New York, Aug 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said that he was waiting to see what happens at the meeting between Russia’s leaders and his special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday before deciding on the punitive tariffs on those buying oil from Russia.Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, he said, “We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow. We’re going to see what happens, we’ll make that determination, at that time”.On Tuesday morning, Trump warned that he would impose he…

Dhaka, Aug 6 (IANS) Several key political parties in Bangladesh voiced differences over the interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s announcement of the date for the general elections, local media reported on Wednesday.While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has welcomed the decision to hold the elections before Ramadan, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has raised doubts over conducting a fair and acceptable election.”Many had expressed hesitation about the election schedule. Wit…

Kabul, Aug 6 (IANS) Iran has deported thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom had long been employed in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and skilled trades. Their sudden return is placing immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy, creating an urgent need for employment opportunities and essential support services, local media reported.Abdul Rahim, one of the Afghan migrants who had worked in Iran’s agricultural sector for four years, said that he can support his si…

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will hold meetings with senior Russian officials in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss India-Russia defence and security cooperation.The visit comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has announced that he will announce “very substantial” increases to the 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods because of New Delhi’s oil purchases from Russia.Trump has accused New Delhi of “fuelling the war machine” by buying cheaper Russian oil an…

Dhaka, Aug 6 (IANS) The Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the Awami League, has launched a scathing attack on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of dismantling democratic institutions and pushing the nation toward becoming a “failed and fragmented state.” The student body claimed that Bangladesh has effectively turned into a “graveyard of democracy” under the current regime.The student body asserted that the defeated anti-liberation forces —“Jamaat-Shibir…

Seoul, Aug 6 (IANS) The ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Wednesday it has decided to expel Rep. Lee Choon-suak for triggering public outrage over allegations of stock trading under a borrowed name.The decision came a day after Lee left the DP after a press photo captured him checking and trading stocks on a mobile phone using his aide’s account, in an allegation that tarnished the government’s policy of reinvigorating the stock market via transparent trading practices.”I know that the public is…

Washington, Aug 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump’s administration will first require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi, two African countries, to pay bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas, the State Department said.”Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of 5,000, 10,000, or $15,000, determined at time of visa interview,” the…

Los Angeles, Aug 6 (IANS) Hundreds of structures are threatened by a fast-moving wildfire that has scorched over 82,000 acres (about 332 square km) in less than five days in Central California, authorities said.The wildfire, dubbed the Gifford Fire, broke out Friday afternoon when four separate ignitions along a California highway merged into a single wildfire currently burning on the Santa Lucia Road in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, according to the US Forest Service and the …

Baghdad, Aug 6 (IANS) Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani affirmed his country’s commitment to Lebanon’s stability and its support for the Lebanese people. Al-Sudani made the remarks when meeting here with Lebanese Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar on Tuesday, during which they reviewed bilateral ties, developments in Lebanon, and the overall regional situation, read a statement by al-Sudani’s media office.The two sides discussed several topics of mutual interest, including cooperation in…

Los Angeles, Aug 6 (IANS) US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled a proposed new rule aimed at advancing drone innovation and accelerating the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into national airspace.The proposal, known as the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule, would eliminate the current requirement for operators to obtain individual waivers or exemptions for BVLOS drone operations, Xinhua news agency reported.According to the US Department of Transportation, the rule w…