Author: Steven Sahiounie

New Delhi is identifying citizens who have been forced into money laundering and “dating scams” in Southeast AsiaThousands of Indians are believed to be trapped in several Southeast Asian countries where they are forced to work as “cyber slaves,” the Indian Express reported on Monday. The illegal activities they are allegedly coerced into include money laundering, cryptocurrency fraud, and “dating or love scams” in countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. According to data compiled by the Indian immigration authorities, almost 30,000 of the 73,138 Indians who traveled to these countries on visitor visas from January 2022 to May 2024 have…

The former leader of France’s right-wing National Rally has rejected claims that the party’s MEPs embezzled fundsRight-wing French politician Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Monday to stand trial over allegations that senior members of the party she formerly headed, the National Rally, embezzled €3 million ($3.3 million) in EU funds. According to French authorities, the alleged scheme ran between 2004 and 2016, and involved lawmakers from the National Front (as the party was then known) in the European Parliament fictitiously employing 20 assistants who simultaneously held positions within the party.The assistants allegedly did not conduct EU-related…

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that communication with Hezbollah remains ongoing, and the party is not far from his stance regarding ways to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Berri stated, “Lebanon is still committed to the path agreed upon with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, which aims to secure a ceasefire with Israel and implement UN Resolution 1701.” He added, “The initiative I previously proposed regarding the ceasefire was agreed upon with Hassan Nasrallah, and this agreement remains in place.” Berri’s Initiative Berri has put forward a proposal that seeks to reduce…

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that Tehran will not send fighters to Lebanon or Gaza to confront Israel. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, in his weekly press conference, said, “The governments of Lebanon and Palestine have the necessary strength and ability to confront aggression, and there is no need to deploy Iranian auxiliary or volunteer forces.” He emphasized that Iran will not allow Israel’s “criminal acts” to go unanswered. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also issued a statement on Sunday, saying that the killing of Abbas Nilforoushan, the deputy commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,…

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that eliminating Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is a crucial step but not the entire solution. Speaking to the 188th Armored Brigade and Golani Infantry Brigade in northern Israel, Gallant said, “We will use all the capabilities we have to restore the residents of the north.” Israeli media reported that Gallant hinted at the possibility of a ground advance into Lebanon. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, “Israeli special forces have conducted small, targeted operations in southern Lebanon.” These operations aim to gather intelligence in preparation for a potential ground offensive. The…

Eating late at night is often seen as a bad habit, but consuming healthy snacks before bed can offer several health benefits when included in a balanced diet. Here are eight healthy snack ideas you can enjoy when hunger strikes before sleep:

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique has reportedly excluded French forward Ousmane Dembélé from the squad set to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League for “disciplinary reasons.” According to reports from L’Équipe and RMC Sport, Enrique made the decision to leave the French international out of the team for Tuesday’s match in the second round of the Champions League group stage, to be held at the Emirates Stadium in London. Team officials from PSG did not respond to requests for comment by The Associated Press. However, L’Équipe suggested that the exclusion followed a verbal altercation between Enrique and…

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported over 1,000 deaths and 6,000 injuries from Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in the past two weeks. Nearly a million people have been displaced, fleeing to other areas within Lebanon or to neighboring Syria for safety. Most have sought refuge in schools lacking essential supplies. Here are the key countries that have pledged or provided humanitarian aid to Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates: United Arab Emirates The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pledged $100 million in emergency relief aid to Lebanon. This initiative aims to support the Lebanese people…

The Kremlin on Monday condemned the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last Friday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Nasrallah’s death has significantly destabilized the Middle East. He added that the bombing of residential areas in Lebanon has resulted in heavy civilian casualties and could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe similar to that in Gaza. Peskov expressed Moscow’s deep concern over what he described as indiscriminate bombing, warning that it would inevitably lead to a humanitarian disaster. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned what it called “another political assassination carried…

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, announced on Monday that Lebanon is prepared to immediately implement UN Resolution 1701 and deploy its army to the southern region of the Litani River. In a press conference held in Ain el-Tineh after meeting with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Mikati stated that Lebanon “commits to fully applying all the points outlined in the appeal issued by the United States, the European Union, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Italy, and regional countries regarding an immediate ceasefire.” He emphasized that Lebanon officially agrees to a ceasefire and to fully implement Resolution…