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New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) As the US State Department evaluates the "next steps" with regard to 26/11 attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla emphasised on Tuesday that security and defence cooperation between both countries will witness an upward trajectory under Trump 2.0.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, has been declared a fugitive by India and faces multiple criminal charges related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead, including six US citizens.

Last week, the US Supreme Court dismissed Rana's review petition against his extradition, thus clearing the way for him to finally face justice for his alleged role in the deadly attacks.

"We saw very good cooperation on counter-terrorism during Trump 1.0 as there was strong support for India's position and its right to self-defence after the Pulwama terrorist attacks. We also saw that the US stopped military assistance to Pakistan because of its support for terrorism. At the same time, the US worked very closely with us in the listing of terrorists wanted for heinous crimes such as Masood Azhar (Jaish-e-Mohammad chief)," Shringla told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"This (Rana's extradition) would be a reflection of the same approach of the Trump administration -- a very non-compromising approach when it comes to global terrorism. That's where again our interests go inside, our views go inside and I think we should expect much more of security and defence cooperation with the United States under Trump 2.0," adds the seasoned diplomat who was also the Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency.

Washington has been supportive of New Delhi's efforts to punish the perpetrators of one of the worst terror incidents in India's history, orchestrated by Pakistan-based banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Rana, currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles, is also a close associate of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani American Lashkar terrorist who played a key role in planning the Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley, who turned approver in the case, is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his involvement in the brutal terror attacks on Indian soil.

"In view of the recent Supreme Court decision, and consistent with applicable US law, the Department of State is currently evaluating next steps in this case," a spokesperson for the agency said in response to an IANS request for information on the next steps following the court order and when Rana is likely to be dispatched to India.

"We have long supported India's efforts to ensure the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks face justice," the spokesperson added on Tuesday.

--IANS

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Belgrade, Jan 28 (IANS) Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday at a press conference at the government building in Belgrade, citing "elevated tensions" sparked by a collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November last year.

Vucevic, along with other current ministers, will continue leading the government in technical mandate until the election of a new government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Serbia's PM resigned after weeks of massive anti-corruption protests sparked by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad last November.

The canopy collapse, which killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad, has become a flashpoint reflecting wider discontent with the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The incident intensified long-held anger over corruption and the lack of oversight in construction projects, amplifying criticism of Vucic's government, which has faced accusations of undermining democratic freedoms while pursuing European Union membership for Serbia.

The resignation of Prime Minister Vucevic is expected to trigger an early parliamentary election. Serbia's parliament has 30 days to either confirm the resignation and form a new government or call for snap elections.

On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters, including university students on strike, gathered for a 24-hour blockade of a major intersection in Belgrade. The students, who have been protesting for weeks, are demanding accountability for the canopy collapse, which they say is a result of government corruption.

Vucevic, who had served as Prime Minister for less than a year, previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence from 2022 to 2024.

He also served as the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022.

During his tenure, he received several prestigious awards, including the Charter of Honourary Senator of the Senate of the Economy of Serbia in 2014. In that same year, he was honored with the "Captain Misa Anastasijevic" award for his leadership in promoting European values in Novi Sad. Under his leadership, the city was recognised as the European Youth Capital in 2019 and the European Capital of Culture in 2021.

--IANS

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Kinshasa, Jan 28 (IANS) Several embassies in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were damaged, looted, and even set on fire amid mass demonstrations against the perceived inaction of the international community in addressing the ongoing violence in the eastern part of the country.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society mobilised the local population to protest against the dire situation in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the U.S. and other Western countries, as well as the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission.

Part of the exterior of the French embassy was set on fire by protesters, while the nearby Ugandan embassy was looted. Sounds of detonation were heard in the neighbourhoods where the Rwandan embassy and the US consular service are located, Xinhua news agency reported.

Blaise Kilimbalimba, Kinshasa police commander, urged the demonstrators to remain calm and return home, warning that those sowing trouble would face serious consequences.

Hostilities resumed in Goma on Tuesday morning after a relatively calm night. March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have been attacking Goma since late Sunday.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been going on since early Tuesday between the DRC army and the rebels near the airport, a strategic point once controlled by the M23.

Earlier on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in eastern DRC and reiterated his strongest condemnation of the M23 armed group's ongoing offensive and its advances toward Goma.

Guterres called on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. According to the UN, more than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in eastern DRC.

--IANS

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Tripoli, Jan 28 (IANS) Libyan officials and political factions offered a measured welcome this week to the appointment of Ghanaian diplomat Hanna Serwaa Tetteh as the United Nations' new special envoy to the conflict-stricken nation, though analysts and lawmakers cautioned that her tenure may face familiar hurdles in steering the country toward elections and stability.

Tetteh, who previously served as the UN secretary-general's envoy to the Horn of Africa, succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who stepped down as head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in May. Stephanie Koury, a senior UN official, had led the mission on an interim basis until Tetteh's selection.

The appointment comes amid stalled international efforts to broker a path to elections in Libya, which is fractured into rival eastern and western governments.

Mohamed Menfi, president of Libya's internationally recognised Presidency Council, called Tetteh's selection "critical," citing her "extensive diplomatic experience" in a social media post Sunday.

He expressed hope she could help break the political impasse and advance long-delayed elections, which Libyans view as vital to ending a decade of chaos following the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya's eastern-based administration, aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, also pledged cooperation but stressed that solutions must emerge from "Libyan-Libyan dialogue." In a statement on Facebook, the eastern-based government urged Tetteh to ensure UNSMIL's role remains supportive rather than directive, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tetteh, a seasoned diplomat who previously led UN engagements with the African Union, assumes her role on Friday as Libya's political fissures deepen. The country has been deadlocked since the collapse of its 2020 ceasefire, with eastern forces refusing to recognise the Tripoli-based government and both sides accused of obstructing elections.

Some analysts said that Tetteh's ability to bridge these gaps -- and unify international stakeholders -- will likely determine whether her tenure marks a turning point or another chapter in Libya's unresolved crisis.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said that the "productive call" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday evening, along with a strong possibility of PM Modi visiting Washington soon, will take the India-US relationship significantly forward in the very first few weeks of Trump 2.0.

"Trump 2.0 offers us some unique opportunities for a number of reasons. One, of course, is that he has come in with an unfettered mandate this time. He has the scope, given the fact that this is a legacy term, and the opportunity to take the relationship significantly forward. And secondly, there's a desire on both sides to work on the comprehensive global strategic partnership," Shringla told IANS in an exclusive interview.

Following the phone call, the White House said in a readout on Tuesday, India time, that both leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between the two nations.

"We have hit the ground running, both in terms of the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar at the inaugural ceremony at the Capitol Hill, and, at the same time, the invitation that has gone across to Prime Minister Modi for a separate standalone visit to the United States so soon after President Trump's assuming office. That will set the stage for all of the decisions to follow and the relationship that would see considerable enhancement ahead of a visit by President Trump later in the year for the Quad Summit that India will host," said Shringla.

The seasoned diplomat believes that even though there are a few issues that could be classified under the broad rubric of challenges - moving towards a fair bilateral trading relationship, deportation of illegal immigrants and India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment - it can be deftly tackled as Trump 1.0 saw similar requirements for the American side.

Shringla emphasised that New Delhi has never supported illegal immigration and always proactively engaged with the authorities in Washington in deportation of those who have been identified by authorities as Indian citizens.

"At the same time, I think there is a push from the US side to try and ensure that legal migration is streamlined. This is an important source of talent for the US. At the same time, for us, a lot of our talented young people would have opportunities if these aspects are simplified, whether it is access to H-1b visas or green cards. I think this should be a part of the narrative with the United States," he said.

On having a "fair bilateral trading relationship", the former Foreign Secretary highlighted that India had already been in negotiations with the US under Trump 1.0 in a partial Free Trade Agreement that can be resumed and concluded soon.

"This would mean that, at the early stages of the Trump administration, we have the basis to secure greater market access for our exports to the US and US exports to India. I think that's a good way to start that term. It also deflects attention away from the issue of tariffs, which is high on Trump's mind," said Shringla.

On the issue of increasing procurement of American-made security equipment, Shringla, who has also served as India's ambassador to the US, believes that the purchase of quality defence equipment is something that has always been calibrated into discussions with the US side.

"I think the US can offer us equipment that we are seeking. I think we'd be happy to consider those. At the same time, it does put a little bit of pressure on us to buy more defence equipment from the US. So, this is something that has to be calibrated into the overall dialogue," he said.

The Chief Coordinator of India's G20 Presidency insists that all these issues can be handled in a smooth manner considering the excellent relationship between PM Modi and President Trump.

"Successive Prime Ministers and Presidents have put their own personal weight behind progress in the relationship and that has been done by Prime Minister Modi with successive US presidents. But there is a special chemistry between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. We have seen it during the heydays and success of the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston, or the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad that took place in early 2020. There is no doubt about the fact that they have a great relationship.

"They have a lot of mutual admiration, respect, and that is the basis for a very substantial enhancement of the bilateral relationship because you have to start from the level of the leaders and then take it down by everything else. So, I think from that point of view, we have got on to a good start. There was a good conversation from all accounts yesterday and this is something that will form the basis for high level visits and basic decisions to follow after that," remarked Shringla.

He mentioned that PM Modi's efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine dovetails in a certain sense with that of President Trump's goal to end the war in the region.

"Prime Minister Modi has always been saying that this is not an era of war, that we should work through dialogue and diplomacy to secure peace. In that context, he has also invested personal capital in this by visiting both Russia and Ukraine on that endeavour. From that point of view, our efforts dovetailed with President Trump's vision of bringing an end to conflict. There is a positive sign already because the Middle East is seeing a ceasefire. There's been exchange of hostages and the situation has eased up in Gaza with people going back to their homes and humanitarian assistance coming in. So, it's a positive sign there. I am sure if that can be replicated in Europe, in Ukraine, then this will be another positive sign," opined Shringla.

--IANS

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Nicosia, Jan 27 (IANS) Israeli flights scheduled to land at Paphos airport in western Cyprus have been redirected to Larnaca airport on the island's southern coast, following a directive from Israeli authorities, according to a Cypriot official on Monday.

The change in destination, which will last several days, comes after the Israeli government cited "various security reasons" for the decision.

Victor Papadopoulos, Director of the Cyprus President's press office, confirmed the alteration in flight routes, stating, "We were informed that the Israelis decided to operate their flights to and from Larnaca airport instead of Paphos." However, Papadopoulos refrained from providing further details on the reasons behind the move.

Israeli media first reported the change late on Sunday night, mentioning security concerns as the primary factor. According to Cyprus' state-run Cyprus News Agency, the decision was made by Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency. The directive is expected to remain in place until further notice.

There are about 17 flights per week from Tel Aviv and Haifa to Paphos, while approximately 60 flights operate weekly between Israel and Larnaca, according to the winter flight schedules, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli embassy in Nicosia also confirmed the diversion, explaining that flights operated by Israeli carriers, including EL AL and Arkia, would temporarily land at Larnaca due to "various security issues." The embassy assured that the situation would be closely monitored and evaluated in full cooperation with Cypriot authorities.

Cypriot authorities have tightened security measures at the Israeli embassy in Nicosia and other possible Israeli targets around the island since the start of the conflict in Gaza last year.

--IANS

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Warsaw, Jan 27 (IANS) Auschwitz survivors and global leaders gathered at the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in southern Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.

The ceremony drew an array of international dignitaries, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, King Charles III of the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda, along with representatives from approximately 60 countries and international organizations.

The main commemoration took place at 4 pm local time in a large tent erected near the iconic main gate of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the largest of the extermination camps. Around 3,000 attendees, including Holocaust survivors, their families, and world leaders, joined to honor the victims and reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust.

Polish President Andrzej Duda paid tribute to the victims during the ceremony, emphasizing Poland's role in preserving these historical sites.

"Poland takes care of those sites to protect the memory, to keep it alive, so people always remember," he said. Duda also highlighted that Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, established in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly.

He added, "Today, we commemorate all those who were murdered during the Holocaust, including over 3 million Polish citizens of Jewish nationality who were killed by the Germans during World War II," Xinhua news agency reported.

The Auschwitz concentration camp was established by the Nazis in 1940. At least 1.1 million people were murdered there. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on Jan. 27, 1945, a date now recognised globally as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

--IANS

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Abuja, Jan 27 (IANS) At least 22 Nigerian soldiers have been killed and several others wounded by suspected terrorists in a remote town in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the military said on Monday.

Edward Buba, spokesperson for the military, confirmed the casualties in a statement obtained Monday by Xinhua in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, without revealing where and when the attack took place.

He said the suspected terrorists planned an ambush and deployed improvised explosive devices, such as person-borne explosive devices and vehicle-borne explosive devices, to ward off advancing ground troops during an anti-terror raid.

The recent attack on troops followed the thwarting of several terrorist attempts on military bases in Borno, with the military "shooting down the amateur drones used by the terrorists" in some of the attacks, Buba said, recalling that at least 70 suspected terrorists, including a brigade commander and a special forces commander for an armed group in the northeast region, had been killed earlier.

On Sunday, local media outlets reported that another high-ranking commander was also among those killed during the attack on an army base in Borno, Xinhua news agency reported.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months.

Kenyan President William Ruto, who is also the champion of the African Union (AU) institutional reforms, said on Monday that conflict continues to deny Africa of its potential, costing the continent an estimated 18 billion US dollars annually and displacing millions of people.

Ruto said Africa currently hosts 35 million internally displaced persons, 8.9 million refugees, 1.1 million asylum seekers, and one million stateless persons.

"Between April and June 2024 alone, a total of 1,000 terrorism incidents were recorded across Africa, resulting in 4,818 deaths," he said during the high-level Extended Bureau Retreat on AU Institutional Reforms held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

The day-long event brought together presidents from Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Ghana, and the Comoros, as well as Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the AU Commission, to accelerate reforms of the 55-member continental organisation.

Ruto noted that the AU security architecture in its current configuration is incapable of addressing the continent's complex dynamics and challenges, and there is an urgent need for immediate revitalization of the peace and security architecture.

He also said the pan-African bloc's presence in regional hotspots remains weak, fragmented, and under-resourced.

--IANS

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Jerusalem, Jan 27 (IANS) The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that it had arrested two 21-year-old Israeli reserve soldiers on suspicion of security offenses related to Iran, in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency.

According to the police, the two, Yuri Eliasfov and Georgi Andreyev from northern Israel, are suspected of transferring classified information about the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system to Iran.

The police added that during their regular and reserve military service, the two carried out missions for an Iranian operator, including filming a video of the air defence system, spraying graffiti in Tel Aviv and northern Israel, and hanging posters.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the suspects received a few thousand US dollars from the Iranian operator for their actions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The police noted that the two admitted their actions and will be charged with aiding the enemy in war, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death, contacting a foreign agent, and passing classified information to a foreign agent.

Last month, the Hamas militant group claimed that they have arrested some Palestinians who were working for Israeli intelligence agency, Shin Bet in the Gaza Strip and were providing inputs on the whereabouts of top Hamas leaders.

Hamas' al-Majd internal security forces, part of the Qassam Brigades, claimed that they have arrested the spy who was working for Israel.

The group said that one of the Palestinians arrested has admitted to being assigned by the Shin Bet to monitor the homes of Hamas leaders across the Strip.

In addition, it was claimed that they were ordered to report on any movement observed by Hamas terrorists in the area.

The suspects, according to the Hamas intelligence wing, were arrested after they received data and documents from these suspects that were described as dangerous.

Hamas also said that they have received data that included the names of all Gazans who were collaborating with Israeli forces.

--IANS

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Islamabad, Jan 27 (IANS) Six people were killed and over 31 others injured when fire engulfed a resident colony in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province in the early hours of Monday, officials said.

The incident happened at about 12:25 am local time (GMT 1925 Sunday) in the Multan district where a massive explosion caused by a Liquefied Petroleum Gas container leakage rocked the colony, sources from the district's police revealed.

The gas leakage triggered the fire, and the force of the blast scattered debris over a wide area, severely impacting the densely populated colony.

The police confirmed that the blaze has been brought under control, following extensive firefighting efforts. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, and several of them are in critical condition.

Local media reported that the gas tanker explosion at an "illegal" LPG warehouse in Multan’s Hamid Pur Kanora area reduced 20 homes to rubble and partially damaged 70 others.

"The explosion occurred during refilling operations at the Industrial Estate, triggering a massive fire and sending debris into nearby residential areas. Among the dead are a minor girl and two women, while 13 of the injured remain in critical condition," reported Pakistan's Express Tribune.

The country's leading daily reported that the tanker was reportedly transferring smuggled LPG to smaller bowsers and cylinders at the site. Five other bowsers at the warehouse were also destroyed in the explosion.

Officials are conducting an assessment of the total damage caused by the explosion, which also disrupted daily life in the vicinity, Xinhua news agency reported.

Incidents involving gas explosions remain a concern in Pakistan due to inadequate safety measures and poor infrastructure, often leading to tragic consequences.

--IANS

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