Firstpost ·
Globe at a glance: From US denying visa to Mahmoud Abbas to India rejecting Pak-China boundary commission
Your window to world news: Trump’s Fed attack and sweeping Russia sanctions to deadly floods in Spain, Russian drone strikes in Ukraine, India’s rejection of the Pakistan-China boundary commission and the US denying Abbas a visa — here’s your roundup for the day
US denies visa to Palestine president: The US has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week’s UN General Assembly in New York, marking the second consecutive year Washington has rejected his entry. The State Department cited a ‘failure to reform’ by the Palestinian Authority.
Trump accuses Fed board of political rate hikes: US President Donald Trump accused the Federal Reserve’s ‘hostile’ board of raising interest rates for political reasons. He claimed the board was deliberately trying to hurt his presidency, while defending Fed Chair Kevin Warsh as a ‘good man’.
US Congress passes Russia sanctions bill: US lawmakers passed sweeping new sanctions targeting Russia, its energy and defence sectors, senior officials and its shadow fleet. The bill also allows tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
Heavy rain in Spain kills man, disrupts travel: Torrential rain and flash floods in eastern Spain killed a man near Barcelona after his car was swept away. Flooding disrupted public transport and flights, while Valencia recorded intense rainfall. Authorities issued warnings, suspended classes and postponed a football match as climate change intensifies Mediterranean storms.
Russian drone strikes kill five in Ukraine: Russian drone strikes on a passenger bus in southern Ukraine killed five people and injured at least seven, officials said. A separate strike damaged a passenger train in the Mykolaiv region, but all 168 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
India rejects Pakistan-China boundary commission: India rejected the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, calling it legally baseless and unacceptable. The MEA reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India, rejected the 1963 boundary agreement and urged Pakistan to vacate occupied territories.
The big number: The US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.75-4 per cent, its first hike since 2023. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh cited persistent inflation, with policymakers signalling the possibility of further rate increases this year.
Quote of the day: "Not all countries of the Security Council were present at the meeting of the BRICS. But what is important is to say that the common declaration that was produced is a common declaration with a strong commitment by all of them to multilateralism, and by all of them to the United Nations. So, from that point of view, it is reassuring that a large number of important powers that exist in the world believe that multilateralism is the way to address crises and that UN must be at the centre of those efforts."
This day in history: On this day in 1978, after 12 days of secret negotiations brokered by US President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords at the White House, paving the way for a historic peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.