The United States imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities on Wednesday, including the National Development Complex (NDC), a key state-owned aerospace and defense agency responsible for Pakistan's ballistic missile program. The sanctions, announced by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, target entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, specifically missiles. These sanctions freeze US property linked to the targeted co

 Hamida Banu’s incredible journey from isolation to reunion underscores the transformative impact of social media in today's digital era. Deceived by a recruitment agent in 2022, Banu was promised a job in Dubai but was instead taken to Pakistan, where she spent 23 years unable to contact her family in India. Her life changed when a video interview of her, shared on social media by Pakistani activist Waliullah Maroof, went viral. Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh shared the vide

Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has confirmed that general elections will likely take place by the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026. Yunus, who was appointed the country’s "chief adviser" after a student-led uprising in August toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is overseeing a temporary administration that is focused on restoring democratic institutions in the country. Yunus, 84, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance pioneer, h

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to finalize the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy during a virtual meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Under this model, India and Pakistan will not travel to each other's countries for ICC events. The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be played in Dubai, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. T

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concerns in the Lok Sabha regarding the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, particularly following reports of attacks on Hindus. His statement came amidst rising incidents of communal violence in the neighboring country, where the treatment of minorities, especially Hindus, has become a matter of increasing alarm. Jaishankar emphasized that the government of Bangladesh must ensure the safety and security of its minority communities, highlighti

Efforts are underway to secure the early release and repatriation of 14 Indian fishermen, including seven from Tamil Nadu, who have been detained in a Pakistani jail since January. Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin about the ongoing diplomatic efforts. This followed a letter from Stalin, dated November 20, urging swift action for the fishermen’s release. Jaishankar stated that the Indian government had raised the matte

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is currently in turmoil due to the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly stated that it will not send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political issues. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not agree to the proposed hybrid model, where India’s matches are played in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament tak

India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, made a day-long visit to Dhaka on Monday for crucial talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin. The visit comes amid deteriorating relations between India and Bangladesh, following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August due to a massive uprising. Mr. Misri arrived in Dhaka on an Indian Air Force jet, marking the first high-level visit from New Delhi since the political upheaval in Bangladesh. He was receiv

In a significant political move, Bangladesh is set to remove Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's image from its currency notes, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s national identity. Known as the "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bangladesh," Rahman was the iconic founding father of the country. However, recent political developments, including the student-led protests and the rise of new leadership, have led to his image being gradually erased from public life, starting wit

In response to growing protests in Kolkata over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, Bangladesh has called Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, the Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, back to Dhaka for urgent consultations. Rahman, who also serves as the Minister - Political Affairs, is expected to return to Kolkata by the middle of this month, after attending the foreign secretary-level talks scheduled between India and Bangladesh next week. Protests, primarily led by po

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a hybrid model for next year's Champions Trophy, allowing India to play its matches in Dubai, while Pakistan will co-host the event in the UAE. The decision, reached after informal discussions between ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan's representatives, is a major step toward resolving venue concerns in international cricket. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with In

The future of the 2025 Champions Trophy is in jeopardy as tensions between India and Pakistan complicate the tournament's organization. India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan without government approval, which remains pending. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially rejected the idea of a hybrid hosting model that would allow India to play in Dubai, but recently showed some flexibility, reportedl

Bangladesh summoned India's High Commissioner to Dhaka after the closure of its visa and consular services in Tripura, India, due to a security incident involving a protest in Agartala. The protest, which occurred against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, led to about 50 people entering the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission's premises. The Bangladeshi government expressed concerns over the lack of local police action to contain the situation, which left mission staff fe

The bail hearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the Hindu priest accused of sedition in Bangladesh, has been postponed until January 2, 2025, after no lawyers appeared in court on Tuesday. This delay follows reports that a Bangladeshi lawyer defending the Hindu monk was brutally attacked at his home by Islamists and is now in the Intensive Care Unit. According to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the lawyer’s attack has made it impossible for him to rep

India has raised serious concerns with Bangladesh over the growing incidents of violence against the Hindu minority and the rise of extremist rhetoric in the country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that India has been in consistent communication with Bangladesh’s interim government regarding the targeting of Hindus and other minorities. In its weekly press briefing, the MEA reiterated that India has consistently raised the issue with Bangladesh, urging the g

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has voiced his support for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in rejecting the hybrid model proposed for the 2024 Champions Trophy, which is set to be held in Pakistan. Afridi criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for mixing politics with sports, pointing out that Pakistan has toured India multiple times despite security concerns, including a white-ball series after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Afridi emphasized that t

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, has strongly condemned the arrest of a Hindu priest and the violence in the country that followed. She demanded the immediate release of the arrested Hindu priest, describing the action as unjust. Hasina also spoke out about the death of a lawyer in Chittagong, who was killed during clashes related to the protest over the priest’s arrest. She condemned the rise in religious and communal violence, pointing out that temples, mosques,

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not accept the Hybrid Model for the upcoming Champions Trophy, a format that would involve some games being played in India and others in Pakistan. The ICC convened a virtual meeting with executive members to address the scheduling dilemma after India refused to send its team across the border. The PCB has been firm in its opposition to the Hybrid Model, arguing that it would give preferential t

Following the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Dhaka, protests have erupted across Bangladesh, particularly in Chattogram. The arrest of the former ISKCON leader has triggered violent clashes, with a Hindu temple in Chattogram’s Firingibazar allegedly targeted by a mob. The incident highlights growing unrest in the country, with many in the Hindu community demanding justice for their community and for the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das. ISKCON Banglade

In Islamabad, Pakistan, intense protests have erupted, demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, with violent clashes between protesters and police resulting in casualties. The protests are centered around Imran Khan's imprisonment and accusations of political persecution, as well as the alleged rigging of recent elections. As tensions escalated, the Pakistani government called in the military to restore order, issuing "shoot at sight" orders under Section 245 o