Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamul Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister, has expressed her readiness to take charge of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the opposition alliance aimed at challenging the BJP in upcoming elections. Senior leaders within the opposition, including Tejashwi Yadav of RJD and Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party, have indicated their support for her bid, though they stress that the decision should be made through consensus among all members of the coalition.

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

President-elect Donald Trump has outlined his vision for major immigration changes in an interview with Meet the Press. His plans include ending birthright citizenship, deporting families with mixed immigration status, and finding a solution for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Ending Birthright Citizenship Currently, the U.S. grants citizenship to anyone born on its soil, regardless of their parents' immigr

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

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed David Sacks, former PayPal COO and prominent podcaster, as the White House czar for artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. This newly created role will see Sacks guide the administration's policy on these crucial sectors, which are seen as vital for America's future competitiveness. However, the specifics of how this new role will function within the government remain unclear. Trump praised Sacks for his business acumen, intelligenc

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

In a major move, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared a statewide ban on the serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels, and public spaces. The decision was made following a state cabinet meeting, which included an amendment to the existing laws surrounding beef consumption. Although the consumption of beef itself is not illegal in Assam, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 already regulates cattle transportation, slaughter, and the sale of beef in the state. Un

Oil prices have shown remarkable stability, remaining in a narrow range since mid-October, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fluctuating around $70 per barrel. This rangebound trend has been characterized by a significant drop in volatility, with recent levels at their lowest since August. Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, such as the tensions between Iran and Israel and the potential impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency, traders have remained cautious. The market's curren

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

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, China announced on Tuesday that it would ban the export of several key materials, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States. These materials are vital for high-tech applications, including advanced electronics and military technologies. The Chinese Commerce Ministry's decision follows a recent expansion of the U.S. “entity list,” which now includes 140 Chinese companies—many based in China, though some

During a meeting at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump reportedly joked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about making Canada the 51st state of the United States. The two leaders were discussing serious issues, including trade imbalances and border security, which had become a focal point for the incoming administration. Trump had previously threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada did not address issues like illegal immigra

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

Kash Patel: Five Things to Know About Trump’s Indian-Origin Pick for FBI Chief US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Kash Patel as his nominee for the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Here are five key things to know about him: 1. Born in New York to Indian Parents Kashyap Pramod Patel, popularly known as Kash Patel, was born to Gujarati-Indian parents in Long Island, New York. Raised as

RBL Bank and Bajaj Finance Ltd. have mutually decided to stop issuing new co-branded credit cards following discussions that have taken place over the past month. While the change will not affect RBL Bank’s overall credit card business, it marks the end of a significant partnership that previously accounted for a large portion of RBL Bank’s card issuances. As of September 2023, Bajaj Finserv co-branded cards represented 41% of RBL Bank’s total credit card issuances.

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

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,

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect on his first day in office, January 20. The new tariffs are expected to have severe implications for American consumers, including higher prices on everyday products such as gasoline, produce, cars, and alcohol. Mexico, now the US’s top trading partner, and Canada, a major supplier of oil and agricultural products, will be significantly impacted by these tariffs

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

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a pivotal role in overseeing health research and funding in the United States. Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford University with expertise in health policy and the economics of aging, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address the nation's most pressing health issues, including chronic illness and disease. Bhattacharya is known for his contro

Bitcoin recently saw its longest losing streak since the 2016 US election, as its attempt to break the $100,000 price barrier failed, cooling the initial speculative fervor sparked by Donald Trump’s embrace of cryptocurrencies. The digital asset dropped about 6% over three days, bringing its value to $94,000 by Tuesday morning in London. This was part of a broader cooling in the crypto market, which had surged by $1 trillion since Election Day, but struggled to maintain momentum.