world

Dhaka: India’s recent trade agreements—with the European Union finalized and the India-U.S. deal announced by Donald Trump—have raised alarm in Bangladesh. The interim government, led by Mohammad Yunus, is reportedly rushing to secure a secret trade agreement with the United States ahead of the February 12 elections. Secret Deal Raises QuestionsAccording to reports, Yunus wants to finalize the deal on February 9, three days before Bangladesh goes to polls. Experts are questioning why the interim government is pushing the agreement now rather than leaving it for the incoming elected administration. The secrecy surrounding the pact has also sparked concerns among exporters and stakeholders in Bangladesh’s textile sector, the backbone of the nation’s economy. About 90% of Bangladesh’s e...

Riyadh: A video circulating on social media has once again highlighted anti-Indian sentiment and religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia. The clip, reportedly from a business exhibition in Riyadh, shows a Saudi citizen confronting an Indian exhibitor over the religious composition of his company. In the video, the Saudi individual questions why all employees at the Indian company are Hindu and raises concerns over the absence of Muslim staff. The footage, shared by UAE-based political analyst Amjad Taha on X (formerly Twitter), has been widely criticized for showcasing overt racism and intolerance. UAE Analyst Condemns DiscriminationAmjad Taha described the incident as “open racism” and condemned the behavior of the Saudi citizen. He wrote, “The individual is targeting the exhibitor...

The Indian-origin World Bank President Ajay Banga visited Pakistan for a four-day trip, which was intended to focus on supporting the country’s struggling economy. However, the visit was turned into a grandiose cultural spectacle by the Shahbaz Sharif government, highlighting Pakistan’s growing reliance on external debt. A Grand Welcome Amid Economic CrisisPakistan, grappling with severe financial constraints, hosted Banga with lavish ceremonies, including a tour of his ancestral home in the Khushab district of Punjab province. Local authorities painted walls and displayed slogans in Punjabi and Hindi to welcome him, referring to him as a “son of the soil.” Historical revenue records related to Banga’s family property were also presented, emphasizing his roots in the region. Prime Mi...

Widespread violence has gripped Pakistan’s Balochistan province since last Saturday, triggered by insurgent attacks led by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against government forces. Asim Munir Takes a Tough StancePakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has vowed to take strict action against insurgent groups targeting security forces in Balochistan. Speaking after visiting the province, Munir warned that those responsible for the attacks and their collaborators will not be spared. His strong statement raises concerns that the conflict in Balochistan could escalate further, as the BLA has already refused to back down. On Wednesday, Munir, along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, visited a hospital in Quetta to meet those injured in the BLA attacks. According to Pakistani military sou...

The Trump administration has expressed serious concern over Algeria’s purchase of Russian fighter jets, warning that it could trigger strict sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). U.S. Warns Algeria Over Su-57 PurchaseThe U.S. reacted with concern and anger after reports emerged that Algeria had agreed to acquire Russia’s advanced Su-57 fighter jets, the first foreign buyer of this aircraft. Robert Palladino, head of the Bureau of Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department, stated during a Senate committee hearing that Algeria could face CAATSA sanctions for buying the Su-57. He emphasized that the U.S. intends to take a firm stance against countries making such deals with Russia. Palladino said, “Reports of Algeria purchasing military ...

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his U.S. counterpart, Senator Marco Rubio, in Washington on Tuesday to discuss key issues related to the Quad group. This was the first meeting between the two ministers following the announcement of the India-U.S. trade deal. Revival of QUAD InitiativesFollowing the historic trade agreement between India and the U.S., activity around the long-dormant Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) has picked up. During the meeting in Washington, Rubio expressed interest in expanding both bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad framework. The U.S. State Department confirmed that the discussions focused on strengthening strategic ties and shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Tommy Piggott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson ...

Amid mounting U.S. pressure, Iran has agreed to resume nuclear negotiations. Representatives from both countries are scheduled to meet on Friday in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a direct warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During an interview with NBC News, Trump was asked whether Khamenei should be concerned. The President replied firmly, “I would say they should be very concerned. Yes, they should be.” He further warned that if Tehran attempts to restart its nuclear program, it could face new attacks. Trump’s warning comes just days before Washington and Tehran are set to meet in Muscat to restart nuclear talks. U.S. Pushes for Missile Program DiscussionEarlier reports suggested that the upcoming nuclear talks m...

Washington: In a move that has sent shockwaves through France’s defense sector, a U.S. company has acquired LMB Fans and Motors, a critical French supplier for Rafale fighter jets and nuclear submarines. The acquisition by the U.S.-based Lora Group, valued at $433 million, underscores growing American control over global defense technology. LMB Fans and Motors, founded 60 years ago, is renowned for designing high-performance fans and motors used in advanced aerospace and defense platforms. Its products are integral to France’s Rafale jets, Airbus Tiger helicopters, nuclear submarines, tanks, and other military vehicles. The company also supplies components for U.S. fighter jets including the F-15, F-16, F-18, as well as Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. LMB even provided fans for Franc...

Riyadh: India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval has arrived in Saudi Arabia amid growing tensions with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the Indian government has shared limited details, sources suggest Doval’s visit could involve discussions on Pakistan-Saudi strategic defense partnerships, Middle East security dynamics, and recent developments regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. According to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Doval was received at the airport by India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ejaz Khan, and Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati. The visit underscores the deepening strategic and security cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia. Security Cooperation on the AgendaDoval’s visit c...

Kyiv/Moscow: In a striking demonstration of modern warfare, Ukrainian forces have effectively neutralized Russian T-72 and T-80 tanks on the battlefield, raising questions about the future relevance of traditional armored warfare. Across conflict zones in Ukraine, destroyed Russian tanks litter the frontline, as drones and other unmanned systems prove increasingly deadly against heavy armor. According to Defense Express, Russian military analysts are shifting focus from investing heavily in tanks and attack helicopters to deploying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at scale. A report by the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) warns that the era of massive armored units may be coming to an end, and that drones now play a decisive role on the battlefield. ...