Pattaya City Holds Meeting on Preparations for Pattaya Marathon 2026 Next Month, Discusses Traffic Preparations and Road Closures

INDIANAPOLIS: A large number of members of the Sikh community participated in a Khalistan referendum held in Indianapolis, Indiana, despite rainy weather, as organizers called for the creation of an independent Sikh state. The event was organized by Sikhs for Justice, with participants travelling from different cities and states across the United States. Organizers said voting continued despite the rain, with women and children also among those attending. Polling was scheduled to remain open until 6pm, after which organizers were expected to announce the final turnout. Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised during the event, while some participants also expressed support for Kashmir’s independence. Ghazala Habib, chairperson of Friends of Kashmir, addressed the gathering and said she was the only non-Sikh speaker to speak from the stage. Vikramjit Singh, a representative associated with the Khalistan Referendum Campaign, said the initiative was launched in 2020 but faced disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the first voting event under the campaign was held in London on October 31, 2021, attracting thousands of Sikh participants. According to Singh, subsequent voting events were organized in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Canada. He said Canada hosted three events in Toronto, two in Vancouver and another in Calgary, while the United States has held voting in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and now Indianapolis. Singh claimed that nearly two million Sikhs worldwide had participated in the campaign so far. However, the figure could not be independently verified. He accused the Indian government of committing historical injustices against Sikhs, citing the 1984 attack that damaged the Akal Takht and subsequent violence against the Sikh community, as well as what he described as the exploitation of Punjab’s economic resources. Singh said supporters of the movement wanted to pursue their demand through peaceful and democratic means. He called for a formal referendum in Punjab whose outcome, according to him, would have legal and political effect for all parties. Organizers said details of the Indianapolis vote and the next stage of the campaign would be announced after polling concludes. The campaign is expected to hold another referendum in Canada on October 18, although the specific city has not yet been confirmed.

TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has claimed that the United States and Israel failed to achieve their objectives during the conflict with Iran, as Tehran indicated that negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were nearing an agreement but would not immediately lead to the waterway’s reopening. Brig Gen Hassan Zadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Mohammad Rasulullah Corps in Tehran, said Iran’s military preparedness and public support had helped the country withstand the US and Israeli campaign. Speaking during an inspection of upgraded air-defence units, Zadeh said Washington and Tel Aviv had failed to accomplish their stated goals and were now facing questions from their own populations and political circles. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said talks with Oman over a temporary shipping arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz were progressing. However, he stressed that an agreement on a shipping route alone would not be sufficient to reopen the strategically important waterway. Iran has linked the reopening of the strait to several conditions, including an end to US threats and attacks, the lifting of sanctions and blockades, compensation for losses and the release of Iranian assets. Tehran has also rejected the previous traffic separation system used by vessels passing through the waterway. Oman described its discussions with Iran as positive and constructive while urging all sides to avoid actions that could undermine the negotiations. Muscat also condemned recent attacks on ships travelling through the strait without assigning responsibility. The developments come amid continued disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies. The United Arab Emirates said an oil-related vessel had been struck by a missile while transiting the waterway, although no injuries were reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported that a vessel caught fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile. The fire was later extinguished, with no environmental damage reported. The United States has said it expects an agreement that could restore commercial shipping and allow restrictions on Iranian ports to be eased. US Central Command said more than 30 vessels had been permitted to pass through the area for humanitarian purposes, while dozens of others had been stopped or subjected to military action. Iranian officials, however, maintain that the strait will only be reopened once Washington accepts Tehran’s demands. Iranian authorities have also warned that any future shipping arrangement must provide Iran with greater control over maritime traffic. The prolonged disruption has contributed to rising energy costs and increased prices for food and other essential goods in Iran, adding further pressure on the country’s economy as negotiations continue.