While Elon Musks America Party is an intriguing concept, admiration alone will not earn our votes. Unless he presents clear, actionable policies on immigration reform, healthcare access, education equity, and minority rights, his party risks becoming just another headline-grabbing venture rather than a genuine political force capable of addressing the real challenges faced by millions of South Asian Americans, writes Dr Tausif Malik Will Elon Musks America Party Win Over Desi Americans?: When El

Afghanistan continues to top the list of countries drawing global humanitarian concern following recent political changesreports Asian Lite News The World Food Programme has sounded a fresh alarm over Afghanistans deepening humanitarian crisis, warning that while 10 million people urgently need food aid this summer, funding constraints will allow assistance for only 1 million, Tolo News reported. The UN-affiliated agencys warning comes amid a sharp decline in international aid, leaving millions

Ramaphosa pushed back against the justification for the tariff, challenging the interpretation of trade data and pointing to discrepancies in the figures cited.reports Asian Lite News South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday criticised US President Donald Trumps unilateral imposition of a 30% trade tariff, calling it a misrepresentation of the actual trade data between the two countries. In a statement following Trumps announcement of the tariff on the African nation, which will be eff

Modi Sets Vision for Indias 2026 BRICS Presidency, Promising a Humanity-First Agenda Focused on Climate Action and Global Healthreports Asian Lite News At the Rio 2025 BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored Indias commitment to pressing global challenges such as climate change and health security. As India prepares to assume the BRICS presidency next year, Modi pledged to reimagine the grouping with a humanity-first approach, aiming to give BRICS a renewed and more people-centric

Trump Says US Close to Deal with India Amid Fresh Global Tariffsreports Asian Lite News In a major development on the global trade front, US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is close to making a deal with India, even as Washington proceeds with new tariff measures targeting multiple countries. Trump made the remarks during a White House briefing on Tuesday, where he outlined the administrations evolving trade strategy. Weve made a deal with the United Kingdom, weve mad

Modi Gets Grand Welcome in Brazil with Fusion of Shiva Tandava and Samba Rhythmsreports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a rousing reception in Brasilia as he arrived for his State Visit to Brazil. The Indian diaspora joined hands with local Brazilian performers in a captivating cultural showcase, blending the powerful Shiva Tandava Stotram with the infectious beats of Samba Reggae a vivid celebration of unity in diversity. Padma Shri Jonas Masetti, a renowned Vedanta t

The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu came after the latest rounds of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatarreports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump has said that he thinks the talks to end the war in Gaza have been going along very well, as he hosted visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here. The US President also expressed confidence that Hamas was willing to end the 21-month conflict. They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire, he said

Manchester City hosted Fifth Rath Yatra Festival with fanfare and spiritual fervour, Rahul Laud reports Gita Bhawan temple in Manchester was aesthetically and elegantly decorated to mark the Grand Occasion of Rath Yatra . Commencing from the morning special religious rituals were performed before the Four Deities with utmost solemnity and unfettered devotion by the main priest Pandit Shyam Sunder Sharma. Organised by North West Odisha Society this years Festival evoked unusual interests, unexpec

This move coincides with the ongoing BRICS summit being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilreports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump has announced that an additional 10 per cent tariff will be imposed on countries that align themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS. He said this after the BRICS leaders, caught in a trade war initiated by the US, expressed their grave concern about the indiscriminate rise in tariffs. The declaration was made via Trumps social media platform, Truth S

The treaty proposed by India within the UN framework aims to provide a comprehensive legal basis for combating terrorism.reports Asian Lite News The leaders joint statement, issued after the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, resonates with Prime Minister Narendra Modis views in very broad terms, including the condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, MEA Secretary Dammu Ravi said. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday (local time) the MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) said the BRICS

The leaders criticised developed nations for using environmental issues to justify trade restrictions on developing countries.reports Asian Lite News Rio de Janeiro, July 7 (IANS) Embroiled in a trade war launched by the United States, BRICS leaders say they view with grave concern the indiscriminate rising of tariffs, but do not name Washington in their joint statement. We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent

In April, Trump announced a base tariff of 10 per cent on most of Americas trading partners and thereafter additional duties ranging up to 50 per cent.reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trumps country-specific tariffs are now scheduled to take effect from August 1, offering a temporary reprieve as trade talks intensified with several countries, including India. Earlier, the US tariffs were set to take effect from July 9. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the tariff reprieve on

This years BRICS Summit saw an expanded format, reflecting the groupings growing relevance in international affairs.reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally welcomed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto into the BRICS grouping as a full member during the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday (Indian time) said this while underscoring Indias growing diplomatic stature and its pivotal role in shaping multilateral pl

Bangladesh has been gripped by protest movements, a deteriorating law and order situation and an increasing number of incidents of violence against women since the ouster of Hasina in August 2024 In a span of nine days, 24 women, including an infant, were raped in Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh, according to the Awami League, which added that over 281,000 complaints have piled up and are still unresolved. In just 9 days, 24 women were raped. Among them, a child was raped by a 60-year-old man. The

Deteriorating rail systems, jammed ports and frequent blackouts have hindered vital industries like mining and auto manufacturing in South Africa, contributing to slow economic growth over the last decade in Africas most developed economy The World Bank granted South Africa a $1.5 billion loan to upgrade transportation infrastructure and help it transition toward a low-carbon economy, the countrys National Treasury said Monday.Deteriorating rail systems, jammed ports and frequent blackouts have

The banks Board of Governors approved the accession of the two countries, bringing the total membership to 11.reports Asian Lite News Colombia and Uzbekistan have joined the New Development Bank (NDB), expanding the membership of the multilateral lender commonly known as the BRICS Bank, the institutions president, Dilma Rousseff, announced on Sunday. The announcement came at a press conference held after the 10th meeting of the NDBs Board of Directors, ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled fo

A team of around 25 technical experts from the British Royal Air Force arrived aboard an A400M Atlas military transport aircraft to inspect the F-35B fighter jet reports Asian Lite News UK authorites have accepted the offer of space in a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet stranded in Thiruvananthapuram and are in discussions to finalise arrangements with relevant authorities, a British High Commission Spokesperson said on Sunday The statem

The 7/7 bombings changed London forever. The Victorian-era Tube system still struggles with outages and emergencies. A minor fire or power failure still sends people scrambling in fear. I saw the same fear in Bombay after the 1993 blasts. Late-night journalists who used to gather at Marine Drive or at the Taj promenade for kulfi or chana vanished. The city went quiet under curfew. No more post-work prowls. Life was curtailedbut it went on. Whether in Bombay or London, whether its blasts, bullets

In Sciver-Brunts absence, Tammy Beaumont will continue to lead the side in the remaining two matches England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against India due to a left groin injury she sustained in Bristol. She missed the third T20I of the series, which England won by five runs to stay alive in the five-match series, owing to the same injury. In Sciver-Brunts absence, Tammy Beaumont will continue to lead the side in the remaining two matches of th

The move sees Walker reunite with Burnley coach Scott Parker, with whom he played alongside at Tottenhamreports Asian Lite News Veteran England defender Kyle Walker has joined newly-promoted Burnley from Manchester City for a fee of around five million pounds (6.8 million U.S. dollars). The 35-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Burnley to put a definitive end to eight seasons with Manchester City, whom he joined from Tottenham in 2017, making 319 appearances and winning 17 trophies. Th

With 536 runs still needed and seven wickets in hand, Trescothick acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge but refused to rule out any possibility. England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick admitted that chasing down the massive target of 608 against India on the final day at Edgbaston will be a huge task, but insisted the team would stay positive and look to adapt as the situation demands. With 536 runs still needed and seven wickets in hand, Trescothick acknowledged the difficulty of the

BRICS nations need to build consensus, balance innovation and social justice by reinforcing the digital sovereignty of Global South, including evenly distribution of benefits through AI, writes Baidya Bikash Basu BRICS, the developing worlds stand-in to the G-7 grouping. was expanded at the Kazan Summit, last year. Post expansion, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have joined the founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In a world divided in silos,

First Indian PM to visit in 57 years; economic ties, lithium and trade top agenda Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a historic visit to Argentina on Saturday by paying homage to the countrys national hero, General Jos de San Martn, at his memorial in Buenos Aires. The visit marks the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in nearly six decades. Modi laid a wreath at the statue of San Martn widely regarded as the liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru in a solemn ce

India-US trade talks stall as Washington turns up the pressure with August 1 tariff threat US President Donald Trump has confirmed he has signed tariff letters targeting 12 countries, which will be dispatched on Monday, July 7raising the stakes in what could be a new wave of trade confrontations. Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump declined to name the countries but made clear that each will receive letters detailing new tariff levels. I signed some letters and theyll go out on Monday

Minority communities such as Shias, Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis continue to face harassment, violence, and intimidation. In many cases, law enforcement either turns a blind eye or enables the attacks through inactionreports Asian Lite News A significant session was held in Committee Room 7 of the UK Parliament, organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB), to address the worsening state of religious persecution in Pakistan. The meeting presented

If the Quad aims to counterbalance Chinas growing influence, it must expand its focus beyond the maritime domain and address the continental dynamics of the Indo-Pacificwrites Imran Khurshid Despite early concerns that a Trump administration might deprioritize Quad engagement due to its highly transactional and unpredictable leadership style, the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, held on July 1, reaffirmed the groups strategic relevance. On January 21 just one day after President Donald Trumps in

Trinidad and Tobago, home to a large Indian-origin populationmany of whom are now in their fifth and sixth generationsoffered a unique cultural resonance to the visit.reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a historic two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, reaffirming Indias commitment to deeper collaboration with the Caribbean nation and celebrating the enduring ties between the two countries. Ahead of the visit, Indian High Commissioner Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit had noted the

The Prime Minister stated that people of India have resolved to make India a Developed Nation by 2047, when we celebrate 100 years of Independence.reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that over the past decade, India has seen a major transformation across the spectrum, and on the foundations of stable polity and good governance, the country will soon be the worlds third-largest economy. During his historic Parliament address here, PM Modi said India already contr

Organised by diaspora activists, the exhibit exposed rising rights abuses in Bangladesh post-Hasinareports Asian Lite News In a bid to spotlight the deteriorating human rights situation and rising persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, a powerful photo exhibition was held on Tuesday at Genevas iconic Broken Chair monument, coinciding with the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Organised by members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, human rights activists, and community leaders, the exhibit

Global investment firm reaffirms Indias status as top-performing economy in latest growth outlookreports Asian Lite News India is set to retain its position as the fastest-growing economy among nations tracked by Morgan Stanley, according to the latest report from the firms Global Investment Committee. The report forecasts Indias real GDP growth at 5.9 per cent on a Q4-over-Q4 basis in 2025 and 6.4 per cent in 2026. It stated, India remains the fastest growing economy in our coverage, with real

The fresh job cuts come less than two months after Microsoft announced it was laying off more than 6,000 employeesreports Asian Lite News Microsoft is set to cut around 9,000 jobs roughly 4% of its global workforce in a fresh wave of layoffs this year, according to reports on Wednesday. According to The Seattle Times, employees in Microsofts Xbox division, known as Microsoft Gaming, are being hit hard by these layoffs. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic

Stuart Broad urges England to stay mentally sharp and wait for the collapse, pointing to Indias Headingley horror as proof that wickets can fall in clusters.reports Asian Lite News Former England fast-bowler Stuart Broad believes the Ben Stokes-led side will have the lower-order collapses of India in mind when they aim to make further inroads into the tourists batting line-up in the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Edgbaston. In first sessions play, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse were amo

With this win, the Blue Tigresses remain unbeaten, having now claimed three wins in as many matchesreports Asian Lite News The Indian womens football team produced another commanding performance in the AFC Womens Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, dismantling Iraq 5-0 at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium on Wednesday, July 2. First-half goals from Sangita Basfore and Manisha set the tone before a dominant second half saw Karthika Angamuthu, Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi, and Nongmaithem Ratanbala De

IMF approves $350 million t ranche as island nation sees early signs of recovery, but challenges persist amid ongoing reforms and rising public discontent.reports Asian Lite News The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the disbursement of a fresh $350 million tranche to Sri Lanka following the successful completion of the fourth review of its four-year, $2.9 billion bailout programme. The approval comes as the crisis-hit island nation pushes ahead with a challenging reform agenda aime

Pakistan misses export target for 2024-25 despite modest growth, with rising imports widening the trade deficit and prompting urgent cost-cutting measures across key sectors.reports Asian Lite News Pakistan has fallen short of its annual export target for the fiscal year 202425, as widening trade imbalances and surging domestic costs fuel growing economic uncertainty. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country managed exports worth USD 32.106 billion durin

Wider impact hits eateries, schools, media, tourismraising fear, weakening autonomy Beijing has intensified its national security measures in Hong Kong, moving from the idea of patriots administering the region to demanding that business individuals be patriotic, according to a report by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) cited by Taipei Times. In its 2014 white paper on the one country, two systems framework after the 1997 handover, Beijing asserted that Hong Kong people would govern Hong Kong

Energy, critical minerals, trade, and defence top the agenda as PM Modi is heading to Argentina in third leg of his five-nation visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Argentina this week marks a pivotal moment in Indias growing engagement with Latin America, as both nations look to deepen cooperation across energy, critical minerals, defence, and trade. The visitscheduled for July 45will be the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years, underscorin

Indias energy landscape is undergoing a rapid shift, with major investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and infrastructure aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pitched for a deeper energy partnership with the US, meeting Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington, DC. The meeting underscored Indias ongoing energy transition and its ambition to collaborate more closely with the United States on clean energy sol

The summit is expected to reinforce BRICS evolving role as a platform for inclusive global development and balanced multipolar engagement As anticipation builds for the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for 6-7 July, Brazilian academic Lier Pires Ferreira has outlined the forums key focus areas. Speaking to Toda Palavra, a media partner of TV BRICS, the professor from the BRICS Research Centre at the Federal University of Fluminense described the outlook as favourable, highlighting that the meetin

Spiritual leader says his office, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, was the sole authority on reincarnation As exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, he asserted on Wednesday that there will be the 15th reincarnation, the first important announcement over continuance of the 600-year-old institution after his demise. Reassuring followers across the globe who were concerned about the future of their spiritual and cultural leadership, His Holiness said his office, the

In War (2019), Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff only came together publicly during the success bash, maintaining the mystery around their face-off In a strategic move to heighten audience anticipation, the makers of War 2 have decided that lead stars Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr will promote the film separately. The decision is designed to maintain the intensity of their on-screen rivalry and deliver a powerful cinematic experience. The upcoming action thriller, produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF), is

Producer Antony Perumbavoor also shared a nostalgic photograph of himself carrying a young Vismaya, posting a warm message in Malayalam. In it, he extended his heartfelt blessings and said a great beginning awaited her Vismaya Mohanlal, daughter of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, is set to make her much-anticipated acting debut with director Jude Anthany Josephs upcoming film Thudakkam. The announcement was made by Mohanlal himself through a heartfelt post on his X (formerly Twitter) timeline. Sha

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is all set to headline the 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) as the chief guest. The actor is excited to showcase some of his most cherished work at the prestigious event, where Indian cinema will be celebrated on a global platform. Expressing his gratitude, the PK actor said he felt humbled and thrilled to join a festival that truly celebrates the richness and diversity of Indian cinema. Im humbled and thrilled to be a part of the Indian Film Festival

Reigning world champion and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has reclaimed the top spot in the mens javelin throw world rankings, according to the latest update by World Athletics. The Indian star edged past Grenadas Anderson Peters, thanks to a stellar run of recent performances, most notably his victory at the Paris Diamond League. Neeraj Chopra (1)With a total of 1,445 ranking points, Neeraj leads the javelin throw world standings. His consistency and big-match temperament have helped him

Bollywoods leading ladies have often turned to flowers to elevate their hairstyles, making floral hairdos an enduring fashion statement on and off the red carpet. These celebrities didnt just accessorisethey inspired bridal trends and gave timeless charm a fresh, modern spin. Anushka Sharma Anushkas bridal look remains iconic. She adorned her wedding bun with oversized pink roses, making it one of the most copied hairstyles among Indian brides. The ethereal combination of pastel florals and soft