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US envoy Sergio Gor says India, Australia, Japan and US are aligned on closer cooperation and practical results for regional stabilityreports Asian Lite News Desk US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Thursday that the four Quad countries are aligned in advancing closer cooperation and delivering results for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Gor made the remarks after meeting Australias High Commissioner to India Philip Green and Japans Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono. The diplomats discussed up

The move follows bipartisan efforts to preserve duty-free access for thousands of products from eligible African countries and Haitian apparel and textilesreports Africa Daily News Desk The US Senate has approved a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership and Encouragement (HOPE). The extension, secured as part of last weeks bipartisan continuing resolution (CR), maintai

A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced legislation to deepen Washingtons engagement with Tibets government-in-exile.reports Asian Lite News Desk A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced legislation seeking to strengthen US engagement with Tibets government-in-exile and ensure continued American support for Tibetan institutions beyond the lifetime of the 14th Dalai Lama. The Assuring the Future of Tibet Act was introduced by Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Republican Senator

Cricket Scotland and the Netherlands KNCB have criticised the ICCs revised ODI World Cup structure and qualification pathway as a setback for Associate nationsreports Asian Lite News Desk Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have described the International Cricket Councils (ICC) recent changes to the qualification pathway and tournament structure for the Mens ODI World Cup as a major setback for Associate nations, warning that the move could undermine years of progres

Hormuz reopening hopes dim as Trump demands Iranian compensation, while Tehran insists wider US concessions are needed before unrestricted shipping can resume.reports Asian Lite News Desk Hopes of a breakthrough to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have weakened after US President Donald Trump demanded that Iran pay compensation for deaths and damage he says resulted from Iranian actions over decades, adding a new obstacle to already difficult negotiations. Trumps demand came as Iran and Oman moved cl

US President Donald Trump has stepped up attacks on Muslim communities and Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.reports Asian Lite News Desk US President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric against Muslim communities and Democratic candidates from those communities ahead of the midterm elections, with his latest social media post targeting Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Trump shared an image on Truth Social showing El-Sayed standing before a crowd that included w

Brazil seeks stronger BRICS ties and deeper South American integration under Lulareports Asian Lite News Desk Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government plan places South-South cooperation at the centre of the countrys foreign policy, seeking to strengthen ties among developing nations while expanding Brazils political, economic, financial and technological autonomy, Brasil 247 reported. The strategy proposes stronger cooperation with countries of the Global South through institut

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran remains open to dialogue with Washington but will not surrender, amid renewed tensions and uncertainty over negotiations, reports Asian Lite News Desk Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Tehrans willingness to pursue dialogue to safeguard its rights, while insisting that Iran will not be forced into surrender. Pezeshkian made the remarks in an interview published on his offices website on Friday, defending the governments decision to

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reaffirmed its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the governing body shelved its controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposalreports Africa Daily News Desk The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unanimously reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, backing his leadership despite the controversy surrounding the now-shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal that drew criticism from several football bod

Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the worlds first atomic bombing with renewed calls for nuclear disarmament and peacereports Asian Lite News Desk Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing on Wednesday, with city leaders renewing calls for nuclear disarmament as concerns mount over rising global tensions and the growing risk of nuclear conflict. Thousands gathered at Hiroshimas Peace Memorial Park for the annual memorial ceremony, where Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui u

The United States has announced plans to provide an additional USD 242 million to support Ebola response and preparedness efforts in Central and East Africa.reports Africa Daily News Desk The United States has announced plans to provide an additional USD 242 million to support Ebola response and preparedness efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and neighbouring countries, as the outbreak in the region continues to pose a major public health challenge. The US Department o

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will remain in their current positions in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.reports Asian Lite News Desk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not withdraw its forces from their current positions in the Gaza Strip until Hamas has been fully disarmed, signalling that any military pullback remains contingent on the armed groups surrender of its weapons. In a video statement posted on social media, Netanyahu

Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face severe consequences if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened soon, while claiming negotiations with Tehran are progressingreports Asian Lite News Desk US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will be hit very hard if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened very soon, while insisting Washington is engaged in productive discussions with Tehran despite repeated denials from Iranian officials. Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (US local t

Brand New Day posts the second-biggest global opening ever, giving Marvel a timely blockbuster ahead of Avengers: Doomsday. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has delivered one of the biggest box office debuts in cinema history, earning a staggering $927 million (687 million) worldwide during its opening weekend and becoming the highest-grossing debut in Sony Pictures history. The latest instalment in the Spider-Man franchise, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya and Sadie Sink, collected $355 million from 4,48

Netanyahu has rejected key parts of Donald Trumps Gaza peace plan, saying Hamas must be disarmed before reconstruction can beginreports Asian Lite News Desk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged differences with US President Donald Trump over the proposed Gaza peace framework, insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before any reconstruction of the territory can begin. Speaking after meeting Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov on Monday, Netanya

King Mohammed VI said the decision reflects his appreciation for President Donald Trumps recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020.reports Asian Lite News Desk Morocco has named the 1,055-kilometre Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway the Donald J. Trump Highway, with King Mohammed VI describing the move as a tribute to the longstanding partnership between Morocco and the United States and his personal appreciation for US President Donald Trump. The decision was conveyed in a letter se

A coalition of 25 US states has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trumps latest round of Section 301 tariffs, arguing they exceed his legal authority.reports Asian Lite News Desk A coalition of 25 US states has sued the Trump administration over its latest Section 301 tariffs, arguing that President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority by imposing sweeping import duties on goods from 60 trading partners. The complaint, filed in the US Court of International Trade, challenges tari

US President Donald Trump has said fresh negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday after Gulf states urged Washington to halt planned military action and pursue diplomacy.reports Asian Lite News Desk US President Donald Trump has said negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday afternoon after several Middle Eastern countries urged Washington to suspend planned military action, claiming there was a viable path towards a diplomatic agreement. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while tra

Joe Root says he returns as England Test captain a more experienced and energised leader after stepping down in 2022reports London Daily News Desk Joe Root says he is returning to the England Test captaincy with renewed energy, greater experience and a clearer understanding of the demands of leadership, as he prepares to begin a second spell in charge following Ben Stokes retirement. Root, who resigned as England Test captain in 2022 after leading the side for five years, will take charge again

Donald Trump said the US has cancelled a planned military strike on Iran after what he described as progress towards a potential agreement with Tehranreports Asian Lite News Desk US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has cancelled a planned military strike on Iran after what he described as progress towards a potential agreement with Tehran, while stressing that the decision remains conditional on Iran rapidly concluding a deal. He also said Israel had joined Washington

Former diplomats and analysts say the vacancies could weaken US engagement at a time of growing geopolitical competitionreports Asian Lite News Desk The United States has left more than 40 African nations without a Senate-confirmed ambassador, raising concerns about its ability to conduct diplomacy and security engagement across the continent. A total of 41 African countries currently do not have a confirmed US envoy, including Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya and Sudan. W

US embassies across the Middle East have urged American citizens to consider leaving the region or be prepared to depart if tensions escalate further.reports Asian Lite News Desk The United States has advised its citizens across parts of the Middle East to consider leaving the region or be prepared to depart if the security situation deteriorates further, citing the risk of renewed escalation. US embassies in around 10 countries, including Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Em

The proposal comes after Islamabads own unsuccessful attempt to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States.reports Asian Lite News Desk Iran has reiterated its offer to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging the two neighbours to engage in dialogue to resolve their longstanding border disputes and recurring cross-border violence. The renewed proposal comes as relations between Islamabad and Kabul remain strained over militant activity, border security and disagreements surr

Commonwealth Sport has turned its attention to the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad, Gujarat, with a kite-flying celebration in Glasgowreports Asian Lite News Desk Commonwealth Sport has officially shifted its focus to the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad, Gujarat, with a kite-flying celebration in Glasgow featuring athletes, sports officials and members of the local Indian community. Scotlands Commonwealth Games gold medallist Reuben Ward and Indias long jump silver medallist Murali Sreesha

A mother to four-year-old son Rudra, Seema has seen her career flourish since returning to competitionreports Asian Lite News Desk Seema Kaliramnas inspiring journey of resilience reached a new milestone on Thursday as the Indian discus thrower won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing her first major international podium finish. The 27-year-old finished third in the womens discus throw despite managing only two valid attempts from six throws, with several efforts

Although several Brazilian football legends, including Pel, have played exhibition matches in India, this will be the first appearance by Brazils senior national teamreports Asian Lite News Desk India will host five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in an international friendly in Kolkata on October 3, marking the first-ever visit by the Brazilian senior mens national team to the country. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Thursday that the match will be played at the Vivek

Indian national Amritpal Singh is wanted by the FBI over alleged cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking linked to Vancouver-based Ravinder Dhanda organised crime network.reports India Daily News Desk An Indian national, Amritpal Singh, has been placed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigations Most Wanted list over his alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network operating across North America, according to the FBI. The bureau said Singh is wanted for his alleged role in the

Social Media Cooking Star Shadi Faleel Celebrates Successful Launch of Debut Cookbook Food lovers, media, influencers and content creators came together in London this week to celebrate the launch of Easy Indian Food Anyone Can Make, the debut cookbook from social media sensation Shadi Faleel, published by Penguin Random House. The launch event, held at ISSO, Canary Wharf, welcomed guests from across the food, publishing and influencer industries to mark a major milestone for one of the UKs fast

Protesters gathered outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, raising concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).reports Asian Lite News Desk A demonstration was held outside the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington on Thursday, with protesters voicing concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and calling for accountability over reports of deaths, injuries and alleged use of force during ongoing unrest in th

Dr Jiazhen Zheng from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou, who led the research, said the findings point towards the long-term importance of nutrition during the earliest stages of life Restricting sugar intake during pregnancy and the first two years of life may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a new study that examined more than 65,000 people born in Britain during and after the Second World War-era sugar rationing per

FIFAs plan to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary has drawn criticism from the FA, UEFA and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham over transparency and footballs governancereports Asian Lite News Desk FIFAs proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary to private investors has triggered growing opposition from football authorities, with the Football Association (FA), UEFA and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham questioning the transparency of the plan and warning against th

The White House has renewed claims that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory incident, accusing former US health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci of promoting a natural-origin narrativereports Asian Lite News Desk The White House has reignited debate over the origins of COVID-19, accusing former US Chief Medical Adviser Dr Anthony Fauci of promoting a narrative that the virus emerged naturally while asserting that a laboratory-related incident is the most likely source of the pandemic. The

The developments came as the US military accused the IRGC of threatening commercial vessels and attempting to control navigation through the strategic waterway.reports Asian Lite News Desk Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers attempting to leave an unsafe route south of the Strait of Hormuz turned back after a fire broke out on one of the vessels, as tensions with the United States over navigation through the strategic waterway continued to escalate. In a s

India has criticised the continued delay in reforming the UN Security Council, accusing a small group of countries of holding the process hostage through procedural tacticsreports Asian Lite News Desk India has criticised the continued deadlock over reform of the United Nations Security Council, accusing a small group of countries of blocking progress and holding the reform process hostage through procedural manoeuvres. The remarks came after the UN General Assembly on Tuesday voted by consensus

The United States and Saudi Arabia launched joint airstrikes on Iran-aligned targets in eastern Iraq after a wave of drone attacks on American troops and Saudi energy facilitiesreports Asian Lite News Desk The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint precision airstrikes against Iran-aligned groups in eastern Iraq on Tuesday after more than 30 drone attacks targeted American troops and Saudi energy infrastructure, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. According to CENTCOM, US and Saudi

Iran denies seeking talks with Washington despite Donald Trump claiming diplomatic progress, as a fragile pause in fighting raises cautious hopes of easing regional tensions, reports Asian Lite US News Desk Iran has insisted it has neither requested nor resumed negotiations with the United States, despite President Donald Trump claiming Washington and Tehran are holding good talks following a temporary pause in hostilities. Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign

The meeting comes after recent tensions over Iran, changes in Gaza policy and a challenging political backdrop for the Israeli prime ministerreports Asian Lite News Desk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump, marking their first face-to-face meeting since the recent conflict involving Iran and the first since February. The visit will be Netanyahus eighth meeting with Trump since the US president returned to office. It

The diplomatic dispute followed a heated General Assembly vote in which the US and Russia unsuccessfully opposed Turks second termreports Asian Lite News Desk The United States and France publicly clashed at the United Nations on Monday over the re-election of Volker Turk as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, with Washington staging a rare walkout during a Security Council meeting as France addressed the chamber. The dispute marked an unusual public confrontation between two longstanding Wes

Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred with a blistering 81 before the bowlers sealed Indias third successive win in the format.reports Asian Lite News Desk India completed a comprehensive 3-0 sweep of the T20I series against Zimbabwe with a 35-run victory in the third and final match at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Defending 193, India restricted Zimbabwe to 157/7 in 20 overs to hand captain Shreyas Iyer his first T20I series win since taking charge of the side last month. Zimbabwes c

A new Climate Impact Lab report warns climate change could cause 430,000 additional deaths a year by 2050, with the worst impact on poorer nations lacking electricity for coolingreports Asian Lite News Desk Climate change could lead to around 430,000 additional deaths every year by 2050, with poorer countries expected to suffer disproportionately because they lack the electricity needed to power life-saving cooling systems, according to a new report released by the Climate Impact Lab on Monday.

The US and UK are planning a high-level meeting in London next week to discuss an international coalition aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz..reports London Daily News Desk The United States and the United Kingdom are planning a high-level meeting in London next week to discuss the formation of an international coalition to safeguard commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, as Western allies seek to prevent further disruptions in one of the worlds most criti

The Oval will host the 2027 ICC World Test Championship Final from June 9-13, marking its second staging of the global showpiecereports Asian Lite News Desk The Oval has been confirmed as the venue for the 2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, with the five-day contest scheduled to be played from June 9 to 13. The match will mark the second time The Oval has hosted the WTC Final after staging the 2023 decider, when Australia defeated India before a capacity crowd. The England and Wales C

US President Donald Trump has said Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the White House in September, signalling another round of high-level engagement between Washington and Beijing.reports Asian Lite News Desk US President Donald Trump has said Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the White House in September, signalling plans for another high-level meeting between the leaders of the worlds two largest economies amid continued competition over trade, technology and se

The White House said Donald Trump will approve a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia only if Riyadh normalises relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords.reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump will approve a civil nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia only if Riyadh joins the Abraham Accords and establishes diplomatic relations with Israel, the White House said on Thursday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the proposed agreement would allow only c

The European Commission has fined Google a combined 890 million ($1 billion) for breaching the Digital Markets Act by favouring its own services and restricting app developersreports Asian Lite News Desk The European Commission on Thursday fined Google a combined 890 million ($1 billion) for breaching the European Unions Digital Markets Act (DMA), accusing the technology company of giving preferential treatment to its own services in search results and restricting competition through its Google

The 2026 Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow on Wednesday, with India fielding a 125-member contingentreports Asian Lite News Desk The 2026 Commonwealth Games begin in Glasgow on Thursday, bringing together some of the worlds top athletes, with India banking on Olympic medallists Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain to spearhead its medal campaign. The 23rd edition of the Games will run until August 2 and feature competition across 10 sports, a reduced programme compared to

The request comes as the country continues to grapple with inflation, external financing challenges and economic uncertainty.reports Asian Lite News Desk Pakistans Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has requested a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to strengthen the countrys foreign exchange reserves and ease debt pressures, according to a media report. Citing PakistansDawnnewspaper, India Blooms News Service reported that officials at

Moscow said it reaffirmed its readiness to resolve the Ukraine conflict while both sides agreed to continue diplomatic engagement.reports Asian Lite News Desk Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meetings in Manila on Thursday, with Moscow saying it reiterated its readiness to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and uphold understandings reached during talks in Anchorage. Accord

Quad foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, highlighting ASEAN centrality, maritime security, technology cooperation and regional stability, reports Asian Lite News Desk The Quad Foreign Ministers on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific while expressing strong support for ASEAN unity and its central role in regional affairs. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister T

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani drops his Netanyahu arrest pledge after legal review says city lacks authority, but continues criticism of Israeli leader, reports Asian Lite News Desk New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped back from his campaign pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city, saying a legal review found his administration does not have the authority to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Mamdani said his administration had ex