Beijing, Aug 7 (IANS) China’s decision to push the Yarlung Zangbo dam project in Tibet amid mounting concerns signals a significant shift in South Asian water diplomacy, marked by a surge in confrontational tactics, a report cited on Thursday. The move came shortly after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir by the Pakistan-based militant outfit ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) — indicating that Beijing views water resou…

New Delhi/Dhaka Aug 7 (IANS) The human rights situation in Bangladesh continues to deteriorate as the nation has turned into a “land of anarchy” under the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) stated in its report on Thursday. According to RRAG Director Suhas Chakma, at least 637 persons, including 41 police officers, were reportedly lynched to death under the interim government from August 2024 to July 2025 while 51 lynching deaths we…

Lisbon, Aug 7 (IANS) The maximum temperature will rise again over the weekend across most of mainland Portugal, potentially reaching 43 degrees Celsius in the southern interior and in the Tejo and Douro valleys, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere. The soaring temperatures have significantly increased the risk of wildfires. The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection reported on its website that, as of Thursday noon, 54 wildfires remained active across Port…

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 7 (IANS) Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of the ceasefire and signed an agreement at the extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on Thursday. Officials from Cambodia and Thailand attended the meeting, while delegates from the United States, China and Malaysia participated as third-party observers.According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, both sides agreed to a ceasefire invol…

Islamabad, Aug 7 (IANS) Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to visit the United States this week to hold talks with his American counterparts, the country’s media reported on Thursday. Munir’s visit to the US would be a return visit after US Central Command (CENTCOM) head General Michael Erik Kurilla’s visit to Pakistan in July, leading Pakistani daily ‘Dawn’ reported, citing sources. During his visit to Islamabad, General Kurilla was conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (m…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is in Russia, said that President Vladimir Putin will visit India. He, however, added that the dates are being worked out. The visit by President Putin, his first since the Russia-Ukraine war, will be watched closely, especially by the United States.The visit would come at a time when the US has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil. President Donald Trump says that India is funding Russia’s war machin…

Accra, Aug 7 (IANS) Ghana has declared a three-day national mourning, beginning on Thursday, following a helicopter crash that killed the country’s Defence and Environment Ministers and six others. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has suspended all his scheduled activities and programmes for the rest of the week, following the national tragedy, according to a statement from the presidency late Wednesday.The government has directed that all flags must fly at half-mast until further notice, …

Vientiane, Aug 7 (IANS) Lao authorities and local communities are working side by side to aid thousands affected by widespread flooding and landslides across the country, as relief efforts are underway to distribute emergency supplies and restore damaged infrastructure. The Central Disaster Management Committee has issued a notice calling for public support to aid flood victims, following severe storms that brought heavy rainfall and widespread damage across Laos. The committee is urging all sec…

Hanoi, Aug 7 (IANS) Hailing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam appreciated the positive development of relations between the two countries in various fields, during his meeting with the Indian Ambassador in Hanoi.According to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese leader also extended his wishes to the Indian people on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, conveying his greetings to President Droupadi Mur…

Canberra, Aug 7 (IANS) New research led by Australian scientists shows small earthquakes in New Zealand’s central Southern Alps are more frequent in spring and summer due to underground water changes from glacier melt and rainfall. These microearthquakes, usually too weak to be felt, increase in frequency as meltwater from glaciers and seasonal snow infiltrates the “highly fragmented” mountain bedrock, raising groundwater levels and fluid pressure in the Earth’s upper crust, according to a state…