Disenfranchised Indians return to the UK

At least 5000 Indian immigrants holding the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme [HSMP] Viasa have been allowed by the UK government to re enter Britain. Earlier these immigrants has been disenfranchised and were asked to return to their mother country following some guidelines of the UK government immigrant policy. The British Government has now published its new guidelines stating the rights available for non-European immigrant workers.

Blast outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul

A powerful bomb blast outside the gates of the Indian embassy in Kabul led to the death of 44 people which included senior diplomat V Venkateshwara Rao - a 1990 batch IFS officer and the Indian Defense attack academy, Brig R D Mehta. They were entering the embassy gates in the car which was rammed into by the suicide bomber's Toyota Corolla packed with explosives.

Taliban has denied any role in the bombing which saw several world leaders condemn the dastardly attack. The Afghan authorities and intelligence officials in India have indicated that the ISI, Pakistan's spy agency, may be involved in the blast.

Iran alienates Israel and International business partner

According to state media sources, Iran tested nine of its long and medium range missiles in July which are capable of reaching bases in Israel and the US. These activities aggravated the prevailing tension between Iran and Israel over the former's nuclear program which, according to sources in Tehran, is not for developing weapons but for electricity. The US has condemned Iran for its latest weapons-testing. Following Iran's testing of missiles, the French energy giant Total has pulled out of its earlier plans of a gas deal with Iran, claiming the investment to be risky. The firm had planned to develop gas fields in the south of the country earlier. This will be a major blow to Iran's energy industry.

EU in the news

France has taken over the presidency of the European Union for the six months starting July 2008. French President Nicholas Sarkozy has plans to address issues concerning the Lisbon treaty and in this context, the president visited Dublin to hear Irish voters' pleas. France would also focus on issues concerning immigration, environment, agriculture and defense. The EU also played hast to a summit with the Mediterranean rim nations; The Union for Mediterranean nations was launched leaders of 43 nations and topping their priority list is the end of the Middle East conflict at Paris. At the summit, the French president welcomed the decisions of Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to seriously work towards achieving peace in the region. The EU according to recent reports has decided to withdraw aid to Bulgaria amounting to almost $1 billion in funds as the Bulgarian government has failed to take required action against corruption and the rising figures in organized crime in the country.