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Facing US tariffs, India’s Modi vows self-reliance

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Facing US tariffs, India’s Modi vows self-reliance


Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2025. — Reuters
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2025. — Reuters
  • Modi vows to defend his country’s interests “like a wall”.
  • Modi delivers Independence Day address at Red Fort.
  • “Self-reliance is foundation of developed India,” says Indian PM.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India is seeking self-reliance with energy independence and the development of its own powerful defence systems, vowing to defend his country’s interests “like a wall”.

Modi delivered his annual Independence Day address from the imposing ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi at a time when India faces intense pressure and threats of additional tariffs from the United States.

“Self-reliance is the foundation of developed India,” Modi said after a flypast of military helicopters scattered flower petals above an invited crowd of thousands.

“Freedom becomes meaningless if someone becomes too dependent on others”.

Ties between New Delhi and Washington have been strained by Trump’s ultimatum for India to end its purchases of Russian oil, a key source of revenue for Moscow as it wages its military offensive in Ukraine.

India has said it “stands ready” to support efforts to end the Ukraine war and endorses a summit to be held between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

But the United States says it will double new import tariffs on India from 25% to 50% by August 27 if New Delhi does not switch crude suppliers.

“We know that we remain dependent on many countries to meet our energy needs”, said Modi, leader of the world’s most populous nation and its fifth-biggest economy.

“But to build a truly self-reliant India, we must achieve energy independence.”

Modi urged scientists and engineers to focus on building key sectors and technologies including fighter jet engines, semiconductor chips and military hardware systems.

“We will have India-made semiconductor chips in the market by the year’s end,” Modi said.

He added that the country was also working towards building its own space station and would have a “defence shield” in the next decade, without giving further details.

He did not speak directly about Trump, but said he would “stand like a wall” against any policy that hurts the interests of farmers.

Agriculture employs vast numbers of people in India and has been a key sticking point in trade negotiations.

“When economic selfishness is rising day by day… we must not just sit and worry about the crisis but instead focus on our strengths,” Modi said.





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Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after knife attack on UK train

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Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after knife attack on UK train


A forensic officer walks near the scene at Huntingdon Station following a series of stabbings on a train, near Cambridge, Britain, November 2, 2025.— Reuters
A forensic officer walks near the scene at Huntingdon Station following a series of stabbings on a train, near Cambridge, Britain, November 2, 2025.— Reuters
  • Eleven people, including train crew injured stabbing incident.
  • Suspect unknown to security services, says transport minister.
  • Five victims discharged from hospital by late on Sunday.

British police said a 32-year-old British man was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder over a knife attack on a train on Saturday, an incident officers had already said was not being treated as terrorism-related.

Eleven people were injured in the mass stabbing on the train, including a member of the train crew who remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. That person was hurt while trying to stop the accused from stabbing others.

The attack, on a London-bound train which then stopped at Huntingdon about 80 miles north of London, shocked the country, and prompted statements from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles, who sent their sympathies to those affected.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said Anthony Williams, 32, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

Ten of the attempted murder charges were linked to the train attack, British Transport Police said, while the eleventh charge was connected to an incident at a station in east London earlier on the same day.

Williams, who is from Peterborough in eastern England, will appear at Peterborough Magistrates Court later on Monday, they said, adding that the charges were brought after a review of CCTV footage from the train, amongst other evidence.

Transport minister Heidi Alexander confirmed on Monday that the man was not known to security services. She declined to comment on whether he was known to mental health services.

Five of the injured had been discharged from the hospital by late Sunday.





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Strict penalties for insulting National flag as residents prepare for celebrations

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Strict penalties for insulting National flag as residents prepare for celebrations


The tallest flagpole in the world at 123m tall, the Abu Dhabi Flagpole stands at the end of the scenic Corniche Breakwater facing the heart of the city. — Instagram@ralphemerson_deperalta
The tallest flagpole in the world at 123m tall, the Abu Dhabi Flagpole stands at the end of the scenic Corniche Breakwater facing the heart of the city. — Instagram@ralphemerson_deperalta

DUBAI: As the UAE celebrates Flag Day today, authorities have issued a reminder that any act of disrespect toward the national flag, such as using its design on cakes, decorations, or promotional items, is a serious crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a fine of Dh500,000 (almost Rs37.8 million).

The warning comes ahead of UAE National Day celebrations on December 2, when citizens and expatriate communities across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi typically mark the occasion with flag hoisting, parades, and cake-cutting ceremonies. Officials have urged everyone to ensure the national flag is treated with the utmost respect.

Residents are advised to follow a set of dos and don’ts issued by the government. Flags must be made of high-quality polyester, kept clean and undamaged, and should never touch the ground. Nothing else should be attached to the flagpole, and flags must be properly folded after use.

Authorities have also clarified that no emblem, logo, or decorative edge should be added to the flag, and it should not appear on food items or altered for promotional designs such as balloons, logos, or typography.

The UAE flag, featuring red, green, white, and black colours symbolising Arab unity, was first raised by the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, during the Eid Al Etihad celebrations in 1971.

As the country prepares for its 53rd National Day, the message is clear: the flag represents the UAE’s pride and unity, and must be honoured accordingly. 





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Indian federal agency freezes Anil Ambani Group’s $351m properties, says source

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Indian federal agency freezes Anil Ambani Group’s 1m properties, says source


Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, attends the companys annual general meeting in Mumbai, India, September 30, 2019. — Reuters
Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, attends the company’s annual general meeting in Mumbai, India, September 30, 2019. — Reuters
  • ED freezes INR30.84bn in Ambani Group assets.
  • Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai holdings seized, says source.
  • Alleged $350 million siphoned via shell companies.

NEW DELHI: India’s financial crime agency has provisionally frozen 30.84 billion Indian rupees ($350.87 million) in assets linked to Reliance Anil Ambani Group as part of a money-laundering investigation, a government source said on Monday.

The case involves loans taken by the group, owned by the younger brother of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, from India’s YES Bank between 2017 and 2019 in excess of $568.86 million. Investments made with the funds delivered no returns.

The Enforcement Directorate has now blocked any transactions from taking place on residential units and land parcels across Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, including industrialist Anil Ambani’s family residence in Mumbai, the source added.

Reliance Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Investigators allege the funds raised by Reliance Home Finance Ltd and Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd were part of a “well-planned” scheme to siphon off 30 billion Indian rupees ($350 million) in loans from YES Bank to many shell companies.

The loans were originally invested through mutual funds and routed to group-linked entities in violation of regulations. The Reliance Group entities are also accused of paying bribes to YES Bank officials before loans were disbursed, a government source had said earlier.

The Enforcement Directorate has cited weak borrower profiles, missing documentation and misuse of funds, the source said, in a case that involves the diversion and laundering of public funds.

The agency is also probing Reliance Communications Ltd and affiliates, where over 136 billion Indian rupees ($1.55 billion) were allegedly diverted through loan evergreening and fund rerouting.





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