Latest from Cairo 24
News18
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Arjun Kapoor Gets Emotional As Anshula Gets Engaged; Janhvi, Khushi Excited About Sister's Wedding
Arjun Kapoor gets emotional as sister Anshula gets engaged to Rohan Thakkar in NYC; Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor beam with pride and excitement on social media. Anshula Kapoor is officially engaged, and her family couldn't be happier! The daughter of late producer Boney Kapoor took to Instagram to announce her engagement to longtime boyfriend Rohan Thakkar in a dreamy proposal set in New York City's Central Park. Anshula shared heartfelt moments from the proposal, including the exact moment Rohan went down on one knee with a ring box, catching her by complete surprise. Wearing a vibrant floral dress, Anshula's joy was evident in every frame. In one shot, she proudly flaunted her pear-shaped diamond ring, set against the lush greenery near the historic castle in Central Park. But what truly touched fans was the emotional outpouring from her siblings. Arjun Kapoor, visibly moved, wrote on Instagram Stories, 'My life found her forever… Here's to a happily ever after both of u @anshulakapoor @rohanthakkar1511 (Missed Mom a little extra today) Love u guys." Janhvi Kapoor, echoing the excitement, posted, 'My sister is engaged. The best for the best." Khushi Kapoor followed with an equally heartfelt note: 'I love u both. My sister's getting married!!!!" In her Instagram caption, Anshula shared the meaningful story behind their love: 'We met on an app. Started talking on a random Tuesday at 1.15AM… even back then, it felt like the beginning of something that mattered." Rohan's proposal was thoughtfully planned — he popped the question at exactly 1.15AM India time, the same time they first started chatting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anshula Kapoor (@anshulakapoor) Anshula described the moment as magical, calling it better than a fairytale. 'What Rohan gave me that day was intentional. Thoughtful. Real. Us." The emotional 'yes" was followed by happy tears, shaky laughter, and a celebration involving Shake Shack — a sweet nod to their first-ever conversation about their shared love for the Shroom Burger. As congratulatory messages continue pouring in, fans are overjoyed to see the Kapoor family celebrate such a beautiful chapter. Here's wishing the newly engaged couple a lifetime of love and laughter! First Published: July 04, 2025, 04:04 IST
France 24
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- France 24
US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens over alleged assassination plot
The United States and Colombia called home their respective envoys on Thursday in an apparent acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's leftist leader. Washington went first, recalling its charge d'affaires John McNamara "following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics. In addition to McNamara's recall, Bruce said the United States "is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship." She did not detail the actions. Within hours, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington in response. Ambassador Daniel Garcia Pena "must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda," Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America's "great potential for clean energy" and the fight against "drug lords and their international finances." The diplomatic spat came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia's foreign minister earlier Thursday -- the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro's government. "In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support," Laura Sarabia, Petro's former chief of staff, wrote on X. Plot investigation Colombia was until recently one of the United States's closest partners in Latin America. But ties have sharply deteriorated. Colombian prosecutors opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former foreign minister Alvaro Leyva. "This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right," Petro said on Monday. In late January, the United States briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro's refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian migrants to their homeland. Petro accused the United States of treating the migrants like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs. The pair issued threats and counter threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 percent. A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian Air Force planes to collect the migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour. Colombia's leftist government also recently refused a US request to extradite two prominent guerrilla leaders wanted by Washington for drug trafficking.
France 24
an hour ago
- Politics
- France 24
US Supreme Court approves deportation of migrants to South Sudan
The decision by the conservative-dominated top court comes 10 days after it cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport migrants to countries that are not their own. The eight migrants were being flown to South Sudan from the US in May but ended up in Djibouti when a district court imposed a stay on third-country deportations. The court said migrants were not being given a "meaningful opportunity" to contest removal. On June 23, the Supreme Court lifted the stay imposed by District Judge Brian Murphy, clearing the way for third-country deportations. But Murphy, an appointee of former president Joe Biden, said the case of the eight migrants who ended up in Djibouti was subject to a separate stay order he issued that had not been addressed by the Supreme Court. On Thursday, the Supreme Court said its June 23 decision applied to both of the judge's orders. Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision. "What the Government wants to do, concretely, is send the eight noncitizens it illegally removed from the United States from Djibouti to South Sudan, where they will be turned over to the local authorities without regard for the likelihood that they will face torture or death," Sotomayor said. "Today's order clarifies only one thing: Other litigants must follow the rules, but the administration has the Supreme Court on speed dial," she said. The US authorities have said that the eight men -- two from Myanmar, two from Cuba, and one each from Vietnam, Laos, Mexico and South Sudan -- are convicted violent criminals. The Trump administration has defended third-country deportations as necessary since the home nations of some of those who are targeted for removal sometimes refuse to accept them. Donald Trump campaigned for president promising to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the United States, and he has taken a number of actions aimed at speeding up deportations since returning to the White House in January. © 2025 AFP
France 24
an hour ago
- Business
- France 24
World Bank's IFC ramps up investment amid global uncertainty
The Washington-based IFC -- the World Bank's private sector arm -- mobilizes private capital and provides financing to support businesses across emerging economies. Though not widely known outside development circles, the organization plays a crucial role in creating jobs and supporting growth in less developed regions. "The world economy has been going through a bit of a turbulent time, but what I must say is that even though there is turbulence... we are seeing a lot of interest in investing in emerging countries," Makhtar Diop, the IFC's managing director, told AFP. This optimism is backed by concrete numbers. In the fiscal year ending June 30, preliminary data shows that the IFC committed over $71 billion -- nearly double its commitment from just three years ago and a significant jump from last year's record of $56 billion. The investment spans the globe, with more than $20 billion flowing to Latin America, $17 billion to Asia, and $15.4 billion to Africa. The dramatic increase stems from a deliberate strategic shift. Diop, an economist and former Senegalese finance minister, explained that the IFC has focused on becoming "simpler, more agile, and delegating decision-making to our teams that are in the field." This approach abandons the over-centralized structure that previously "was slowing down our ability to respond and seize new opportunities." The timing is significant. As Western economies pull back from direct aid to developing countries -- constrained by mounting debts, rising defense budgets, and increasingly inward-looking politics -- the IFC has accelerated. "It's totally understandable that they have fewer resources to make available in the form of grants to developing countries," Diop acknowledges. However, he emphasized that World Bank funding for the world's poorest countries remains fully replenished, calling it "the most efficient and best way to support countries." The IFC's expanding role within the World Bank Group is evident. Today, its funding nearly matches the support the bank provides directly to governments, making it an equal partner in development efforts. Dubai to Africa The organization is also attracting new types of investors. Many co-financing partners now come from regions that traditionally haven't invested outside their home areas. The IFC's largest renewable energy investment in Africa, for example, was completed with a Dubai-based company. These investors trust the IFC not only for its market knowledge but also for the risk-mitigation tools it offers, Diop said. In Africa particularly, the IFC pursues a strategy of identifying and supporting "national champions" -- successful local companies that need help to become more competitive and globally integrated. A significant portion of the IFC's mandate involves sustainability projects, an area where Diop decries debates with false choices between economic development and the environment, especially in electricity projects that form an important part of the agency's portfolio. "It happens that today, you don't have to make that trade-off because the sustainable solutions are often the cheaper ones, and that's the beauty of what we are seeing," he said. While fossil fuel generation remains part of the energy mix to ensure grid stability, the economics increasingly favor clean alternatives. Behind all these investments lies an urgent demographic reality: 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries over the next decade. For the World Bank, creating employment for this massive cohort is paramount. "The first question of any leader you meet from the developing world is how can you help to create jobs for young people?" Diop observed. Beyond infrastructure development that stimulates broader economic activity, Diop identifies tourism, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture as the most promising sectors for job creation. These industries can offer the scale and growth potential needed to absorb the coming wave of young workers entering the global economy. © 2025 AFP
France 24
an hour ago
- Politics
- France 24
Trump environmental agency suspends employees over letter of dissent
The letter, published Monday on the website of activist group Standup for Science, described a climate of political interference and warned that the agency's leadership was eroding public health protections and scientific integrity. "The Environmental Protection Agency has a zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging, and undercutting the administration's agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November," the EPA said in an email to AFP. More than 200 individuals originally endorsed the statement, though the number placed on administrative leave was 139. The list of names, which initially appeared on the website, has since been removed, and the reason for the numeric discrepancy was not immediately clear. "The decisions of the current administration frequently contradict the peer-reviewed research and recommendations of Agency experts," said the letter. "Make no mistake: your actions endanger public health and erode scientific progress -- not only in America -- but around the world." The letter outlines five key concerns, including the deepening politicization of the EPA, the reversal of initiatives aimed at marginalized communities, and the "dismantling" of the agency's Office of Research and Development. It further accuses EPA leadership of turning the agency's communications apparatus into a vehicle "to promote misinformation and overtly partisan rhetoric." Since taking office, Zeldin has led the charge in executing Donald Trump's environmental agenda: gutting climate regulations, ramping up fossil fuel development, and slashing funding for clean energy -- moves that have drawn fierce backlash from scientists and environmental advocates alike.
