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Wednesday, September 2, 2026

South African envoy to India cleared of protocol breach after row over temple visit by ex-president

Johannesburg, Sep 3 (PTI): The South African government has cleared its High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, of any breaches of protocol following a controversy over his appearance at a temple in India alongside former president Jacob Zuma and a businessman facing corruption charges in the African country. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on Wednesday also said the government’s position on private visits by former heads of state remains that “routine assistance” to them by the High Commission does not constitute authorisation “to represent the government of the republic or advance official interests”. “DIRCO has recommended a mechanism that will enable the state to ensure that engagements of this nature are assessed for potential reputational, political, diplomatic or security risks,” it said. In a statement, DIRCO said it had completed its internal consultations with Sooklal, explaining that the envoy had extended customary protocol support to the former president and did not facilitate any substantive engagement between Zuma and Ajay Gupta. Sooklal who had earlier been recalled for “consultations” is reported to be back at his post in India. DIRCO minister Ronald Lamola had earlier demanded an explanation after images of Sooklal and Zuma with controversial businessman Gupta attending a temple function in Haridwar in June surfaced online, triggering an outcry in the African nation. Gupta, along with his brothers, Anil and Rajesh, fled South Africa on the eve of Zuma’s ousting by his own African National Congress (ANC) party in 2018 following allegations of corruption. Members of the Gupta family stand accused of “state capture”, including fleecing South African parastatals of billions of rands, allegedly through their close association with Zuma. South Africa is still attempting to get Dubai to extradite some members of the Gupta family after they were reported to be living there with their families, although authorities confirmed that there was no extradition order for Ajay Gupta. “Whilst Mr (Ajay) Gupta is not subject to an extradition request by South Africa, DIRCO continues to facilitate cooperation between South African law enforcement authorities and the Indian authorities in respect of mutual legal assistance requests and other ongoing legal processes involving members of the Gupta family,” it said. In its statement, DIRCO explained the reasons for Sooklal meeting Zuma and attending the temple function. “On June 19, 2026, the Presidency informed DIRCO of the forthcoming private visit by former president Jacob Zuma to the Republic of India and requested assistance with the necessary protocol and logistical arrangements. "In accordance with the established practice applicable to all former presidents, DIRCO subsequently notified the South African High Commission in New Delhi and requested that the customary protocol support be provided. “Information provided by the South African High Commission in New Delhi indicates that the Mission did not facilitate any substantive engagement between former president Jacob Zuma and Mr Ajay Gupta during the visit. "The assistance rendered formed part of the established protocol, administrative and logistical support ordinarily extended to former presidents through official channels, including ceremonial lounge arrangements, airport courtesies, liaison with host government authorities, and related travel facilitation,” the statement said. Upon arrival, the former president was received by the South African high commissioner and a designated Mission official in accordance with established protocol, with similar assistance provided upon departure. Regarding the religious event attended in Haridwar, DIRCO said the high commissioner attended in his capacity as Head of Mission following a separate invitation from the host organisers. He did not accompany Zuma or Gupta, and although Gupta was present among approximately 1,000 invited guests, the high commissioner reported no direct interaction with him, it said. “The department’s assessment is that the Mission’s role was confined to ceremonial reception and departure arrangements, as well as attendance at a public religious event for which the high commissioner had been independently invited in his official capacity. “The information available indicates that the Mission did not arrange, facilitate or participate in any private meetings involving former president Zuma and Mr Gupta,” it said. The Gupta brothers, who are from Uttar Pradesh, built a business empire spanning IT, mining and media after moving to South Africa in the early 1990s. Around a decade ago, they were accused of using their close ties with then-president Zuma to influence government decisions and profit from the relationship in what later became known as the "state capture" scandal. The brothers and Zuma denied any wrongdoing. PTI FH SKY SKY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/south-african-envoy-to-india-cleared-of-protocol-breach-after-row-over-temple-visit-by-ex-president-1864980

Iran, India not talking trade: Rubio on Modi-Pezeshkian meet

Washington, Sep 2 (PTI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said he did not think India and Iran were talking of a trade deal, and many countries around the world talk to the regime in Tehran. Rubio’s remarks came during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio in response to a question on the meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. “Well, I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran. Obviously, there are – countries all develop their own foreign policy, and many countries around the world talk to the Iranian regime,” Rubio said in response to a remark by Kilmeade that Modi and Pezeshkian appeared to set up a trade deal. “I mean, we’ve met with elements of the Iranian regime as well, in terms of some of these discussions that have occurred and there’s been contact with them,” Rubio said. The US Secretary of State said President Donald Trump has made it clear that no country should help Iran evade sanctions. “No country should be out there helping them create mechanisms by which they can generate revenue that they will then use to sponsor terrorism and try to build a nuclear weapon. And if countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too,” Rubio said. PTI SKU SKS SKS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-india-not-talking-trade-rubio-on-modi-pezeshkian-meet-1864977

Bayeux Tapestry Comes To London As Macron Begins UK Visit

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher French President Emmanuel Macron will begin a two-day trip to the UK by visiting another famous new arrival from France, the Bayeux Tapestry, with King Charles III and Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Macron and his wife Brigitte, and Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel will join King Charles and Queen Camilla to walk the length of the 70-meter tapestry in the British Museum. <h2>Why is the Bayeux Tapestry in London?</h2> The tapestry, which depicts the momentous events of 1066 culminating in William the Conqueror of Normandy claiming the English throne, is on temporary loan from its usual home in France. It's the first time it's touched British soil since its creation in the 11th century. The embroidery is on loan for a 10-month exhibiton opening to the public next week, on September 10. The exchange was first announced during Macron's state visit last year. Though it's thought to have been made in the British Isles, it had been on French soil ever since the 11th century. It's usually on show in Bayeux in Normandy in northern France, hence the name. The effectively priceless artefact was transited across the Channel in secret in July. Prime Minister Burnham, who took office six weeks ago, called the tapestry's return "a landmark moment" in the history of the two countries. He also hailed ties with Macron's French government more generally in the House of Commons on Wednesday, alluding to reduced illegal migration crossings of the English Channel — a bid to counter one of Reform UK's favorite summer talking points. "The loaning of the tapestry is a great example of French-British cooperation — the same cooperation that has helped us reduce summer small boat crossings to a seven-year low," Burnham said. It's Macron's first UK visit since Burnham took office and their first in-person meeting as leaders. <h2>What is the Bayeux Tapestry?</h2> The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter long artwork, which is thought to be incomplete, depicting the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Norman forces led by William the Conqueror were able to defeat and dethrone King Harold Godwinson in a campaign culminating in victory at the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry famously depicts Harold being shot in the eye with an arrow, as he is said to have died — admittedly in what modern historians believe is likely a myth or artistic exaggeration. This conquest was a crucial contributing moment in the establishment of what would become England and later the British Empire and the UK. It was the last of several successful foreign invasions of England in a millenium, and turned out to be the last one for a millenium. The conquest also added the final core ingredient, French, to the linguistic melting pot that produced the modern English language. The embroidered cloth, which has brief Latin titles captioning its 58 scenes, is widely accepted to have been made in England as a tribute to William after his victory. It was then transported to his family home in Normandy. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/bayeux-tapestry-comes-to-london-as-macron-begins-uk-visit-1864976

‘Trump Strait’ Instead Of Strait Of Hormuz? Donald Trump Floats New Name

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself, suggesting that the strategically important waterway could be called “Trump Strait”. The proposal came in a post on Truth Social, amid the ongoing war against Iran that the US and Israel started. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central point of contention in the conflict. “Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???” Trump wrote on Wednesday morning. “Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added. <h2>Trump’s Latest Naming Proposal</h2> Trump's suggestion comes less than a week after he signed an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”. It remains unclear how Trump would seek to implement a name change for the Strait of Hormuz, which is not near the US. The order concerning Lake Ontario directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his department to update the Geographic Names Information System with the new name. Canada rejected the proposed change, although Google and Apple have recently updated their maps. Earlier in his second presidential term, Trump also declared that the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the Gulf of America. Mexico and other international counterparts rejected that change. Unlike the Strait of Hormuz, the US borders both Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico, which have carried their names for centuries. <h2>US Says Iran Has Lost Control Of Strait</h2> Trump and his administration have repeatedly maintained that Iran has lost control over the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war began in late February, the waterway carried around one-fifth of the world's oil trade. However, transit through the strait remains well below prewar levels. Ship-trackers have reported that traffic has declined further in recent days as military strikes in the region resumed following a weekslong pause. The Trump administration has said total oil exports from the region are now higher than before the war when Saudi Arabia's and the United Arab Emirates' pipelines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz are included. <h2>Oil Shipments Through Hormuz</h2> US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC on Wednesday that more than 17 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, describing it as a new wartime record. Before the war began on February 28, around 20 million barrels per day of crude and petroleum products were transported through the strait.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-strait-instead-of-strait-of-hormuz-donald-trump-floats-new-name-1864972

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Trump Warns Iran of ‘Biggest Attack’ Yet After US Strikes, Says ‘Very Little’ May Be Left

The United States launched a barrage of airstrikes against Iran on Tuesday, triggering retaliation from Tehran in the most serious escalation between the two sides in weeks. The latest fighting has pushed global energy prices higher and added to the domestic political pressure facing US President Donald Trump. The strikes came after a weekend exchange of fire between the US and Iran — the first such confrontation since July — followed by attacks on two tankers leaving the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The waterway, a crucial route for global oil supplies, has effectively been closed to shipping by Iran. Oil prices surged by more than $4 a barrel on Tuesday, settling at a five-week high as markets reacted to the growing threat to energy supplies. The escalation also raised fresh concerns over how far the conflict could spread across the region. <h2>Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Much Harder’ Attacks</h2> As the strikes unfolded, Trump warned Tehran against retaliating. In a post on Truth Social, he said Iran would face attacks at a "much harder and higher" level if it responded to the latest US operation. "If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level," Trump said, adding that an even larger attack was "waiting in the wings". He warned that when that attack was over, "there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran". <h2>Iran Retaliates Across The Region</h2> Iran responded by striking US assets in Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq, while maintaining its threat to prevent oil exports from the Gulf. The retaliation came despite Trump's warning that Washington would hit Iran "hard" and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's warning that new sanctions were imminent. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the latest US attacks would "tighten the lock" on the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the strategic waterway carried one in every five barrels of oil consumed globally. Iranian media quoted parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying that if Iran was prevented from exporting oil from the Persian Gulf, "no one will be able to export oil". <h2>Wedding Attack Leaves Several Dead</h2> The escalation also caused casualties among civilians. Five people were killed and 50 wounded at a wedding near Sirik, a coastal area on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. Mehr news agency reported that a four-year-old child was among those killed. IRNA, citing a provincial official, put the number of wounded at 68. There was no immediate reaction from the United States to the reports of the casualties. <h2>US Says IRGC Targets Were Hit</h2> The latest US operation came after a month of relative calm, during which Washington and Tehran largely refrained from direct military action while continuing to exchange hostile statements. The US military's Central Command said it had completed a wave of strikes targeting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targets included air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities. Iranian media reported several other strikes, including a US missile attack near Ahvaz and an attack on the civilian airport at Jiroft in southeastern Iran. Explosions were also reported in Chabahar, Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz and Asaluyeh, a major gas hub on the Gulf coast. Iran's state broadcaster further reported explosions on Qeshm Island, located on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation marks a sharp departure from the relative lull of recent weeks, with both sides now exchanging direct attacks while the strategic waterway remains at the centre of growing concerns over global energy supplies.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-us-launches-fresh-airstrikes-on-iran-as-tehran-retaliates-oil-prices-surge-1864847

Will Bangladesh Join Mecca Defence Alliance As Dhaka Signals Support For Pact?

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru There has been widespread speculation about Bangladesh becoming part of a mutual defense deal struck last month by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. But the South Asian country says it has yet to receive an invitation. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed into force in early August, is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression. It stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack on all. Some analysts believe the pact has already changed the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and South Asia. "Although it is a collective defense understanding, from a strategic perspective it is primarily an initiative to maintain the regional balance of power and advance the respective interests of the participating states," Navine Murshid, a political science and sociology professor at North South University in Dhaka, told DW. <h2>Bangladesh govt. in favor of Mecca pact</h2> Any move by Bangladesh to join, however, could complicate its foreign relations, particularly with neighboring India. The two countries share a 4,096-kilometer (2,545-mile) land border, and have strong cultural and economic ties. India, a fierce rival of Pakistan, sheltered many Bangladeshi refugees and provided military support to Bangladesh during its independence war against Islamabad in 1971. However, ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have become increasingly contentious since a deadly student-led uprising in 2024 toppled then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was considered a close ally of the Indian government. Now living in exile in India, Hasina has since been convicted in absentia for crimes against humanity during the uprising. She has denied the charges. Bangladesh's current government, headed by the center-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is in favor of the Mecca agreement. "We view this pact positively," Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said in response to a question in parliament last week. But he insisted that the question of Bangladesh joining the pact, or even considering membership, had not yet arisen, as that would depend on the intentions of its current members. "If they express an intention to include Bangladesh in the pact, we will certainly consider it positively," he said. When asked about the remarks made by Bangladeshi officials, India said the pact had implications for its national security and that it was closely monitoring the situation. "We continue to follow all developments that have a bearing on India's security and take all necessary steps to safeguard it," Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters in New Delhi last week. <h2>Competing geopolitical interests</h2> Analysts said Dhaka needs to consider its interests carefully before making any move to join the joint defense pact. "The scope for direct conventional interstate war or military conflict in South Asia is limited. Therefore, the primary role of such an agreement is not confined to conducting border wars," said Murshid. "In international relations, its significance lies mainly in strengthening bargaining power and maintaining one's position against the influence of other regional countries." Murshid added that Pakistan's interest in bringing Bangladesh closer through this agreement "is driven by geographical and political considerations." "For India, the security of the Siliguri Corridor and its eastern frontier are important considerations," she said, referring to India's narrow land link to its northeastern states, which wraps around Bangladesh to the north. "If Pakistan's defense-related influence in Bangladesh were to increase, New Delhi could view this as a development capable of affecting the regional balance of relationships." In such circumstances, Bangladesh would have to clearly define what it would and would not do by joining this alliance, she explained. "In particular, a clear position would be necessary regarding Bangladesh's role if a military conflict were to arise between India and Pakistan. Taking Pakistan's side during such a conflict could create political and diplomatic pressures for Dhaka that may exceed Bangladesh's capacity to manage," she stressed. Dhaka-based former diplomat M Humayun Kabir sees no reason for Bangladesh to join the pact. "Bangladesh has not joined any military alliance over the past 50 to 55 years. As far as I am concerned, I believe that position remains unchanged to this day," he told DW. "They are talking about a regional security arrangement, but the region in question concerns Pakistan and the Middle East. We are not part of that region or geographical area. Bangladesh is located in the eastern part of South Asia. Therefore, there is no direct geographical rationale for Bangladesh to participate in such a military alliance," he added. <h2>Would Bangladesh benefit from joining the pact?</h2> Murshid stressed that Bangladesh needed to develop its own defense infrastructure and security systems sustainably. She believes that becoming part of an international security agreement could help modernize Dhaka's defense capabilities and facilitate access to military technology. "The text of the agreement does not directly mention trade, labor markets or economic relations. However, it is natural for economic elements to become linked with a security framework, a phenomenon known in international relations as issue linkage," she said. However, Kabir fears joining the pact could limit Bangladesh's geopolitical options and recommended a balanced approach. "We contribute to peacekeeping missions around the world under the auspices of the United Nations, and that is important to us. Our economy is interconnected with many different countries in various ways, which is also important. Our workforce is present in countries across the world, and that, too, is an important consideration," he said. "Therefore, before making any decision on this issue, we must take into account the many different dimensions and forms of our national interests." Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/will-bangladesh-join-mecca-defence-alliance-as-dhaka-signals-support-for-pact-1864835

US Forces Launch Strikes On Iran Following IRGC Attacks On American Bases In Jordan

US forces have begun striking targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), following attempted attacks by the IRGC on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and US service members deployed to the region. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region. — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://ift.tt/9Ll5E1Q 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/Rya847g" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> 

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-forces-launch-strikes-on-iran-following-irgc-attacks-on-american-bases-in-jordan-1864832