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Historical Grand Mosque destroyed in Mosul

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Historical Grand Mosque destroyed in Mosul

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Baghdadi’s “Caliphate” vanished

The landmark grand al-Nuri mosque, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced establishment of “caliphate” in 2014, was destroyed on Wednesday.

There are conflicting reports about who destroyed the historical mosque.  Iraqi Army and US blamed Daesh (IS) for destruction while terror outfit accused a US-led coalition air raid for the blow.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi denounced the destruction saying, “Blowing up the al Badba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque amounts to an official acknowledgement of defeat.”

Iraqi Army official leading the Mosul offensive Lt Gen Adulamir Yarallah said, “Our forces were advancing toward their targets deep in the old city and when they got to within 50 meters of the al-Nuri mosque, Daesh (IS) committed another historical crime by blowing up the mosque.”

Commander of Iraqi counter terrorism operations Lt Gen Abdul Ghani al-Assadi said on Wedneday, “We are no more going to drive them out of the old city, (instead) we are going to kill all of them (Daesh) in the coming days.”

US Army Major General Joseph Martin said that the mosque destruction showed IS brutality. “The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of IS,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iraqi forces had claimed to start a push towards the mosque. The US-led coalition is providing air and ground support to the Mosul offensive which began in October last year. On Tuesday, the armed forces had encircled IS stronghold in the old city.

Iraqi Ambassador to India Fakhri al-Issa told APN earlier this year that his government was trying to save Mosul city’s infrastructure, unlike Syria,  as “reconstruction was much more difficult than destruction”.

Coalition spokesman US Air Force colonel John Dorrian denied IS allegation saying “we did not strike in that area”.

Experts believe that destruction of al-Nuri mosque has virtually marked the end of the (Daesh) IS in Iraq. The fall of Mosul would mark the end of Iraqi half of the “caliphate”, the other half being in Syria where vast areas were still under IS control. For IS, Mosul in Iraq was as important for them as Raqqa in Syria.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had reportedly left Mosul to local commanders and is considered to be hiding in the border areas between Iraq and Syria. Coalition forces and other sources have many a time claimed that Baghdadi was killed in the ongoing offensive against the group.

During occupation of vast areas in Iraq and Syria, IS has rampaged through numerous heritage sites in the two countries. IS follows the Saudi-origin Wahabi school of thought, claiming to be a puritanical strain of Islam, which considers all religious shrines idolatrous.

In July 2014, the IS extremists destroyed another landmark in Mosul, the tomb of Jonah, considered to be a key figure in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The terrorist group was also responsible for destroying iconic Palmyra archeological sites in Syria and Assyrian capital of Khorsabad in Iraq.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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Modi trump

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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Donald Trump

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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