theTamilGlobal

Thirty-three years ago today, Sri Lanka lost one of its most distinguished military commanders when Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. On August 8, 1992, at Araly Point in Kayts, Jaffna, a landmine explosion claimed the life of this exceptional leader along with nine other brave officers, including Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne and Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha. A Foundation Built on Excellence Born on July 27, 1940, into a prominent family in Kandy, Denzil Kobbekaduwa displayed leadership qualities from his earliest years. His father, Loku Bandara Kobbekaduwa, and mother, Lona Ratwatte, raised him at the historic Deldeniya Walauwa in Kadugannawa, where the foundations of his character were formed. At Trinity College, Kandy, young Kobbekaduwa emerged as a natural leader who excelled both academically and in sports. As a skillful scrum-half, he captained the Trinity 1st XV Rugby team in 1959, earning the coveted Rugby Lion. He was...

US President Donald Trump's devastating 50% tariff on Indian goods, imposed Wednesday over New Delhi's Russian oil purchases, threatens to unleash economic chaos across key sectors, with millions of jobs at risk and entire industries facing potential collapse. The Ripple Effect: Who Gets Hit Hardest The tariff tsunami will sweep across India's economic landscape, but some sectors face complete devastation. Industry experts warn that 55% of India's $87 billion in annual exports to America worth approximately $48 billion, now faces crushing duties that could render Indian products uncompetitive. Textiles and Apparel: A Sector in Crisis The textile industry faces an existential threat, with over 2 million jobs potentially at risk. The US accounts for 33-34% of India's garment exports, worth $5.3 billion in FY25, and 59% of home textile shipments. Critical impact points: Gokaldas Exports derives 23% of revenue from the US market and saw its stock plum...

US President Donald Trump imposed a crushing 50% tariff on Indian goods Wednesday, doubling existing duties in response to India's continued purchase of Russian oil, marking the most significant escalation in US-India trade tensions in decades. The Tariff Bombshell Trump signed an executive order Wednesday imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, stacking on top of the existing 25% "reciprocal tariff" that took effect Thursday. The new Russia related tariff will take effect August 27, giving negotiators a 21day window to reach a deal. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump declared on social media. The 50% combined tariff rate places India among the most heavily penalized US trading partners globally, tied with Brazil. By contrast, Pakistan fa...

Massive protests led by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, erupted nationwide across Pakistan's major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. These demonstrations mark the second anniversary of Khan's imprisonment and represent an ongoing political crisis in Pakistan. Thousands of PTI activists defied a government ban on gatherings, clashing with police forces who responded with tear gas and made numerous arrests. In Lahore alone, over 240 protesters were detained during raids and protests. Police also arrested dozens in Karachi and other cities, where protesters organized rallies on motorcycles, rickshaws, and foot, chanting slogans demanding Khan’s release and restoration of democracy. Despite a heavy crackdown, PTI leadership called for peaceful resistance, framing the protests as a movement against what they term political repression. Senior party figures and activists were stopped from re...

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced today that Bangladesh's next parliamentary election will be held in February 2026, setting the stage for a democratic transfer of power following the historic student-led uprising last year that ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. In a televised address marking the one-year anniversary of the July Uprising, Prof Yunus said the interim government will formally request the Election Commission to hold the polls before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around February 17 or 18 next year. This means the election is expected to take place in the first half of February. “We want to make election day like the festival of Eid,” Yunus said, emphasizing the festive and inclusive spirit he hopes to see when citizens, including families with children, go to the polls. “This time, the joy of voting will be among everyone. All of you will go to the polling centre with your children—to present the grandeur of exerc...

Bangladesh's military intelligence has exposed what appears to be one of the most significant espionage scandals in the country's recent history, resulting in court martial proceedings against senior Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) officers and the forced retirement of high-ranking military personnel accused of working for India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The Discovery That Exposed the Network The espionage network came to light through an investigation into who recorded and distributed a viral video of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dramatic escape from Kurmitola Airport on August 5, 2024. During the student uprising that led to Hasina's ouster, footage emerged showing her departure, prompting Air Intelligence to investigate the source of this sensitive recording. According to reports published by Daily Amar Desh, the investigation uncovered a sophisticated RAW network operating within the Bangladesh Air Force. The probe revealed that Squadron Leader Abd...

Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Admiral (Retired) Nishantha Ulugetenne, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on July 28, 2025, in connection with an investigation into a wartime disappearance. The arrest has drawn significant attention as it marks the first high-profile case since the National People's Power (NPP) government came to power in 2024. The 58-year-old retired admiral was taken into custody over allegations relating to the disappearance of a youth from the Pothuhera area during his tenure as Director of Naval Intelligence. According to officials, the incident dates back to a period when Ulugetenne served in naval intelligence, and the alleged victim was reportedly held in a clandestine detention facility operated under his command. Police sources indicate that the investigation was initiated based on a letter allegedly sent from the detention center, and several suspects have already been arrested in connection with the case. The Criminal I...

Sri Lanka has witnessed a shocking surge in gun violence with 76 shooting incidents recorded across the island so far in 2025, resulting in 41 deaths and 43 injuries, according to official police statistics. The latest incident occurred on August 3 in Kapugoda, Matara, where a 48-year-old businessman was injured in an attack involving unidentified assailants on a motorcycle using a T-56 assault rifle. Crisis Reaches Alarming Proportions The escalating violence has reached unprecedented levels since the beginning of 2025, with the death toll steadily climbing from 22 fatalities in 27 incidents by March to the current figure of 41 deaths. Police data reveals that the majority of these shootings - approximately 50 out of 68 incidents reported by mid-July are directly linked to organized criminal networks, while the remainder stem from personal disputes and land-related conflicts. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Buddhika Manatunga confirmed that 31 of the first 46 shoot...

The Election Commission of India has announced that the election for the 17th Vice President of India will be held on September 9, 2025. This early election was necessitated by the resignation of incumbent Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 22, citing health concerns. Nominations for the election will open soon, with the last date for filing papers set for August 21. The counting of votes will take place on the same day as the election. The polling will be conducted in the Parliament House between 10 AM and 5 PM using a secret ballot. The Vice President is elected by an Electoral College comprising the elected and nominated members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha through a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote. The elected individual will serve a full five-year term starting from the date they assume office. Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned to prioritize his health, had served as Vice President since 2022 and also held the position of Rajya...

Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made its first arrest in the high-profile 30 Billion INR ($ 375 million)  loan fraud case connected to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group. Partha Sarathi Biswal, Managing Director of Odisha-based Biswal Tradelink Pvt Ltd, was detained for orchestrating a fake bank guarantee worth 682 million INR on behalf of Reliance Power, a company under Anil Ambani’s group. According to the ED, Biswal submitted falsified documents and forged endorsements that were used in a tender floated by the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI). Reliance Power paid Biswal’s company Rs 54 million in exchange for the fake guarantees. Biswal’s company, incorporated in 2019, also maintained undisclosed bank accounts and used dummy directors to facilitate fraudulent transactions. Biswal was remanded in ED custody until August 6 after being produced before a Delhi court. The agency plans to confront him with Anil Ambani when the industrialist appears for questioning on Aug...

Pakistan and Iran have taken significant steps to deepen their bilateral relations during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Islamabad from August 2-3, 2025. The visit marks a new chapter in diplomatic cooperation between the two neighboring countries, characterized by shared religious, cultural, and historical ties. During his stay, President Pezeshkian met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reaffirming commitments to bolster cooperation in diverse sectors including energy, trade, and security. Both sides signed 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at elevating bilateral trade from the current $3 billion to a target of $10 billion annually. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s recent attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and expressed solidarity with Iran during the 12-day conflict. President Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its supportive stance during the crisis and emphasized the importance of diplomatic ...

Pakistan continues to battle devastating monsoon floods that have claimed the lives of at least 299 people - among them 140 children - since late June, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). More than 700 others have been injured in flash floods, landslides, and torrential rains sweeping the country. The worst-affected region remains the eastern Punjab province, where 162 fatalities have been recorded, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 69 deaths. Several other regions including Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and Azad Kashmir have also reported deaths and widespread damage. The monsoon rains, crucial for replenishing water supplies but increasingly erratic due to climate change, have damaged or destroyed nearly 1,700 homes. In addition, hundreds of livestock have been lost, and thousands of residents displaced. Since June 26, NDMA-led rescue operations have evacuated approximately 2,880 people from flood-affected areas and distributed tens of...