The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has won a historic parliamentary election, securing a majority in the 300-seat Jatiya Sangsad and marking a major turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, according to local broadcasters and international reports. This vote—the country’s first since the Gen Z-inspired protests of 2024 that ousted longtime premier Sheikh Hasina—saw the...
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution to extend the mandate of the Monitoring Team supporting the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee for another year, keeping its work active until February 17, 2027, diplomats said Thursday. The team is responsible for overseeing sanctions imposed on the Taliban and associated individuals, groups, and entities—including...
New York City Mayor Zahraan Mamdani has come under intense public criticism for a World Hijab Day post shared by his office that described the hijab as a symbol of faith, identity, and pride. The message sparked controversy because it came amid widespread protests in Iran against compulsory hijab laws and reports of women facing...
At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, including four children and a medic responding to earlier attacks, health officials reported Wednesday—in what critics say is another breach of the fragile US-backed ceasefire. The latest violence struck Khan Younis in the south and Gaza City in the...
The recently announced trade agreement between the United States and India, championed by U.S. President Donald Trump, could deal a major blow to Russian oil revenue, as New Delhi’s imports of Russian crude have already fallen sharply, analysts say. According to market data, India’s Russian oil imports dropped around 22% in December from November, marking...
The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold nuclear negotiations in Oman this Friday, after Tehran requested moving the venue from Turkey and narrowing discussions strictly to its nuclear program, a regional official said. The talks are intended to de-escalate mounting tensions between the two countries, which have increased following military incidents in the...
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed strong appreciation for the World Bank’s continued partnership and support during a high-level meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga in Islamabad. The leaders discussed strengthening development cooperation across key sectors, including infrastructure, human capital, energy reforms, and economic stability initiatives, all central to Pakistan’s ongoing reform...
A Chinese court has sentenced former justice minister Tang Yijun to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of accepting bribes worth nearly ¥137 million (about $19.7 million) over more than a decade, state media reported on Monday. The Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court ruled that Tang abused his successive positions—including governor of Liaoning province, party leader...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new trade deal with India after a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the two leaders have agreed on steps to deepen economic ties and realign trade priorities. Trump said in a social media post that reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports to the U.S. will be...
A newly released batch of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents has shed light on the late financier’s connections with several high-profile global figures, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to the latest Epstein files dump. The documents were released by the U.S. Justice...