25-09-2023 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI: The percentage of Indians appearing in TOEFL to pursue secondary education and certifications abroad has seen a gradual increase over the years while those taking the test for immigration purpose has declined, according to Educational Testing Service (ETS). The Princeton-based ETS, which conducts …

25-09-2023 TEHRAN: Iran says it has thwarted 30 explosions that were planned to go off simultaneously in the bustling capital, Tehran, to create chaos. The 30 “terrorist explosions” were meant to go off in crowded city centres, but all were prevented and 28 individuals were arrested in connection with the …

25-09-2023 NEW DELHI/ LONDON: India’s top investigation agency confiscated Saturday the properties of Sikh separatist and close ally of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing has sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer believed to be based in Canada, was designated as a terrorist by …

25-09-2023 HOUSTON: The mayor of Texas revealed Saturday that the city of El Paso has reached “a breaking point” due to the huge surge in migrants entering the country from Mexico, with more than 2,000 people applying for asylum each day, filling up shelters, and taxing resources. Texas Mayor Oscar …

25-09-2023 JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen Friday said that “six or seven” Islamic nations are expected to sign a normalization agreement with Tel Aviv once Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) joins the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan in the Abraham Accords. “Six or seven nations from Africa and Asia …

24-09-2023 OTTAWA: A row between Canada and India over the murder of a Sikh separatist has stoked talk of political friction among some Sikhs and Hindus in the diaspora, though others say it’s overblown. After Trudeau’s public accusation on Monday that India may have been behind the killing of Hardeep …

24-09-2023 PARIS: Pope Francis has called on European nations to show greater tolerance towards migrants during a visit to the southern French city of Marseille. Speaking at a meeting of bishops and young people from Mediterranean countries, the pontiff said “those who risk their lives at sea do not invade”. …

24-09-2023 OTTAWA/ NEW DELHI: Canadian officials shared evidence with India’s government, including communications and phone numbers that they believe link Indian agents with the murder of a Sikh activist, before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went public with the allegation, said people familiar with the matter. The information was exchanged via …

24-09-2023 CAROLINA: Tropical Storm Ophelia is rapidly gaining strength off the East Coast, warranting heightened concern and preparations across the region. With maximum sustained winds reaching 70 mph and gusts even higher, the storm is set to impact areas far beyond its center, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds in …

24-09-2023 BEIJING: China’s equivalent of Valentine’s Day, known as the Qixi Festival, has traditionally been considered an auspicious time for Chinese couples to get married. Celebrated annually on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar, Qixi is a celebration of romantic love between the star-crossed …