Britain Re-Establishing Diplomatic Ties With Syria As Lammy Visits Damascus Syria Unrest
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India.com
32 minutes ago
- India.com
As U.S. Pressures Lebanon To Disarm Hezbollah, What It Means For The Region
New Delhi: On a humid Beirut morning, an American envoy left the Lebanese presidential palace holding a confidential seven-page letter. Tasked by Washington to deal with the Syrian crisis, the man had just received Beirut's official reply to a proposal – disarm Hezbollah. The visit came while Israeli warplanes were still bombing what they claimed were Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon. Civilians had died. A ceasefire signed in November last year was still, technically, in place, but its cracks were showing. The United States wanted Lebanon to act fast. The envoy hinted that time was running out. Inside Lebanon, the pressure is mounting. Outside, the stakes are higher. What was the core demand? Hezbollah must pull its fighters back beyond the Litani River and surrender its military assets in the region. But that was not all. Now interpreting the ceasefire deal through a much wider lens, Washington was pushing for Hezbollah to give up all its weapons not just in the south, but everywhere. Beirut's response has not been made public. But reports, quoting diplomats with access to the discussions, suggest that Lebanon has asked for something first. They want Israel to vacate every last inch of Lebanese territory it holds from Shebaa Farms to Kfarchouba Hills. The Lebanese state has also reportedly asked for the return of its prisoners, compliance with the United Nations resolution that ended the 2006 war and a halt to Israeli air raids. The American envoy did not reveal much after his meeting, but called the letter 'spectacular'. He hinted that if Lebanon cooperated, like Syria claims it might, help would follow. Possibly in the form of reconstruction funds. Possibly in the form of diplomatic pressure on Israel. But nothing was guaranteed. Behind this diplomatic choreography lies a much deeper tension. The United States sees Hezbollah as an arm of Iran. Israel views the group as its most dangerous enemy. For decades, Hezbollah has operated with relative freedom in Lebanon – militarily strong, politically entrenched and supported by large sections of the Shia population. Critics inside Lebanon accuse the group of turning the state into a hostage. Supporters call them a shield against Israeli aggression. The pressure on Lebanon is not only military. It is financial. The economy is battered. Inflation is brutal. The World Bank estimates the country needs at least $11 billion for post-war recovery. But aid, especially from Western governments, may come with conditions, including disarming Hezbollah. Even Hezbollah, reportedly, is aware of this. Source-based reports say that the group is open to dialogue and aware that many of its own supporters live in homes reduced to rubble. But disarming Hezbollah is easier said than done. As long as Israel keeps shelling Lebanon or stays inside contested areas, the group insists its weapons stay. They have said it before. They repeated it during a recent religious gathering in Beirut's southern suburb. For them, laying down arms while the threat remains is not only unthinkable but suicidal. Meanwhile, Israel continues its strikes. No sign of slowing down. No public commitment to fully honour the ceasefire. And no clear indication that Monday's talks in Washington between the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US President Donald Trump even mentioned Lebanon. Yet something has shifted. For India, the situation is not just a distant geopolitical subplot. The same region holds key interests. India imports oil through these waters. It has growing stakes in regional stability, especially after joining infrastructure and trade projects connecting the Gulf and the Mediterranean. And India has long maintained troops in Lebanon under the UN peacekeeping umbrella. If this fragile process collapses, the fallout will not stay local. It will spill into energy prices, maritime routes, refugee flows and broader alignments. It could also impact India's relations with both Israel and the Arab world. Washington wants to redraw the lines in West Asia. Caught in the middle, Beirut is asking for sovereignty before surrender. Hezbollah will not back down unless Israel steps back. And Israel shows no intent of doing so without U.S. nudging. In the background, the old map of power is cracking, but no one yet knows what the new one will look like.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sringeri assembly segment hobbled by lack of development, dwindling infra
Chikkamagaluru: The Sringeri assembly segment was considered one of the most prominent and wealthy in the state in terms for its development activities. However, today, residents bemoan that it is lagging behind and in need of immediate attention. From roads to administrative offices, the condition has worsened. People are suffering due to a lack of infrastructure and other issues, including yellow leaf and leaf spot diseases that are affecting areca plants, and the hazard of frequent run-ins with wild animals. The assembly segment comprises three taluks: Sringeri, Koppa, and Narasimharaja Pura, along with Khandya Hobli of Chikkamagaluru taluk. The segment has three 'mini' Vidhana Soudhas, but unfortunately, all three are in poor condition and need urgent maintenance work. Leaking roofs make it almost impossible for the staff to discharge their duties, complained one of the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. When it comes to basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges, the condition is just as miserable. Majority of the roads, including state highways, national highways, and district roads, are in a dilapidated state, said social activist Kalkuli Mallappa Hegde. He added that the taluk offices are also in very bad shape. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bulford: If You Were Born Between 1945-1974 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo He further claimed that bridges and roads damaged during the last monsoon are yet to be repaired. In addition, sub-standard material and workmanship has put paid to hopes of a speedy redressal. As a result of poor roads, accidents have become all too common, leaving many injured. Recently, several tourists were injured near Balehonnur after their bus met with an accident. Shekara, a Koppa resident, said MLA T D Rajegowda kept blaming the BJP for not allowing him to take up development works between 2018 and 2023. However, even though he has the authority now, he has failed to deliver. Even as Koppa tahsildar Likitha Mohan confirmed that renovation of the administrative building has been taken up at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh, according to one official in Sringeri, the taluk office building was renovated only recently and has no leakage. MLA Rajegowda and deputy commissioner C N Meena Nagaraj could not be reached for comments.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
PM Modi likely to visit UK this month, free trade deal on agenda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the United Kingdom by the end of July, marking a high-profile diplomatic engagement, news agency PTI reported citing visit is likely to culminate in the formal signing of the long-anticipated India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and explore avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence, technology, and regional governments are currently finalising the dates for the visit, which would mark PM Modi's first trip to the UK since negotiations on the FTA were formally concluded earlier this While initial expectations had suggested that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would visit India first, it is now understood that his visit may follow later in the visit follows a series of recent high-level exchanges, including a meeting between Modi and Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's trip to have indicated that the UK leg of the trip may be combined with a visit to the Maldives, though final confirmations are still India-UK Free Trade Agreement, finalised in May after three years of negotiations, is poised to significantly enhance economic ties between the two deal is expected to eliminate tariffs on nearly 99 per cent of Indian exports, while also improving market access for British goods such as whisky and to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the FTA is projected to provide a strong economic boost to India. With Indian remittances from the UK, currently the third-largest source after the US and UAE, already contributing to a USD 130 billion inflow in 2024 (or 3.3 per cent of India's GDP), the agreement is likely to further stimulate remittance flows.A key provision of the deal includes a national insurance waiver of up to three years for Indian ICT professionals working in the UK, potentially increasing their savings and FTA aims to double bilateral trade in goods and services by 2030, from the current USD 56.7 billion in 2024. Indian exporters, particularly in textiles and apparel, sectors facing challenges in the US market—are set to gain from improved access to UK Britain, the agreement opens up India's rapidly expanding middle class, with notable opportunities in the beverage the FTA, the two sides have also concluded a double taxation convention and are expected to advance defence and security cooperation during Modi's visit is seen as a strategic milestone in strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the post-Brexit era.- EndsTune InMust Watch
