Jerusalem, Aug 14 (IANS) Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that he has approved the construction of 3,401 housing units for settlers in a particularly controversial area of the occupied West Bank. The homes would be built in the E1 area, a stretch of land east of Jerusalem between the city and the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Construction there is seen as especially contentious because it would effectively cut off East Jerusalem from the northern West Bank. Building plans…

Tehran, Aug 14 (IANS) Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi exchanged views on the latest developments in the Caucasus with senior Russian and Armenian diplomats. In two separate meetings with Igor Khovaev on Wednesday, Russia’s special representative for the normalisation of ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Vahan Kostanyan, Armenia’s deputy foreign minister, Araghchi also discussed bilateral relations with the two countries, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign…

Brasilia, Aug 14 (IANS) Brazil has launched a package of measures to support exporters hit by a 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US government. Launched on Wednesday, the initiative, called Sovereign Brazil, provides 30 billion reais (about 5.562 billion US dollars) in affordable loans, tax breaks and other measures, prioritising small businesses and those dealing in perishable foods, Xinhua News Agency reported.It also facilitates public procurement from affected rural and agro-industrial sect…

Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS) A special counsel team in South Korea left the main opposition People Power Party’s (PPP) headquarters empty-handed on Thursday, after attempting to secure its membership list as part of an investigation into bribery allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee.Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team has been looking into allegations that a shaman linked to Kim and a key Unification Church official tried to get church members to join the party en masse to influence the…

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14 (IANS) The lone RSP Lok Sabha member, N.K. Premachandran is elated after securing a thumping victory in the fiercely contested elections to the Constitution Club of India (CCI) — an exclusive body of current and former Members of Parliament — in what turned out to be a rare moment when political lines blurred in the national capital.Speaking to IANS, Premachandran admitted he had not anticipated the scale of the contest when he decided to enter the fray.“Old timers…

Chennai, Aug 14 (IANS) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has launched a scathing attack on the Tamil Nadu government, accusing it of acting in a cowardly manner by ordering a late-night police crackdown on sanitation workers protesting in Chennai for nearly two weeks. In a statement issued on Thursday, Ramadoss condemned the forcible eviction and arrest of hundreds of conservancy workers who had been staging a sit-in protest near the Greater Chenna…

Srinagar, Aug 14 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday bagged the highest number of Gallantry Medals in the country on the occasion of Independence Day 2025, with 127 personnel being honoured for their exceptional bravery, the Ministry of Home (MHA) said.Out of the 233 Gallantry Medals announced this year, 152 security personnel from the union territory have been recognised for their gallant actions.The MHA said among the 152 personnel, the J&K Police top the list with 127 awards, foll…

Amaravati, Aug 14 (IANS) In a huge setback to the YSR Congress Party, the Telugu Desam Party on Thursday wrested the Pulivendula ZPTC seat in the home constituency of former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The TDP won the by-election to Pulivendula Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) by a huge margin to make big inroads in Pulivendula, seen as the fortress of the YSR family.The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was also leading in Ontimitta ZPTC as the counting of votes was underway am…

Bengaluru, Aug 14 (IANS) Reacting to the cancellation of bail for actor Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda, and five other accused in the sensational fan murder case, the deceased fan Renukaswamy’s father, Kashinath S. Shivanagowdru, said that his faith in getting justice for his son’s death has grown stronger.Speaking to reporters, Kashinath S. Shivanagowdru, also known as Kashinathaiah, said with tears in his eyes, “My wife informed me about the cancellation of Darshan’s bail. This developmen…

Mumbai, Aug 14 (IANS) A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from the Malad area of Maharashtra’s Mumbai, where three cyber fraudsters allegedly cheated a local businessman of lakhs by falsely promising a loan under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). The accused, identified as Nitin Kumar, Ashwin Kumar, and Dayashankar Mishra, have been booked by the Cyber Cell of the North Regional Division under charges of cheating and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.According to p…