World News Live Updates: China Intensifies Crackdown On Counterfeit Labubu Dolls
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From geopolitics to climate, tech to social change, News18 World live blog delivers real-time updates on what is the latest from around the globe
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From geopolitics to climate, tech to social change, News18 World live blog delivers real-time updates on what is the latest from around the globe
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
Global Nuclear Arsenals Expand Amid Eroding Arms Control Treaties
The global security landscape is becoming increasingly volatile as several nuclear-armed states advance their capabilities, according to a report in The Washington Post. Key developments include Russia's suspension of the New START treaty, the last remaining arms control pact with the US, and China's significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal, including the construction of new missile silos. Concurrently, North Korea continues to develop its missile programs, and Iran has increased its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels, raising concerns with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These actions are straining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and increasing the risks of miscalculation and escalation, which has significant political and economic implications for international stability.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
China Intensifies Crackdown On Counterfeit Labubu Dolls
Chinese authorities are seizing thousands of counterfeit 'Lafufu' dolls in a widespread crackdown on intellectual property theft, according to a report in The Washington Post. The operation targets fakes of the internet-viral Labubu dolls, which are owned by Chinese collectible toy giant Pop Mart. This enforcement action is part of a larger national strategy to protect domestic brands and the burgeoning 'trendy play' industry, focusing on disrupting manufacturing and sales through e-commerce and cross-border channels. The move aims to protect consumers, bolster the value of authentic collectibles sold in a 'blind box' format, and improve China's international standing on IP protection.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
UK To Ban Social Media Ads Promoting Small Boat Crossings
The UK government is set to introduce a new UK-wide criminal offense banning social media ads that promote small boat journeys across the Channel, according to a report in The Guardian. This proposed change to the border security bill would also make it a crime to advertise fake passports, visas, and fraudulent work opportunities. Perpetrators who create and share these advertisements could face penalties including up to five years in prison and a significant fine, as part of the government's broader strategy to disrupt the business model of human traffickers.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
Syria Accuses Kurdish-Led SDF Of Rocket Attack Near Manbij
Syria's Defence Ministry has accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of injuring four army personnel and three civilians in a rocket attack near the strategic northern city of Manbij, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The accusation highlights escalating tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF, threatening stability in a region already complicated by the presence of Turkish, Russian, and US forces. This direct confrontation risks undermining any political dialogue and could divert resources from counter-terrorism operations against ISIS remnants, potentially allowing the group to regroup amidst the renewed instability.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
UN Reports 173,000 Displaced By Clashes In Syria's Sweida Province
An estimated 173,000 people have been displaced in Syria's Sweida province since mid-July following an escalation in sectarian clashes between local Bedouin and Druze communities, France 24 said in a report. The conflict has prompted humanitarian organizations to assist in evacuating civilians from devastated areas. A majority of the displaced Bedouins have found refuge in temporary shelters in the neighboring province of Daraa, with many having fled without their belongings.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
Italy To Begin Humanitarian Aid Airdrops Into Gaza
Italy will commence airdrops of humanitarian aid over Gaza, joining France and Spain in efforts to alleviate a severe humanitarian crisis where UN-backed experts have warned of famine, according to a report in France 24. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed on Friday that he has authorized a mission involving the Italian Army and Air Force to transport and deliver basic necessities to civilians. The first aid drops could begin as soon as August 9, marking an expansion of international efforts to use air deliveries as a last resort due to severe restrictions on land-based aid routes.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
EU Condemns Macau Over Arrest Of Former Pro-Democracy Lawmaker
The European Union has officially condemned Macau authorities for arresting former pro-democracy lawmaker and activist Au Kam-san over alleged national security violations, according to a report in South China Morning Post. In a statement, the EU said the arrest raises concerns about the 'ongoing erosion of political pluralism and freedom of speech' in the special administrative region. The move is seen as aligning Macau more closely with the political crackdown observed in Hong Kong, signaling a stricter enforcement of Macau's own 2009 national security law and intensifying international scrutiny over Beijing's 'One Country, Two Systems' framework. This development increases political risk and uncertainty for the former Portuguese enclave, which was returned to Chinese rule in 1999.
Aug 03, 2025 09:52 IST
Russian Forces Reportedly Accelerate Advance in Ukraine for Fourth Straight Month
Russian forces continued their advance in Ukraine for a fourth straight month in July, with the pace of operations reportedly accelerating, according to a report in France 24. Moscow has claimed control over nearly 80% of the Donetsk region, though independent analysis suggests the figure is closer to 50-60%. The sustained push follows Ukraine's stalled 2023 counter-offensive and has been aided by delays in Western military aid and Russia's effective use of guided glide bombs. The current offensive is focused on strategic objectives like Chasiv Yar and the logistical hub of Pokrovsk, putting significant pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines and worsening the humanitarian crisis in the east.
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Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Tibet's language, culture under serious threat: Tibetan political leader
The political leader of the Dharamshala-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Sikyong Penpa Tsering, expressing concern over the Chinese Communist Party's intensified efforts to erode Tibet's identity, has said that Tibet's language, culture, religion, environment, and way of life are under serious threat. The political leader of the Dharamshala-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Sikyong Penpa Tsering, expressing concern over the Chinese Communist Party's intensified efforts to erode Tibet's identity, has said that Tibet's language, culture, religion, environment, and way of life are under serious threat. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image) Sikyong while recently addressing the residents of Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement in Maharashtra said that safeguarding this identity is a collective responsibility of all Tibetans in exile. While stressing the importance of preserving the Tibetan language and culture, Sikyong Penpa Tsering said that Tibetan is among the world's oldest languages, with a script dating back over a thousand years, and warned that without active use and preservation, it risks extinction like many ancient languages. Notably, a recent report by CTA said that Chinese authorities have demolished over 300 Buddhist stupas and a revered Guru statue in the Drakgo County, in the traditional Tibet's province of Kham. Citing sources from Tibet, the report stated that the destruction took place in late May or June 2025 at Lungrab Zang-ri near Janggang Monastery, where Chinese forces razed hundreds of medium-sized stupas of Tibetan Buddhism and three larger Buddhist stupas. 'This latest assault represents, what Tibetan sources inside Tibet call 'second phase of Cultural Revolution', a deliberate campaign to 'Sinicise' Tibetan Buddhism and systematically eradicate Tibetan cultural identity. The destruction aligns with China's broader strategy of cultural genocide in Tibet, designed to erase Tibetan culture by forcibly aligning religious practices with the Chinese Communist Party's political agenda,' the report mentioned. Meanwhile, Sikyong during his address at Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement reiterated that the 16th Kashag (cabinet) continues to seek international support for the Middle Way Approach as a viable solution to the Tibet-China conflict. He encouraged the community to deepen their understanding of Tibetan history and the current situation inside Tibet, and to engage in advocacy through international lobbying efforts.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Government willing to aid exports, but subsidies not on table
. NEW DELHI: Amid a clamour for succour after Trump's tariff announcement, govt has ruled out demands for subsidy, but suggested it is open to "innovative ways" to help industry beat the crisis. The message was delivered by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal during his meetings with some of the industry representatives in Mumbai over the weekend, sources told TOI. During the meetings, Goyal suggested that banks could review the risk assessment & rating models, especially for small exporters, so that the cost of loans comes down. He also agreed to look into proposals for reduction in testing and certification charges for MSMEs. There have been suggestions that govt bears a part of the 10% duty gap between India and competing countries. AEPC chairman Sudhir Sekhri said that some of the American buyers have suggested that they could share a part of the burden but the apparel industry is going to be hit hard, resulting in closure of manufacturing units and loss of jobs. "Buyers are telling us that they will buy from Chinese manufacturers despite a tariff disadvantage of 5 percentage points (30% US tariffs on China) as they are more cost competitive. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pune: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola " After factoring in exemptions available to sectors such as electronics and pharma, he suggested that the hit on Indian exporters across sectors could be to the tune of Rs 34,000 crore a year and argued that govt should consider making good some of the losses. Textiles, leather and footwear, chemicals and shrimps are seen to be among the sectors that will be hurt by the tariffs. But the house is still divided on seafood as countries such as Ecuador are seen to be lacking in scale. "The strong presence of Indian food and beverages in the US market, backed by a mature and reliable supply chain, continues to reinforce trade resilience during these uncertain times. Exporters are working closely with their global partners to honour existing commitments while adopting adaptive strategies that ensure the uninterrupted supply of high-demand products," said Mohit Singla, founder chairman of Trade Promotion Council of India. EEPC India, representing engineering exporters, has suggested the reintroduction of interest subsidy and payment of dues under the Market Access Initiative scheme. "Reciprocal tariffs will have an impact since duty on India, as compared to our competitor nations, is much higher. We expect engineering exports to drop by $4-5 billion," said EEPC India's Pankaj Chadha. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Gaurav Gogoi at Idea Exchange: ‘Victims want to hear an honest admission of government's responsibility… Nehru is not to blame for Pahalgam'
Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha and Assam Congress President, on holding the government accountable in Parliament and their challenges in Assam's Assembly elections. The session was moderated by Manoj CG, Chief of National Political Bureau. Manoj CG: In Parliament, we saw the debate in both Houses on Operation Sindoor. What are the answers you didn't get from the government? Simple, who is responsible for Pahalgam? And, does this government have a sense of responsibility? We have not seen any form of responsibility — be it an apology to the people of India for failing them or a resignation, not even in the form of an admission. The kind of statement that the L-G Manoj Sinha made, what the Home Minister said in his one-hour speech and the Prime Minister in his two-hour speech about Pandit Nehru — Pandit Nehru did not cause Pahalgam. The UPA certainly did not cause Pahalgam and neither did the late Dr Manmohan Singh or Sonia ji. What people of India, the victims of Pahalgam and Poonch, needed to hear from their government was an honest admission of failure, an honest introspection on their responsibility and accountability which, I think, BJP in its hubris totally brushed over. Secondly, the military operation was different compared to the Balakot air strike. Here, as per our top military generals, we faced the Pakistani Air Force backed by Chinese technology and Turkish military technology. Therefore, the rules of engagement had changed between Balakot and Operation Sindoor. There has been admission by top military generals in various Indian public fora for the need for modernisation, for upgradation. Normally, we would have had this discussion in the previous budget session. When we'd asked for a discussion on the demand for grants for defence, it was denied. The government and the defence minister could have been far clearer on this. They are only preaching to their own hardcore base and blaming the decisions of past prime ministers for their failures in the present. Manoj CG: The LOP Rahul Gandhi asking the PM to show courage and call President Donald Trump a liar, comes at a time when India is negotiating a tough trade deal with the US. It's a complex process. Don't you think the Opposition should also factor that in and give the government that diplomatic space? What has the government achieved by adopting its present negotiating stance? They have not achieved condemnation from the international community on Pakistan. If you look at the 26/11 reactions from the world condemned and linked terrorism with Pakistan. But this time, you got a condemnation of terror from the world but nobody linked terror and Pakistan. Everybody asked India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. In a way, we got hyphenated again. Something that we managed to escape in the last two decades, that India and Pakistan are not on the same plane. Please de-hyphenate us, but the world hyphenated us. And talking about bilateral investment and trade with the US, the President (Trump) is hosting the brain behind Pakistan state-sponsored terrorism, which is the Pakistani armed forces. And the kind of language that the President is using is increasingly hostile. They said that they might invest in the crude oil production of Pakistan. So, what has this diplomacy achieved? What we are telling the government is to grow a spine. If you really want to practise the 56-inch diplomacy that you boast of, back up your hubris. The Opposition since the beginning has been supportive of the government on Pakistan and we are also telling them to stand up to President Trump, for the kind of insult to our Indian Air Forces. Manoj CG: A couple of days ago, the US President said the Indian economy is dead. Do you agree with this? We are in the middle of a bubble right now. I am in the Finance Standing Committee and I look at numbers closely, be it investment numbers, consumption, saving or purchasing numbers. And if it were not for the government, investing in highways where there is not enough traffic, investing in airports where flights cost Rs 15,000 – Rs16,000, for the government borrowing and spending, then our economy would not be firing at all. Our farmers are not productive, neither are small businesses or entrepreneurs. What the government has managed to do is give us new slogans and new milestones. Whatever happened to doubling farmers' income by 2022, what happened to the five trillion economy? All that they are doing is shifting the goal post. We must do a lot more. I mean, look at how many income taxpayers there are. A country of 140 crore, as close to 1.5 crore of income tax payers and 80 crore of people need subsidised ration. That's the state of the average Indian. The economy is not working for the average person, it is working for three-four companies who, by sharing proximity to the Prime Minister, are doing well. Manoj CG: In Assam, Congress had back-to-back defeats in 2016 and in 2021. Your party fared poorly in Lok Sabha and faced a resounding defeat in the recent Panchayat election. So how big is the challenge to revive the Congress? See, any election is a challenge, whether you are incumbent or in Opposition. It's a challenge for many reasons. First of all, the electoral system today is not fair. The Election Commission (EC) does not provide a level playing field. In 2023, we saw how biased and partisan the EC was in Assam, in the way it undertook delimitation. It completely obliterated the principles of delimitation where roughly each seat should have the same demography, same size of voters, they created some mega seats and created some very small seats. All of which to suit the voting pattern of the BJP. Now, the EC makes it so hard to even verify voter lists. In my case, as a new state president, we have eight months left. Our past election record has not been optimal, but do I sense that people are ready for a change? Absolutely yes, and it's up to us on how hard and smart we work. On Indo-US diplomacy | The kind of language that President Trump is using is increasingly hostile and combative. So, what has this diplomacy achieved? We are telling the government to grow a spine Rahul Sabharwal: In Assam, your chief minister has linked demolitions to demography. There hasn't been a pushback from the Congress, at least not in assembly debates. There is this sentiment that there is this massive demographic change that needs to be curbed. How do you counter that? And my second question is that while we have seen Mamata Banerjee being very vocal about migrants being targeted, Congress hasn't responded to that. So, two things. What the chief minister and the BJP are doing currently in Assam is politics. Thankfully, the people of Assam and India are wiser than Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. They made many promises to secure the rights of indigenous Assamese, not one has been fulfilled. The NRC (National Register of Citizens) was supposed to be the answer to their politics. That is incomplete. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord was supposed to be the answer to their fear mongering. They created a report which the Centre has not accepted even though Home Minister Amit Shah thumped his hand on the table saying 'Humne woh kiya jo Rajiv Gandhi nahi kar paaye'. Delimitation was the answer. But they keep talking about the same old things. If they really cared about forests, then they would have protected the forests from the various mafias that operate there. The stone mafia, the coal mafia, illegal quarries. People understand that this is a desperate attempt of a chief minister to cling to power because the minute the Congress party comes into power, he will have to face investigations. What people expect from us is that if we come to power, how are we going to work with local industries, with local entrepreneurs? How are we going to build up local artisans? How are we going to preserve and promote the culture of the various ethnic groups and tribal communities? That's what we are focusing on. As for the second question, which is linked to how people are being forced out. Remember, this time in 2021, what did Amit Shah say? He was teaching us chronology, NRC's chronology, CAA chronology. Come election, it's the same BJP rhetoric. Congress is trying hard to live up to people's expectations and continues to reinvent itself. But the BJP is still feeding voters the same diet of fear and hate. Vikas Pathak: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections were a big boost to the Congress. But after that, Haryana was a surprise, then Maharashtra and Delhi. What is the internal learning of the Congress from this? What we're doing right now is continuing to be disciplined to our goal of bringing about social justice. This was started early last year during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We were talking about social reform through the caste census, through the Constitution being a living document and preserving its soul. We are also looking at the rights of people to vote fairly, to have their names on the voters list. No doubt the losses in Haryana and Maharashtra are a setback. If the time from 2014 to 2024 has taught us anything it is that we have faced these kinds of setbacks before and we know how to overcome them and move forward. In Parliament, we are demanding the updating of voter lists. People in Bihar have been forced to cough up money to get photocopies of birth certificates. The fundamental nature of elections is at stake. We are doing something important and hope that others also join in, this should be a project of the nation. Vikas Pathak: As a party that was the main vehicle of the freedom struggle, the Indian National Congress had leaders like Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi. Now, Narendra Modi, it seems, has successfully become the mainstream embodiment of Indian nationalism. Somehow, Congress is not being able to claw back. Can you reflect on that? Well, I disagree with your conclusion because then Mr Modi would have come back to power in 2024 with a thumping majority. They were projecting 'Char sau paar' and could not reach a majority on their own. I don't see Prime Minister Modi holding the same space, both inside Parliament and outside Parliament, in election rallies, the way he did in his first five years. Post-Covid, Indian thinking has changed. Prime Minister Modi is on a declining trend. I don't see him as the sole factor in Haryana or Maharashtra. I feel the Congress is really speaking to young voters right now. Rahul Gandhi, in his T-shirt and sandal avatar, the kind of content he is producing on social media and the kind of authenticity that he is presenting are far more relatable than the overt hubris of PM Modi. BJP's rhetoric is now stagnant and Congress is more vibrant. Priyanka ji brings another layer of freshness. Her speech in Parliament was so powerful because it spoke to the victims. It just shows how far removed Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi are. They didn't even mention the victims. They didn't even have the heart to say sorry that we failed, there was just no heart left. Asad Rehman: The government says there will be no discussion on the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in Parliament. What is the Opposition's strategy going forward? To be fair to the government, they have not said that reason on the record officially. Asad Rehman: Kiren Rijiju said it (on August 1). Then, that's a clerical reason. The way voters in Bihar have to show up with various papers to get their name registered on the voters list, Mr Rijiju is just citing various historical papers to say that there can't be a discussion. It's absolutely false and he's misleading the public. Have we not discussed electoral bonds in Parliament? Have we not discussed the EC? There are many formats within the Parliament to have a discussion on an important topic without it being held under the ambit of a particular ministry. So if you want, if you have the courage, if you feel that sense of responsibility to the voter, to the right of the average voter, to know what's happening with their democracy, then Parliament allows you that space. On Operation Sindoor | Priyanka ji's speech in Parliament was powerful because it spoke to the victims (of Pahalgam). It shows how far-removed Amit Shah and Modi are, they didn't even say sorry that we failed Damini Nath: Does Assam have a problem of foreigners on the electoral roll? If not the SIR, is there a need to clean the electoral roll? We are all elected on the basis of this electoral roll. Prime Minister Modi is prime minister because of this. But by doing it in this manner, there are a lot of questions, the legitimacy of the exercise and its political timing. There are genuine concerns but laws exist for you to identify a Bangladeshi. You are in charge of the borders. All the laws are there, provided you want to fix the problem. If you don't want to fix the problem, then you will always come up with some new rhetoric. Deeptiman Tiwary: Your CM has been making certain allegations against you and your family. How do you respond to this? Even the home minister said so in the Parliament that I have been to Pakistan several times. Somebody has briefed him wrongly. I have been there once, before Modi ji had gone there to eat biryani, before Modi ji called (Nawaz) Sharif for his oath ceremony. This is at least 10-15 years ago. As I said, people are smarter. They think by targeting my wife, they will have some luck. They will soon realise that my wife is stronger than me. Lalmani Verma: Two days ago when there was a resolution in Parliament to extend the President's rule in Manipur, the Opposition asked for a fresh mandate. Do you think the ground situation is conducive to conducting fresh elections? This issue has several aspects. The first is the home minister's failure. He has been unsuccessful in safeguarding the country. He didn't do it in Uri, in Pulwama, Pahalgam or Manipur. This is his job, maintaining our internal security and he has been consistently unsuccessful. And he has never apologised for that. Second, in the Northeast particularly, through politics, we have been successful in maintaining harmony among different communities. Whether it is the insurgents or underground or communities who had taken up arms, we managed to bring peace through politics. But, this is what saddens me. The politics that was responsible for bringing peace at a crucial time is now dividing a state into two. The tension between two communities is so deep, the wounds are so deep, that it will take at least years to heal. But does that mean we can't have a stable government there? Does that mean there can't be elections there? Not at all. Didn't we have the Lok Sabha elections there? Everything is possible if you have the right political will. From how many states will you snatch away the rights? Ladakh is UT, J&K is UT and here too there isn't a government elected by people. So there are several legitimate questions related to Manipur. Manipur is a big blot on PM Modi's career.
