Mumbai, Aug 20 (IANS) Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, who has been honoured as a Disney Legend as part of the Class of 2026,has spoke on the significance of influence and power. Johnson shared a video of himself giving a speech filled with gratitude and in the caption the star thanked Disney and thousands of fans who joined him in singing “Happy Birthday” to his daughter Simone, calling it an unforgettable experience.He recalled in the video taking his daughter Simone to Disney when she was f…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said his administration is open to accumulating more Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as it presses Congress to enact new rules designed to secure America’s position as the global centre of digital finance. Asked whether the administration planned to acquire substantial quantities of Bitcoin or other digital assets, Trump said the possibility was under consideration.”Well, it’s been talked about,” he said at a White House gathering of fin…

United Nations, Aug 19 (IANS) In an implied criticism of Pakistan’s role in dealing with terrorism, India has called for transparency in the Security Council listing and delisting groups as terrorist organisations, adding that it should not be driven by narrow political interests. “Presence in the Security Council must not be instrumentalised to legitimise terrorists by attempting to de-list them or to list other entities as terrorist organisations based solely on political considerations, witho…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and five other US lawmakers have demanded an FBI investigation and a Justice Department civil rights review into an encounter in which an immigration agent allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a US citizen in Northern Virginia. The lawmakers sought an investigation into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel who surrounded Carolina Molina’s car in Falls Church on August 10. They have asked the Justice Department an…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has renewed his demand for lower interest rates, calling borrowing costs “ridiculous” and rejecting concerns that volatility in the bond market poses a threat to the American economy. Trump argued that interest rates should fall when the United States reports strong economic numbers. Instead, he said, policymakers raise rates because they fear that faster growth will fuel inflation.“Every time we do great, we announce great numbers, the i…

Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his birth anniversary.PM Modi took to social media on ‘X’ and said, “On the occasion of his birth anniversary, paying homage to former Prime Minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi.”Rajiv Gandhi became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 41 and was among the youngest elected heads of government in the world. His mother, Indira Gandhi, was 49 when she first became Prime Mi…

Chennai, Aug 20 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at a luxury hotel in Tamil Nadu’s Kovalam near Mamallapuram on Thursday. HM Shah arrived in Chennai from New Delhi by a special aircraft around 9 p.m. on Wednesday to attend the high-level meeting. The Southern Zonal Council and its standing committee will meet at the same venue from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.He is the chairman of the council, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will …

New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Heavy rain lashed several parts of the national capital in the early hours of Thursday, bringing much-needed relief from hot and humid weather conditions. The downpour provided respite from the prevailing humidity, while cloudy skies continued to cover several areas of the city. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light rainfall is likely between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with temperatures expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius. The probability o…

Mumbai, August 20 (IANS) Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh was seen bringing his trademark energy to Berlin as he gears up to kick off the European leg of his World Tour.Ahead of his concert, Diljit gave fans a glimpse of his Berlin diaries on social media.He shared a series of pictures and videos from the German capital and in one of the videos, the singer was seen breaking into bhangra on the streets of Berlin with a friend.Diljit also visited the iconic Berlin Victory Column, which is crown…

Geneva, Aug 20 (IANS) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned of the urgent need to address a deepening global humanitarian crisis, as escalating conflicts, record displacement, climate shocks and severe funding shortages leave millions of vulnerable people in need of life-saving assistance. On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, Pierre Krahenbuhl, director-general of the ICRC, said that “The first concern of the ICRC is related to the great proliferation of armed conf…