UK Spy Leak Exposes MI6 Agents, Afghan Allies; £7 Billion Fallout Sparks Political Firestorm
/ Jul 20, 2025, 10:32PM IST
A catastrophic UK security breach has exposed over 100 MI6 agents, special forces operatives, and nearly 19,000 Afghan allies who worked with British troops during the Afghanistan war. The leak occurred in 2022 via a misdirected email but was suppressed by a court gag order. The breach surfaced in 2023, reportedly leaking onto Facebook. The UK government responded with a secret relocation plan now costing up to £7 billion. Watch
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
UK FTA is a turning point in how India engages with West
The signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK last week was no ordinary moment — not just because 99% of Indian exports to the UK will now enter tariff-free, or because British luxury cars and Scotch whisky are about to get cheaper. The real story is India's evolving place in global trade — more assertive, more selective and no longer willing to play by someone else's rulebook. The immediate economic benefits are eye-catching. For British exporters, tariff cuts on whisky (down from 150% to 75% right away, and to 40% in a decade), high-end vehicles, cosmetics and dairy offer new access to India's swelling consumer base. For Indian exporters — particularly in textiles, jewellery, EVs, marine products and generics — the UK market is now wide open, with tariff advantages over rivals like China and Vietnam. The UK's access to Indian public procurement markets and its offer to exempt Indian professionals from social security payments sweeten the deal further. Also, Indian yoga teachers, chefs and tech workers will find short-term visas easier to secure— a meaningful breakthrough on the politically sensitive issue of mobility and immigration India's MSMEs are expected to be among the biggest winners. Industry analysts estimate a 30-40% rise in Indian exports to Britain in the next five years. That's not just numbers on paper — that's jobs on the ground, especially in states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. But perhaps the most significant thing about this deal is what isn't in it — agriculture. India drew a red line, clearly flagging at the outset that it's non-negotiable, which the UK respected. Our government is fully aware of our responsibility to protect the rights of our farmers. Opening up Indian farming to global agribusiness is politically radioactive. The UK agreement avoids that minefield. This signals something larger: India is happy to do trade, but only on terms that don't destabilise our broader economic progress. This new pragmatism — open on industry, cautious on food — could now become the blueprint for other negotiations, particularly with the ongoing one with the US. Hours after the India-UK deal was inked, eyes turned to the US. Trade talks with the US have been ongoing for some months. On Thursday, India's ministry of external affairs confirmed that both sides are working on the 'first tranche' of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Behind the scenes, pressure is mounting. After reimposing 10% reciprocal tariffs on global exports in April 2025, the US specifically slapped a 26% tariff on Indian goods, though a pause was granted till August 1. That ticking clock now adds urgency to the ongoing BTA talks. Here's the sticking point: The US wants access to India's agriculture and digital markets. India, meanwhile, wants tariff rollbacks, supply chain integration and protection for its strategic sectors. The Union government is clear: India will negotiate hard and the US should not mistake flexibility for submission. The UK deal becomes a silent message to the US: We're open to trade but we won't be bullied. The UK FTA also shifts the geopolitical axis slightly. Post-Brexit, Britain badly needed a big trade deal. India, flush with economic confidence and global attention, was in no rush. That power asymmetry is visible in the final text of the agreement— cautious, layered, incremental. This is not a one-shot silver bullet. It's a living document, built to expand, revise tariffs and add new sectors over time if required. For India, the pact also sends signals elsewhere, to the EU, Japan and Asean. In July alone, the US concluded trade deals with Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia — all part of its Indo-Pacific economic strategy. India, however, is forging its own path. It's building a trade perimeter that keeps sovereignty intact while enabling access and investment. There is, of course, no escaping the historical undertones. Two centuries ago, Britain came to India in the name of trade and stayed to conquer and rule. Today, Britain is back, but on an even keel. That reversal is more than symbolic. Indian policymakers, once wary of the term free trade because of its colonial baggage, are now redefining it. The FTA is not about deference, it's about mutual interest. India is opening doors, but it's also setting terms. This is more than a trade agreement. It is a shift in posture. It is a turning point in how India engages with the West. Gone is the tentative, aid-seeking India of old. This is a country that brings its own terms to the table, and expects others to adapt. The British see this deal as a lifeline in a post-EU economy. India sees it as leverage, a card it can play while negotiating with bigger economies like the US and EU. Undoubtedly, this trade deal is historic. Not just for what it delivers, but for what it represents — the arrival of a more assertive, strategic, and self-confident India on the global trade stage. As for the Americans, they would be wise to study the UK deal not as a template to copy, but perhaps as a warning. Push too hard, especially on food and data, and India will simply say no. Syed Zafar Islam is a national spokesperson of the BJP and former member of Parliament. The views expressed are personal
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Afghan police seize illicit drugs in Badakhshan province
Afghan counter-narcotics police have discovered 57 kg of opium and arrested a suspected drug smuggler in Badakhshan province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Sunday. The contraband was discovered during a series of operations conducted on the outskirts of the Argo district of the province, said the statement, adding that one individual was arrested in connection with the case. On July 24, Afghan security forces seized 1,000 kg of illicit drugs and arrested two alleged drug smugglers in southern Afghanistan's Zabul province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement. The opium was concealed inside a truck and discovered during a counter-narcotic operation in Shahjoy district, the ministry said, Xinhua news agency reported. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking, and their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation, the statement said. The Afghan national army thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs and detained three alleged drug smugglers in the southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, said an army spokesman in the region, Jawed Agha, on Tuesday. The contraband, which included 730 kg of opium poppy and was placed in the cavities of a vehicle, was identified and confiscated by the army personnel, the official added. They also discovered two assault rifles and two satellite phones in the possession of the arrested and handed them to the bodies concerned for further investigation, the official said. Police set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on July 20. The contraband, which included 130 kg of opium poppy, 480 kg of methamphetamine, and 660 pieces of stimulant tablets, had been collected over the past two months and was burned publicly, the official added. Police won't allow anyone to produce, process, or traffic illegal drugs, the official further said.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Who is Derrick Perry? The shopper who averted major tragedy as 11 people stabbed at Walmart in Michigan
What began as a regular Saturday afternoon at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, quickly descended into chaos as a 42-year-old man began stabbing customers at random. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, the attacker entered the store around 5 pm. wielding a folding knife, ultimately injuring 11 people — six critically and five seriously. But amid the panic, one man's courageous actions helped prevent further bloodshed. Derrick Perry, a local resident shopping with his family at the Walmart store, is being credited with stopping the attacker before more lives were lost. Eyewitnesses say Perry ran toward the suspect while others fled. 'He didn't even hesitate,' said one shopper who witnessed the incident. 'Everyone was running away, but Derrick ran toward the danger.' Security footage reportedly shows Perry using a store shelf for cover before lunging at the attacker, tackling him to the ground, and restraining him until law enforcement arrived. 'He was just a shopper like the rest of us, but he acted like someone who had trained for this,' said another witness. 'He was calm, precise, and brave.' Sources later confirmed that Perry has a background in security training, which may explain his composed and effective intervention. Traverse City Police Chief Lauren Gilbert praised Perry's selfless actions, saying, 'Had he not stepped in when he did, the situation could've turned much worse. He likely saved lives.' Sheriff Michael Shea added that the attacker appeared to act alone and that the victims were chosen at random. City officials are reportedly preparing to honor Derrick Perry with a Community Hero Award in the coming days. On social media, he is being hailed as a real-life hero. 'He didn't come in wearing a cape,' a local resident posted on Facebook. 'But he showed the kind of courage you only see in movies.' Munson Healthcare confirmed that all 11 victims are being treated at the region's largest hospital. As of Sunday morning, four were in serious condition, and seven were in fair condition. 'Encouraging signs of recovery' have been observed, hospital spokesperson Megan Brown said. Authorities say the attacker used a folding knife and that there is currently no known motive. Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the incident a 'brutal act of violence,' adding, 'Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this.' The FBI has also offered assistance in the investigation. Steven Carter, a Walmart delivery driver, saw part of the attack unfold in the parking lot. 'I saw him cut a woman's throat,' he said. 'Later, a group of shoppers surrounded him. They kept yelling 'Drop the knife,' but he said, 'I don't care, I don't care.' He kept backing away before someone tackled and subdued him.' That someone, it turns out, was Derrick Perry.
