INTERNATIONAL

The boycott of Indian products in Bangladesh has gained significant momentum, spearheaded by Bangladeshi writer and activist Pinaki Bhattacharya, currently residing in France. Triggered by India's interference in the January 7 mock elections, Bhattacharya's initial call for the boycott resonated strongly with the populace, surprising both the governments of Bangladesh and India, as well as the opposition party BNP. Initially a solitary effort by Bhattacharya, the boycott, dubbed 'India Out,' has evolved into a widespread social movement, capturing the imagination of ordinary citizens who view it as a genuine form of protest. While the government and ruling Awami League initially ignored the movement, their stance changed when the BNP expressed solidarity with it. The government...

A first time incidence will take place during the 2024 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant with a Saudi Arabian women, Rumy Alqahtani. This development is a part of the ongoing reforms advocated by Mohammed Bin Salman, the crowned prince of Saudi Arabia. Alqahtani used Instagram to share how crucial her country’s debut at the beauty pageant is, displaying a flag of Saudi Arabia with a Islamic kalima inscribed on it. Alqahtani announced her participation soon after Baharain’s Lujane Yacoub at last year’s Miss Universe competition showing that she was the first female contestant from a conservative Gulf region after all. The Independent reported that Alqahtani has a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and languages English, French and Arabic are among the langauges she can read fluently. Besi...

Following India's summons of an American diplomat regarding their comments on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US restated its call for "fair, transparent, timely legal processes" on Wednesday. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller reaffirmed this stance while addressing questions about India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi. The meeting at the foreign ministry's South Block office lasted nearly 40 minutes, during which India strongly objected to the US remarks on Mr. Kejriwal's arrest. Miller also addressed inquiries about the Congress party's frozen bank accounts, acknowledging their allegations and emphasizing the need for fair legal procedures in both cases. In response to...

The kin of two separatist leaders have publicly swore their allegiance to the sovereignty of the Union of India. In a public notice, Ruwa Altaf Shah, the granddaughter of Syed Ali Shah Geelani has said that she has nothing to do with the ideology of her grandfather. "I do not have any ideological affiliation with Hurriyat run by my grandfather. I do not have any inclination or sympathy towards the ideology of the organization," Shah said in a public notice. Ruwa's father Mohammed Altaf Shah (Fantoosh) passed away last year while he was detained at the Tihar Jail of Delhi after being arrested in 2017 in a militancy funding case. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old daughter of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, emphasised her status as a loyal Indian citizen and unequivocally distanced...

With the onset of Ramdhan, Saudi army has renewed its attacks on the border areas in Saada province, northern Yemen. As per Yemeni media, Saudi artillery shelling targeted various areas of the border district of Sheda in Saada. Significantly, these attacks coincide with the U.S-U.K airstrikes on Yemen, in response to their support for Palestine, marked by the interception of military aid ships destined for Israel in the Red Sea. Despite over a dozen coalition strikes on Yemen, the coalition has proven ineffective in halting Yemeni assaults on these ships. The border areas of Saada are subjected to continuous attacks by the Saudi army, resulting in the killing and wounding of thousands of civilians and massive destruction of property. According to The Humanity Eye Center for Rig...

India has begun withdrawing military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives after the new pro-China president ordered them to leave, local media reported Tuesday. The Mihaaru newspaper reported that 25 Indian troops deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the archipelago ahead of March 10, the official start of the withdrawal agreed by both sides. President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in September on a pledge to kick out Indian security personnel deployed in the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime border. Following talks with New Delhi, the two sides had agreed to complete a withdrawal of 89 Indian troops and their support staff from the nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands by May 10. Mihaaru said the three Indian aircraft -- two helicopters and o...

In Saudi Arabia, officials observed the crescent moon on Sunday night, signaling the commencement of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for a significant portion of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims. Ramadan, a sacred period marked by abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset, fosters religious contemplation, familial bonds, and charitable endeavors across the Muslim community. With the sighting of the moon, Monday heralds the inaugural day of fasting. According to reports from Saudi state television, authorities confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon. However, several Asian countries, including Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, will commence Ramadan on Tuesday after failing to spot the crescent moon. This year's Ramadan arrives amidst ongoing te...

The World Inequality Report has cast a revealing spotlight on India, portraying it as not only one of the most unequal countries globally but also labeling it as a "Poor and 'Very' Unequal Country." This dual classification underscores the deep-rooted economic disparities pervading the nation's social fabric, signaling an urgent call for action to rectify these alarming trends. A pivotal revelation within the report lies in India's economic landscape, starkly contrasting the opulence of the rich with the destitution of the poor. Despite witnessing commendable economic growth in recent years, a substantial segment of the population remains ensnared in the shackles of poverty, impeding the nation's overall advancement. The report underscores that the dividends of economic progres...

A tourist with Brazilian-Spanish dual nationality was allegedly gang-raped in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, sparking outrage, BBC reported. The 28-year-old woman and her husband, on a motorbike tour, were attacked while stopped for the night in Dumki district. "Seven men raped me. They have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things [were taken] because what they wanted was to rape me," she said in Spanish, adding that the men beat them and threatened to kill them. The husband, in a separate video, said: "My mouth is destroyed, but my partner is worse than me. They have hit me with the helmet several times, with a stone on the head. Thank goodness she was wearing the jacket and that stops the blows a little." The couple had traveled to various Asian countries, i...

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has firmly declared that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, will remain within his country's borders after May 10, according to a recent media report. Muizzu's announcement follows the arrival of an Indian civilian team in the Maldives, tasked with assuming control of one of the nation's aviation platforms, well ahead of the agreed-upon March 10 deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. Speaking to residents of the Baa atoll Eydhafushi community during a tour, Muizzu emphasized his government's success in expelling Indian troops, dismissing rumors suggesting otherwise as false and misleading. He affirmed that come May 10, there will be no Indian troops present in any form, directly contradicting claim...