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News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
World News Live Updates: Report Details Hamas's System For Paying Salaries In Gaza
Live now 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 News18 Stay informed with our World News Live Blog — your real-time window into global events. From major geopolitical developments and scientific breakthroughs to royal family updates and cultural milestones, we bring you fast, factual, and curated updates as they happen. Whether it's unfolding conflicts, diplomatic shifts, climate alerts, or key moments in international politics, our live blog keeps you ahead of the news curve. Designed for readers who want both speed and substance, this is your go-to source for staying connected with the world — minute by minute, headline by headline. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Report Details Hamas's System For Paying Salaries In Gaza Hamas continues to pay its government officials in Gaza using what is described as a secret financial system, even as the territory faces widespread destruction and a tightened Israeli blockade, according to a report in BBC. This continued financial capability, which baffles many observers, is seen as a sign of the group's resilience and functional governance capacity. The system is believed to be an adaptation of historical financing methods, such as foreign funding, local taxation, and covert transfer networks like hawala. This ability to pay salaries is crucial for Hamas to maintain loyalty and operational cohesion, complicating both Israel's war aim of dismantling the group and future international reconstruction efforts due to concerns over fund diversion. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Israel Faces Heightened Investor Scrutiny Amid Diplomatic Pressure Norway's sovereign wealth fund's 2024 exclusion of several Israeli companies over their ties to settlements underscores a trend of heightened financial scrutiny facing Israel amid its increasing diplomatic isolation, Al Jazeera says in a report. This divestment action by the world's largest sovereign fund, the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), is seen as setting a precedent that could pressure other institutional investors to conduct similar ethical reviews. The growing pressure on Israel's investment climate is compounded by significant diplomatic and legal challenges from 2024, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor seeking arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and the formal recognition of Palestinian statehood by European nations like Spain, Ireland, and Norway. These developments are creating a potential 'chilling effect' on foreign direct investment and raising the reputational risk for companies associated with Israel. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST China Finalizes Merger Creating World's Largest Shipbuilder China is completing a merger between its two primary state-owned shipbuilders, China Shipbuilding Industry Company (CSIC) and China CSSC Holdings, to form the world's largest publicly listed shipbuilding company, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The final trading day for CSIC's shares is set for next Tuesday, signaling the imminent completion of the consolidation. This strategic move is expected to enhance China's industrial competitiveness by optimizing capacity and efficiency, while also accelerating the modernization of its navy by streamlining the construction of advanced military vessels. The creation of this new entity is anticipated to intensify competition in the global shipbuilding market, particularly for established leaders like South Korea and Japan, and is viewed by the US as a significant advancement of China's strategic capabilities. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Aid Cuts Fuel Health Crisis in Southwest Ethiopia, MSF Warns Health facilities operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in southwest Ethiopia are facing an overwhelming crisis due to severe aid reductions, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The organization is struggling to manage a surge in infant malnutrition and malaria cases, impacting both local communities and thousands of South Sudanese refugees sheltered in the area. The situation is symptomatic of a broader, severe underfunding of Ethiopia's national Humanitarian Response Plan, placing immense strain on the country's health system and increasing the risk of social instability due to unmet basic needs. These aid cuts compromise the operational capacity of humanitarian groups and expose vulnerable populations to heightened risks of mortality and disease. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST European Court Ruling Hinders German 'Safe Country' Deportation Policy A recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) verdict will hinder Germany's plans to curb irregular immigration by complicating the designation of 'safe countries of origin' for deportations, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. The ruling emphasizes that asylum applications cannot be automatically dismissed based on a 'safe country' list and that each case requires an individual assessment of its specific circumstances. This decision comes as Germany faces rising asylum applications and intense domestic political pressure to accelerate deportations. The verdict is expected to slow down the asylum process, increase the strain on Germany's reception systems, and impact the implementation of the broader EU Pact on Migration and Asylum by reinforcing the legal right to individual assessment for all asylum seekers. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Family Of Palestinian American Killed In West Bank Settler Attack Calls For US Intervention The family of Khamis al-Ayyad, a Palestinian American, is calling for a US investigation into his death following an Israeli settler attack in the occupied West Bank, according to a report in The Guardian. Ayyad died from smoke inhalation last week while trying to extinguish fires reportedly set by settlers who attacked the town of Silwad, near Ramallah. His brother stated that Ayyad fainted while fighting the blaze, which had engulfed homes and cars, and subsequently died en route to the hospital. The incident is highlighted amid a rising number of US citizens killed in the territory. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Taliban Accused Of Weaponizing Judicial System To Oppress Women In UN Report The UN's independent investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, stated that the Taliban have 'weaponized' the country's legal and judicial system to oppress women, actions that could amount to 'crimes against humanity,' according to a report in AP. In a formal report to the UN General Assembly, Bennett noted that since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban suspended the 2004 constitution and other laws that protected women's rights, including those criminalizing gender-based violence. This systematic dismantling of legal protections has turned the judicial system into an instrument of oppression, further isolating the regime politically and severely hindering Afghanistan's socio-economic prospects by excluding half its population from public life. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Japan Marks 80th Anniversary Of Hiroshima Bombing With Call For Disarmament Japan held a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, with the nation's Prime Minister urging all countries to work towards nuclear disarmament, according to a report in BBC. The event, held on August 6, commemorates the first use of a nuclear weapon in history, which occurred in 1945. The call for disarmament comes amid heightened global geopolitical tensions and stalled arms control efforts, highlighting Japan's consistent advocacy for a nuclear-free world while it simultaneously remains under the security of the US nuclear umbrella. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Tropical Storm Ivo Forms in Eastern Pacific, Threatens Coastal Mexico Tropical Storm Ivo formed on Wednesday in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with forecasters expecting it to impact Mexico's southwest coast with heavy rain and dangerous surf, AP says in a report. Located approximately 195 miles south-southeast of Acapulco, the storm registered maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts Ivo will move parallel to the coast and could strengthen to near-hurricane force by the end of the week. This development poses a risk of flash floods and mudslides for coastal communities and is expected to disrupt maritime shipping operations in the region. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Migrant Group Marches North In Mexico Following Activist's Arrest Approximately 300 migrants, accompanied by a Catholic priest and escorted by police, began a walk northward from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula on Wednesday, AP says in a report. The march commenced one day after authorities arrested Luis Rey Garcia Villagran, a prominent migrant rights activist, on allegations of human trafficking. The group has stated their goal is not to reach the US border. The event has drawn a response from Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST France Tightens Visa Rules For Algerian Diplomats Amid Deportation Row French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the tightening of visa rules for Algerian diplomats, escalating a diplomatic row over Algeria's refusal to accept its nationals who have been ordered deported from France, according to a report in France 24. The move signals a significant deterioration in relations, which were already strained by France's recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, a position that angered Algeria. This new policy is part of a broader push by the Macron government for stricter immigration enforcement and comes amid a backdrop of recurring historical tensions between the two nations. The visa restrictions could provoke reciprocal measures from Algeria and complicate France's strategic interests in North Africa, where Algeria is a key regional and energy partner. Aug 07, 2025 09:16 IST Media Groups Call For End To Forced Starvation And Journalist Killings In Gaza Al Jazeera Media Network, along with other organizations, has signed a joint letter demanding an end to the alleged forced starvation and targeted killings of journalists in Gaza, as per a report in Al Jazeera. The letter explicitly claims that media personnel are being starved to death 'deliberately, and in real time.' This action occurs against a backdrop of numerous warnings from UN agencies about a deepening famine and reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlighting an unprecedented number of journalist casualties in the conflict. The allegations, if substantiated, could constitute severe violations of International Humanitarian Law, which prohibits using starvation as a method of warfare and mandates the protection of journalists as civilians.
News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
'Once In A Generation Opportunity': Amitabh Kant On Donald Trump's 50% Tariff On India
Last Updated: Amitabh Kant called the US's 25% tariff on Indian goods a "once in a generation opportunity" for India to push ahead with major reforms. Donald Trump's 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian goods over Russian crude oil has provided India a 'once in a generation opportunity" for some next big steps, India's former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant opined on Wednesday. In an X post, soon after the US levied 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian goods, Kant, wrote, 'Trump has provided us a once in a generation opportunity to take the next big leap on reforms." 'Crisis must be fully utilised," he added. Trump has provided us a once in a generation opportunity to take the next big leap on must be fully utilised.— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) August 6, 2025 Meanwhile, India responded to Trump's tariff announcement by terming the move 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". New Delhi also said Washington has 'targeted" its oil imports from Russia and that it will 'take all actions" necessary to protect national interests. Defending India's energy ties with Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of the country. In a statement, the MEA pointed out that several other countries are also making such procurements to protect their own national interest and hinted its disappointment for singling it out on the issue. The US President issued the executive order hitting India with an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing its continuing procurement of Russian crude oil. The additional tariff, to come into effect after 21 days, will increase the duties on some Indian goods to 50 per cent. The tariffs are likely to hit sectors such as textiles, marine and leather hard. 'We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," the MEA said. It said the US has in recent days 'targeted" India's oil imports from Russia. 'We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," it said. 'It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," it added. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
If America goes after India's oil trade, China will benefit
WHEN WESTERN countries began boycotting Russian oil in 2022, India saw an opportunity. Some 2.6m barrels a day (b/d) of crude once destined for Europe were available—at a sweet discount. India, which bought next to no oil from Russia in 2021, pounced. It has remained Russia's biggest customer ever since. Today it imports nearly 2m b/d of Russian 'sour", heavy crude, representing 35-40% of its crude imports. The supply reduces India's import bill at a time when the world's fastest-growing big economy burns ever more petroleum. Local refiners make a killing by processing the stuff into fuels that they then export at full cost. For three years Ukraine's allies did not object, and the strategy looked savvy. Now it is in jeopardy. Irked that Vladimir Putin is making no effort to end his campaign in Ukraine, on August 6th President Donald Trump slapped an extra 25% tariff on India, which he accuses of funding Russia's 'war machine". A bill vowing levies of up to 500% on countries that buy Russian oil is making its way through Congress. Meanwhile, the European Union's 18th package of sanctions will ban refined products made from Russian crude in January. The tariffs will hurt but the bans lack bite. Indian refineries—other than those backed by Rosneft, a Russian oil giant—source most crude from outside Russia; they can argue their products are not made from Russian stuff even if there is some in the blend. That makes the EU ban hard to enforce. Mr Trump's hope is to bring down Russia's oil revenues in order to force Mr Putin to halt his offensive. Preventing Russian oil from reaching foreign markets, however, could push global prices up, which would be politically uncomfortable for America's president. All this might explain why the market remains calm. There is still potential for a storm. Unlike China, which imports 2m b/d from Russia, India does not have a history of defying American sanctions. When Uncle Sam pledged to penalise anyone buying Iranian oil during Mr Trump's first term, India swiftly complied. This time the White House is 'serious about pressuring India to go to zero", says a source familiar with its thinking. Placid markets may embolden Mr Trump. He could supplement his tariffs with threats that any bank, port or firm facilitating Russian sales will be cut off from American finance. What if he did? First, India would race to find new supplies. Its refiners have already reduced Russian orders by 40-50%, estimates a trader. In theory, Middle Eastern countries, which have 3.5m b/d in spare capacity, could provide additional help, along with producers from Africa and elsewhere. In practice, a lot of Gulf supply is already committed to East Asia through long-term contracts, and much is a lighter type than the 'Urals" for which Indian refiners would be looking. Russia, meanwhile, would struggle for buyers. Chinese refiners could absorb more oil, and the country's leaders have shown they can retaliate successfully against Mr Trump's tariffs, but they do not want to end up reliant on any single supplier. Such analysis dictates that, were America to insist on immediate compliance, global oil prices would jump, perhaps to over $80 a barrel. Mr Trump could not countenance that for long. Very soon he might introduce waivers phasing in the restrictions over six months, allowing markets to adjust—a repeat of 2018-19, when soaring prices in the wake of Mr Trump's sanctions against Iran forced America's president to soften his approach. An oil glut is expected early next year, which might accommodate tough-but-phased-in Russian sanctions. Given enough time, India would probably manage to replace most of its current Russian supply, albeit at a higher cost (Urals crude currently trades at a $5-10 discount to other comparable grades). The margins of Indian refiners would be crushed. As they retreated from the market, the winners would be their Chinese rivals, which have been restocking fast in recent months, giving them plenty of firepower. Being less exposed to American sanctions, they would also continue to buy Russian crude—at a growing discount.
