September 11, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: International

China Begins Mega Hydropower Project on Yarlung Zangbo: India Warns of ‘Water Bomb’ Threat in Arunachal

China’s official launch of a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo river — just before it enters India’s Arunachal Pradesh as the Brahmaputra — has triggered serious strategic and environmental concerns for India. The project, unveiled by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on July 19, is being touted as China’s most ambitious infrastructure venture since the Three Gorges Dam. China’s $170 Billion Megaproject With an estimated investment of nearly $170 billion, the new hydropower project will include five cascade power stations across a 50-kilometre stretch of the river that drops nearly 2,000 metres in elevation. Its planned capacity of 60 GW would make it nearly three times larger than the Three Gorges Dam. To build and operate the project, Beijing has formed a new state-owned entity – China Yajiang Group Co. Ltd.. Although the project will almost certainly include water storage facilities to regulate flow between stations, China has not disclosed how much water will be held — a critical concern for India. Chinese markets responded positively to the announcement, with infrastructure and equipment company stocks witnessing strong gains. Experts suggest the project will serve as a major economic stimulus domestically. Arunachal Pradesh Sounds the Alarm On the Indian side, especially in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang region, the development has sparked anxiety. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has labelled the Chinese dam as the biggest non-military threat facing India. Speaking to PTI earlier this month, Khandu warned of a catastrophic scenario: “Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed… particularly the Adi tribe and nearby communities.” Though only 30% of the Brahmaputra’s water originates in China, any sudden discharge or mismanagement upstream could heavily impact the Siang belt, which lies directly in the path of the river as it flows from Tibet into India. Concerns also extend to India’s hydropower ambitions. Arunachal Pradesh alone holds about 50 GW of India’s untapped 60 GW hydropower potential in the region. A disruption in natural water flow could affect multiple proposed hydroelectric projects downstream. India’s Strategic Response: Upper Siang Project To counter Beijing’s dam strategy, India has put forward the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project — an 11.2 GW storage-based dam planned in the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Once completed, it would serve both as a hydropower source and a strategic buffer, regulating flow and protecting downstream populations from sudden floods or disruptions. However, progress on India’s project has been slow, raising concerns about preparedness in the face of China’s rapid upstream development. As tensions rise and infrastructure races accelerate on both sides of the border, the Yarlung Zangbo–Brahmaputra river basin may soon become not just a geopolitical flashpoint, but also a test case for balancing development with transboundary water security.

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Editor05 mins

Trump “Caught Off Guard” by Israeli Strikes on Gaza Church and Damascus, Calls Netanyahu to “Rectify”

President Donald Trump was surprised by two recent Israeli airstrikes—one that hit the only Catholic church in Gaza and another in Damascus, Syria—and immediately phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demand corrective action, the White House confirmed. According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump “enjoys a good working relationship” with Netanyahu but was displeased by both incidents. After the church strike last Thursday, Trump insisted that Netanyahu publicly label the attack a mistake. He followed up again when Israeli jets struck targets in Syria’s capital, a move that clashed with U.S. efforts to stabilize the war-torn country. Despite their close alliance, Trump and Netanyahu have often disagreed behind the scenes. Leavitt noted that while they coordinated this summer’s joint air campaign against Iranian interests, personal distrust has periodically strained their partnership. Nevertheless, Trump wasted no time in making clear his objections to the latest bombings. Leavitt also highlighted ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives in Syria under Secretary of State Marco Rubio—efforts to ease tensions by lifting certain sanctions and supporting the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. These measures aim to prevent further escalations even as Israel pursues security objectives in the region. Meanwhile, Trump had pinned hopes on Netanyahu’s recent Washington visit to advance a Gaza ceasefire, secure hostage releases from Hamas, and expand humanitarian corridors. Despite Trump’s optimism, no breakthrough was announced. Talks continue, with both the White House and Hamas awaiting a response to the latest truce proposals. Leavitt emphasized the president’s urgent concern over civilian suffering, noting that more than 1,000 people have died seeking aid in Gaza since late May, and praised Trump’s push to deliver humanitarian assistance “in a peaceful manner where more lives are not being lost.”

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Editor03 mins

Rupee Gains 5 Paise to 86.26 Against Dollar Amid Positive Equities and Global Trade Uncertainty

The Indian rupee appreciated by 5 paise to 86.26 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, buoyed by a positive trend in domestic equity markets. However, the currency traded in a narrow range as uncertainty over global tariff developments kept forex markets cautious. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 86.26, up from its previous close of 86.31. In initial trades, it also touched 86.29 against the greenback. On Monday, the rupee had depreciated by 15 paise amid foreign fund outflows and trade concerns. According to forex traders, lingering doubts over global tariff alignments — especially ahead of the August 1 deadline for international trade agreements — have kept currencies in tight ranges. The dollar index, which measures the US dollar against six major global currencies, inched up by 0.03% to 97.88 as investors remained watchful of potential trade deals. In commodities, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.81% to USD 68.65 per barrel in futures trade. Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, attributed the fall to fears of a brewing US-EU trade conflict, which could dent global economic activity and dampen oil demand. Bhansali also noted that while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are showing strong demand for dollars, the RBI has been selling dollars at the upper end of the band to protect the rupee from excessive depreciation. All eyes are now on the outcome of the ongoing India-US trade negotiations. A US delegation is expected to visit India in August for the next round of talks, following the conclusion of the fifth round of discussions last week in Washington. The looming August 1 deadline for tariff-related decisions could significantly impact Indian exports and the rupee if a deal is not reached or gets delayed. In the domestic equity market, sentiment remained upbeat. The Sensex rose 149.47 points (0.18%) to 82,349.81, while the Nifty climbed 36.80 points (0.15%) to 25,126.20. Despite the positive equity cues, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹1,681.23 crore on a net basis on Monday, as per exchange data. With global uncertainty and key trade deadlines approaching, forex and equity markets are expected to remain volatile in the coming days.

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Editor03 mins

Groundbreaking research from UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes represents a promising advance in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease

🧠 What Did the Scientists Do? 💊 Breakthrough Discovery 🧬 Why This Is Important 🔍 What’s Next? 🗣️ Expert Insights “We’re excited that our computational approach led us to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer’s based on existing FDA-approved medications.”— Dr. Marina Sirota, UCSF “This makes it very challenging for drug development—which traditionally produces one drug for a single gene or protein that drives disease.”— Dr. Yadong Huang, Gladstone Institutes 🧠 The Bigger Picture This study could pave the way for repurposing existing drugs to treat complex neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, using AI and big data to accelerate drug discovery and reduce development costs.

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Editor03 mins

Trump Administration Declassifies Over 2.3 Lakh Pages on MLK Assassination, Says Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard

In a historic move, US President Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced that the administration has declassified and released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The files, made public after nearly six decades of speculation and demands for transparency, shed new light on the FBI’s investigation into King’s death, including internal memos, possible leads, and key testimonies. Notably, the documents include details of a former cellmate of James Earl Ray — the man convicted for King’s murder — who allegedly discussed an assassination plot with him. Gabbard shared the update on social media platform X, stating that the release was aimed at addressing the longstanding questions surrounding MLK’s assassination. This development follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 23, just three days after assuming office, directing the declassification of any remaining files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., according to a report by Xinhua news agency. Back in 1977, a US court had ordered that the records — over 240,000 pages collected by the FBI — be sealed and preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration, blocking them from public access. The Trump administration informed King’s family, including his two surviving children Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, of the decision. While their teams are currently reviewing the records, some members of the King family have voiced opposition to the public release. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the most revered leaders of the American civil rights movement, globally remembered for his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance against racial segregation. His “I Have a Dream” speech continues to inspire generations in the fight for justice and equality.

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Editor03 mins

“Zero-Day” Hack on Microsoft SharePoint Hits Nearly 100 Organizations, Warn Cybersecurity Firms

A newly discovered cyber espionage campaign exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability in self-hosted Microsoft SharePoint servers has compromised around 100 organizations as of last weekend, according to Eye Security and the Shadowserver Foundation. The attacks leverage a “zero-day” flaw—one not previously disclosed—that allows adversaries to infiltrate exposed SharePoint instances, install backdoors, and maintain long-term access. SharePoint Online, which runs on Microsoft’s cloud servers, remains unaffected. Vaisha Bernard, chief hacker at Netherlands-based Eye Security, revealed that a targeted breach of one of her firm’s clients on Friday prompted a comprehensive internet scan with Shadowserver. That scan identified nearly 100 vulnerable servers before details of the exploit became public. Shadowserver confirmed most victims are located in the United States and Germany and include government bodies. Rafe Pilling, director of Threat Intelligence at British cybersecurity firm Sophos, noted that although initial forensic indicators point to a single threat actor, “it’s possible this will quickly change” as other groups may adopt the same technique. Microsoft has issued security updates to patch the vulnerability and urged all customers running on-premises SharePoint servers to install them immediately. However, cybersecurity experts warn that patching alone is not enough; organizations should assume they have been breached, conduct thorough forensic investigations, and remove any implanted backdoors. Google’s security team has attributed at least some of the attack activity to a “China-nexus threat actor,” although no government or group has officially claimed responsibility. The FBI and Britain’s National Cyber Security Center have confirmed awareness of the campaign and are collaborating with private and public sector partners.

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Editor03 mins

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Tickets Sell Out Within Minutes, A Year Before Release

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey is still a year away from its theatrical debut, but tickets for its first IMAX screenings sold out almost instantly when they went on sale last Thursday. Set to premiere on July 17, 2026, the film features an ensemble cast led by Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as his son Telemachus. To mark the one-year countdown, IMAX released early bird tickets for select theaters in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Melbourne, and Prague. Fans took to social media to share their excitement, with reports showing that many theaters sold out in under three minutes, some even in less than a minute. One user tweeted, “It’s been three minutes since The Odyssey IMAX 70MM tickets went on sale and the Universal City Walk July 16th show is nearly sold out.” Others noted similarly rapid sellouts in Los Angeles and New York. The film promises an epic retelling of the mythical king Odysseus’s treacherous journey home after the Trojan War. Alongside Damon and Holland, the star-studded cast includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, and Elliot Page. With such overwhelming early enthusiasm, Nolan’s The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited cinematic events of 2026.

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Editor02 mins

73 Palestinians Killed While Seeking Aid in Gaza, Evacuation Orders Deepen Crisis

At least 73 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while attempting to access humanitarian aid at various distribution points across Gaza, according to a report by the Associated Press. The highest number of fatalities occurred in northern Gaza, where at least 67 individuals were killed near the Zikim crossing with Israel. The figures were confirmed by the health ministry in Gaza and local hospitals. It remains unclear whether the deaths were caused by Israeli military fire, armed gangs, or both. However, several eyewitnesses claimed that Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd. Health workers stated that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed over recent weeks while trying to obtain food and supplies at Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) distribution centers. The GHF is supported by both the United States and Israel. In addition to the fatalities, more than 150 people were injured in Sunday’s incidents, many of them critically. New Evacuation Orders Amid Ceasefire Talks In a separate development, the Israeli military issued new evacuation warnings for central Gaza on Sunday. The order affects areas between Deir al-Balah and the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, severely restricting civilian and humanitarian movement in the already devastated enclave. The timing of the evacuation order coincides with ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar. The United Nations has reportedly asked Israel to clarify whether its facilities in southwestern Deir al-Balah are included in the latest evacuation zone. The area covered by the new evacuation spans from previously cleared zones all the way to the Mediterranean coast. The directive is expected to significantly disrupt aid operations and civilian access to shelter and essential services. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that the army will carry out intense strikes on militant targets and urged civilians, including those living in makeshift tents, to relocate to the Muwasi area on Gaza’s southern shore—a designated “humanitarian zone” with limited infrastructure and resources. Earlier in July, the Israeli military announced that it had gained control over more than 65% of the Gaza Strip. The recent developments raise fresh concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in the territory.

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Editor03 mins

BBC to Appoint Senior Editorial Director with Six-Figure Salary After Gaza Doc Scandal

The BBC has announced plans to hire a new senior director responsible for editorial oversight of its documentaries and current affairs output, following intense criticism over the pulled documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. The move is part of a broader package of reforms aimed at strengthening compliance and accountability in coverage of the Israel–Hamas conflict. The additional executive will join the BBC News Board—where top leaders such as News Head Deborah Turness, earning up to £435,000, already sit—to tighten controls on high-risk programmes. Their remit will include instituting rigorous background and social-media checks on contributors and ensuring that any project flagged as sensitive is overseen by a dedicated senior executive producer. The aim is to clarify lines of responsibility and prevent the “too many cooks” mentality that some insiders say has muddled decision-making. A government-mandated review found that Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone breached editorial guidelines by failing to disclose that its young narrator Abdullah was the son of a Hamas deputy minister. The scandal prompted accusations of “catastrophic failures” from ministers and a confidence vote challenge from Israel’s ambassador to the UK. The UK government treats all wings of Hamas as a “single terrorist organisation,” a distinction the BBC’s leadership had previously rejected. Further reforms include stricter translation policies—mandating the Arabic term “Yehudi” be translated as “Jews” rather than “Israelis”—and expanded mandatory anti-Semitism training for all staff. Director-General Tim Davie has also pledged specialist training for managers handling sensitive subjects, in an effort to reassure Jewish staff and restore trust in the broadcaster’s culture and editorial standards.

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Editor03 mins

Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks with E3 Nations in Istanbul Amid Sanctions Threat

Iran, along with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, is set to hold critical nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday. The discussions come in the wake of renewed pressure from the three European countries—collectively known as the E3—who have warned that a failure to resume meaningful negotiations could lead to the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Tehran by the end of August. These talks will be held at the deputy foreign minister level, as confirmed by Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. This marks the first formal engagement since the E3 and the European Union’s foreign policy chief held a joint call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday. The dialogue follows a volatile period triggered by joint attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States a month ago. The 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), originally involved Iran and six world powers—China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the US. The agreement provided Iran with sanctions relief in return for strict limitations on its nuclear activities. However, the US unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under President Donald Trump, escalating tensions. Since then, diplomatic efforts have been ongoing, with five rounds of US-Iran talks previously held in Oman, though those discussions hit roadblocks over issues like Iran’s uranium enrichment levels. Western powers have insisted that Iran reduce its enrichment activities to near zero to avoid the risk of weaponisation, a demand Tehran continues to resist, insisting its nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes. The latest round of talks comes after the Israeli-American offensive killed senior Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians. The US later claimed to have “obliterated” three major Iranian nuclear sites. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24. Iran has accused the US of complicity in the Israeli strikes and has warned the E3 against resorting to pressure tactics. “If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they lack absolutely moral and legal ground,” Araghchi said last week. As international attention turns to Istanbul, the outcome of these talks could determine whether diplomacy is restored—or whether another chapter of sanctions and hostilities awaits.

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