world

Tehran/Washington: The United States is reportedly preparing for a large-scale military strike on Iran, potentially by the end of this week, targeting not only Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure but also key political and military leadership in what could amount to an attempt at regime change. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing senior White House officials, US President Donald Trump has been fully briefed on multiple military strike options. The report suggests that each plan has been designed to inflict maximum damage on Iran’s strategic capabilities and government structure. Officials familiar with the discussions said the proposed operation could involve coordinated attacks on Iran’s military bases, nuclear facilities, government targets, and...

Dhaka: Newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman delivered his first national address on Wednesday night, outlining his government’s priorities and promising strong action to restore democracy, improve law and order, and curb corruption. In a significant message aimed at easing rising communal tensions, Rahman assured religious minorities—including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians—that his government will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of religion. Tariq Rahman, who took oath as Prime Minister on February 17 after securing a sweeping victory in the general elections, said Bangladesh belongs equally to all its citizens, regardless of faith. “Whether someone is Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian, religion does not define citizenship. This is our country, and we...

Washington: US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised the United Kingdom’s controversial agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while keeping the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base on a long-term lease. Trump has warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to allow the territory to slip away from British control, calling the deal a serious strategic mistake. In a sharp post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged Starmer to reconsider the agreement, arguing that leasing such a critical geopolitical asset could weaken the UK’s position in the Indian Ocean. “I want to tell UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that when it comes to countries, leasing is not a good thing. He is making a big mistake with a 100-year lease. Diego Garcia is str...

Washington: The United States is reportedly on the verge of launching its largest-ever military operation against Iran, with reports suggesting that a major strike could take place as early as this weekend. The rapidly escalating American military buildup in the Middle East has intensified fears that West Asia may be heading towards a devastating regional war. According to multiple international reports, the US has positioned a massive fleet of warships, fighter jets, and refuelling aircraft in the region, indicating preparations for what analysts believe could be a long-term military campaign against Iran. A report by The Telegraph, citing a source close to the US administration, claimed that the chances of a full-scale war between the United States and Iran in the coming week could...

Moscow: Russia has firmly dismissed the United States’ claim that India has agreed to stop buying Russian crude oil. The Russian government said it has no reason to believe that New Delhi has changed its position on energy imports and continues to see India as a key and stable partner in the global oil market. The statement came in response to remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently claimed that India had promised to halt crude oil purchases from Moscow. However, Russia has categorically rejected this assertion, stating that India has shown no indication of ending its energy trade with Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that India’s purchase of Russian hydrocarbons benefits both nations and also helps maintain stabi...

Islamabad/Riyadh/Washington: Pakistan’s hopes of exporting JF-17 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia have suffered a major setback. Under pressure from the United States, the Saudi government has canceled its deal to purchase JF-17 jets from Pakistan. Riyadh has assured Washington that it will not proceed with the deal, which was previously intended to be financed through Pakistani loans. The JF-17, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has been heavily promoted globally by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir for its combat capabilities. Islamabad had anticipated Saudi Arabia as a major buyer following Azerbaijan, with plans to potentially re-export the jets to Sudan. U.S. Pushback on Chinese Fighter Jets According to defense news portal Militarnyi, the United States has expressed ...

Islamabad/Dhaka: Shortly after taking oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February, Tarique Rahman has already received official invitations from both Pakistan and India for foreign visits. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif extended the invitation through Federal Minister Ehsan Iqbal Chowdhury, who attended Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony as Sharif’s representative and congratulated him on his electoral victory. According to Ehsan Iqbal, Tarique Rahman has been invited to visit Islamabad on mutually agreed dates. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also invited the Bangladeshi PM to Delhi. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has not yet confirmed which country Tarique Rahman will visit first. Pakistan Seeks Closer Ties During the interim government le...

Dhaka: In a significant move to include minority representation in his government, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inducted two leaders from minority communities into his cabinet. Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a Hindu leader, and Dipen Diwan, from the Buddhist Chakma community, were sworn in as cabinet ministers on Tuesday. Both won their parliamentary seats on BNP tickets and are considered senior party leaders. Hindus constitute roughly 8% of Bangladesh’s 180 million population, making them the country’s largest religious minority. Nitai Roy Chowdhury: Culture Minister 77-year-old Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a lawyer by profession, represents West Magura and defeated a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate by a significant margin. A member of BNP’s Standing Committee, Chowdhury has previously ...

Dhaka: A new chapter in Bangladesh’s political landscape has begun with the formation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s cabinet on Tuesday. Among the notable appointments is Dr. Khalilur Rahman, former National Security Advisor under Muhammad Yunus, who has been named Foreign Minister despite not contesting elections or being a member of Parliament. Khalilur Rahman, a US-aligned figure, brings a potentially significant shift to Dhaka’s foreign policy and internal politics. His appointment is expected to intensify tensions with Army Chief Wakar-uz-Zaman, with whom Rahman has a longstanding rivalry. Khalil’s Influence in Yunus’ Interim Government During Muhammad Yunus’ interim administration, Khalilur Rahman wielded considerable influence as National Security Advisor and was regard...

Dhaka: Tarique Rahman has officially become the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking the end of the political storm that began after July 2024. However, many analysts argue that Muhammad Yunus, former chief adviser of the interim government, is the real victor of Bangladesh’s recent political upheaval. Yunus, despite having no direct political power, skillfully aligned hardline right-wing parties like BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Hifazat-e-Islam on key issues. He successfully brought most of these groups under a single umbrella, strategically neutralizing opposition to consolidate his influence. The 18-Month Political Campaign The political battle of the past 18 months, driven by Yunus, achieved several major outcomes: Facilitated the US-Bangladesh trade deal Strengthened mil...