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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Bangladesh PM Rahman greets PM Modi on his birthday

Dhaka, Sep 17 (PTI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday extended birthday greetings to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, wishing him good health. "Warmest birthday wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi. Wishing you many happy returns of the day. May your dedicated service to the people of India always be accompanied by good health and high spirit," Rahman said in a post on X. Modi, who turned 76 on Thursday, thanked Rahman for his wishes. "Thank you, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, for your warm wishes. I deeply appreciate your kind words," Modi said. The exchange comes as both countries seek to enhance bilateral relations following the establishment of the Rahman-led government in Bangladesh. On Sunday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh wants to "reset" its relationship with India and build a new bilateral engagement based on mutual interests. India-Bangladesh ties witnessed a downturn during the 18-month tenure of the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, which assumed charge after a student-led uprising toppled the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024. Hasina fled to India following her ouster, and her continued stay there has remained one of the major irritants in bilateral ties. Dhaka has sought her extradition to face legal proceedings in Bangladesh. The February 12 general election, which was held without Hasina's now-disbanded Awami League, brought Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party to power. The Rahman government has continued to seek Hasina's extradition, while the former premier has said she intends to return to Bangladesh to face legal proceedings. Dhaka has said Rahman's proposed visit to India could take place when the timing is conducive, and the two sides agree on a mutually acceptable schedule, while maintaining that it views efforts to reset the relationship positively. PTI AR SKS ZH SKS 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/bangladesh-pm-rahman-greets-pm-modi-on-his-birthday-1867165

Germany Cuts Development Aid Amid Rising Global Crises

Germany's Development Minister, Reem Alabali Radovan, opened her latest speech in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, with a litany of catastrophes and suffering: floods in Nepal, heat waves, forests engulfed in flames, rivers running dry, and crop failures caused by drought and lack of rainfall. "Millions of people are facing hunger," said the minister from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). "And one thing is clear: the climate crisis is threatening the entire world. No country can tackle it alone." Radovan opened the debate on the federal government's proposed 2027 budget for her ministry with a stark assessment. The budget is set to shrink for the fifth consecutive year, falling from just over €10 billion to just under €9.5 billion. In 2022, it still stood at nearly €14 billion. Since then, the ministry's budget has been reduced by roughly one third. How does this sharp decline square with the dramatic picture painted by Germany's development minister herself? She points to the new strategy she unveiled in January, when she declared: "Development policy will become an even more important pillar of German security, alongside diplomacy and defense." <h2>Funding for humanitarian aid stagnates</h2> Aid organizations reacted skeptically to this policy shift when it was first announced, and their concerns have deepened in light of the latest funding cuts. "The renewed reductions in funding for international cooperation are further exacerbating an already critical situation," said Michael Herbst of VENRO, the umbrella organization representing around 150 development and humanitarian NGOs. Herbst also criticizes the stagnant budget for humanitarian aid administered by the German Foreign Office. While it exceeded €3 billion in 2022, it has remained at just €1 billion since 2025. In light of worsening global crises, VENRO is calling for a change of course. "Next year, we will need to invest more in combating hunger because the conflict involving Iran and the dry summer are expected to trigger a sharp decline in agricultural yields," Herbst said, explaining the organization's demand for substantially higher funding. <h2>Ten million people left without assistance</h2> The impact of the cuts is already clearly visible, the umbrella organization stresses, citing a survey of its member organizations. The number of funded projects is declining significantly. "Our sample of 34 organizations shows that, among these organizations alone, more than ten million fewer people are being reached with assistance." "And many local partner organizations, which are indispensable to effective development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, are no longer able to operate," Herbst added. He also stressed that the full impact of these far-reaching cuts is unlikely to become apparent for another three to four years. <h2>Should the development budget be exempt from Germany's 'debt brake'?</h2> The federal government's belt-tightening across virtually all ministries is a consequence of the Zeitenwende announced by then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz(SPD) in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Germany has embarked on a major military buildup, increasing its defense budget year after year, while nearly all other ministries have had to make do with significantly less funding. Herbst, a member of VENRO's executive board, is calling on the German Bundestag to exempt both development cooperation and humanitarian assistance from the country's so-called 'debt brake'. "After all, exceptions have already been made for the modernization of the Bundeswehr and for military aid to Ukraine," he points out. Herbst hopes that such a move would enable Germany to once again assume greater responsibility on the international stage. <h2>Less money, less impact?</h2> Jamila Schäfer, a member of parliament from the opposition Green Party, made a similar argument during the Bundestag debate on the development ministry's budget. Climate action and development cooperation, she argued, are not acts of charity but are firmly in Germany's own interest. "Germany must invest in its defense capabilities, but security is not created through investments in the defense budget alone," Schäfer argued. "Those who strengthen military security while cutting support for international stability have a blind spot in their security policy." Nicolas Zippelius, a lawmaker from the governing centre-right conservative alliance, the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), sees the ongoing cuts to development spending differently. In his view, every ministry must contribute to consolidating the federal budget. "Less money does not necessarily mean a smaller impact. Instead, it should encourage us to focus more clearly on priorities and critically review existing structures." Zippelius dismisses demands to exempt the development ministry from Germany's 'debt brake'. "The key question is whether every euro spent is directed to where it can make the greatest difference." The Christian Democrat argues that success in development cooperation, as in other areas of policy, should be judged not by the size of the budget but by the impact it achieves. <h2>The case for more prevention</h2> Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust, who heads the humanitarian and development aid organizationAction Against Hunger, has a very different view. "The cuts planned for the 2027 budget are short-sighted and dangerous. As a result, up to 22.6 million people worldwide could die by 2030," he said in a written statement to DW. Cuts to development cooperation and humanitarian aid are also fiscally short-sighted, Friedrich-Rust argues. "Hunger, crises and instability generate long-term costs that far exceed the cost of prevention. Those who cut spending today are merely postponing the bill and ultimately making it much more expensive," he warned. To underscore its concerns, the alliance Action Against Hunger delivered a petition to the leaders of the governing coalition of SPD and CDU/CSU parliamentary groups on the eve of the Bundestag's budget debate. The appeal, titled "Don't Balance the Budget at the Expense of Solidarity: Strengthen International Aid!", garnered around 100,000 signatures. This article was translated from German. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> 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. </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/germany-cuts-development-aid-amid-rising-global-crises-1867156

‘Using Mecca As A War Banner’: Houthi Leader’s Sharp Attack On Saudi Arabia

A Houthi leader has accused Saudi Arabia of using the holy city of Mecca, the Kaaba and other Muslim holy sites “as a war banner” to gain support for its military campaign in Yemen. <h2 dir="auto" data-section-id="1ll4gxq" data-start="916" data-end="965">Houthi Leader Accuses Saudi Arabia Over Mecca</h2> According to the Houthi leader, Saudi Arabia is using Mecca and Muslim holy sites to entice other nations to join its military effort against what he described as the “oppressed Yemeni people”. The leader also said the US is currently operating in Saudi Arabia and claimed that 200 US personnel are currently in the country. According to him, the US personnel are, for the most part, orchestrating and coordinating Saudi air strikes targeting areas under Houthi control. <h2 dir="auto" data-section-id="1j47z9h" data-start="1441" data-end="1475">Claim Of 450 Saudi Air Strikes</h2> The Houthi leader said more than 450 Saudi strikes have been carried out over the past couple of days alone. He said the strikes targeted provinces stretching from Marib and al-Jawf in northern Yemen to al-Bayda and Lahij in central and southern Yemen, as well as Taiz in western Yemen, where most of the clashes are taking place. <h2 dir="auto" data-section-id="vu8jmu" data-start="1810" data-end="1858">‘They Did Not Target The Holy City Of Mecca’</h2> The speech, according to the leader, was directed not only at the Yemeni people but also at the wider world. He sought to “set the record straight” that the Houthis did not target the holy city of Mecca, contrary to what Saudi Arabia is claiming. The leader also accused Saudi Arabia of having engaged in the military effort for many years to oppress the Yemeni people and deprive Yemenis of their rights to sovereignty, independence and free will to establish a Yemeni government that represents the demands of the Yemeni people.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/using-mecca-as-a-war-banner-houthi-leader-s-sharp-attack-on-saudi-arabia-1867149

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

US House Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Fresh 100% Tariff Risk Over Russian Oil

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that could give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and natural gas, including India. The Republican-led House approved the legislation by a 262-159 vote, sending it to Trump for his signature after months of delays. The measure, formally named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, had already cleared the Senate last month with an 86-11 vote. The legislation is designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine by targeting Russia's energy and defence sectors, along with its so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to evade sanctions. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/imran-khan-health-update-sulaiman-and-kasim-share-big-update-slam-pakistan-army-chief-asim-munir-1867027">‘Our Father Is Being Slowly Killed’: Imran Khan’s Sons Accuse Asim Munir Of ‘Personal Vendetta’</a> <h2>Bill Targets Russia, Energy Buyers</h2> One of the bill's key provisions gives Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas. India and China, among the largest buyers of Russian crude, could therefore face steep additional duties if the provision is used. The measure directs the President to target the five largest importers of Russian oil or gas. It also provides an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those purchases. A proposed House amendment had specifically identified 10 countries, including India and China, as eligible for the tariff provision. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kHD66WGbvw?si=QzTgPG3huiyWl2Iq" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>India Faces Fresh Tariff Risk</h2> For India, the passage creates a new legal route for Washington to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Indian imports over its continued purchases of Russian energy. The legislation does not itself mean that such tariffs will automatically be imposed, but gives the President the authority to take that step. The bill also expands sanctions related to Iran, adding another element to the broader foreign policy measures included in the legislation. The Senate approved the measure in August by an 86-11 vote after months of negotiations. The legislation had faced opposition since its introduction in April 2025 but gained momentum after Trump backed moving it forward earlier this year. It was introduced by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and other lawmakers and was later renamed in his honour. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-s-baha-i-community-faces-rising-asset-seizures-amid-economic-hardship-1867038">Iran’s Baha’i Community Faces Rising Asset Seizures Amid Economic Hardship</a> <h2>Bill's Passage Marks Shift In US Sanctions Approach</h2> Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the conflict has continued despite international efforts to secure a settlement. Trump has generally sought to retain control over US tariffs and sanctions. The House's approval of the legislation therefore marks a significant step towards giving Congress a larger role in shaping economic pressure on Russia and countries that continue to trade with it. The bill now goes to Trump for his signature. If enacted, its provisions would give the President a new mechanism to use tariffs against major buyers of Russian energy while also expanding sanctions targeting Russia and extending measures related to Iran.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-tariff-india-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-india-faces-fresh-100-tariff-risk-over-russian-oil-1867048

Trump lauds India's crackdown on poppy farming; lists 23 major drug transit nations

Washington, Sep 16 (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to curb illicit poppy cultivation even as he identified India, China and Pakistan among 23 major drug transit and illicit drug producing countries and urged their respective leaders to address the issue. In a Presidential Determination to the US Congress, Trump said he looks forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework. “I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity," he said in the official directive that was made public on Wednesday. Trump also made it clear that appearing on the list of major drug transit and illicit drug producing countries was not necessarily a reflection of the respective government’s current counterdrug efforts, or coordination with the US. The Presidential Determination said countries are placed on the list, as required by US law, due to a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to transit or be produced, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law enforcement measures. The other major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries identified are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Trump also highlighted the "historic progress" made by his administration in tackling drug trafficking and narcoterrorist organisations. He pointed to tighter border security, lower drug seizures and a decline in overdose deaths as evidence of the progress. Trump claimed drug seizures along the US southern border had dropped by more than half after what he called four years of "open border chaos". He also said drug overdose deaths had "plunged" and claimed that the administration had saved tens of thousands of American lives. “After four years of open border chaos, seizures of fentanyl and other drugs being smuggled into the United States have been reduced by more than half, and drug overdose deaths have plunged,” Trump said. He urged China to take stronger action to stem the flow of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl, methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. “The PRC continues to be the world’s largest producer of many of the precursor chemicals used to illicitly produce fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly synthetic drugs,” Trump said, referring to China by its official designation, the People's Republic of China. Trump said he had raised the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping and noted that Beijing had introduced licensing requirements last year for companies exporting designated precursor chemicals to North America. PTI SKU SCY SCY(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/trump-lauds-india-s-crackdown-on-poppy-farming-lists-23-major-drug-transit-nations-1867039

Gaza Building Collapse Leaves At Least 21 Dead

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko At least 21 people, including six children, were killed in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday morning when a war-damaged building collapsed, injuring at least 14 more people and trapping dozens of others beneath the rubble. On Wednesday, rescue workers were still searching through the wreckage — in many cases with their bare hands given the lack of heavy machinery in the devastated Palestinian enclave. "We are still hearing voices from under the rubble," said Raed Al-Dahshan, the director of Gaza City's civil defense service, adding that at least 10 families had lived in the collapsed building and expressing hope that more survivors could yet be found. "My friend and neighbors live in this building," resident Mohannad Al-Mashharawi told the AFP news agency. "I came to help my friend retrieve some clothes and mattresses. He currently has no shelter or home." The death toll is expected to rise as the search for victims buried in the rubble continues. <h2>Gaza: Hundreds of buildings at risk of collapse</h2> "The situation, you see, is tragic because we don't have the equipment and machinery that is needed," said Alessandro Mrakic, head of the United Nations (UN) Development Program's Gaza office. "So there are actually people are digging with their bare hands." With wetter autumn and winter weather approaching, Mrakic warned that rain water could destabilize hundreds of other bombed-out buildings in the war-torn territory. "There are approximately 400 buildings at risk of collapse," he said. "And we know that these buildings will collapse, especially now with the upcoming winter." According to authorities, about 2,000 damaged buildings in Gaza are still inhabited by Palestinian families, many of whom have told the Reuters news agency that it is the only way to shelter from the wind and rain in the absence of sufficient tents. "Today's tragedy underscores the grave risks faced by families living in these structures and the urgent need for safer alternatives," said Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Humanitarian ⁠Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. "No one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter." <h2>Israeli restrictions on heavy machinery</h2> Palestinian and UN officials have blamed Israel's restrictions on Gaza for the lack of heavy machinery available in the enclave. Israel says it wants to keep such machines out of the hands of Hamas militants, who used such equipment in their deadly raid into Israel in October 2023, prompting Israel's devastating assault on Gaza which has since killed over 73,000 Palestinians — the vast majority of them civilians. More than 1,300 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since a US-backed ceasefire in October 2025, while the Israeli military says four of its soldiers soldiers have been killed. Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> (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.) </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/gaza-building-collapse-leaves-at-least-21-dead-1867037

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

‘They Did The Same’: Zelenskyy Says Russian Drones Entered Moldova Twice Around His Travel

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace twice while he was travelling through the country, including during a journey when his presidential aircraft was at Chisinau airport. Zelenskyy made the disclosure in an interview with CBS, saying the incidents occurred while he was travelling to and from a foreign trip. He suggested that the presence of his aircraft in Moldova may have been connected to the drone activity, although he did not say the attacks were directly aimed at him. “In Moldova, my presidential jet was there, and that’s why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova,” Zelenskyy said. “When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again they did the same.” <h2>Drones Enter Moldovan Airspace</h2> The remarks come days after a drone alert on September 9 temporarily disrupted Zelenskyy’s departure from Moldova for Norway. Moldovan authorities closed the country’s airspace after two Russian drones entered its territory, delaying flights, including the Ukrainian president’s departure. One of the drones came down in a field north of Chisinau and caused a fire, while the other continued into Romanian airspace. Moldovan authorities later identified fragments consistent with a Geran-type drone, which Russia has used extensively during the war in Ukraine. Moldovan officials also reported another drone incursion on September 14, when two drones entered the country's airspace. According to officials, each remained there for about 10 minutes. Zelenskyy had not previously spoken publicly about this second incident involving his transit through Moldova. It was not immediately clear when exactly Zelenskyy travelled through Chisinau on his return journey from Canada. <h2>Norwegian PM Said Zelenskyy’s Plane Was ‘Almost Hit’</h2> The latest disclosure follows comments by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who said last week that Zelenskyy’s aircraft was “almost hit by a drone” shortly after taking off from Moldova on September 9. “That is the reality he lives in,” Store told Norwegian media. He did not provide details about how close the drone came to the aircraft or identify who was responsible. A Ukrainian presidential source subsequently described the suggestion that Zelenskyy was directly at risk as exaggerated, saying the incident involved an alert after a Russian drone entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace. The reported incidents underline the risks faced by countries bordering Ukraine as Russia’s war continues. Moldova, situated between Ukraine and Romania, has repeatedly experienced drone incursions linked to the conflict.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/volodymyr-zelenskyy-says-russian-drones-entered-moldova-twice-around-his-travel-1866905