while residents were asleep.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the militants invaded the locality and killed the 13 civilians on the spot. The lone survivor was rushed to a local hospital.

Local municipal authorities said the attack was believed to be a reprisal after security forces seized a large stock of ammunition intended for Boko Haram fighters several months ago.

Boko Haram has regularly attacked civilian communities in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014.

–IANS

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Washington, Nov 5 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said Thursday he intended to keep Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, as Republican Congressman Thomas Massie renewed his push to impeach the Pentagon chief over his conduct of the war with Iran and other military operations.

“I have every intention to keep him,” Trump told ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl, who reported the exchange on X. Karl said Trump acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with Hegseth.

Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, responded on X that if Trump intended to replace officials such as Hegseth, he should do so while he could still get their successors confirmed by the Senate. Massie also predicted that Democrats would pursue hearings and trials once they took control of Congress.

The exchange followed Massie’s statement Wednesday evening that he would reintroduce articles of impeachment unless Hegseth resigned. “There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” he wrote.

CNN reported that Massie told the network he planned to seek a House vote when Congress returned the following week. Any action next week would take place in the current Congress, during the session between the election and the seating of the new Congress in January.

Massie first brought eight articles of impeachment to the House floor on September 15. Three concern the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and accuse Hegseth of starting or continuing military operations against Iran without congressional authorisation.

The first article alleges that Hegseth directed US forces into hostilities against Iran on February 28 without a declaration of war, specific statutory authorisation or a national emergency created by an attack on the United States, its territories or its armed forces.

The second alleges that Hegseth continued military operations after Congress agreed in June to a concurrent resolution directing the president to remove US forces from unauthorised hostilities against Iran. The third alleges that operations continued after the statutory deadline for ending hostilities had passed.

“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said in a September statement released by his office.

The other five articles allege that Hegseth disregarded laws intended to minimise civilian casualties, oversaw unlawful lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers at sea, retaliated against Senator Mark Kelly over his speech, directed the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife without legal authority, and launched an unauthorised military campaign in Yemen.

Trump’s remarks to Karl addressed whether he intended to retain Hegseth. In his response, Massie argued that the eight articles he had put forward were less severe than what he expected from the incoming Congress. That was his forecast of how Democrats would proceed.

Under the Constitution, the House has the sole power to impeach federal officials. It can approve articles of impeachment by a simple majority. Each article sets out a charge for the Senate to consider if the House adopts it.

The Senate has the sole power to try impeachments. Conviction and removal require the support of two-thirds of senators present. That would mean 67 votes if all 100 senators were present.

–IANS

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Washington, Nov 5 (IANS) Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna has urged Democrats to prohibit funding for US military combat activities in Iran through a short-term government spending measure, arguing that opposition to the war helped drive Republican losses in the midterm elections.

The California Democrat also called for eliminating aid to Israel in the same spending measure, setting out demands for his party following Tuesday’s vote.

“Support a continuing resolution prohibiting the financing of any combat activities of the U.S. military in Iran. End the Iran war like we did for Vietnam,” Khanna wrote on X.

He separately urged Democrats to “Support the zeroing out of all aid to Israel in the continuing resolution.”

Khanna presented the proposals in a post responding to Vice President JD Vance’s discussion of the election results. He argued that the Iran war and allegations of corruption had contributed to the Republican defeat.

His post outlined a political demand for restrictions in a spending measure. It did not provide legislative language specifying when a prohibition would take effect, which funds it would cover or whether it would contain exceptions.

Khanna’s intervention linked his opposition to overseas military spending with a broader push for public investment, healthcare and economic reforms.

In a separate opinion article published by MS NOW, he urged Democrats to pursue an economic programme modelled on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Khanna argued that the election offered an opportunity to address the cost of essentials, economic inequality and communities left behind by industrial change. Those arguments represented his assessment of the result and his proposed direction for the party.

He called for a National Industrial Bank to invest in sectors including semiconductors, rare earth minerals, advanced manufacturing, medical innovation, shipbuilding and artificial intelligence.

He also proposed bringing together the leaders of major businesses and technology companies to support investment in schools, jobs, apprenticeships and entrepreneurs in communities affected by deindustrialisation.

A proposed Work for America programme, modelled on the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration, would offer young people opportunities in community rebuilding, care services, technology projects and training, he wrote.

Khanna’s domestic agenda also included Medicare for All, free public college, expanded trade schools and measures intended to make housing more affordable.

He said he was working on legislation to offer zero-down-payment, low-interest home loans to qualifying people who had worked and paid rent for seven years.

To finance his proposals, Khanna pointed to a federal tax on billionaires that he said he had sponsored with Senator Bernie Sanders. He argued that reducing spending on weapons and wars should also form part of the party’s fiscal approach.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday celebrated Diwali at the US Embassy in New Delhi and extended his greetings to all those observing the festival.

“Great to celebrate Diwali at our Embassy in New Delhi. Wishing all who are observing the holiday a very Happy Diwali!” Gor posted on X.

The United States provides a prominent example of Diwali receiving recognition at the highest levels of government. The festival is observed by Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities, as well as some Buddhist communities.

In 2009, President Barack Obama became the first US President to participate in a Diwali celebration at the White House. Subsequent administrations continued to recognise the festival. President Donald Trump participated in a Diwali celebration at the White House on October 21, 2025.

At the municipal level, New York City began observing Diwali as a holiday for public schools in 2023, with the first school closure taking place in 2024.

New York, New Jersey and the San Francisco Bay Area have substantial Indian-origin populations and host temple celebrations, cultural performances and community gatherings.

Last month, the US Postal Service (USPS) unveiled its new Diwali Forever stamp at the Indian Embassy in Washington. The USPS printed 20 million of the stamps, a number an official said was “a little bit on the higher side” because of strong advocacy by the Indian community.

The rangoli design is only the second stamp USPS has issued to mark the festival of lights. The first came out in 2016.

“We have printed 20 million Rangoli stamps, and we’re very excited for the Indian community to enjoy these,” the official said, adding that stamp collectors were also expected to buy them.

The ceremonial first-day-of-issue unveiling and reception were held at the Embassy of India in downtown Washington. Gambhir, a USPS vice president, served as the dedicating official.

–IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 5 (IANS) The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC Pakistan) on Thursday expressed grave concern over the killing of civilians by Pakistani forces and the escalating tensions in the Rawalakot region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The remarks came after seven people, including children, were killed and dozens of others were seriously injured on Thursday after Pakistani security forces reportedly opened fire and carried out drone strikes against peaceful protesters in Rawalakot.

HRC Chairman Jamshed Hussain said that the prevailing situation called for patience, responsibility, and mutual respect.

He stressed that ensuring the safety of civilians and law enforcement officials, while respecting the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, is a shared responsibility.

The rights body called on the Pakistani government, administration, and public representatives to opt for dialogue, listen attentively to public grievances, and take concrete steps to de-escalate tensions.

“We hope that the injured will receive timely medical aid, affected families will have access to accurate information, and an impartial review of the incidents will clarify the facts,” it posted on X.

Condemning the brutal killings by Pakistani forces, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for an immediate, independent international investigation, prosecution of those responsible, and unrestricted access for international media and human rights organisations.

“Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right. The authorities cannot silence legitimate public demands through bullets, intimidation and bloodshed. The international community must not remain silent,” the JAAC posted on X.

Meanwhile, the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing, excessive use of force, and alleged drone attacks by security forces targeting peaceful protesters and residential areas in Rawalakot, PoK.

Citing information received, the group alleged that Pakistani security forces targeted peaceful protest sit-ins at Matialmera Bus Terminal, Umar Farooq Chowk and other locations in Rawalakot during the early hours of Thursday, reportedly using heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and drones.

Describing the use of lethal force against peaceful, unarmed civilians as a grave human rights concern requiring immediate international scrutiny, the UKPNP said, “The Kashmiri people are peacefully demanding fundamental rights, essential public services, protection of property, human dignity and the rule of law. Their legitimate demands must not be answered with bullets, intimidation or collective punishment.”

–IANS

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Manila, Nov 5 (IANS) The growing tensions in the South China Sea remained a key issue at the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) and related engagements held in the Philippines, a report has stated.

It noted that Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles last week said that China’s military expansion was creating a “condition of pressure” across Southeast Asia, amid a dispute between Beijing and Manila over China’s participation in the ASEAN defence summit in Cebu, Philippines.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus, Marles termed China’s military build-up the largest conventional military expansion witnessed since World War II. He also flagged Beijing’s growing assertiveness as a challenge for Australia and called for closer coordination among like-minded partners and allies, a report in ‘The Diplomat’ mentioned.

“We need to be ensuring that how we understand the rules of the road continues to apply, because for a middle power like Australia, it is actually the rules which give us agency,” said Marles.

The report also highlighted that Australia had protested China’s test-firing of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile in the South Pacific in July, describing the launch as “provocative and destabilising.”

“Over the past few years, China has also increased both the frequency and the intensity of its incursions into areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, resulting in a string of increasingly dangerous confrontations between the two sides,” The Diplomat report mentioned.

The report stated that the maritime dispute also spilt over into a diplomatic controversy, with China’s Ministry of Defence accusing the Philippines of obstructing Beijing’s participation in the ADMM meetings and violating “basic diplomatic protocols.”

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun subsequently skipped the meeting, which brings together defence ministers from ASEAN’s 11 member countries and its eight dialogue partners — Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States. China was instead represented by its defense attache, marking the lowest-level Chinese representation at the ADMM-Plus since the forum’s inception in 2010, the report detailed.

In subsequent remarks, it said Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro did not respond directly to China’s allegation, saying Beijing was “given an opportunity to articulate their position, which is not any different from what they have been articulating before.”

“The Chinese comments reflect the poor state of relations between Beijing and Manila, which have frayed due to continued confrontations in contested parts of the South China Sea, particularly over Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands,” The Diplomat report stated.

–IANS

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Quetta, Nov 5 (IANS) At least four civilians were extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, a leading human rights organisation alleged on Thursday.

Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) revealed that the dead bodies of 60-year-old shopkeeper Elahi Baksh and 32-year-old driver Muneer Ahmad were dumped in the Laghorzard area of Naal region on November 2, after they were subjected to enforced disappearance.

According to the BYC, Baksh was forcibly disappeared from his home on October 30 by Pakistan Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, with his whereabouts remaining unknown.

“Enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing are grave violations of the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and human dignity. No one should be taken from their home, held in secret, and deprived of life outside the protection of the law. Elahi Baksh’s killing demands an independent investigation, accountability for those responsible, and justice for his family,” the rights body stated.

The BYC stated that Muneer was taken away from his home by a Pakistan-backed death squad on October 2, while his family was left without any information about his whereabouts.

“No individual should be forcibly taken from their home, held without legal protection, or deprived of their right to life. Every person is entitled to due process, protection under the law, and the fundamental guarantees of human dignity and security,” it added.

Highlighting the relentless atrocities against civilians, the BYC mentioned that, in a separate incident, Salahuddin was killed in a fake encounter on October 31, with his body being dumped near the Zardain Koti area of Kharan district.

Salahuddin was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces along with his brother Azar on August 7, from their home.

Condemning the brutal killing, the BYC said, “Such incidents reflect a disturbing pattern in Balochistan, where individuals subjected to enforced disappearance are later found dead, with their killings presented as fake encounters. These practices deny victims their right to due process and deprive their families of truth and justice.”

In a separate incident, the mutilated body of 17-year-old student Reyan Ulfath was found dumped in the Kulanch area of Pasni region on October 22, after remaining missing for eight days.

The BYC alleged that Reyan was forcibly disappeared from his home by death squads on October 16.

“The killing of a 17-year-old student raises grave concerns about the systematic violations of fundamental human rights in Balochistan. Enforced disappearance, extrajudicial execution, and the denial of the right to life are grave human rights violations. Young students should be protected, not subjected to disappearance and violence. Their lives, dignity, and fundamental freedoms must be respected and safeguarded under domestic and international human rights standards,” the rights body stated.

The BYC called on international human rights organisations, the United Nations, and the wider global community to take immediate notice of the extrajudicial killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan.

–IANS

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Washington, Nov 5 (IANS) India received $150.7 billion in remittances in 2025, more than four times the Foreign Direct Investment recorded in the country, according to a World Bank report highlighting the growing importance of these transfers to developing economies.

The International Debt Report 2026 put India’s Foreign Direct Investment at $35 billion. It recorded a net portfolio equity outflow of $18.5 billion during the same year. Remittances were about 4.3 times the report’s FDI figure.

The Washington-based lender identified India as a major driver of remittance growth among countries borrowing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank’s lending arm serving middle-income and creditworthy lower-income countries.

India’s receipts were more than twice those of Mexico, which received $65.1 billion and was the second-largest remittance recipient among IBRD borrowers, according to the report.

India also accounted for roughly 73 per cent of the $207.6 billion in remittances received by South Asia in 2025, calculations based on the report’s figures show.

The bank identified India and Mexico as key drivers of remittance flows to their respective regions. Latin America and the Caribbean received $164.1 billion in 2025, behind South Asia’s total.

The findings form part of the bank’s annual assessment of external debt and financial flows. The report’s release provides a new assessment of developments in 2025; the remittance figures do not describe money received in 2026.

Across low- and middle-income countries excluding China, remittances reached $687.1 billion in 2025, compared with $333.5 billion in Foreign Direct Investment.

The gap has widened considerably since 2011, when the two flows were almost equal. Those economies received $313.3 billion in remittances and $316.6 billion in FDI that year.

By 2025, remittances had more than doubled, while FDI had increased by only 5.3 per cent over the same period, the report said.

The bank cautioned against treating the two sources of external finance as interchangeable. Remittances primarily provide income to households and can help stabilise consumption and foreign exchange receipts. Direct investment can support productive capacity, employment and technology transfer.

The growing contribution of remittances therefore does not replace the longer-term productive investment associated with FDI, it said.

Despite the widening gap, India remained among the major destinations for foreign direct investment in developing economies. Together, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Viet Nam accounted for 52.7 per cent of FDI received by low- and middle-income countries excluding China in 2025.

The report separately put India’s total external debt at $763.5 billion at the end of 2025, up 6.4 per cent from 2024.

Its country profile listed $275.6 billion in public and publicly guaranteed debt, $337.2 billion in private nonguaranteed debt and $150.8 billion in short-term debt. The overall figure therefore covers both public and private obligations, rather than government borrowing alone.

Personal remittances, as used in the report, include personal transfers and compensation of employees. They are a separate category of cross-border financial flows from Foreign Direct Investment, portfolio equity investment and external borrowing.

–IANS

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Madrid, Nov 5 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, held a meeting with Colombia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Bula Escobar on the sidelines of the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid on Thursday, with discussions held on strengthening cooperation in trade, education, health, culture and multilateral fora.

“Pleased to interact with H.E. Mr. Omar Bula Escobar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. The interaction focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, culture, education, health and multilateral fora,” MoS Margherita wrote on X following the meeting.

He also held a meeting with Bolivia’s Foreign Minister Hector Francisco Huanca, with discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation. The two sides also spoke about regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita, had productive interactions with H.E. Mr. Omar Bula Escobar, Foreign Minister of Colombia 🇨🇴, and H.E. Mr. Hector Francisco Huanca, Foreign Minister of Bolivia, on the sidelines of the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid. The discussions focused on strengthening respective bilateral cooperation, regional and global issues of mutual interest, and exploring avenues for closer engagement within the framework of the Ibero-American Conference,” the Indian Embassy in Spain posted on X.

MoS Margherita is currently on an official visit to participate in the 30th Summit of the Ibero-American Conference. India will join the conference as Associate Observer. The Conference currently consists of 22 member countries – 19 from Latin America and three from Europe – Spain, Portugal and Andorra, 12 Associate Observers and 20 Consultative Observers.

Earlier in the day, Margherita engaged with members of the Indian community in Madrid, lauding their role in contributing to India’s progress and their efforts to preserve and promote Indian culture in Spain. He underlined the Indian diaspora’s potential in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu was also present during the interaction.

“Interacted with members of the Indian community in Madrid, along with Tokhan Sahu, MoS Housing and Urban Affairs. Thanked the community for their valuable contributions to India’s development and for preserving and promoting Indian culture in Spain. Highlighted the important role they can play in realising Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” MoS Margherita posted on X.

On Wednesday, Margherita met Diego Martínez Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain, and appreciated Madrid’s backing for India’s inclusion in the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer. The two sides also discussed ways to further deepen bilateral relations.

“Pleased to interact with H.E. Mr. Diego Martínez Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain. Conveyed our appreciation for Spain’s support for India’s joining the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer. Look forward to further strengthening India-Spain ties,” MoS Margherita posted on X.

–IANS

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